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FIRST Lego League

The Grady NXT Eagles, Alice E. Grady's robotics team, made an impressive debut at the FIRST Lego League qualifying tournament at Union Vale Middle School in LaGrangeville NY, Saturday February 7th, 2009. The Grady NXT Eagles, coached by Dr. Davis, made a fantastic showing in all four categories that were judged: Team Work, Research Project, Robot Design, and Robot Performance. They received accolades from the judges and even other teams and coaches on their innovatively designed robot that the team named Roger. Roger was built with a modified forklift design that allowed it to guide and lift objects necessary to complete various missions. The Grady team was the first team at the event to complete the very complicated "opening the window" mission and one of the only rookie teams to earn 75 points or more in the Robot Performance category!

FIRST is an international organization that holds robotic contests for "student athletes to exercise the muscle between their ears." In FIRST Lego League teams, of up to 10 students ages 9-14, work with coaches and mentors to complete research projects and robotic missions based on a yearly science-based theme. This year's theme was Climate Connections, and for the Research Project the Eagles proposed an innovative solution to weather conditions in our area. After learning about the Japanese snow removing robot Yuka-taro that scoops up snow and poops it out as ice bricks, the Grady Eagles proposed a similar robot to President Obama. After researching the effects of climate on people in our area the Grady NXT Eagles decided that a robot that scooped up snow, raked leaves, and mowed grass and pooped out either ice bricks or compost would save lives, help the environment and economy and improve quality of life. The Grady Eagles made a persuasive PowerPoint presentation and were able to answer all the judge's questions.Go team!