FLL Challenge Team Info
Jump To The Topics
We are very fortunate in the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge and FIRST® LEGO® League Explore communities to have so much material available on the Internet. This page is broken up into various topics. We started by watching a few of them and putting them here. Just like FLL Challenge and FLL Explore, these are from all over the world. We also created a Google Form to allow you to comment on these in case we need to remove some or add ones that you found particularly helpful.
The beauty of this is you can start now and learn at your own pace. Team mentors can encourage students to look for videos or websites and take notes at home when not at team meetings. Please let us know if this is helpful. ([email protected])
Disclaimer: The presentation of these links or websites does not mean that FIRST Mid-Atlantic agrees with anything that is being presented here. If you find anything offensive that we should remove please let us know immediately and we will remove the link.
Topics
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| Coach's Required Reading | FIRST has a lot of materials available for these competitions. The items here are of particular importance so they are, in our opinion, required reading by all coaches. Please get a cup of coffee, sit in a quiet room and take the time to go through all of these to be sure you are ready for this season. |
| Required PA Act153 Clearences | **PA ONLY** These are now required by FIRST for all coaches and adult (18+) volunteers. Some are good for several years. |
| Teams Required Documentation | FIRST and FIRST Mid-Atlantic requires all youth team members (coaches, helpers and students) to to provide several documents each season. |
| Very Helpful Websites | As we find websites with good FLL Challenge information we will pass them along to you. |
| Coach Training | The season's updated version will be released about mid september to allow all the school teams to join. |
| Creating World Class Presentations | Over the years we have come across some ideas for really good presentations to the Judges. At the end of the presentation you want the judges to think. Hum, I have no questions. But you have to do it in 5 minutes. This is a tough challenge, but doable. |
| LEGO Mechanical Mechanisms | Videos that will help your team dream up and build mechanical wonder bots!!! Great for helping to find that mechanical solution to take your robot to the next level. Have fun!!!! |
| FLL Project | This section is dedicated to discussions of the FLL Challenge Project. |
| 2022 MAR FLL Challenge Tools | This is topics related to the Mid Atlantic Robotics (MAR) Tool repository we are creating to help teams get a jump on the season. |
| 2023 MAR FLL Challenge Tools Spike Prime 3.0 | MAR FLL Challenge Spike Prime 3.0 2023 Tools Update |
| 2024 MAR FLL Challenge Tools Spike Prime | MAR FLL Challenge Spike Prime 2024 Tools Update. See older Tool for demos of how the tools work driving. |
| 2025 MAR FLL Challenge Tools Gyro Drive Spike Python | Adapted to Spike Prime using MicroPython in 2025, this solution does not use native Spike HUB distance calculations, acceleration, or angle navigation. Instead, it reads the sensors, does the math and applies power to the motors. The math is elementary (line number and averages) enough for our FLL Challenge target audience. |
| Learning Python and Spike MicroPython | We will be releasing a version of the Spike tools written in Spike MycroPython. Python is the most widely use language in the world. It is free, easy and very, very, powerful. You DO NOT NEED to load python on your computer to learn with the materials below. Instead your students can learn using these on line teaching tools. |
| Passive Attachments From BrickWise | Welcome to BrickWise! This channel is dedicated to sharing everything I have learned from my experience in FLL. |
