High above the canopy, drones survey the landscape and transmit data back in real time. Help the pilot launch the drone to create a LiDAR map of this rainforest ecosystem.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• Drone is no longer touching the mat: 20
• Bonus: and the LiDAR map is completely flipped over, with the scan marker at least partly in the survey area: 10 added

FLLCasts Tip

This mission is convenient to run from the left launch area. To reach the Scan Marker (the red block), use either the yaw/gyro sensor or the wall for alignment. Then push the Scan Marker so that it raises the drone.

For maximum points, the Scan Marker needs to finish under the LiDAR Map and help flip it. A typical self-aligning attachment may be difficult to use because the satellite dish on the LiDAR Map sits only about half a LEGO unit above the mat, leaving very little clearance. The robot therefore needs accurate positioning, or an attachment that can correct the Scan Marker’s position or align against the back of the model.

You can rotate the robot to place the Scan Marker under the LiDAR Map, but if the robot has been driving while rubbing against the wall, check that it still has enough room to make the left turn. Also, the Scan Marker does not have to flip the LiDAR Map itself. The robot can push the Scan Marker at least partly into the survey area and flip the LiDAR Map with a different part of the attachment; the two actions do not have to happen at the same time.

To save time, your team may choose to skip the bonus, simply push the Scan Marker forward far enough to raise the drone reliably, and return quickly to home. One idea worth testing on a real table is whether the Scan Marker can catch safely against the table wall while the drone is being lifted.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Some trees use a unique strategy to disperse their seeds. Release the seeds from the seed pod, propelling them to new ground.

Score

• Seeds no longer touching the stalk: 10 each

FLLCasts Tip

This mission can be solved with a small fork-shaped attachment that comes down from above or approaches from the side to pull the seeds free. The attachment can be passive and activated by the mission model, or active if that makes the mechanism easier to control.

Because the released Seeds are also used in M14 Seeds of Renewal, it is useful to add a basket or fence to the robot to collect them. Make the collecting area larger than the Seed rings so the pieces are less likely to escape when they detach from the Stalk.

Precise alignment helps because the Seed rings are small. A guide or aligner can square the robot to the model. Another option is to insert an axle from the side and then pull the Seeds away; this can reduce the need for very precise positioning.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Many creatures thrive just below the surface. Flip the rock to discover what’s living underneath but leave no trace by placing it back the way you found it.

Score

• The research flag is down: 20
• Bonus: and the rock has been returned to its original starting position: 10 added

FLLCasts Tip

The mission model is close to home and is oriented so the robot can approach it directly. One solution is a mechanism that catches one of the red handles and pulls it twice to flip the rock; a rotating “harvester”-style mechanism could perform both pulls in one rotation.

A faster partial solution is to use an aligner and a protruding axle. As the robot approaches, the axle can enter the model and push the Research Flag down, after which the robot can return to home immediately. This can save a significant amount of match time.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Hidden in plain sight, the katydid camouflages with its leafy surroundings. Collect as many leaves as you can without disturbing this master of disguise.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• One leaf is completely removed, no longer touching the nest: 10
• Bonus: and the second leaf is completely removed, no longer touching the nest, with the katydid in its original starting position: 20 added

The nest is the mission model that holds the leaves and the katydid.

If the katydid is completely removed from the nest at any time, the bonus is no longer available.

If the katydid is outside the leaf habitat at the end of the match, even partly, the team scores zero points for this mission. The leaf habitat includes the nest and the marked area on the mat surrounding it.

FLLCasts Tip

For this mission, the referees indicate which leaf contains the katydid. A useful attachment can collect both leaves at once while avoiding the katydid. One option is a pair of latch mechanisms that lower from above, catch the leaves, and then lift them. Make the latches adjustable so each one can sit either at the outer position or toward the middle, allowing the attachment to catch only the leaves.

Another option is a simple fork built with axles that slides under the leaves and lifts them. Because this mission model is close to the left home area, the robot can return directly to home after completing the action to save time.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Rainforest plants stretch their roots far and wide, reaching resources and forming connections with nearby organisms. Help this plant cross the forest boundary in search of symbiosis.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The plant root is . . . a. Partially extended: 10
• OR b. Completely extended: 20

Only one scoring condition is possible for this mission.

*The bonuses are possible if both teams completely extend the structures.

*Bonuses

FLLCasts Tip

This mission can be completed with one quick rotational movement. The inertia from the rotation can fully extend the mechanism, allowing the robot to score the full points with a single fast action.

