Categories

Teams participate in all four FIRST LEGO League Challenge categories

On this page Overview Robot Game Robot Design Research Teamwork Judges Award Champion Evaluation Sheets

Overview

During the preparation for FIRST LEGO League Challenge you will look at the areas robot, research and teamwork.

On the tournament day judges and referees are scoring you in the following four categories:

  • Robot Game
  • Robot Design
  • Research
  • Teamwork

At the awarding ceremony at the end of the tournament day, all teams will receive certificates and medals in recognition of their achievements. The best teams of the categories will receive awards. In addition, one team will be awarded the Judges Award.

The highlight of the awards ceremony is the announcement of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion. This award is given to the team that scores the most points overall in all categories. The points from the categories Robot Game, Robot Design, Research and Teamwork are equally weighted in the overall ranking.

For your preparation for the tournaments we have put together a lot of resources here, e.g. interviews with experts in all categories, information from previous seasons, e.g. evaluation sheets or teamwork games.

Robot Game

Here you will find the new missions and rules for the Robot Game after the official release on August 4, 2020.

Ahead of the tournament day

In the preparation phase you will design and program a robot based on the LEGO MINDSTORMS system (RCX, NXT, EV3) or LEGO SPIKE Prime. The task of the robot is to solve as many missions on the Challenge playing mat autonomously as possible and to collect points.

On the tournament day
  • On the day of the tournament, each team will compete in three preliminary rounds of a Robot Game match of 2:30 minutes each.
  • In the tournament, two game tables are always placed next to each other – with the starting zones diagonally opposite each other. This means that two teams compete in a match at the same time.
  • When it's your team's turn, the two team members who operate the robot at the table have to go to the tournament table. The rest of the team stays in the spectator area.
  • At the tournament table the referees have the responsibility and the team members follow the instructions of the referees.
  • At the end of the match, the referees record the state on the playing field in a printed evaluation sheet or electronically via tablet with the two team members who are at the table.
  • Your team's best preliminary round match will be included in the evaluation for the FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion.
  • After the three preliminary rounds, the four or eight teams repectively that scored the most points in a preliminary round match will be announced. These teams then compete again in the semi-finals or quarter-finals of the Robot Game. Only one round is played in the quarter- and semi-finals. It is the score that determines how far you get, not a knockout system.
  • In the two rounds of the final, the two teams will compete that have won in the semi-finals against other teams.

The winner of the category "Robot Game" is the team that can achieve the most points in the two rounds of the final.

The award "Robot-Game"
  • Winner of the category "Robot Game" is the team that scored the most added points in the two rounds of the final.

Robot Design

Ahead of the tournament day
  • Before the robot can solve the Robot Game tasks, you have to build and program the robot.
  • Collect ideas for the construction of the robot and create several concepts for the robot's base and attachments.
  • Plan and build several prototypes to try out different ideas and then implement the best ideas for the actual robot.
On the tournament day
  • The evaluation of the robot design on competition day will be based on an interview in which you present your robot, its construction and programming to a 2 to 3 member jury and the judges ask you questions.
  • The interview takes place either in a jury room or at one of the tournament tables.
  • The evaluation session lasts 10 minutes.
  • It is exciting for the judges to learn about the construction process or to find out what you are most proud of in the robot and if there are parts that need improvement. The use and selection of sensors is another interesting aspect.
  • You don't have to prepare a special presentation for the evaluation, but you should know what interesting things there are to say about your robot.
  • In most contests, there is a field available for judging, so you will have the opportunity to show your robot in action.
  • Spectators, companions, fans and coaches can watch the judging.
The award "Robot Design"
  • The robot that is chosen for the award "Robot Design", impresses the jury with an innovative and robust design as well as with kreative and efficient programming.
    • Innovative design: The ability to create a creative design or innovative strategy. Because the tasks should be mastered in the most original way possible.
    • Robust design: Correct mechanical principles should be understood and applied. For this purpose the most solid, reliable and persistent robot must be built.
    • Programming: Correct programming principles should be understood and applied. The children and young people should develop a lot of creativity and efficiency in programming.

Research

You will find the exact tasks for your research in the team documents (team guide and engineering notebook), which the coaches can download in their coach account, starting August 4th, 2020. Get inspired by the Robot Game missions and the project ideas in the team documents.

