2015 heart of texas b.e.s.t. robotics teacher training copyright b.e.s.t. robotics 2015, all rights...

2015 Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. Robotics Teacher Training

Copyright B.E.S.T. Robotics 2015, All Rights Reserved

Copyright B.E.S.T. Robotics2015 All Rights Reserved

Welcome to New Coaches and Returning Alike…


Today’s AgendaTime Topic Where Does this fit into the Competition??

9:00 – 9:15 AM Welcome, Introductions, Pass out Materials Organizing / Connecting

9:15 – 9:30 AM Who are we & What is BEST Robotics Program / Institution Information

9:30 – 10:15 AM What to Expect, The BEST Philosophy, Coaches / Mentors Roles, Building the BEST Teams

Expectations & Logistics

10:15 – 10:30 AM Break Break10:30 – 10:45 AM Paper Work…Forms You Need & Where to Find Them Coaches Must Haves

10:45 – 11:45 AM The 6 Weeks of HOT BEST, The “Game”, and Rules, Rules, Rules Game / Rule Specifics, Game Timeline

11:45 – 12:30 PM Lunch Lunch12:30 – 1:15 PM The Five Major Scoring Categories of BEST Robotics Scoring Areas, Judging Policies, Where to finds specifics & how to

use them

1:15 – 2:15 PM Day 1: Kick Off & Kits Game Specifics & Kit Information

2:15 – 3:00 PM Day 2 to Day 21: Test Drive, Team Organization, & Teacher Wisdom Team Organization, Timelines, & Resources

3:00 – 3:45 PM Day 35: Mall Day & Pre-Competition / Competition What is expected the last two weeks & What Competition Looks Like

3:45 – 4:00 PM Final Comments Q & A


Texas State Technical College & B.E.S.T.

• College Readiness & Advancement Department• 3 TSTC Hubs in the State:• Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. (HOT B.E.S.T.) - Waco• Rio Grande Valley B.E.S.T. (RGV B.E.S.T.) – Harlingen• Big Country B.E.S.T. – Sweetwater

• HOT B.E.S.T.:• Hub Director, Trey Pearson• [email protected] • 254-867-2015 (Office) 254-495-5335 (cell, call or text)

mailto:[email protected]


Heart of Texas B.E.S.T.

• In existence since 2010…Total Recall• This is our 6th Game & our 5th Year• Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. Website https://

resources.tstc.edu/B.E.S.T./ • Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. Facebook https://

www.facebook.com/H.O.T.B.E.S.T.Robotics • Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. Twitter https://

twitter.com/HOTB.E.S.T.Robotics • B.E.S.T. National Website http://www.B.E.S.T.inc.org/

https://resources.tstc.edu/BEST/


https://www.facebook.com/H.O.T.BestRobotics

https://www.facebook.com/H.O.T.BestRobotics

https://twitter.com/HOTBestRobotics

https://twitter.com/HOTBestRobotics

http://www.bestinc.org/

http://www.bestinc.org/


Who Are We…B.E.S.T. Robotics, Inc. (BRI)

• 49 Hubs in 14 States• 4 Regional Championships

875 Schools and 18,000+ students participated in 2012

All Working…• Same Game / Rules• Same Kits• Schedule


B.E.S.T. =Boosting Engineering, Science, & Technology

Our Mission…To INSPIRE & MOTIVATE students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math through a sports like competition


What to Expect, The BEST Philosophy, Your Role as a Coach / Mentor, Building the BEST Team


The B.E.S.T. Philosophy

• The students will get the most of the process if they do the work

• Mentors and Teachers should help the students realize the students’ ideas

• The six-week development process is more important than the game-day competition

• B.E.S.T. does not stand for “Beat Every Single Team”

BEATEVERYSINGLETEAM


The School Provides

• At least one school sponsor as a teacher-coach

• Classroom/shop facilities

• Transportation to the competition sites

• A single student team representing the school

• Outreach to potential team mentors (e.g., parents)


H.O.T B.E.S.T. Provides

• A single “Kit” for each school

• A variety of software (easyC, ROBOTC, SolidWorks, MathWorks)

• Volunteers to coordinate and run all events

• The game field for all events

• Awards for student and team recognition


The Coach’s Role

• Primarily team logistics

•Recruit students for the team• get posters hung, flyers made

•Determine student eligibility for the program

•Have primary responsibility for the students

• Enforce school rules and code of conduct

•Recruit team mentors

• Schedule tool safety training


The Coach’s Role

• Coordinate with other disciplines

• art, language, shop teachers, etc.

