Imagination, teamwork leads students to victory

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  As the influential physicist Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

That concept was adopted by the FIRST LEGO League; a program for students ages 9-16 years-old which inspires children to come up with innovative ideas to solve everyday problems through teamwork. The program hosts state- and national-level competitions.

In September 2012, STARBASE North Dakota partnered with Memorial Middle School and gave a team of 8th grade students the opportunity to participate on a FIRST LEGO League team.

Earlier this month, the team of six students successfully earned first place for Teamwork. Their winning Lego robotics design was an idea to make driving safer for the elderly. The competition's challenge this year was called "Senior Solutions" and required each team to identify a problem and create a solution to improve the daily lives of the elderly.

For months, the team brainstormed ideas to tackle the issue. They utilized existing technology like GPS and voice activated capabilities to create a device they named, the "Automated Guidance System."

The AGS was a system which could be placed under the hood of a vehicle and work as an addition to a vehicle's existing safety features. The AGS component would allow for voice commands to activate a car, drive a person to a destination, buckle seat belts and know when to brake during adverse situations.

The students designed the AGS using the computer design software called Creo Elements/Pro. Working as engineers, they were able to sketch their idea using a 3-D model and printed it in a 3-D plastic printer. The students were able to show the judges a prototype of the AGS design they created.

According to Lisa Murphy, Director of STARBASE North Dakota, one of the most important factors in the whole process was developing their teamwork capabilities. She was very proud of the students for winning the teamwork award.

"The students won first place in the award category which I feel is the most important, not only in the competition but in life," said Murphy. "The team wouldn't have been able to accomplish as much as they did without working together and respecting every team member's opinions and ideas."

FIRST LEGO League is all about having the students work together to formulate plans and solve problems.

As a team coach, Murphy facilitated meetings, answered questions and guided the students as needed. However, the focus was on developing the student's ingenuity and teamwork capabilities.

Master Sgt. Clint G. Ericson, 5th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels superintendent, also helped as a team coach and said it was great to see the students develop.

"It was amazing how just a change in atmosphere can have an effect on the kids," said Ericson. "When they were faced with judges and other kids their age, they modified how they presented their projects, programmed their robot and how they competed."

"They went into it with the attitude to just have fun," added Ericson. "And they left with the ability to share with others that it isn't all about winning. With hard work and determination good things can happen."

When he asked the students if they wanted to continue building robots and competing, the overall answer was a resounding yes.

Ericson said he hopes to see more teams from the base compete next year and possibly see a high school team from the area go to the regionals.

"It sounds like a lot of hard work, but to see the kids enjoy and learn over the past few months has been a great reward and experience," said Ericson.