Teacher/Mentor
Institute
Welcome and
Introduction to BEST Robotics
José M. López - RM BEST Executive Director
Tami Kirkland – FR BEST Hub Director
July 21-22, 2016
ENTRANCE SURVEY
Teacher/Mentor
Institute
 Welcome & Thank You & Can You
Hear?
 Introductions
 Administrative
 Lunch/ Breaks
 Restrooms
 Surveys – Entrance & Exit
Workshop Purpose
1.
Meet the BEST Hub Teams
2.
Discuss Expectations for
Teachers / Mentors
Introduce BEST & Resources
3.







Program – Local Hub & National
Organization
Events and Schedule
Registration
Game Rules
Awards & Judging
Robot Materials – Returnable and
Consumable Kits
Software Licenses
4.
Introduce Robot Build
Training & Resources




5.
Engineering Design Process
Provided Robot Materials
Safety
easyC software programming
Experience the student’s
6 week robot build


Break into teams at start of
day 2 for robot build – rookies
with 1 veteran per team
4 hour mini robot build
followed by a 30 minute
competition
BEST Robotics Video, 2015 Rocky Mountain BEST
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVs7fsHypZU
Page 3
Thursday’s Agenda
Thursday, 21 July
Agenda
1. Sign In,
Entrance Survey,
& Light Breakfast
2. Welcome &
Intro to BEST
Robotics
3. BEST Season,
Registration &
Demographics
4. Safety
Presenter
Schedule
Presenter
Schedule
8:30–9:00
Lunch
Jose Lopez &
Tami Kirkland
9:00–9:30
8. Organizing a
Team
Peer Panel
12:15-1:30
9:30–9:50
Judith
Schlesinger
1:30–2:00
Carolyn
Bauer & Tami
Kirkland
Carolyn Bauer
9. Firmware
and Software
Introduction
BREAK - Kits &
Mini-Robot
Parts Available
10. Using the
VEX Cortex
and easyC
Software
11. Robot Kit
Familiarization
BREAK
9:50–10:00
10:00–10:15
10:15–10:45
5. Competition
Game
Rules
Carolyn
Bauer
6. Awards &
Judging
(including PEN
activity)
7. Engineering
Tami Kirkland
& Lori Lazuk
10:45–11:15
Linda King
11:15–11:45
11:45–12:15
2:00–2:30
Carolyn Bauer &
Kat Baker
2:30–3:30
Carolyn Bauer
3:30–4:00
Page 4
Friday’s Agenda
Friday, 22 July
Agenda
12. Sign In,
Eventbrite
Registration & Light
Breakfast
13. Introduction To
Robot Build
14a. Breakout 1:
Intro to easyC
Programming
14b. Breakout 2:
Advanced easyC
Programming
14c. Robot Build
Presenter
Schedule
Presenter
8:30–9:00
LUNCH
Carolyn
Bauer
9:00–9:15
Scott
McEwen
9:15–10:00
16. Wrap Up Robot
Build
17. MiniCompetition
18. Q&A, Wrap-Up
& Exit Survey
Kevin Barrett
9:15–10:00
19. Take Apart &
Put Away Robots
Schedule
11:30–12:00
12:00–2:00
Carolyn Bauer
2:00–2:30
Carolyn Bauer &
Tami Kirkland
2:30–2:45
2:45–3:00
9:15–10:00
BREAK
10:00–10:15
15. Continue Robot
Build
10:15–11:30
Page 5
Boosting Engineering,
Science & Technology
(BEST)
Our mission is to inspire students to
pursue careers in engineering,
science, and technology through
participation in a sports-like,
hands-on, real-world,
engineering-based
robotics competition.
Page 6
A Teacher
Testimonial
“In many ways, the BEST experience is like an
education greenhouse; what happens during six
weeks of competition would take an entire year
in the classroom.”
Dr. Mark Conner, Head
The Engineering Academy at
Hoover High School
Hoover, AL
Page 7
Boosting Engineering,
Science & Technology
(BEST)
 501(c)3 organization
 Volunteer based
(10,000+)
 Over 860 schools and
16,000 students
participated in 2015
Page 8
BEST Robotics,
Inc. (BRI)


