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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 27, 2009 · 16 Oakville E-bots geared up for LEGO competition By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF T he parts are assembled, the programs installed and now it's time to see if the LEGO robots created by the Oakville Ebots can dance. The E-bots, which actually consist of two teams of 9-14-year-old children, are gearing up for Saturday's First LEGO League Halton/Peel Competition. Taking place at Mississauga's Mentor College, the competition will see the Oakville groups face off against 24 other teams from Halton and Peel Regions on a field of robot battle. "We're very, very stoaked," said Pam Catricala, team coach. "This is our last day for dotting the I's and crossing the T's. It's looking good." Catricala's business Fastcats, which is used by the E-bots as a headquarters, was a beehive of activity Wednesday evening as the two teams tested their robots and prepared presentations for the speaking portions of the competition. The competition requires each team to build a LEGO robot, using the robotics controllers provided by LEGO, that is capable of running a predetermined obstacle course and gathering several rings as it goes. Sounds simple, but it's not. The robots are not controlled remotely, but rather are fully automated, meaning their every move must be preprogrammed. "The programming basically involves these little blocks and each block has a picture on it letting us know what does what," said Amanda Rampertab, 13, of the Germ Busters Team. "One block will let us move a wheel one way (and determines) how fast, how long, which direction, forwards or backwards. That's the kind of thing that we use." As the robot must run an obstacle course, the programming has to be perfectly timed otherwise the robot will not go where it is supposed to go or extend its mechanical arms to grab the rings at the right time. Also, if the robot knocks over certain barriers, points are lost. No less important in the functioning of the ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER ROBOT GAMES: A pre-programmed E-Bot LEGO robot runs through an obstacle course snatching rings along the way. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER TEAMWORK: E-Bots has two teams in the First LEGO League Halton/Peel Competition, the Germ Busters, left, and Loud Mouths. robot is its design. Michael Catricala, 13, of the Loud Mouth team has engineered several features to make his group's robot more functional on the obstacle course. "It's small and compact and it has these octagonal shapes on its side," he said. "If I'm against a wall and I want to turn, I can turn. If these were 90 degree angles turning would be a problem." In addition to building the robot, the Oakville teams will be judged on their ability to present their rationale for the design and programming decisions they've made. John Catricala, who is also serving as an Ebots coach, noted this portion of the competition is done to make sure the students truly understand the process that was behind their robot's creation. It is also done to make sure the coaches did not provide too much help to their teams. On top of all this, each team must complete a presentation that has something to do with this year's competition theme of transportation. The Germ Busters have focused their presentation on the transportation of germs, a particularly hot topic given the recent reappearance of H1N1 within the Halton region. "We learned a lot about what germs are, what germs do to you and the best thing to do to stop germs from getting from person to person," said Henry Boyd, 13. "We looked at vaccines, hand sanitizers and washing your hands, and we found washing your hands is actually the best as long as you do it properly -- long enough and with soap. Otherwise, it is not as effective as it should be." The Loud Mouths focused their presentation on the transportation of information with particular attention paid to raising awareness of the First LEGO League. "A lot of research came from surveys we sent to the schools," said Jack Enders. "We also had two experts come and talk to us about different marketing strategies." The Loud Mouths put these lessons to use by sending a press release to the Oakville Beaver requesting coverage. The two teams have been preparing for the competition since September with many noting the experience has helped them with their ability to work in teams, with their organizational skills and more. "It's been awesome. I've had fun and I've learned a whole bunch too," said Enders. If the E-bots succeed at the Halton/Peel competition, as they did last year, they will advance to compete at the provincial level.