| Spike Prime | Spike Prime was introduced to FIRST Lego League in 2020. While the EV3 is still useful for a long time, it will no longer be updated. |
Topic: Coach's Required Reading[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST has a lot of materials available for these competitions. The items here are of particular importance so they are, in our opinion, required reading by all coaches. Please get a cup of coffee, sit in a quiet room and take the time to go through all of these to be sure you are ready for this season. | ||
| Welcome Video (5:20) | A message from FIRST about the new season. Share with parents and students so they get a good glimpse of what this is all about. | Updated Aug. 5, 2025 |
| Season Overview | During this archaeology-inspired season, teams use STEM and collaboration skills to unearth new findings about themselves and their collective communities to help build a better world. | Updated Aug. 5, 2025 |
| Start a team | See your students grow up and shine though FIRST LEGO League. | Updated Aug. 5, 2025 |
| FMA-FLL New Challenge Coach Training 101 | Google Slides presentation of what New Challenge Coaches can expect. Second presentation does a deeper dive on Robot Game, Project Presentation, Robot Design Presentation and Core Values. | Updated Sept. 8, 2025 |
| FMA-FLL New Challenge Coach Training 102 | Google Slides presentation of what Challenge Coaches can expect. Deep dive on Robot Game, Project Presentation, Robot Design Presentation and Core Values. | Updated Sept. 8, 2025 |
| FMA-FLL Participation and Registration Process 2025 v1 | This document describes team participation and registration for the FMA-FLL Official events including Explore Festivals, Challenge Regional Qualifying Topurnaments (RQTs) and the Challenge Championchips. | Updated Sep. 22, 2025 |
| FMA-FLL Event Official Registration Google Form For PA-East, NJ-North and Delaware Events | Please read the Participation and Registration Document (above) to know how the registration will work. This is open in a test mode until Oct. 10, 2025. Over that weekend it will be updated for the actual 2025 registrations. Send any suggestions to [email protected] | Updated Sep. 22, 2025 |
| Youth Protection Policy Training | The purpose of the FIRST® Youth Protection Program is to provide coaches, mentors, event volunteers, employees, Program Delivery Partners, team members, parents, guardians of team members, and others working with FIRST programs with information, guidelines, and procedures to create safe environments for FIRST participants. For PA Coaches and Volunteers, this include all the PA Act153 Information including how to upload your docs to FIRST. FYI: Frank Larkin redid all his clearences. Most were immediate on the website, the Chlidhood Clearence took 1 week to get back. He then downloaded them and uploaded to FIRST. He is now good for 5 years. | Updated September 9, 2025 |
| FIRST Coach Check List | As a mentor or coach of a FIRST® team there is a lot to know about how to get started with your team as well as how to prepare yourself to be an effective FIRST volunteer. You don t know what you don t know. Research has proven that checklists can help improve processes and eliminate mistakes. | Updated Aug. 3, 2023 |
| FIRST Season Page | This is the first, one stop shop, for all FLL Documents related to the current season. Scroll down to Season Resources. Then select the FLL Challenge Program. | Updated Aug. 5, 2025 |
| FIRST FLL Game and Season Page | This is the second, one stop shop, for all season and game details. Select what you want on the menu on the left. | Updated Aug. 5, 2025 |
| FIRST FLL Challenge Table Building Instructions | This is how to build a competition table. This table will be 4x8 feet from a single piece of plywood and uses 2x3 walls. You can Google FLL Table Build Instructions to see many alternatives.
