Each team competing in BEST is provided a kit of raw materials and equipment, along with a set of game rules in mid-September. They then have six weeks to apply an engineering process to design, build, and test their robot to compete with other robots in a local competition held in late-October. Top teams then proceed on to the regional competition held in mid-November at a Texas college or university. Since the founding of our team in 2002, we have been blessed with proceeding on to regional competitions nearly every year.

Students typically organize themselves into several sub-teams to manage the many areas that need to be addressed. Past sub-teams have included Leadership, Design, CAD, Build, Software, Test, Test Track, Driving, Notebook, Web Design, Display Booth, Presentation, Spirit, Photography, and Videography. Teams are judged for the BEST award in all these areas. There is something for everyone to become involved with!

Involvement and Costs

Exponent Robotics has been much more than simply a fun and competitive extra curricular learning activity. Homeschool families utilize the team experience to supplement educational curriculum. The success of the team depends on the involvement of parents as teachers and mentors for the sub-teams. Although our students have performed well in the competition, the main goal of the program is to learn through experiencing science and technology. The contest counts for only 5% of the score in the BEST award. The 6-week team and engineering effort counts for the majority of the score.

BEST charges no fees to participate. Our teachers and mentors are volunteers. However, the team does require funds to operate. These operational costs have typically totaled between $200-$300 per family. While some families contribute directly to cover team costs, other families choose to obtain sponsors or participate in fundraising activities. The most important contribution will always be the dedication of our students and participation of parents as teachers or mentors.

Benefit to Students

• Promotes team building, good sportsmanship, leadership, and ethical conduct.
• Increases understanding of technical concepts and scientific principles.
• Provides real-world engineering experience with limited resources.
• Reinforces project management concepts with constrained time period.
• Encourages abstract thought, self-directed learning, and problem solving.
• Provides opportunities for building management, design, manufacturing, programming, technical writing, communication, presentation, and other vocation skills.

About B.E.S.T. (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology)

BEST Robotics Inc. (BRI) is a non-profit, volunteer organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science, and technology through participation in a sports-like, science- and engineering-based robotics competition. The organization was started in 1993 with 15 competing schools and 221 students; today BEST has over 700 middle and high schools and over 8,000 students participating each fall, including many home school groups who do quite well in the competitions.

BEST Robotics, Inc.:               http://www.bestinc.org