UPDATE 02/12/2021
We have successfully hosted our first VIQC Rise Above Remote Skills Only with Judging Event. Eighteen teams participated, including those from Canada, New Jersey, Kentucky and Tennessee. Both Elementary and Middle School teams participated. Skills Rankings are shown on the VEX IQ Program page.
The following 5 Awards were given: 
Excellence Award - Team 3024A - Gearbots
​Design Award - Team 435B - NoeBot
Robot Skills Champion - Team 16868B - Piethon
Robot Skills 2nd Place - Team 3024A - Gearbots
Robot Skills 3rd Place - Team 435B - NoeBot


UPDATE 10/19/2020
As we continue an unusual School Year, and contemplate how many teams will participate in the 2020-2021 robotics season, we must accept the fact that Covid-19 is still active across our region and we will face varying guidelines and directives from local and state health departments, school districts and individual schools.  Both FIRST and REC Foundation (VEX) are holding their seasons, but with the expectations that all programming must adapt to local circumstances.  With much uncertainty facing schools about after school meetings and field trip travel, many teams may not be able to participate this season.

With that in mind, ALL FIRST LEGO LEAGUE programming in our area will occur as "Remote Events": Our region FLL tournament will occur the week of April 20, 2021, utilizing the Remote Event Hub create by FIRST to facilitate remote events. Due to the reduced number of teams participating and the remote format, we will only be holding one regional event. More information about procedures for "Remote Events" will be distributed in February 2021.

REC Foundation (VEX_IQ and VEX_VRC) events will also be delayed in our area with League Play for VRC to be scheduled December through February with some remote and some live meetings, again with modifications that could include reduction in team numbers, team sizes, Skills Only events, or "Remote Events" similar to those we will host for FLL. Two local Remote Skills ONLY VEX IQ competitions will be offered in our area during December and February. VEX VRC events hosted by Chattanooga Christian have been posted on the robotevents.com website with necessary modifications and a reduction in team numbers as discussed previously. 

Should your register? REC Foundation will not allow participation in any event, even online challenges, without current season registration; FIRST LEGO LEAGUE will not release Challenge Elements without current season registration.  Our suggestion is that you wait until you can determine whether your current situation will allow you to meet with student team members, even a smaller group of team members. Once that is confirmed we would encourage you to get registered.

Stay safe. Check out www.firstinspires.org and www.vexrobotics.com or www.robotevents.com for more information about the new season.

Scott Rosenow, FIRST Affiliate Partner and TN VEX Event Partner

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Robotics in the Tennessee Valley

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Innovative Inspections

TNVR Supporting Robotics in Hamilton County Schools

Tennesse Valley Robotics Related Videos

HCS Student Anna Clark

MATE ROV

TVA Supports Robotics Competitions 

EPB ROBO EXPO 2018

VEX IQ @ CSLA & HCA

STEM Robotics

TN Chattanooga (North GA) FLL

Franklin HS RAD 

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TN Valley Robotics TN Chattanooga (North GA) Region FLL Championship Tournament - Saturday, December 14, 2019

Innovation Project Awards:

• Research - 21994 North Lee Elementary
• Innovative Solution - 32522 Mindtwisters
• Presentation - 33222 EMS Robotics 1

Global Innovation Award Nominee: 33330 Illumination
Robot Design Awards:

• Mechanical Design - 2330 CSLA
• Programming - 18098 Annoorbots
• Strategy & Innovation - 6808 RMS Dawgbots

Robot Performance Award - 18098 Annoorbots
Core Values Awards:

• Inspiration - 33225 EMS Robotics 4
• Teamwork - 24434 Eagle Eclipse
• Gracious Professionalism - 33330 Illumination

Champion's Award - 34449 Crusader Robotics
Open Invitational - 33222 EMS Robotics
​Open Invitational - 24434 Eagle Eclipse

FLL Championship 2019 Photo Album

TN Valley Robotics TN Chattanooga (North GA) Region FLL Qualifying Tournaments, 2019
​Chattanooga - Saturday, November 23, 2019
Project Research Award - Team 24434, Eagle Eclipse
Project Innovative Solution Award - Team 21994, North Lee Elementary
Project Presentation Award - Team 2327, Robojackets - Lookout Valley Elem
Robot Mechanical Design Award - Team 18098, AnnorBots - Annoor Academy
Robot Programming Award - Team 46144, Apison Robotics
Robot Strategy & Innovation Award - Team 47112, Bright School
Robot Performane Award - Team 34449, Crusader Robotics (365)
Core Values Inspiration Award - Team 3781, McConnell Robotics
Core Values Teamwork Award - Team 2186, R-Cubed, Bess T Shepherd
Core Values Gracious Professionalism Award - Team 16205, RoboHawks
Champion's Award - Team 34449, Crusader Robotics
(See more results on the FLL Program Page)

