Hydro Dynamics (FIRST)

Hydro Dynamics is the name of the 2017/18 FIRST Lego League challenge. It focuses on the water cycle and the ways in which humans can influence it. Each event consists of two main portions: the project and robot gameplay. Teams have fewer than ten weeks to prepare for their competitions.

Project
Teams are invited to identify a problem in the human water cycle and examine it to determine the cause and current solutions that may exist. Teams then solve to the problem by improving on a previous solution or creating a new one. Teams finally create a presentation that describes their solution and how they reached it and present it to the judges at their competitions.

Gameplay
The table performance portion of Hydro Dynamics is played on a 4 ft by 8 ft field covered in a plastic covering and rimmed by wooden boards. In order to compete in this portion, teams have to build a robot using a Lego Mindstorms robotics kit. During a competition, two fields are placed besides each other, with one robot competing on each field. Matches last $2 1/2$ minutes and consist of a team's robot completing missions using pre-programmed instructions.

Missions
The missions in Hydro Dynamics revolve around the purification, transportation, and use of water. A list of the missions and their point values is found below.
 * Pipe removal - 20 points
 * Flow - 25 points
 * Pump Addition - 20 points
 * Rain - 20 points
 * Filter - 30 points
 * Water Treatment - 20 points
 * Fountain - 20 points
 * 2 Manhole Covers - 15 points each, 30 point bonus
 * Tripod - Partially 15 points, completely 30 points
 * Pipe Replacement - 20 points
 * Pipe Construction - Partially 15 points, completely 30 points
 * Sludge - 30 points
 * Flower - 30 points, 30 point bonus
 * Water Well - Partially 15 points, completely 25 points
 * Firetruck - 25 points
 * Water Collection - At least one Rain 10 points, Big Water 10 points each, 30 point bonus
 * Slingshot - 20 points, 15 point bonus
 * Faucet - 25 points