Livingston Robotics Club (LRC) is a robotics club in Livingston, New Jersey, that provides a community network to introduce Livingston area youth to robotics design and real-life science research, consistent with the vision of FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). LRC is known for its member teams as winners at state, national, and international FIRST LEGO League (FLL) competitions.[1]
The initiative to form a robotics club in Livingston was conceived when a team called Landroids was formed in 2007 to compete in FIRST LEGO League. LRC was formed with one team during 2007-2008 seasons. With Landroids' success in that season, LRC gained wider recognition especially in the local community. It later became a member of Healthy Community Healthy Youth Initiative of Livingston – a non-profit community organization with a goal to enhance the lives of children in Livingston – in order to promote its expansion and to become eligible to receive corporate sponsorships.[2]
LRC encourages forming new teams in the community. It has provided guidance and resources for starting robotics team. There were four teams in LRC during 2008-2009 season, expanded to 17 teams throughout NJ from Jr. FLL to FTC divisions, with more than 100 students and two dozen parent coaches in the 2011-2012 season.[1] [2]
Landroids was formed in August 2007 by six 6th and 5th grade students from Livingston New Jersey area, and their parents. Originally registered under the name of Lancer Robotics Club following Livingston’s tradition to name teams in the town as Lancer, it was later formalized as "Livingston Robotics Club" at the end of 2007. Landroids is led by John Yeh for robotics design and Pearl Hwang in project research and jugding. Landroids is considered the founding team of Livingston Robotics Club (LRC), instrumental in promoting the FIRST to general public in New Jersey and worldwide.
Landroids has received many top national and international awards since its formation, including two times NJ State FIRST LEGO League (FLL) 1st place Champion's Awards in 2007, 2008; 2nd and 3rd place awards in Robot Design and Robot Performance in the 2008 FIRST Championship; 1st place Championship's Award and Founder's Award at the 2009 FIRST LEGO League U.S. Open Championship – the highest award for FLL open championship in the United States; 1st place National 8th grade award from the US Army sponsored eCybermission for the team's science research in 2010; 1st place NJ State eCYBERMISSION award in 2011. In 2010, the team also took 1st place in the international Google X-PRIZE LEGO Mindstorms sponsored MoonBots competition and was invited by LEGO Group to visit Denmark as their grand prize MoonBots award.
Landroids members had also compiled and conducted a 5-week long FLL orientation in a "kids teaching kids" format to mentor eight new FLL teams throughout NJ during the summer of 2009.[3] This PowerPoint presentation was later translated to Thai in its entirety for Thailand to startup its FLL participation in its country during the 2009-2010 season. The team hosts annual robotics exhibitions at Liberty Science Center with top FIRST LEGO League teams since 2008 on President's Day during Engineers Week. The Liberty Science Center exhibition was expanded to include Jr. FIRST LEGO League in 2009, added FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) teams in 2010, and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) in 2012.
In September 2010, at age 14, Landroids moved up to the FIRST Tech Challenge high school division, continued to participate in various science and robotics competitions and built on its high performance record. Even in its rookie FTC season, Landroids took home the Delaware State Championship FTC Inspire Award and the Rockwell Collins Innovate Award from the FTC World Championship in 2011.
In 2012, the team won the NJ State Inspire Award, then went on to earn the highest honor, the Inspire Award, at the FTC World Championship in St. Louis, secured a permanent spot in the FTC Hall of Fame. The team also remain the only undefeated team throughout the qualifying rounds at the Worlds, received the Division Winning Alliance Captain and World Finalist Alliance Captain Awards.
SciBoTechs was competitive FLL team founded in 2008 by Dr. Po-Shing Lee, and led by Michelle Weis and Janice Pepper in 2009. The team consists of six team members from the age of 12 to 14 years of age. The team received intense training in project research, robot design and performance, and teamwork. In the 2008 season, SciBoTechs received the first place award in the Research Project at 2008 qualifying tournament in [Hamilton, NJ], and the second place for their research project in states (Mt. Olive). In 2009, the SciBoTechs won the Judge's Award at the Montclair qualifying tournament. The FLL team became inactive in 2010 as the members aged out and entered high school. Some of the members of SciBoTechs joined the Livingston High School FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams, Lancers.