Managed by BOD living in various locations.
Grown in 24 years (1993-2016) to 45 licensed “hubs”
(competition sites) in 16 states (June 2016) and 4
Regional Championships.
Red flags
are
Regions
https://best.eng.auburn.edu/
Page 9
BEST
Fundamentals





Students are the sole participants
and primary decision-makers,
designers, and builders
Any student may participate
The program is free to schools – no
fee.
Equipment and materials are
provided at no cost to participating
schools
Any school may participate
regardless of type, size, location or
socioeconomic status
Ted Mahler cofounder
Page 10
BEST Growth in
Colorado


RM BEST-2010: 10 schools & 124 students
 2011: 20 schools & 272 students
 2012: 25 schools & 410 students
 2013: 26 schools & 364 students
 2014: 32 schools & 400+ students
 2015: 28 schools & 500+ students
FR BEST-2015: 12 schools & 184 students
2016 Goals: SoCo BEST @Trinidad State 12 schools +
Golden Plains BEST 8 schools + Front Range BEST 20
schools + RM BEST 28 schools = 68 Colorado schools.
Page 11
What is Required
from Schools?


Register Team*
Identify a Mentor to Guide
Teams*





Engineering Design Process*
Focus on safety*
Teamwork
Project Management




Transportation


3 Events over the 6 week
competition (Kickoff, Practice
Day, & Game Day) *
Regional Competition at Ft
Smith, AR if selected*


Shop Tools to fabricate
robot*
Workspace for teams to
build robot
Secure Storage for Kits
and Robot
Team T-Shirts* and Food
at Events (Optional)
Demographics Form
Submittal*
* More details coming up
Page 12
Shop Tools–
Bare Minimum Tools Low


Eye protection for all
students
Basic hand tools
(screw drivers, wrenches,
pliers, tin snips, etc.)





Drill bits, Drill/driver
PVC Cutter
Hole Cutter
Utility Knife
Punch









Hacksaw
Saber saw
Soldering iron
Wire stripper
Sheet Metal Shears
C clamps
Square
Tape measure
Work table
Page 13
Shop Equipment –
Basic Tools - Middle
Drill press
 Router
 Heat gun
 Dremel tool
 Hole saws

Vise
 Scale with 25 lb.
capacity
 Tap and die set
specifically, #10-32
tap, ¼ - 20 die

Page 14
Shop Equipment –
Deluxe Tools - Top
Chop saw
 Scroll saw
 Band saw
 Table saw
 Z-bender

Oven/heating
element
 Metal brake
 Sander
disk/drum/belt

Page 15
Who Can Mentor a
Team?


You don’t have to be an engineer, scientist, or technician.
You don’t have to have a child in school. Anyone can be a
BEST! You just have to be willing to give of your time and
energy.
“But I don’t know anything about robotics,” you say. Neither
do these students

You’ll help them take plywood, PVC pipe, and a box filled with
items such as screws and other hardware, a bar of aluminum, sheets
of plastic, piano wire, a bicycle inner tube, IGUS components, and
design a functioning machine that can perform certain, specific tasks
in three minutes.
Page 16
What Does it
Take to Mentor?

So, how much time will be required, you ask.




Depends on how motivated you and your students will be to do your
“BEST.”
We’ve found competitive teams meet 3-4 times /week at several hours at a
time.
Ideally, six mentors per team reduce individual time requirements. Rotate
times and spread out the responsibility.
What makes this different from other activities for which you
can volunteer?



