Robotics
The 2010 teams will be coached by Mr. Laimins and Mr. Pratt. The first meeting will be after school at 3:15 PM on Monday 9/13. Please contact Mr. Laimins (ext 241, plaimins@dvacademy.org) for more information.
Da Vinci Academy has competed in the Illinois First Lego League robot competition since 2003. This program introduces students to the application of math, science, and technology to real world problems. The students have several months to design and program their robots to perform the missions specified for each year's tournament. They also complete a research project and prepare for team presentations in front of the tournament judges regarding robot design and their teamwork.
The robot competition is the most visible aspect of this activity, but there is much more to it than that. The students get involved with an engineering approach to the construction of their robots and the science of the problems that they are trying to solve. The projects in the last few years have covered topics like alternative energy, nanotechnology, exploration of Mars, and ocean exploration.
The Robotics Team meets regularly after school beginning in September to prepare for the regional tournament usually held in December or January. This activity is limited to middle school students grades 5-8, but Da Vinci's Saturday Enrichment Program is available as a "minor league" to get the students familiar with the Mindstorms program and materials.
More information on the Illinois competition is available at http://insciteillinois.org/
Information about the international aspects of this program is available at http://www.firstlegoleague.org/
Information about the robots can be found at http://mindstorms.lego.com/