Landrias is an all-girls team started in 2008 with some team members as siblings of team Landroids and SciBoTechs. Landrias was jointly trained by John Yeh (robot) and Dr. Po-Shing Lee (project) in 2008 and 2010; and Pearl Hwang as the project coach in 2009. Landrias has received the Robot Design Award at 2008 qualifying tournament in Montclair, a 2nd place Robot Design Award at the NJ state tournament in 2008, a Champion's Award at the 2009 qualifying tournament in Montclair, a Champion's Award and 2nd place Robot Performance Award at the 2010 Bergen qualifying tournament. Landrias' mission is to provide hands-on building and programming skills to young girls, while creating a bonding experience for the girls to learn about science and play together.
Livingston Alpha Force is the last team that was formed in 2008 with three members range in age from 8 to 12 years with Janea and Jojo Agbayani as coaches. The team's focus is for recreation and training about science, building with LEGOs, and to start to focus on programming.
Four additional teams were formed at the start of 2009-2010 season. The first team is r2d2 which comprises six 4th grade boys. Soon followed were Thunderclan, Technophiles, Alpha Force and Supreme Machines. The Spongebots, the only Jr.FLL team in 2009, kicked started the LRC Jr. FLL divisions with a total of 6 LRC Jr. FLL teams in 2010.
Exit 5 Robotics is an all-girls robotics team originally formed in 2010 with four 4th graders and one 3rd grader from Harrison Elementary School in Livingston, NJ. After four seasons of FLL challenges and a 2014 MoonBots challenge, the team has transitioned to a FTC team (2014-2015) with twelve girls (four 8th, one 9th, five 10th and two 11th graders).
For the 2010 FLL Body Forward season, Exit 5 Robotics received the 1st Place Robot Performance Award at the Bergen qualifying tournament, a 3rd place Robot Performance Award as well as the Judge's Award at the 2010 NJ state tournament.
For the 2011 FLL Food Factor season, the team won the Champion's Award and the 1st Place Robot Performance Award at the Liberty Science Center qualifying tournament and a 2nd Place Champion's Award at the 2011 NJ state tournament.
For the 2012 FLL Senior Solutions season, the team won the Champion's Award at the Hillsborough qualifier, a 2nd Place Champion's Award at the 2012 NJ state tournament and a 2nd Place Gracious Professionalism Award at the North American Open Championship.
For the 2013 FLL Nature's Fury season, the team won the Project Award & 1st Place Robot Performance Award in the Sparta qualifier, a 3rd Place Champion's Award at the 2013 NJ state tournament and a 2nd Place Gracious Professionalism Aware at the North American Open Championship.
The team has a common interest in Science, Math, Engineering, Robotics & Technology and is led by coaches Bill Lam, Yitao Yu and Holly Lam. Exit 5A Robotics is an all-girls award-winning team formed with two Exit 5 FLL members from the 2013 FLL season and has competed in three FLL seasons and other competitions. The team has a total of eight 9th graders and is coached by Carmen Yung, Bill Lam, Jerry Siao and Holly Lam. Exit 6B Brobotics is an all-boys award-winning team of 2 6th graders and two 7th graders) and is coached by Bill Lam and Ritu Sohal.
Below is the list of state, national, and global level awards received by LRC teams.
| Season / Theme | Team | Competition | Event Location | Award name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 / Game Changers Replay | Exit 6 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | NJ Virtual | Engineering Excellence Award |
| 2019-2020 / City Shaper | Exit 6 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Champions Award - 1st Place |
| 2018-2019 / Turning Point | Exit 5 Robotics | CREATE US Open Championship | Council Bluffs, IA | Amaze Award |
| 2018-2019 / Turning Point | Exit 5 Robotics | CREATE US Open Championship | Council Bluffs, IA | Bracket Buster Award |
| 2018-2019 / Into Orbit | Exit 5A Robotics | World FLL Championship | Detroit, MI | Inspiration Award |
| 2018-2019 / Into Orbit | Exit 5A Robotics | World FLL Championship | Detroit, MI | Coach / Mentor Award |
| 2018-2019 / Into Orbit | Exit 5A Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Champion's Award - 1st Place |
| 2018-2019 /Smart Cities | Exit 5A Robotics | WRO US Championship | Carlsbad, CA | 3rd Place Award |
| 2018-2019 / Next Level | Exit 6B Brobotics | CREATE US Open Championship | Council Bluffs, IA | VIQ Junior High Division - Design Award |
| 2018-2019 / Next Level | Exit 6B Brobotics | VEX IQ NJ State Championship | Tinton Falls, NJ | Judges Award |