Because the mission model is close to the left home area, the robot can return directly to home afterward if it is oriented correctly, saving valuable match time.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Leafcutter ants work together to feed an underground fungus garden. Guide the ants back to their nest – but move too quickly, and you may scatter the leaves they collected.

Score

• The ant is touching the nest, and the leaf fragments are contained within the nest: 10 each fragment

FLLCasts Tip

There are three straightforward ways to approach this mission, using a simple attachment or even no attachment at all. The first is to push the ant mechanism inward slowly, at a speed that keeps the leaf fragments from jumping out.

A second option is a slightly more complex attachment that acts like a small roof above the leaves. As the robot pushes, the roof keeps the fragments from escaping. The robot could even leave this cover on the model if your overall strategy allows it.

A third option is to engage the large gear and rotate it. For this approach, come from the left launch area and use the wall behind the mission model for alignment. Approaching from the left also allows the cover to be smaller because it can shield all of the leaves at once.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Mycelium is the vast, underground network of fungus beneath the rainforest floor. Form a new connection between the mycelium and a neighboring tree root.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The mycelium is completely extended: 20
• Bonus: and a connection is formed between one team’s extended mycelium and the opposing team’s fully extended plant root (two bonuses possible): 10 added

The mycelium and plant root do not need to touch to form a connection. If each is fully extended, both teams will earn the bonus.

It is not possible to earn the bonus in remote competitions or if there is no opposing team.

*The bonuses are possible if both teams completely extend the structures.

*Bonuses

FLLCasts Tip

This mission can be solved by pulling the lever. Another option is to block the lever so it cannot move forward and then lift the Mycelium quickly, causing it to extend.

Watch the chain while lifting the Mycelium because it can catch on the attachment. This approach is easier if the robot comes in from the side of the Humongous Fungus model.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Climbing vines have wrapped tightly around this tree. Gently untangle them so the tree has space and sunlight to grow again.

Score

• The vine is touching the mat: 30

FLLCasts Tip

The Vine is attached to the tree with a bearing beam, which allows it to be lifted enough to come free from the hook. It can also be moved slightly toward the Blue Home Area so it does not interfere with later positioning.

If the Vine is simply released onto the mat without being moved aside, it can obstruct the robot when it tries to line up for lifting the nearby platform. Plan the final position of the Vine as part of the route, not just the act of detaching it.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Olivia and Michael are studying species that live the rainforest canopy with the help of their forest guide. Help the team deploy equipment to monitor activity high above the forest floor.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The camera trap is deployed: 10
• The research platform is raised: 10
• The seed is no longer touching the tree: 10

FLLCasts Tip

When the Research Platform is raised all the way, it releases both the Camera Trap and the Seed. The Seed should be collected in something like a basket or fence so it can be reused later in M14 Seeds of Renewal.

The Camera Trap is released shortly after the platform starts to rise, but the platform must continue far enough to push the black lever that activates the mechanism releasing the Seed. The platform is heavy, so the lifting attachment should be strong, work as close to the tree as possible, and preferably support the platform from both sides.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Researchers must work carefully when exploring protected ecosystems. Move through the area without damaging these tiny creature’s homes.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The spider habitat is in its original starting position: 10
• The snail habitat is in its original starting position: 10

FLLCasts Tip

The safest strategy for this mission is simple: if the robot does not touch the Fragile Microhabitats models, you avoid creating problems with them. Plan nearby routes and attachments so they stay clear of both habitats.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Roots help to tell the long history of the rainforest. Open the root window and document what you see.

Score

• The root cover is down, touching the mat: 20

FLLCasts Tip

The goal here is to open the Root Cover. You can do this by pushing or pulling the upper part of the Root Cover; approaching from the right is generally easier than approaching from the left.

There is also a Seed attached to the left side of the mission model. Because that Seed is used later in M14 Seeds of Renewal, it is useful to collect it during this mission. Lift it by the red part that connects it to the model, and use a basket or fence attached to the robot to keep it secure.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Once a towering giant, this aging tree now bends beneath its own weight. Add a support to stabilize the tree for years to come.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The cane is completely raised, touching the tree: 20
• The support tie is around the post: 10

FLLCasts Tip

This mission can be completed in a single run from the Blue Home Area. Because the model is very close to home, the robot can drive directly toward it and use the wall to stay straight and precise.

