The BEST Robotics competition challenges student teams to design, build, and compete with a robot on a game-like playing field.  Each year's competition is different, but the basic requirements are the same - robots are designed and built completely by students, using a limited stock of materials, within six weeks.

 

The competition pictured here involved robots collecting colored balloons and placing them in large frames.  Depending on color and placement, balloons scored a varying number of points.  Since the matches were timed, and stealing balloons from frames was permitted, there was a high level of competition all around.

 

The U-High team designed a simple but elegant robot and modeled its performance using 3D engineering software.  Despite the simplicity of design, there were still a number of technical problems to overcome, and the team worked out design issues right up to the competition deadline.

 

Design and building requires a lot of different skills - more than one or two people can supply.  There were roles for everyone, including those who wanted to cut wood, solder wires, test electronics, draw plans, take photos, design logos, and more.

 

The team made  a strong second-place finish in the state competition, and prepared to take the robot to Alabama for the national competition.