What is BEST Robotics?
►BOOSTING
►ENGINEERING
►SCIENCE &
►TECHNOLOGY
3Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI) is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation.
BEST of Texas Robotics is a 501(c)(3) not for profit corporation, licensedby BRI, that supports BEST teams in Texas and hosts the UIL StateChampionship – BEST Robotics Division.
BEST Robotics Season
►Local BEST Robotics organizations (hubs) hosts the six-week program for area teams during the fall semester:
► Kickoff [September] – Hub introduces teams to the annual game and provides kits
► Practice Day – Teams test their robots on the actual game field [4-5 weeks after kickoff]
► Game Day [October] – Competition day for all teams and their robots [6 weeks after kickoff]
►Hub competition is the qualifying event for championships
5Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
Robotics Game►Based on annual real-world theme
►Four teams at a time compete in a
series of 3-minute, round robin
matches
6Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
BEST Robotics Program
►Student-designed, student-built and student-competed
► Students are the sole participants and primary decision-makers,
designers, and builders
► Mentors are typically industry engineers from area companies
► Coaches (teachers and mentors) may guide the teams in planning
and construction of their robot but MAY NOT design, build, or
compete
7Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
BEST Robotics Robot
►Max weight 24 lbs
►Max starting size is 24”x24”x24”
► May (will need to) unfold or
expand when match starts
►Must be built only from provided kit materials (3 kits)
► Hardware, electronics, and software
8Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
Robot Kits►All teams get identical “kits”
► Creates a level playing field
► Simulates real world constraints of limited resources
► Resulting robots are anything but identical!
►Consumable kit
► Raw materials from which students will build their robots
► Plywood; aluminum rods; rubber bands; bicycle inner tube; PVC pipe, elbows and tees; glue; screws; hinges; angle brackets; motor mounts; etc.
►Returnable kit
► Electronics, microprocessor, batteries, servos, motors, motor controllers, joystick, etc.
►Software kit
► Student licenses for Mathworks Simulink, easyC, Solidworks, SolidWize, and more
9Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
This is a
Robot.
(Some Assembly Required)
Identical Kits, Unique Robots
10Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
Some robots
from 2017 BEST
competition:
“Crossfire”
Two Competitions
►Game [required]
► Summary project engineeringnotebook
► Robot performance
►BEST Award [optional**] – A multi-faceted competition comprised of five key components
► Two required elements above PLUS
► Marketing presentation
► Exhibit display and student interviews
► Spirit and sportsmanship
►Teams consider winning the BEST Award to be the top honor
11Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
**Required for UIL
BEST Robotics and Students Skills
►Students tackle a real-world engineering experience that incorporates the practical application of math and science
►Students become more technologically literate and thus better prepared to enter the workforce
►Students develop leadership, project management, teamwork, communication, and organizational skills
►Students’ confidence and competence increases through self-directed learning, decision-making, abstract and critical thinking, and problem solving
14Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
BEST Robotics Transforms
►Not just students,
but schools and communities
15Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
BEST Robotics Resources
►Teacher / Mentor Workshops
► Two identical sessions with 32 hours CEUs
►July 15 – 19 OR
►July 29 – August 2
► Hosted by BEST of Texas Robotics and held on the campus of the
University of Texas at Dallas
►On campus housing available
► For more information, visit
bestoftexasrobotics.org/workshops.html
16Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
2019 BEST Robotics Game Teaser
17Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
Sponsored by
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
18Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
SCHOOL LOCATION (in %)
Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45%
Urban . . . . . . . . . . . . 29%
Suburban . . . . . . . . 26%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
19Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
SCHOOL TYPE
Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%
Private .. . . . . . . . . . . 14%
Homeschool. . . . . . . . 4%
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
20Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
SCHOOL CLASS
Middle/junior high . . . . . . . 21%
High school . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%
K-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 %
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
21Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
SCHOOL SIZE (student count)
<400 . . . . . . . . . . 34%
400-799 . . . . . . . 31%
800-1199 . . . . . . 13%
1200-1999 . . . . . 11%
>2000 . . . . . . . . . 11%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
22Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
STUDENTS BY GRADE
K-5Th . . . . . . 1%
6th . . . . . . . . 8%
7th . . . . . . . 10%
8th . . . . . . . 11%
9th . . . . . . . 15%
10th . . . . . . 19%
11th . . . . . . 19%
12th . . . . . . 18%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
23Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
ETHINCITY
White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53%
Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47%
African American . . . 10%
Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3%
Asian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%
Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . .24%
other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
24Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
GENDER
Males . . . . 66%
Females . . 34%
BEST Robotics Summary 2019
25Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved
PERCENT OF STUDENTS PLANNING TO PURSUE STEM DEGREE/CAREER
65% Of males participating in BEST
57% Of females participating in BEST
For more information, contact:
►Within Texas:
► www.bestoftexasrobotics.org
► Janne Ackerman
►National Organization:
► www.bestinc.org
► Janne Ackerman
(acting executive director)
26Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved