2019

BEST Robotics

OverviewSTEVIE MAYBERRY

FOR BEST OF TEXAS ROBOTICS (BTR)

SERMAYBERRY@GMAIL.COM

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

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Robotics Game►Based on annual real-world theme

►Four teams at a time compete in a

series of 3-minute, round robin

matches

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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

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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

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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

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This is a

Robot.

(Some Assembly Required)

Identical Kits, Unique Robots

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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

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**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

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BEST Robotics Transforms

►Not just students,

but schools and communities

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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

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2019 BEST Robotics Game Teaser

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Sponsored by

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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SCHOOL LOCATION (in %)

Rural . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45%

Urban . . . . . . . . . . . . 29%

Suburban . . . . . . . . 26%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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SCHOOL TYPE

Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%

Private .. . . . . . . . . . . 14%

Homeschool. . . . . . . . 4%

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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SCHOOL CLASS

Middle/junior high . . . . . . . 21%

High school . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60%

K-12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 %

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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SCHOOL SIZE (student count)

<400 . . . . . . . . . . 34%

400-799 . . . . . . . 31%

800-1199 . . . . . . 13%

1200-1999 . . . . . 11%

>2000 . . . . . . . . . 11%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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STUDENTS BY GRADE

K-5Th . . . . . . 1%

6th . . . . . . . . 8%

7th . . . . . . . 10%

8th . . . . . . . 11%

9th . . . . . . . 15%

10th . . . . . . 19%

11th . . . . . . 19%

12th . . . . . . 18%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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ETHINCITY

White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53%

Diversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47%

African American . . . 10%

Native . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3%

Asian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8%

Hispanic . . . . . . . . . . . .24%

other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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GENDER

Males . . . . 66%

Females . . 34%

BEST Robotics Summary 2019

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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

btr-events@bestinc.org

►National Organization:

► www.bestinc.org

► Janne Ackerman

(acting executive director)

bestED@bestinc.org

26Copyright © 2019 BEST Robotics, Inc. All rights reserved