Note: While 2x3 and 2x4 walls are both legal, it is best to use 2x3 to be sue you robot will work if it uses the wall as a guide! | Updated August 3, 2023 |
| UNEARTHEDSM Challenge Updates & Clarifications | FIRST pdf updated regularly with all changes in the game. It is a good idea that you make it the job of the students to check this every time you meet. | Updated by FIRST During Season |
| Multi-Team Consolidated Invoices | This form is created to allow FLL organizations to tell us who they are. We will use this information to create multi-line , consolidated invoices for the registered teams. The link to your teams is the team administrator's email. All your teams must have the same team administrator email, in their FIRST team profile to be included on a consolidated invoice. To take advantage of this someone in you org must to get all your teams to include your designated administrator in their team profile. IMPORTANT Note: These invoices will be sent by First Mid-Atlantic for the FLL programs like FLL Challenge and FLL Explore. If a team has not registered by the time we generate the invoice, they will not be included in the invoice. Another will be generated at a later date. | Updated Sep. 23, 2025 |
| Adding Parents and Students To Your Team Roster (5:27) | This is a quick video that shows you how to add your parents and students to your team's roster. | Link Added Nov 9, 2023 |
| FLL Team Info Sheet | Use this fillable PDF to tell the judges who you are. You are aloowed to hand the judges a single sheet of paper to describe your teams. | Updated Nov 10, 2023 |
| FIRST Event Hub Guide for Coaches | This guide shows the workflow for using the Event Hub. If you do not currently have access to Event Hub, you will receive it the first time you are invited to an event. | Updated Nov 10, 2023 |
Topic: Required PA Act153 Clearences [back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| **PA ONLY** These are now required by FIRST for all coaches and adult (18+) volunteers. Some are good for several years. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 | |
| FIRST Youth Protection Policy and PA Coach / Volunteer Required Clearences | This document contains all the YPP information in one place. For PA coaches and volunteers, under Local YPP State Requirements for California and Pennsylvania, it discusses the PA Act 153 Clearences that you are required to fill out. Each of these are highlighted here for your conveince. These clearences are good for 5 years. Once you have completed them or you have them from previous seasons, you just need to upload them, to FIRST, using the provided link. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| PA Criminal History Check | PA Coaches and Volunteers must get a PA Criminal History Check. You then must upload to FIRST with your other documents. This sites purpose is to better enable the public to obtain criminal history record checks. Free for coaches and volunteers (specify volunteer when completing) Note From Frank Larkin: Completed form and background check in about 20 minutes. To be completly honest, I was up at 3:00 AM. Once complete, I was able to save the form from the website and uploaded it to FIRST using the links provided. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| Child Abuse Clearence | PA Coaches and Volunteers must get a PA Child Abuse Clearence. This service provides a means for individuals to apply for PA Child Abuse History Clearance online and for mandated reporters to report child abuse in Pennsylvania. This cost $13. If you do it every 5 years it is free. From Frank Larkin: I redid mine to see how long it takes. It took 1 week. I downloaded it and then upload to FIRST. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| PA Resident Affidavit | DISCLOSURE STATEMENT APPLICATION FOR UNPAID/VOLUNTEER POSITION If you have lived at least 10 years or more in PA. If this is the case, you need to fill out and file this assertation with FIRST. You will not need FBI fingerprinting. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| FBI Criminal Background Check | If you have lived less than 10 years in PA you will need an FBI fingerprint and background check. Use Access Code: 1KG6ZJ ($22.95) | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| Form to upload PA Act153 files to FIRST | Use this form to upload your documents to FIRST. | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
| Contacting FIRST | FIRST is handling all the Clearence issues. Please contact them directly. FIRST Phone Support (Ask for team support) (603) 666-3906 or (800) 871-8326 Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm EST/EDT | Updated Sept. 2, 2026 |
Topic: Teams Required Documentation[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST and FIRST Mid-Atlantic requires all youth team members (coaches, helpers and students) to to provide several documents each season. | Aug. 2, 2022 | |
| FIRST Youth Registration System | FIRST requires all youth team members (coaches, helpers and students) to register. Youth Team Members who have not registered will not be permitted to participate in FIRST remote and in-person team meetings, events, or competitions. This page includes the new Express Enrollment process for coaches and parents. | Updated Sept. 29, 2023 |
