2017 team tee shirt orders are being taken right now. This year’s shirt will have a steampunk riff on our usual liger logo. Team members are required to order one shirt and encouraged to order two. Please contact Diane Levy if you have not ordered yet.

For the second year in a row, the entire LigerBots team participated in a three-day design blitz right after the FRC robot game kickoff. We were excited to learn that the Steamworks game involves robots launching imaginary airships by delivering large, plastic gears to rotors and shooting balls, (representing fuel,) into large funnels leading to our team’s “boiler.” During our design blitz every LigerBot and mentor, including those who are not usually involved in engineering, helped design a 2017 robot. After three days of research, drawing, and discussion, the entire team got back together to watch design presentations from each group. Afterwards, student leaders from each area of engineering expertise met to discuss the pros and cons of each design. Once they chose the best features of each robot, they moved forward with the final design and the building process began.

The team divided into build groups that will each focus on a different feature of the robot, including a ball shooter, gear placer, a rope-climbing mechanism, a chassis, and software. This week, the build groups began designing and building prototypes for the ball shooter and gear placer, sketching out software solutions, and cutting metal for the chassis. The team has also been preparing for the construction of a second robot, which has the potential to test alternative designs. Next up: ordering the parts and beginning to manufacture the robot!

Meanwhile, our business group worked on preparing for several upcoming outreach events and our Chairman’s Award submission, including taking lots of video and interviewing team members and mentors. (The Chairman’s Award is FIRST’s most prestigious award given to teams that most successfully spread the mission of FIRST.) But it’s not all work and no play! We started our build season team dinners and movie nights, which are a great way for everyone to relax after an exciting day building our robot.

Watch the Kickoff for the 2017 Steamworks FRC game here: https://www.twitch.tv/firstinspires Kickoff begins Saturday, Jan 7, at 10:30 AM EST. To attend Kickoff in person, sign up for a carpool by noon on Friday. There will also be a viewing party at Noa Rensing’s house. Those unable to attend either event can stream it on Twitch using the link above.

It was a cold and snowy morning, but 48 FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams braved the weather last Saturday to join in the fun at the FLL Massachusetts State Championship, hosted by the LigerBots at Newton North High School. Nearly 300 students thought like real-life scientists and engineers, competing with LEGO robots they had built, tested and programmed themselves, and presenting projects that defined and solved real world problems centered on this year’s theme, “Animal Allies.”

The projects showcased an impressively wide range of solutions to animal-based problems, including the use of rodents for search and rescue missions, the creation of an app and sensor to warn of heat stroke in dogs, and the invention of a floating, automatic fish feeder that was actually adopted by a local fish hatchery.

Newton, the host city, sent four teams: The Snowy Owls, the Botanists, the Day Dragons, and Block Party. The Botanists took home second place in Robot Strategy & Innovation, and Block Party received second place in Gracious Professionalism!

The LigerBots also opened the doors of Newton North to many local companies so they could showcase their amazing products at a mini maker fair, and also hosted First Robotics Team 5422, Stormgears, who demonstrated their robot alongside the LigerBots in a robot zoo.

This was the largest competition the LigerBots have hosted to date, with about 800 volunteers, judges, mentors, and spectators cheering the FLL teams on. Dozens of LigerBots staffed every aspect of the event, devoting many hours to setting up, guiding teams through their day, leading a line dancing party before the awards ceremony, and putting Newton North High School back into shape after it was all over.

Many thanks to all teams, judges, and exhibitors for their contributions to yet another successful LigerBots-run event.

Written by Javid Kasraie

Imagine the halls of Newton North High School filled with 800 people, all cheering on robots built by kids who are as young as 8 years old. That’s what it will be like this weekend when more than 400 coaches, parents, siblings, and spectators, watch 48 different teams compete against each other for the title of Eastern State Champion in the FIRST LEGO League competition.

All of the 293 kids competing earned their way to this big event by competing in one of many FLL qualifying events.

In addition to what’s happening with the robots, we’ll also have a host of other STEM activities like big robots and hands-on activities. It’s all taking place this Saturday at Newton North High School from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Can’t wait to see you all there!