Ahead of the tournament day

Here are the steps to prepare:

  • Learn about the topic: Try to learn as much as possible about the topic in general before you commit to a specific topic. Use different sources such as the internet, books, newspapers, interviews with experts, etc.
    Use the time before the kick-off (mission publication) to research the topic of the year before you get detailed information about the research project.
  • Find a research question: Make a list of different topics that interest you. Select a topic from this list. Think together about a problem related to the topic. Use it to formulate your research question. Now find out as much as possible about that particular topic.
  • Work out an innovative solution: Work out an innovative solution to the problem you have chosen – a solution that makes life easier by improving something that already exists, by using something that exists differently, or by inventing something completely new.
  • Share your results with others: Once you have a plan for your solution, share it with others! For example, introduce your research and your solution to people who will benefit from it. Or you can present it to the experts who helped you. Think about who else might be interested in your solution. Consider someone who can give you good feedback. Accepting good suggestions and making improvements is part of the development process. Don't be afraid to present your ideas – if it gives you helpful feedback.
    Find a creative way to present your research project and solution. Your presentation can be supported by different formats: Posters, pictures, models, multimedia, your research material etc. Be creative, but don't forget to include all important information in the presentation.
On the tournament day
  • At the tournament you present your research project in a jury room to a 2 to 3 member jury.
  • Your presentation must not be longer than 5 minutes! It should be short, to the point and memorable. In order to treat all teams fairly, jurors will stop presentations that are longer than 5 minutes.
  • You have various options for the presentation, e.g. formal lectures, role-plays, parodies and much more. The jury members make sure that more than just one member of the team has done research work.
  • It is important that your presentation includes and reflects all parts of the assignment (find a research question, come up with an innovative solution and share your findings with others).
  • Please note: The judges can only judge what they hear!
  • After the presentation, the judges will ask you a few more questions about your research.
  • The evaluation session (including your presentation) lasts 10 minutes.
  • Spectators, companions, fans and of course coaches are allowed to participate in this evaluation.

At most regional tournaments, the three best teams in the category research present their project again publicly on the big stage in the afternoon. Here the teams and the spectators have the opportunity to see very good research projects and possibly learn something from them for next year.

The award "Research"
  • The award for the categoy "Research" will go to the team, which, through high-quality research, a innovative solution and a creative presentation, demonstrates the deepest understanding of the various disciplines and aspects associated with the research assignment.

Teamwork

Ahead of the tournament day
  • Respecting each other and accepting differences, discovering new talents and ideas, working creatively and persistently, applying and improving what you have learned, working together and having fun at work are among the core values of FIRST LEGO League Challenge and make a good team.
  • Make sure that you put these core values into practice during the preparation period and during the day of the tournament.
  • Set your own goals with regard to your participation.
    • The goal for rookie teams should be to participate in a regional tournament after the preparation period, even if not all tasks have been completed.
    • From the second season on, teams usually set more specific goals. Write down your goals so that you can check at the end of the season to see if the goals you set have been met. Goals for teams can be, for example: learning together, working and finding solutions, sharing experiences and knowledge with others, showing respect and fairness.
On the tournament day
  • You cannot prepare for the category Teamwork in the traditional sense. Rather, it is important that you have already internalized the FIRST core values in the preparation time and live them.
  • On the day of the tournament the evaluation of the teamwork will take place in a jury room. Spectators and coaches must stay outside for this evaluation. Only the team members enter the room.
  • A 2 to 3 member jury will give you a team task at the beginning, which you have to solve together.
  • Afterwards the jury members will ask you some questions about your team.
  • The evaluation session lasts 10 minutes in total.
The award "Teamwork"
  • The award in the "Teamwork" category goes to the team that has shown the greatest enthusiasm, the best sporting spirit, the most extraordinary respect for its own team members and the most support for other teams in the competition.

Judges' Award

The Judges' Award is given to a team with a very individual special feature or a particular achievement. For example, it can go to a team that shows particular perseverance and masters even the most complicated situations. It frees itself from tricky situations by improvising, adapting to the situation or clearing the obstacle out of the way while showing exceptional performance.

However, the jury can also award the trophy to a newcomer team. This is because teams participating in FIRST LEGO League Challenge for the first time have more challenges to overcome than experienced teams. In this case, the trophy goes to the team that, despite all the initial difficulties, can prove its assertiveness against experienced teams and achieve good results in the competition.

The whole jury decides on this award. There is no separate evaluation for this.

FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion

This trophy is given for the overall success of the team and for the implementation of the FIRST LEGO League Challenge values. It includes the four core elements of the competition: Robot Game, Robot Design, Research and Teamwork. The four categories are counted equally into the overall ranking.

Please note: The basis for the evaluation of the Robot Game in regards to the Champion is the score of the best match from the three preliminary rounds. Therefore, a team does not necessarily have to qualify for the final rounds of the Robot Game to become FIRST LEGO League Challenge Champion.

Evaluation Sheets

For all FIRST LEGO League Challenge tournaments in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the same evaluation sheets are used by the jury and the same referee sheets are used by the referees at the Robot Game.

The evaluation sheets for the 2020/21 season will be available here from August 4, 2020. Use the forms to prepare for the day of the tournament and for the judging. Use the sheets also to assess yourself. In preparation, you can take a look at the evaluation sheets for the past season here.

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