Robotics Teams Prepare for Dec. 11 Tournament

Courage Center's robotics teams include kids of all abilities

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Dec 09, 2010, 11:13 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Courage Center's Abilitybots Robotics Camp teams – Short Circuit and Lightning – will compete in the First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Sanford Middle School in Minneapolis. This year's tournament theme is "Body Forward" and explores the field of biomedical engineering. The action starts at 9 a.m. and ends at about 5 p.m. Courage Center's teams are made up of kids ages 9-14 of all abilities (those with disabilities along with non-disabled kids). Teams are led by Courage Center staff and volunteers and Twin Cities Tech Connection.

The tournament includes Robot Game competition and judging on a research project. Over the past 12 weeks, teams designed and built LEGO robots to solve missions for the Robot Game, such as delivering a pacemaker to a heart or grabbing a patent for mechanical arm. To prepare for the research project, teams explored the wide variety of assistive technology available through Courage Center's Assistive Technology Lab and learned about the latest biomedical engineering research by visiting the University of Minnesota. Team members chose depression and smart house technologies as their research topics. Along the way, they made new friends and learned more about working as a team.

FLL Regional Tournaments include opening and closing ceremonies, and practice and competition rounds. Volunteer judges evaluate each team's design and teamwork, robot modifications and presentations. The action moves back and forth between pit and competition areas.

About Courage Center:

Funding for Courage Center's robotics teams was made possible by grant funding by Cummins Power Generation and the National Science Foundation.

Courage Center is a nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center that advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. Founded in 1928, Minneapolis-based Courage Center offers advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors. For more information, visit www.CourageCenter.org.