FLL Unearthed
Robot in 30 hours - Presented by Red Beard Pandas!
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Helping New FLL Teams
Helping New FLL Teams
Our team has put together a quick overview of the Unearthed (2025-26) FLL Challenge. We are offering insights into the table, quick solutions with minimal parts and code using the EV3 Mindstorm built in the basic tribot design. We did these over 2 days, starting at noon August 5th, 2025 when the challenge was first released.
It took our 10 students 2 hours to build the Lego missions, plan accordingly! There are lots of little detailed pieces and a lot of complex mission models
We had 5 laptops open with the build instructions, and only half the team had done FLL before. We had built the EV3 tribots according to the Lego instructions that come with EV3 before the competition was revealed August 1st. We kept the tribot design "ev3-medium-motor-driving-base", adding attachments sometimes. Average team member age is 13, which is old for FLL (usually ages 9-14 in the US).
We next started cranking out these mission 'simple solutions' without showing how to tie it all together into a 2.5 minute competition run. Keep in mind that many teams spend a lot of time changing attachments during a 2.5 minute run, and that impacts your score. Pick a few best missions for your team, and then see if you can grow. Think like a race-car pit crew. Plan one sortie that launches on one side, and lands on the other side to continue the next sortie!
Mission 1 - Surface Brush Part One
Mission 1 - Surface Brush Part One
This mission is close to home and does not require any sensors, and the attachment can be stationary! We approach from the front of the mission and make 2 big swipes to get 20 points.
How to plan out your misions!
How to plan out your misions!
Which missions should you try first?
Which missions should you take to competitions?
Two FLL Veterans hope to share their experience!
Mission 1 - Surface Brush Part Two
Mission 1 - Surface Brush Part Two
We came back to this mission! The attachment we use requires a lot of precision, but when we snag the brush, we can fling it into our home area for collection!
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part One
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part One
This mission is a little further from home. To push the map into place for 10 points can be a little bit difficult because of the tight alleyway between mission 2 and mission 1. We do a lot of small adjustments to get ourselves back to home base.
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part Two
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part Two
This mission is a little further from home. Another way to get 10 points, and you bring an artifact back to home base! This one is a little easier than the rotating portion of the map reveal. We recommend a big fork to ensure you hook the loop!
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part Three
Mission 2 - Map Reveal Part Three
The final part of mission 2! What a lot of work for 30 points. We recommend you do this part after pulling up the loop in front of it (Part 2).
Mission 3 - Mineshaft Explorer
Mission 3 - Mineshaft Explorer
This mission is harder than it looks! It is very far from base and there are lots of little obstacles for your wheels or attachments to get caught on. The studs on the gray pieces are especially grabby... If you're not precise, you may knock the beams over for Mission 4: Careful Recovery!
However, this is a great way for you to get 30 points and give your table partner 10 points.
Mission 5 - Who Lived Here
Mission 5 - Who Lived Here
The trickiest part of this mission is navigating past other missions to get there. We simply hook the tab and turn to flip the floor over to get 30 points!
Mission 6 - Forge
Mission 6 - Forge
This mission is far from home and can be a little tricky. We tried our hardest to plow the rocks through the narrow gap to the home area, but we decided to try that again another time. You do not need a motorized attachment to complete this mission!
Mission 7 - Heavy Lifting
Mission 7 - Heavy Lifting
You need a looong arm to get to this mission! The more forks at the end, the more likely you are to catch the loop. You can drop the stone off just outside of the mat, but it is just as easy to bring it all the way back with you
Mission 8 - Silo
Mission 8 - Silo
This mission is very close to home base and requires only a simple attachment and programming to get all 30 points. We whack the lever multiple times to ensure we get all 3 food items out. Be careful, if you do this mission early on, you may get debris all over the field that can trip up later missions!
Mission 9 - What's on sale
Mission 9 - What's on sale
This is a 2-part mission very close to home base and a great way to get 30 points! We break this task in 2 parts which allows us to realign between each task. You can do these tasks in any order!
Mission 10 - Scale Tip
Mission 10 - Scale Tip
This mission is close to home base, but requires very specific motion and a clever attachment to get full points. You are encouraged to break this mission into 2 parts, tipping the scale first then coming back for the rest
Mission 11 - Angler Artifacts
Mission 11 - Angler Artifacts
This mission is close to home, but may not be the most simple one to pursue. We use a large arm with a supporting wheel to capture the top of the red lever, we then move back and forth 8 times to raise the artifact and ensure we get full points for the flag
Mission 12 - Salvage Operation
Mission 12 - Salvage Operation
This mission is very close to home base and is very easy to get a full 30 points! We use a very simple attachment and the same program twice with different starting alignments to complete both parts!
Mission 13 - Statue Recovery
Mission 13 - Statue Recovery
This mission is closer to the red base, but it is a much clearer path from the blue base! We scoop under the neck of the statue and lift up instead of pushing on the red lever like the mission release video shows.
Mission 14 - Forum
Mission 14 - Forum
If you find yourself with a lot of artifacts, make sure to deliver them to the Forum for 5 points each! First, you deliver the artifacts from the blue side to the red side, then you arrange the artifacts so they are all hooked together but still touching the mat.
Mission 15 - Site Markings
Mission 15 - Site Markings
There are 3 flags and 3 sites you can mark! We chose the site we believed was easiest because it had minimal obstacles and had a large drop area. We drop the flag very slowly to ensure it does not roll away!
Advanced Alignment Techniques
Advanced Alignment Techniques
There are a few lines on the field that can be useful for squaring up the robot. The walls on the field are also very helpful to ensure you know your exact angle! We share some examples about how to navigate this mat.
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