title: Hydro Dynamics (FIRST)
text: # 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
  