| 2017-2018 / In The Zone | Exit 5 Robotics | CREATE US Open Championship | Council Bluffs, IA | Design Award |
| 2017-2018 / In The Zone | Exit 5 Robotics | VRC NJ State Championship | Cherry Hill, NJ | Build Award |
| 2017-2018 / Ringmaster | Exit 6B Brobotics | VEX IQ World Championship | KY | Skills Ranking 102 of 600 teams |
| 2017-2018 / Ringmaster | Exit 6B Brobotics | VEX IQ NJ State Championship | Tinton Falls, NJ | Excellence Award |
| 2017-2018 / Ringmaster | Exit 6B Brobotics | VEX IQ NJ State Championship | Tinton Falls, NJ | Teamwork Challenge Award - 2nd Place |
| 2017-2018 / Hydrodynamics | Exit 5A Robotics | North American Open Championship | Carlsbad, CA | Judges Award |
| 2015-2016 / Trash Trek | Exit 5A Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Inspiration Award |
| 2014-2015 / World Class Learning Unleashed | Exit 5A Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Mechanical Design Award |
| 2014-2015 / Cascade Effect | Exit 5 Robotics | Google Lunar XPrize Moonbots | -- | Finalist |
| 2013-2014 / Nature's Fury | Exit 5 Robotics | North American Open Championship | Carlsbad, CA | Gracious Professionalism Award - 2nd place |
| 2013-2014 / Nature's Fury | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Champion's Award - 3rd place |
| 2013-2014 / Nature's Fury | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Robot Performance Award - 2nd place |
| 2013-2014 / Block Party | Landroids | FTC East Super Regional | Scranton, PA | Inspire Award - 1st Place |
| 2013-2014 / Block Party | Landroids | FTC East Super Regional | Scranton, PA | Championship Winning Alliance Captain |
| 2012-2013 / Senior Solutions | Exit 5 Robotics | North American Open Championship | Carlsbad, CA | Gracious Professionalism Award - 2nd place |
| 2012-2013 / Senior Solutions | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Champion's Award - 2nd place |
| 2012-2013 / Ring It Up | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | Edison Division Finalist Alliance Captain |
| 2012-2013 / Ring It Up | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | Inspire Award - 2nd Place |
| 2011-2012 / Food Factor | Exit 5 Robotics | FLL World Invitational Open | Winter Haven, FL | 17th place out of 85 |
| 2011-2012 / Food Factor | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Champion's Award - 2nd place |
| 2011-2012 / Bowled Over | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | World Finalist Alliance Captain |
| 2011-2012 / Bowled Over | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | Franklin Division Winning Alliance Captain |
| 2011-2012 / Bowled Over | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | Inspire Award - 1st Place |
| 2010-2011 / Body Forward | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Robot Performance Award - 3rd place |
| 2010-2011 / Body Forward | Exit 5 Robotics | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Judge's Award |
| 2010-2011 / Get Over It | Landroids | FTC World Championship | St. Louis, MO | Rockwell Collins Innovate Award |
| 2009-2010 / Smart Move | Landroids | NJ FLL State Championship[4] | Flanders, NJ | Robot Design Award - 1st place |
| 2009-2010 / Smart Move | Thunderclan | NJ FLL State Championship | Flanders, NJ | Robot Design Award - 2nd place |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landroids | FLL U.S. Open Championship[5] | Dayton, OH | Champion’s Award - 1st place |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landroids | FLL U.S. Open Championship | Dayton, OH | Robot Alliance - 1st place |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landroids | FLL U.S. Open Championship | Dayton, OH | Founder's Award |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landroids | FLL New Jersey State Tournament[6] | Flanders, NJ | Champion’s Award - 1st place |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landroids | FLL New Jersey State Tournament | Flanders, NJ | Robot Performance Award - 2nd place |
| 2008-2009 / Climate Connections | Landrias | FLL New Jersey State Tournament | Flanders, NJ | Technical Award - 2nd place |
| 2008-2009/ Climate Connections | SciBoTechs | FLL New Jersey State Tournament | Flanders, NJ | Research Award - 2nd place |
| 2007-2008 / Power Puzzle | Landroids | FIRST LEGO League World Festival[7] | Atlanta, GA | Quality Design Award 2nd Place |
| 2007-2008 / Power Puzzle | Landroids | FIRST LEGO League World Festival | Atlanta, GA | Robot Performance Award - 3rd Place |
| 2007-2008 / Power Puzzle | Landroids | FLL New Jersey State Tournament[8] | Flanders, NJ | Champion’s Award |
| 2007-2008 / Power Puzzle | Landroids | FLL New Jersey State Tournament | Flanders, NJ | Performance Award - 2nd place |