• Manage access to school facilities and equipment

• Manage transportation to and from events

• bus or other transportation, drivers

• Manage parent permission for student participation

• travel, handling power equipment, photo release, etc.

• Build student leadership

• Support student organization


The Mentor’s Experience: Role

• Provide an understanding of engineering process

• Explain the importance of schedules and budgets

• Provide technical guidance

• Ensure students consider all phases & deliverables

• Guide student brainstorming sessions

• Discuss methods for evaluating design concepts

• Describe prototyping methods

• Pose questions to force team to think through ideas

• Encourage student participation


The Mentor’s Experience: How to Operate

• Encourage proper organization early• Promote teamwork/ teaming concepts• Ensure the team

• Identifies requirements/ set goals up front• Sets realistic schedules• Has on-time deliverables

• Teach the Engineering Design Process• Teach design margin (weight, size)• Promote new design/invention…steer away reuse• Follow the rules, be an example


The Mentor’s Experience: How Much Time??

• Meeting times vary by team/school

• Most meet after school (at least)

• Commit to regular participation

• Put in the time that you can…anything helps

• You are providing guidance


Building The B.E.S.T. Team

• Most successful teams are composed of mixed grade-levels and minimum 2 technical mentors

• Teams operate B.E.S.T. from a single campus population

• Design and build facilities are necessary

• Safety Training is ESSENTIAL

• Students learn B.E.S.T. when they are responsible for ALL activities

• Mentors and Teachers are primarily for basic guidance and consultation


Student Eligibility

• School determines student eligibility• Teams are unlimited on size*

• Encourage teams with mixed grade-levels• Encourage students with varying skill sets/experience

• Engineering/ tech• Science• Math• Shop• Computer• Web• Arts• Writing/Language• Spirit


Not the Coach’s Role…AKA The Students Role

• Students Learn the Most By Doing It

• Guide the Students, Don’t Direct the Team

• Make Them Work, Don’t Give Them Answers

• Students are Responsible for• What They Do• What They Don’t Do

• Students Determine Meeting Times

• Students organize/run meetings (with encouragement/guidance)


Paper Work, Paper Work, Paper Work…

Must Have Forms, Where to Get Them, & What to Do With Them


Must Have Forms

• Kit Inventory & Kit Agreements: Due before leaving with kits on Kick Off Day

• B.E.S.T. Consent & Release From Liability…For all participants including coaches and mentors

• Team Roster: Can be added to and changed, but Hub must have one on file by Test Drive

• Team Program Info Sheet: Needed for Comp. Day Program in correct format.

(See Deliverable Schedule for Date)

• Team Demographics Form: Not only required, but you’ll lose easy points on the engineering notebook score if missing

• Driver / Spotter Roster: Official order of your teams drivers. Must be submitted at time of Marketing Presentation.


Where to Get Forms

• All required forms will be included (as blanks for copying purposes) in the 2015 Kick off Coaches Manual• You’ll receive these on Kick off Day

• You can also find them under the “Coaches” folder under the 2015 Competition Tab on the Heart of Texas B.E.S.T. Robotics Website



What To Do With These: See “Deliverables Schedule”

• Kit Inventory & Kit Agreement• Sign & Return Before Leaving KO (September 5th 2015)

• Consent & Liability Forms (See Deliverables Schedule)• Collect and submit in person or via email as they come in

• Team Roster• Submit by Test Drive (September 26th 2015) & email any updates as they come in

• Demographic Form• Must be in Engineering Notebook & Submitted at time of Marketing Presentation

• Team Program Info Sheet (See Deliverables Schedule)• Due by Monday September 21st 2015

• Driver / Spotter Roster• Due at time of Marketing Presentation


Break Time


The Six Weeks of H.O.T. B.E.S.T.