Use a mechanism that slides under the Cane and raises it against the tree as the robot backs away, or with a small rotating motion. The second task is to collect the Support Tie and place it around the Post. A flexible hook can catch the lower part of the Support Tie, lift it, pull it toward the Post, and place it around the Post. Because the chain is short and the action requires precision, an active attachment may make this easier.

You can also split the mission into two separate runs, which may allow much simpler attachments than one mechanism that performs everything.

This mission also has a Seed that can be collected with a basket or fence. Detach it by lifting the red part that connects it to the tree. When the robot finishes working around the model, it can return directly to the Blue Home Area if that is the fastest route.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Keystone species bring balance to their ecosystem and shape the forest around them. Your team must build and deliver a keystone species to this newly protected habitat.

Score

• Your team’s keystone species is on the restoration platform, and the young trees are raised: 30

You can use the bricks in bag 20 to build your keystone species model. Your keystone species counts as equipment and will be included in the pre-match inspection. Teams will be asked to identify their keystone species at that time.

FLLCasts Tip

Because Missions 13–15 can be placed on the docks chosen by the team, this model can be positioned to suit your strategy. If it is placed at the upper-right dock near the Blue Home Area, the robot can return directly to home and save time.

This may be the simplest of the dock missions. A passive attachment could open the bottom of a basket carrying the Keystone Species, or another release mechanism could drop the model onto the Restoration Platform. It helps if the Keystone Species is heavy enough to press the platform down and raise the Young Trees.

Keep the Keystone Species as compact as practical, or shape it so that it occupies a small footprint when released, making the Restoration Platform easier to hit. Since it is built from the pieces in bag 20, a dense upright cylinder- or block-like shape may be useful.

One strategic option is to place this mission at the Farm dock. The nearby Spider Habitat makes careful driving important, and this relatively simple mission may reduce the chance of disturbing it compared with a more complicated dock task.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

A thriving rainforest relies on its plant diversity. Place the seeds your team has collected in the soil and watch as they take root.

Score

• Seeds are contained within the replantation station: 5 each
• Bonus: and are touching the mat: 5 added each

FLLCasts Tip

Because Missions 13–15 can be placed on the docks chosen by the team, this model can be positioned to fit your strategy. If it is placed at the upper-right dock near the Blue Home Area, the robot can return directly to home and save time.

One option is to place this mission at the City dock. The robot must deliver the Seeds into the Replantation Station. A passive attachment can carry the Seeds in a tall basket whose bottom opens when it contacts the mission model.

The basket can also release flexible beams that agitate the bottom of the model so that as many Seeds as possible fall all the way down and touch the field mat. The shaking action could instead be driven by an active attachment, avoiding the need for the robot itself to “dance” in front of the model.

The attachment can be designed to remain on the mission model when the robot leaves, because this mission does not have the No Equipment Constraint. That can save the time needed to remove the attachment.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook

Thoughtful design creates harmony between humans and the natural world. Modify the building to create homes for wildlife, restore soil health, and bring natural light to green spaces.

No Equipment Constraint: A mission model cannot earn points if it is touching equipment at the end of the match.

Score

• The nesting canopy is raised: 10
• The compost hatch is completely opened, touching the mat: 10
• The garden skylight is completely in: 10
• Environmental Bonus: If you have completed the greatest ecological need for the dock the model is located - a. Mine dock: nesting canopy OR b. Farm dock: compost hatch OR c. City dock: garden skylight: 10 added

Only one bonus is possible for this mission.

FLLCasts Tip

Because Missions 13–15 can be placed on the docks chosen by the team, this model can be positioned to fit your route. If it is placed at the upper-right dock near the Blue Home Area, the robot can return directly to home and save time.

This is the most complex of the dock missions because three different actions are needed for the maximum base score: raise the Nesting Canopy, move the Garden Skylight completely in, and lower the Compost Hatch. One option is to place this model at the Mine dock, where the robot can use two walls near the Blue Home Area for alignment.

The Nesting Canopy can be raised with an inclined beam that lifts it as the robot approaches. The Garden Skylight can be pulled in with a hook as the robot backs away. To lower the Compost Hatch, use a mechanism that presses the handle; an axle fitted with a Technic Tooth 1 x 3 with Axlehole with Rounded Bottom Cavity can both press and slightly pull the handle to help start the movement.

The dock you choose also determines which action earns the Environmental Bonus: the nesting canopy at the Mine dock, the garden skylight at the City dock, or the compost hatch at the Farm dock.

FIRST® LEGO® League Video rules

FIRST® LEGO® League Robot Game Rulebook