How BEST Works

The BEST Teams
Only one team per school can participate; the school determines student eligibility. There is no limit on the number of students that can participate. Students who want to participate but don't want to do robotics can handle publicity, design the team logo, design T-shirts, or perform an infinite number of other jobs.

The BEST Process
Each team designs and builds a radio-controlled machine to accomplish defined tasks in a game-type format. Six weeks before the competition, the teams gather for Kick Off Day in early September at local hub sites where they receive identical kits of equipment (motors, r/c unit, batteries, etc.) and raw materials from which to build their machines, and a detailed set of game rules. The machines they build cannot weigh more than 24 pounds, must fit within a 24-inch cube, and must be built only from the raw materials supplied to them by the local hub.

The BEST Mentors
Industry and academic coaches act as mentors for the students, encouraging and guiding them as they design and build their robots. In the BEST process, students remain the primary decision-makers and builders.

The BEST Hubs
Teams are organized geographically into "Hubs" consisting of at least eight schools. The BEST program is made possible through a collaboration of teachers, technical mentors, corporate and academic hub volunteers, and funding sponsors. Each hub depends on a business, university, or other organization willing to coordinate area teams. Funding is obtained from local sponsors.

 

Upcoming BEST 2009 Competition