• Day 1: Kick Off• Game / Rules & Field

Unveiling • All Materials Released to

Teams…Kits, Documents, 2015 Updates & Changes

• Day 21: Test Drive• 1st Opportunity for teams to

get on competition field• Let the games begin!!!!


The Six Weeks of H.O.T. B.E.S.T.

• Day 35: Mall Day• Dress Rehearsal for

Competition• Teams have a chance to

heats and see how their robot is scoring• Outreach to public

• Day 42: Competition Day• The Big Day!!!!


The Game2014 & 2015


How it Works: Design to MarketChallenging Students with a REAL Design Task

a problem to solve

“the game”

with limited resources

“the kit”

In a limited time

“6 weeks”

Design To Cost Time To MarketDesign To Function


Design & construction

Technical documentation

Public Relations

Product Marketing

Teaming

Company/Product Advocate

Product DevelopmentB.E.S.T. emulates real product development

Designing & building the robotEngineering process

Engineering Design NotebookDocumenting the design process

Table display / exhibit boothPromotion of B.E.S.T. within the

communityTeam website

Marketing presentations to judgesInformal interviews by judges

Team organization/operation

Team Spirit/ Sportsmanship


The CompetitionB.E.S.T. Award:

Overall Scoring Category

Eng

ineeri

ng

N

ote

book:

30

% O

f B

.E.S

.T.

Aw

ard

Mark

eti

ng

Pre

senta

tion

:

25

% O

f B

.E.S

.T.

Aw

ard

Exh

ibit

& Inte

rvie

w:

20 %

Of

B.E

.S.T

. A

ward

Robot

Perf

orm

ance

:

15 %

Of

B.E

.S.T

. A

ward

Sp

irit

&

Sp

ort

sman

ship

:

10

% O

f B

.E.S

.T.

Aw

ard


The RulesRead…Before You Ask


So What’s in the Rules???

• Robot Head-to-Head Competition• Game Specific Rules + Field Drawings• Generic Rules• Kit Notes• Returnable Kit List• Consumables Kit List• Online Q&A

• Awards and Judging Policies• General & Hub Specific Policy Documents• Scoresheets/Rubrics


Game Specific Rules + Field Drawings

• Game Theme• Useful in research paper

• Game Objective• Rules for playing the game• Point values and scoring• Tournament format• Seeding Rounds (typically 8 matches per team)• Semifinals (6 total matches)• Finals (3 total matches)

• Drawings of the game field


• Safety rules• Tools allowed in pits, safety

glasses, etc.

• Robot materials & construction constraints• Kit do’s and don’ts, acceptable

energy sources, replacement of parts, non-functional decorations, no welding, etc.

• Robot size/weight constraints• 24lbs, 24” on a side

• Robot compliance checking

• Interaction with field & other robots• Match setup/ robot removal

(30 sec)• Drivers & spotters

requirements• Min 50% of team or 5 drivers

(rotate per match)

• General penalties

Generic Rules


Let’s Take a Look at 2014

2015 Pay Dirt Teaser Video


The Five Major Scoring Categories


Awards & Judging Policies

• Awards and Judging Policies – Part I• Lists major awards and criteria• Evaluation criteria for all B.E.S.T. award categories

• Project Engineering Notebook• Marketing Presentation• Table Display and Interviews• Spirit and Sportsmanship• Robot Performance

• Awards and Judging Policies – Part II• Hub specific requirements• When/where/how• Additional hub awards & criteria


B.E.S.T. Award Score Sheets

• Defines the EXACT criteria for each category and relative weight

• This is WHAT YOUR TEAM IS JUDGED ON!