| View Express Enrollment Coach/Mentor Instructions | The new Express Enrollment application is available now for coaches/mentors in the United States and Canada with completed FIRST Youth Protection Screenings and provides a simplified experience on mobile and desktop to register and accept youth to FIRST teams. | Updated Sept. 29, 2023 |
| View Express Enrollment Parent/Guardian Instructions | This site is intended for parents or guardians who wish to register their youth under age 18 to participate inf FIRST programs. | Updated Sept. 29, 2023 |
| Getting Additional Adults (Mentors, Coaches, and Chaperones) through FIRST YPP | This describes how other team parents or adult helpers can get FIRST background checked. This can be helpful in case a coach cannot attend an event. FIRST requires 2 Youth Protection Program cleared adults to be with the team at events. FMA is very concerned about the safety of our students. We further encourage additional parents sign up a mentors but act as Chaperones for the team at events. | Updated Sept. 29, 2023 |
| FIRST Mid-Atlantic Release Forms | This form is no longer needed as all the information is in the FIRST C&R Form. | Reviewed Sept. 7, 2023 |
| Draft Note to Parents to Register their child (Word Doc) | This is a draft of a note you can send to your parents asking them to register their kids for Robots. Is is in a DOC format so you can edit it as you see fit. Please add your team name and number in the appropriate places. I hope this helps you a little to get some of this done. Thanks for all you help. Frank Larkin FMA-FLL Director | Updated October 2021 |
Topic: Very Helpful Websites[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| As we find websites with good FLL Challenge information we will pass them along to you. | Updated Sept. 16, 2025 | |
| FLL Tutorials | This website is powered by the founders of EV3Lessons and PrimeLessons, and World Festival Champion's award winners. | Updated Feb. 3, 2021 |
| Skype a Scientist | We're connecting scientists with classrooms (and more) across the globe! Skype a Scientist has a database of thousands of scientists and helps them connect with classrooms, families, libraries, scout troops, and more all over the globe! We give students the opportunity to get to know a real scientist and get the answers to their questions straight from the source. | Updated Feb. 3, 2021 |
Topic: Coach Training[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| The season's updated version will be released about mid september to allow all the school teams to join. | Updated Aug. 5, 2024 | |
| 1- FMA-FLL New Coach Training | FIRST Mid-Atlantic FLL Challenge New Coach Training Part 1. (PowerPoint slides exported as a PDF.) Gets a new coach oriented where they are and where they need to get to. | Updated Sept. 22, 2025 |
| 1- FMA-FLL New Coach Training Video Recording (41:00) | This video follows the FMA-FLL Challenge New Coach Training Part 1 document above. | Updated Sept. 22, 2025 |
| 2 - FMA-FLL Overview Robot, Core Value, Project | FIRST Mid-Atlantic FLL Challenge New Coach Training 2 (PowerPoint slides exported as a PDF.) Covers core parts of the challenge including, Innovation Project, Robot Design and, Core Values. | Updated Sept. 22, 2025 |
| 2 - FMA-FLL Overview Robot, Core Value, Project Video Recording (39:00) | This video follows the FMA-FLL Challenge New Coach Training Part 2 (deeper dive) document above. | Updated Sept. 22, 2025 |
| Get started NOW while waiting for challenge kit to be delivered. | Haven t received your Challenge Set yet? You can still get started on your Innovation Project by researching architecture and architecture-related problems in your community. | Updated 2019 |
| FLL Tutorials (website) | This website is powered FRC Team Not the Driods You Are Looking For whose members are are MINDSTORMS Community Partners, founders of EV3Lessons, and the 2018 World Festival Champion's award winners. Numerous topics including advanced mechanical base designs. | |
| ROBOT DESIGN JUDGING WITHOUT A ROBOT GAME TABLE | Many regions around the world, including World Festival, are moving towards eliminating the FIRST LEGO League game table in the Robot Design judging room. You should be able to talk to the judges about your engineering design process, and how you came up with your ideas and decisions, without the use of the table. | Updated 2018 |
Topic: Creating World Class Presentations[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Over the years we have come across some ideas for really good presentations to the Judges. At the end of the presentation you want the judges to think. Hum, I have no questions. But you have to do it in 5 minutes. This is a tough challenge, but doable. | ||
| What a World Class FLL Challenge Robot Discussion and Project Presentation Looks Like (2:18:02) | FLL Challenge Team TECHNOBOTS (#53407), from Media, PA, dominated the PA-East FLL Challenge Competition in the 2022-2024 seasons. However, their accomplishments tell only part of the story.