TN Valley Robotics VEX IQ Squared Away League Results (Tuesday, November 12, 2019)

• Teamwork Champion Award (VIQC)94406C CSLA RoboMechanics, CHATTANOOGA SCHOOL FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
• Teamwork Champion Award (VIQC)51190A VEXecutives, Chattanooga Valley Middle School Flintstone, Georgia, United States
• Teamwork 2nd Place Award (VIQC)94406B CSLA Eaglets, CHATTANOOGA SCHOOL FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
• Teamwork 2nd Place Award (VIQC)51190B Eagle Bots, Chattanooga Valley Middle School Flintstone, Georgia, United States
• Robot Skills Champion Award (VIQC)51190B Eagle Bots, Chattanooga Valley Middle School Flintstone, Georgia, United States
• Robot Skills Second Place Award (VIQC)94406C CSLA RoboMechanics, CHATTANOOGA SCHOOL FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States

(See more results on the VEX IQ Program Page)

TNVRobotics in the NEWS...

Robotics in our Schools

Volunteers

Since 2005, TVA Partners in Education has supported Robotics in Education, starting with a handful of schools. In 2017, Greater Chattanooga Robotics was formed to continue supporting Robotics in Education for nearly 40 Chattanooga area schools, as TVA endeavors to support Robotics Programming for more than 200 schools throughout the Tennessee Valley. To reflect our support of robotics across the 7 state region known as the Tennessee Valley we have rebranded our non-profit to TN Valley Robotics.

Competitions

TN Valley Robotics will be supporting local robotics tournaments: TN Chattanooga (North GA) Regional FLL Qualifying Tournaments in Blairsville, GA, Saturday, November 23; Chattanooga, TN, Saturday, November 23; Dalton, GA, Saturday November 16; and Rossville, GA on Saturday, November 16, 2019. 

TN Chattanooga (North GA) Regional FLL Championship Tournament, Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Eastbrook Middle School, Dalton, GA; which will include the TN Chattanooga (North GA) FLL Jr EXPO.

TNVRobotics Chattanooga VEX IQ League Play; TNVRobotics Chattanooga VEX EDR League Play; TNVRobotics Chattanooga VEX IQ Regional Qualifier - hosted by Volkswagen.

For more information about dates and locations of tournaments visit the FLL, FLL Jr. and VEX IQ/EDR pages under the PROGRAMS tab above.

Every TN Valley Robotics supported robotics tournament requires nearly 100 volunteers serving in capacities as varied as team registration, hospitality, refereeing, and traffic control.  We use Signup.com to provide prospective volunteers with information about each event and an opportunity to select a specific volunteer role and time. Volunteer Referees and Judges will continue to register for these roles through the www.firstinspires.org volunteer dashboard: https://www.firstinspires.org/ways-to-help/volunteer

Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
1) Click this link to see our SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/BiKcDTU to sign up to volunteer for our DECEMBER 14, 2019 Region CHAMPIONSHIP
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.

Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.

Mentors

In addition to volunteering at one of our robotics events, mentors are needed to support team development and preparations for competition at area schools across the Tennessee Valley. Please contact Scott Rosenow, FIRST Affiliate Partner for First Lego League (FLL) and First Lego League Jr Robotics, for more information about mentoring an elementary or middle school team in the TN Valley. Please contact Richard Manning, FIRST Senior Mentor for FTC & FRC Robotics, for more information about mentoring a middle and/or high school team in the TN Valley.

STEM lessons are extremely important for students as they prepare to enter the 21st-century workforce. Through robotics, students can learn more than just how to code. They can learn skills in leadership, community involvement, communicating across different technology platforms, finding their passions, and teamwork, which will position them for success well beyond their school years. As we continue to support education in the Tennessee Valley, we're excited to see the benefits that experiences in and through robotics will uncover next!"

The Top Five Unexpected Benefits of Robotics in Education

1. Robotics can be a launching pad for students to realize their passions.
2. A strong robotics curriculum can create leaders.
3. Robotics can teach students how to communicate across different technology platforms.
4. Robotics can lead to community involvement.
5. Robotics teaches essential teamwork skills.

"When students work in groups on a project with a robot they quickly see that technical skills, such as coding, are very important. However, their robot won’t move if they don’t know how to collaborate with others and communicate their ideas. Through robotics in the classroom, students learn how to express themselves and listen and relate to others— honing valuable life skills." 

"The ability to come together as different types of leaders, communicate with each other and utilize their personal strengths will be essential throughout our students’ lives, no matter if they become an artist, a business executive or an engineer."