• Don’t ignore these requirements or you will not place high!


Project Engineering Notebook

• Documents your engineering design process• This is NOT a photo album…• Use photos and diagrams efficiently• Check your gramr and speling• Don’t write it the night before it’s due• Requires participation from the design team

• This is the most influential category in the HOT B.E.S.T. Comp.


Exhibit & Interview

• Table display does not document the robot design!• Promotion of B.E.S.T. in the community• Foster B.E.S.T. spirit, camaraderie, & participation• Evidence of sportsmanship

• You can’t display what you haven’t done…• Table displays/booths are often themed

• Judges perform informal interviews with students at the table display and in the pits


Marketing Presentation• 15 minute PowerPoint presentation• Minimum 4 students participate, no adults• Present to a panel of judges• Should cover:

• Company demographics• Marketing strategies employed• Design and construction processes• Technological resources & invention

• Presentation times are assigned by the hub• Don’t be late, don’t go over your time• Practice, practice, practice• See Awards & Judging Policy Doc. For Set Up / Breakdown

Times


Spirit & Sportsmanship

• Pretty self-explanatory• Signs, posters, trinkets, hand-outs• Bands, cheerleaders, mascots• Dress the part• Sorry…no throwing objects into the stands• Spirit Break! 2 minutes of fun…• Visible positive attitudes regardless of performance• Support for others• Graceful winning and losing


There is NO Substitute for Enthusiasm & Excitement…The Judges Notice


Lunch


Day 1…Kick Off


What Happens at KickoffSaturday September 5th 2015 @ TSTC (10:00 – 12:00)

• Sign-in & Team Packet Pickup

• Official Opening of 2015 H.O.T. B.E.S.T. Competition• Welcome by TSTC Administrator• Introduction of Hub Volunteers / Personnel• Team Roll Call (Be Prepared to Make some Noise!!!!)

• 2015 Game Unveil• Introduction of 2015 Game• Field Unveil• Q & A about game and field…NO ONE ALLOWED ON FIELD AT THIS TIME

• Kit Distribution• Returnable & Consumable Kits distributed to teams• Teams Inventory & Coaches Sign Inventory / Agreement Forms & Return to Hub


Who / What to Bring

• Enthusiasm & excitement (we give awards for it!)

• Plenty of students…Kick off is for them & The More Eyes the Better

• One large vehicle to receive the kit, and several able bodies to carry it (the parts…NOT the vehicle)• 2x4 foot plywood• 5 foot PVC

• Be sure to inventory the kit before you leave the pick-up site….checklists will be provided


Documents, Documents, Documents

• There are LOTS of documents to be reviewed• This is JOB #1…starting at Kickoff (or even now if you

review rules from last year)• Assign one or more students to be Rules Expert

• B.E.S.T. is about product development process• The team is judged on their process• Team organization is KEY to success• Document everything as you go• Emphasize planning before execution


Kits…Take a Deep Breath

Let’s Take a Look at Them


The Returnable Kit• All the Items that make

the robot “go”• These are expected back

at the end of the competition (See Deliverables Schedule)• Do’s & Dont’s…Read

Generic Rules & Returnable Kit Guide• Diagrams to help students

in kit documents


The Consumable Kit

• Raw Materials• Plywood, Plastics, Metal, PVC• Hardware • Specific quantities of materials• Use no more than quantity available in kit to build the

robot• Your robot must be built from ONLY these materials


The Consumable Kit


Day 1 to 21Test Drive

Saturday September 26th 2015 @

McLennan Community College Sciences Building


It’s All About Organizing

The more done during this time, the better.

Famous Last Words = “We’ve got plenty of time for that, we’ll get to it later…”


Organizing the Team

• Educate your students on teams/teaming• Organize, set responsibilities and goals

• Project Management• Maintain/enforce team goals, schedules, deliverables, etc.