* 2022-23 PA-East FLL Challenge Superpowered Champions * 2022-23 Represented PA-East at FIRST Worlds, Houston, TX * 2023-24 PA-East FLL Challenge MASTERPIECE Champions * 2023-24 Inaugural PA State FLL Challenge Champions (scoring 530 in the robot game) * 2023-24 FLL Challenge Rising All-Star FIRST Worlds, Houston, TX In 2024-25, these students are moving on to FRC. But before they go, FIRST Mid-Atlantic asked them to share their design discussion and project presentation from the 2023-24 MASTERPIECE season. They have agreed to allow you and your team to get some insight into what makes a great team presentation stand out to the judges. During this two-hour and eighteen-minute discussion, they showed their Design Discussion and their Project Presentation. Then, they sat for one and a half hours in a Q&A session. They ended up discussing the above and delving into team dynamics. We thank them for this rare opportunity and hope all our teams can get ideas to bring your team to the next level. Finally, we wish them good luck as they move on to the FIRST Robotics Competition. | Updated Aug. 8, 2025 |
| The Judging Overview with advice to make you successful (9:19) | Many thanks to FIRST in Alabama for this presentation:
Note: It was produced in 2024 but is still very relavent now. This is an overview of the Judging session. The presenter is telling you to create your presentation so it covers the each question of the rubrics. The rubrics have 5 sections with 2 areas each. You need to address each area in you presentation. That means you have 30 seconds to answer each area of the rubric. Have parents or coaches listen to see if you are addressing the rubric. They can print them out an fill in as they listen. | Updated Aug. 8, 2025 |
Topic: LEGO Mechanical Mechanisms[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Videos that will help your team dream up and build mechanical wonder bots!!! Great for helping to find that mechanical solution to take your robot to the next level. Have fun!!!! | Added Oct. 2023 | |
| 20 Mechanical Principles combined in a Useless Lego Machine (7:20) | Useless machine that utilizes different mechanical principles. Enjoy! Note: it has an index so you can jump to different parts very easily. | Added Oct. 2023 |
| 5 Useless but Satisfying LEGO Mechanisms (5:00) | Hi, here's a small collection of a few Lego Technic mechanisms that I stumbled over, but don't really have a direct use. Enjoy watching, Note: Has differet ideas from the other 2. | Added Oct. 2023 |
| 40 Satisfying MECHANICAL Principles in LEGO (8:35) | Note: A few too many ads for my taste but still a way to get the idea juices flowing. This is a great video for a new or even veteran coach. It shows you 40 great ways to up your machanical capabilities for your LEGO robot. Wonderful ideas to get you students build impressive robots. | Added Oct. 2023 |
Topic: FLL Project[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| This section is dedicated to discussions of the FLL Challenge Project. | ||
| FIRST LEGO League Project How-to: What is the Project? (Part 1 of 3) (3:44) | New to FIRST LEGO League? This is the first video in a three-part series to help you understand and tackle the Project component of the annual Challenge. | Published on Sep 2, 2015 |
| FIRST LEGO League Project How-to: How to Have a Successful Project Experience (Part 2 of 3) (5:14) | New to FIRST LEGO League? This is the second video in a three-part series to help you understand and tackle the Project component of the annual Challenge. This video will highlight the three essential components of the Project. | Published on Jun 13, 2016 |
| FIRST LEGO League Project How-to: Present Your Project (Part 3 of 3) (4:08) | New to FIRST LEGO League? This is the third video in a three-part series to help you understand and tackle the Project component of the annual Challenge. This video will discuss preparing your presentation for a FIRST LEGO League tournament. | Published on Mar 12, 2019 |
| FLL Project Ideas and Brainstorming Guide from the Llamas. (7:29) | Thanks so much for watching this video. Stay tuned for our other guides the Project portion of FLL and maybe other things in the future! | Published on Nov 12, 2017 |
| FLL Project Tips! (The Quintessential Quad)
(3:05) | This video has some tips to help your team get past mental blocks and come up with a great project for FLL! | Published on Aug 28, 2018 |
| FLL Expert Interviews - Research Project - Nicole Diebold (6:39) | Note: German speaking presenter with English translation voice over. This video goes over tips and tricks for presenting your FLL project. (They call the judges the jury. Other Youtube videos in this group are in German. ) |