Instant feedback.
In six intense weeks, students go from a blank look when they see the
jumble of parts in the kit, to solid confidence knowing that they worked as a
team, solved a major problem, and received the heartwarming endorsement
of their adult mentors.
The change is stunning and one you’ll never forget.
Page 17
bESTology 2016

What is bESTology?


bESTology is the study of Engineering, Science and
Technology. Students are encouraged to become
bESTologists!
A gold mine of weekly activities unveiled each
Sunday @ 5:00 p.m. MT - started 24 January


bESTology teaches the science, engineering and
technology that will enhance the learning experience
for the 2016 BEST game.
Posts contain HINTS for BEST Bet The Farm Game
Page 18
Robotics Game
Competition

There is always a theme!







Total Recall – Process Improvement
BUGS! – Bug capture
WarpXX – Space Elevator
Gatekeeper – Computer build
Blade Runner – Renewable Energy Windmill
Pay Dirt – Mining and Economics
Bet The Farm - Agriculture
Page 19
Game Day!
BEST is like a basketball
game, chess match, and
science fair
all rolled into one day,
with cheerleaders,
mascots, pep bands,
and wildly cheering adults
and kids mixed in.
Page 20
Robotics Game
Principles
Game design
& Rules from
BEST Robotics
Inc. (BRI)
Scoring &
Controlling
software from
BRI
Total Recall 2010
Page 21
Robotics Game
Principles
Bugs
2011

Four competition quadrants in 4 colors
(red, blue, yellow, green)
Page 22
Robotics Game
Principles
Scoring based on
grabbing items and
placing them in
designated areas.
Warp XX 2012
Page 23
Robotics Game
Principles
 Designated areas for robot driver & spotter
Driver
Gatekeeper 2013
Spotter
Page 24
Robotics Game
Principles
 Three minute competition rounds
Blade Runner 2014
Page 25
Robotics Game
Principles

Seeding rounds followed by wildcard,
semi-finals and then finals rounds.
Pay Dirt 2015
Page 26
Your Team’s
T-shirts

Team T-shirt opportunity with Artistic Apparel







RM BEST Bet The Farm mascot or BRI Bet The Farm
Logo or RM BEST or FR BEST Logo
Your team name
T-shirt color you select
$10.25 per shirt
Adding additional info (e.g., sponsor, school mascot)
will cost extra
Ready to pick up before October 7 if ordered by
September 22! – see Handout
All needed information in T-shirt packet
Page 27
Event Volunteers





We need your help!
We are entirely volunteer based, down to every
judge, referee and mentor.
Teams – Please send 2 Volunteers to the hubs
See Volunteer Brochure for positions available
Send email to learn more or to sign up for
volunteer positions


FR BEST: Greg Gerlich – [email protected]
RM BEST: Linda King – [email protected]
Page 28
BEST and
Bet The Farm Logos
RM BEST Mascot for Bet the Farm 2016
 Bet The Farm Logo
 BRI Logo
 RM BEST Logo
 FR BEST Logo

Page 29
About TMI
 Documents presented and discussed at TMI are
available at our websites
http://www.rockymountainbest.org/
http://www.frbest.org
 Documents available on a USB drive for you to
download onto your laptop
 Notebooks for items that are convenient on paper
(1 per school)
Page 30
Teacher/Mentor TMI
Notebook
 General Information
 Rocky Mountain BEST Specifics
 Front Range BEST Specifics
 Teacher / Mentor Guidance
 Reference Material
 bESTology Information
 Awards and Judging Information
Page 31
BEST Websites

The BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI) national website
contains all the information you will need to
understand the overall program, how the
competition works, links to other resources (e.g.,
VEX), an FAQ section, and many resources for
mentors and student training

The RM and FR BEST websites are our local
websites and they contain local information (e.g.,
Calendar of events, history, local contact
information, etc.) and links to BRI’s website
Page 32
BEST Robotics Inc.
Website
See the BRI Website Map
Page 33
Rocky Mountain
BEST Website
See the RM BEST Website Map
Page 34
Front Range BEST
Website
See the FR BEST Website Map
Page 35
Additional Web
Resources
bESTology:
http://www.friendsofbest.org/blog/category/bestology/
easyC V5 Programming Software:
http://www.intelitekdownloads.com/easyCV5/
Vex Robotics: http://www.vexrobotics.com/
Page 36