• Design Team• Function A Sub-Team• Function B Sub-Team• Software/Programming Team

• Build Team• Kit management• Construction of components

• Test Team• Verification & testing by 3rd party• Data analysis, proof of concepts


Organizing the Team (2)

• Marketing/Publicity Team• Marketing presentation• Graphic arts• Costumes/Themes/Decoration• Radio/TV/newspaper

• Community Relations/Awareness Team• Outreach to the community; events & activities• Table display/Exhibit booth design & construction• Team webpage design

• Finance/Fundraising Team• For incidentals, table display, travel, team t-shirts, etc.


Organizing the Team (3)

• Spirit & Sportsmanship Team• Plan for events• Recruitment, invitations• Helping other teams

• Documentation Team• Engineering Design Notebook• Technical writing• Photography• Videography


B.E.S.T. Teacher Wisdom

• Don’t do it all yourself…• Can’t is not in the vocabulary of visionaries• Take a camera everywhere you go• Don’t paint the robot or booth the night before• Last minute changes won’t fix missed driving practice• Good judgment comes from experience, which comes from bad

judgment• A chassis on the ground is worth 2 on the chalkboard, and 10

on CAD• Every team member is capable of making a unique contribution


B.E.S.T. Teacher Wisdom

• Compromise is required• Part of good teaming is learning how to disagree• Don’t underestimate the power of cardboard, straws,

paper clips, rubber bands, and some glue…• The greatest design in 6 weeks is of no use without

someone that can drive it• B.E.S.T. teachers help each other

• If all else fails, you can call Trey (and he’ll probably come to your school if needed)


Test Drive – Practice Day

• End of Week 3

• Mandatory Practice Day• The whole team is not required, but attendance by one

coach and at least one student is…plan ahead

• Open format (no scheduled practice times)


Test Drive – Practice Day

• Reasons to take advantage of Test Drive:1. Turn in Deliverables…Being late can affect judging2. Practice on the “real” playing field…3. See other designs…get help…4. Realize how far behind you are…

• Goals for Test Drive:1. A machine with a drive system….practice driving…2. Try alternate manipulator concepts…3. Get help…Help others…


Day 22 to 35Mall Day

Saturday October 10th 2015

Richland Mall, Waco, TX


Mall Day – Practice Day

• End of Week 5…This is the “DRESS REHEARSAL”

• Required Practice Day• Deliverables may be due!• You must attend…

• Typically in a public venue• Opportunity for community awareness

• Open practice – Get in line


Mall Day – Practice Day

• This is your LAST chance to practice on the field…• Mall Day is MANDATORY…

• Turn in Deliverables (See “Deliverables Schedule”)• Practice on the “real” playing field…With actual game day

software scoring• Practice Driving• Practice Strategy• Practice Driver/Spotter Communication• Practice Against Other Machines• Identify/Make Last Minute Adjustments


Day 36 to 42: Competition Week

Thursday & Friday October 15th & 16th 2015 @ TSTC Waco

(Marketing Presentations, Notebook Submission, Compliance)

Game Day: Saturday October 17th 2015

University High School, Waco, TX


Pre-Competition: Thursday & Friday

• Marketing Presentations• Engineering Notebook Judging• Turn in T-shirt for Judging• Machine Compliance• Entire team does not have to attend.

• Teams Can Start Signing up for Times @ Kick Off & Test Drive…See Deliverables Schedule


Pre-Competition: Thursday & Friday

• Turn in remaining deliverables (e.g., notebooks)• Machine is tested for compliance• Size/Weight• Kit parts & quantities• Illegal construction methods (e.g., welding, glued motors, …)

• Students must attend• We prefer no adults during compliance check• Must achieve compliance to participate on Game Day


Competition Day: Saturday October 17th 2015 @ University High School

• This is it! The BIG DANCE!• Full day of activity (8am – 6pm)• Full throttle: Head-to-Head matches every 6 minutes• Table Displays Judged• Spirit & Sportsmanship Judged• Student Informal Interviews

2015 heart of texas b.e.s.t. robotics teacher training copyright b.e.s.t. robotics 2015, all rights...

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