Topic: 2022 MAR FLL Challenge Tools[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| This is topics related to the Mid Atlantic Robotics (MAR) Tool repository we are creating to help teams get a jump on the season. | ||
| Gyro and Line Follow My Blocks Presentation | Presentation of how to use the MAR Line Follow and Gyro tools | |
| Line Follow and Gyro Tools Presentation Video (1:31:06) | This is a video presentation of the Line Follow and Gyro Tools. This has an index within the first 10 seconds so you can jump to where you like in the video. I suggest you view the Setting Up The Environment and then jump to a topic. This was updated on 9/23 with better clearer video. | Updated Sept. 23, 2022 |
| Line Follow and Gyro Tools Github Repo | This link will point you to a github repository of our Line Follow and Gyro tools. There is a Google Slide presentation that describes all the tools. If you have questions about the tolls please join us in the weekly Let's Be Frank call and we can discuss. | Updated Sept. 20, 2022 |
| Help Students Use Line Follow and Gyro Tools | We know not everyone if going to read or watch the presentation. This is a quick start doc using the "clean" version of the toolsas a starting point. | Updated Sept. 29, 2022 |
| Line Follow and Gyro Tools Q&A | Short Google doc that tells you what all the variables are and answers some followup questions we have had. | Updated Oct. 1, 2022 |
| Join Our Mailing List | We correspond to only those in this group. Please enter your contact information here to get on our mail list. | Updated Sept. 20, 2022 |
Topic: 2023 MAR FLL Challenge Tools Spike Prime 3.0[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| MAR FLL Challenge Spike Prime 3.0 2023 Tools Update | ||
| Spike Prime 3.0 Gyro Tools Youtube Playlist | This playlist will introduce the updated MAR FLL Challenge Spike Prime 3.0 2023 Tools. | Updated Sept. 18, 2023 |
| Spike Prime 3.0 Gyro Tools Github Repo | This link will point you to a github repository of our update MAR Challenge Spike Prime 3.0 2023 Gyro Tools. There is a Google Slide introduction that describes the gyro tools. If you have questions about the tools please join us in the weekly Let's Be Frank call and we can discuss. | Updated Sept. 19, 2023 |
Topic: 2024 MAR FLL Challenge Tools Spike Prime[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| MAR FLL Challenge Spike Prime 2024 Tools Update. See older Tool for demos of how the tools work driving. | ||
| MAR Tools Spike 2024 Gyro Drive Github Repo | This link will point you to a github repository of our latest MAR Challenge Spike Prime 2024 Gyro Drive. This is designed to give you team a quick start to navigating the field. You still have to break down the missions and build attachements but this will help you drive around accurately. Improvements: 1) Combined all older variants int a single My Block. 2) Settings in init gyro drive MB allows you to adjust for your robot. Settings account for heaver robots with difficulty turning. 3) Included acceleration when driving over a distance but not used when driving by time. Drives accuracy to Ludacris even at high speeds. 4) Several Test My Blocks to help dial in your robot. 5) Added link to a basic robot you can easily build and start testing. | Updated Sept. 10, 2024 |
| Gyro Drive My Blocks 2024 Presentation | Basic presentation on how to get started with Gyro Drive My Blocks 2024. Check our previous version from 2023 for how gyro navigation works. More updates to come. | Updated Sept. 10, 2024 |
| Gyro Drive My Blocks 2024 Presentation Video Playback | Video Play back of presentation. Cleaned it up a little. More of these to come | Updated Sept. 15, 2024 |
Topic: 2025 MAR FLL Challenge Tools
Gyro Drive Spike Python[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Adapted to Spike Prime using MicroPython in 2025, this solution does not use native Spike HUB distance calculations, acceleration, or angle navigation. Instead, it reads the sensors, does the math and applies power to the motors. The math is elementary (line number and averages) enough for our FLL Challenge target audience. | ||
| Python Sandbox Turtle | Python Sandbox is a construct of Ken Burres, a high school teacher of programming and mathematics. Python Sandbox was started in early 2016 in order to provide high school students a place to learn and practice programming with the Python language. Note From Frank Larkin: While it says highschool, my 11 year old grandson is working on it today. This is a great way to spend the summer learkin the basic of python. It has three modes, Text, Turtle, and Graphic. | Updated April 4, 2025 |
| Turtle graphics - documentation | Turtle graphics is an implementation of the popular geometric drawing tools introduced in Logo, developed by Wally Feurzeig, Seymour Papert and Cynthia Solomon in 1967. | Updated April 4, 2025 |
| Spike Python Knowledge Base | We encourage you to immediately start learning Spike Python by access this on-line version for the Spike Python Knowledge Base. This is the same information you would see in the hub, without the need for the Hub itself. Become Pythonic over the summer. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Spike Python Getting Ready and Testing (5:49) | This is a taste of the 2025 Gyro Drive Spike Python Tool Kit. Please do the homework so you can be ready. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Spike Python Walking The Code (3:51) | This video will demonstrate a few programs. It will walk you through the code so you can see the robot moving and the code making moves. It also demonstrates a few unique features, such as Waypoints and Sonar. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Spike Python Github Repo New Version Available | This repo will contain the new Spike Prime Python of the FLL Tools for Spike Prime 3.0 Robots used in FIRST LEGO League Challenge. This version incorporates all the goodies from the blocks version plus several features unavailable in Blocks. This is a project to provide updated pre-packaged, tested and working on Spike Prime Python for FLL Challenge teams. New Version spp 25-11-06 beta.llsb. This version supports Milti Motor Movement! Image driving as your arms move to various positions! Saves a lot of time. Go to github for all the details. Experiment with example code, then cut and paste your code in. Not problem. | Updated November 6, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Getting Ready and Testing | This presentation is designed as a teaser to show the 2025 Gyro Drive in action. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Introduction | Adapted to Spike Prime using MicroPython in 2025, this solution does not use native Spike HUB distance calculations, acceleration, or angle navigation. Instead, it reads the sensors, does the math and applies power to the motors. The math is elementary (line number and averages) enough for our FLL Challenge target audience. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Installation | This presentation assumes you are familiar with this code. Before setting up your robot, you should read through all the 2025 Gyro Drive presentations so you are familiar with the terms and code layout. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Functions and Classes | Gyro Drive contains a set of functions and classes, used in concert with Spike MicroPython, to support accurate navigation on the Spike Hub. Allow any FLL team to navigate, with great accuracy, any season s Challenge field while waving to their moms. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive The Explainer How This All Works | This presentation explaines how the various concepts like naviagation work. This can be used to get you team members conversant with the concepts. Suggest you tackle this later in the season. | Updated July 19, 2025 |
| 2025 Gyro Drive Spinny Class | The Spinny class is an instance that allows you to run a motor to support an arm, lifter, or other spinny attachment. We used a class because it can be instantiated any number of times to support different spinny purposes. | Updated June 17, 2025 |
Topic: Learning Python and Spike MicroPython[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| We will be releasing a version of the Spike tools written in Spike MycroPython. Python is the most widely use language in the world. It is free, easy and very, very, powerful. You DO NOT NEED to load python on your computer to learn with the materials below. Instead your students can learn using these on line teaching tools. | Updated April 4, 2025 | |
| Python Sandbox Turtle | Python Sandbox is a construct of Ken Burres, a high school teacher of programming and mathematics. Python Sandbox was started in early 2016 in order to provide high school students a place to learn and practice programming with the Python language. Note From Frank Larkin: While it says highschool, my 11 year old grandson is working on it today. This is a great way to spend the summer learkin the basic of python. It has three modes, Text, Turtle, and Graphic. | Updated April 4, 2025 |
| Turtle graphics - documentation | Turtle graphics is an implementation of the popular geometric drawing tools introduced in Logo, developed by Wally Feurzeig, Seymour Papert and Cynthia Solomon in 1967. | Updated April 4, 2025 |
| Getting Started with Spike MicroPython | This Getting Started section introduces the basics of using Python with LEGO® Education SPIKE Prime. To run the sample programs you will NOT NEED A CONNECTION to Spike Hub. | Updated April 4, 2025 |
Topic: Passive Attachments From BrickWise[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome to BrickWise! This channel is dedicated to sharing everything I have learned from my experience in FLL. | ||
| BrickWise Youtube Site | Added Aug 6, 2024 | |
| Super Powered Passive Attachemnts (2:37) | This is a way to learn from past events. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| Passive Attachments for FLL (2:06) | A few Passive ideas (BrickWise) | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| How to build Funnels for FLL (1:53) | Mechanical alignments, such as funnels, can be very useful in FLL for squaring up against a mission model. The advantage to funnels is that you can rely on the fact that the physical structure of a mission will be built the same no matter where you are competing. Therefore, you are consistently aligning against the structure of a mission. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| Four Rubber Band attachments (2:53) | Rubber bands can trigger passive attachments, replacing the need for motorized mechanisms. They can provide decent amounts of power, and are reliable at powering contraptions since the lego rubber bands are quite durable. Hopefully, these 4 attachments provide examples as to various methods and applications of rubber bands. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| Three Stages of a Delivering Attachment (1:50) | Here are 3 stages/levels of an attachment, each getting progressively more complex, aimed at completing missions that are more challenging. Since these attachments are all passive, they can be really useful in FLL because they can complete complex missions without a motor, saving you an extra port. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| Four levels of "Grabber" Attachments for FLL (1:21) | Here are four different levels of grabber attachments from simplest to more complicated. These types of passive attachments can be very useful and effective at picking mission models up in FLL without a motor. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
| Four Tips to Minimize Time in base During a FLL Match (3:12) | Here are 4 ways to spend less time in base during a FLL match. The more time you have to attempt missions, the higher the potential you team has to score points. Many teams waste too much time in base, and those crucial seconds could have been used to complete missions. | Added Aug 6, 2024 |
Topic: Spike Prime[back to Topics]
| Title Link | Description | Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Spike Prime was introduced to FIRST Lego League in 2020. While the EV3 is still useful for a long time, it will no longer be updated. | ||
| Beginners: LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Overview with James Dwyer (3:25) | This video will give you an overview of the LEGO Education SPIKE Prime Robotics system, it's features and benefits plus a sneak peek of some of the SPIKE Prime models. | |
| Beginners to Advanced: SPIKE Prime Tutorials Playlist from Tufts University Dr. E | LEGO Engineering - Tufts University Engineering outreach (many videos of different skills) This is not FLL specific but covers many topics. | |
| FIRST LEGO League Challenge Programming Wiki- Spike Prime | Important: This is a Wiki about programming for FLL Challenge. Scrool down to the middle of the page for Spike Prime. | Added Sept. 2021 |
| Everyone: LEGO Spike Prime Education Kit | Zachary Trautwein covers Spike Prime. Introduction and Advanced topics. Including how to do 2020-21 Replay missions. | |
| Everyone: Programming + Coding for FLL and Classrooms | Play list concentrating on coding for FLL and classrooms | |
| Advanced: SPIKE Prime "Moving Wall" Robot Design (1:25) | Here is a robot design that incorporates the moving wall concept, in which the outside frame of the robot is able to move in all directions due to vertical and horizontal gear racks. This increased maneuverability allows the robot to complete many FLL missions using small, simple attachments. |