Thursday, December 27, 2012

Got the After Christmas Blahs? Here's a Project for You!

You've attended all the parties. Eaten all the meals. Opened all the gifts. You are already bored with your Furby. So now what?

Why don't you build a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV)? How about one that you can operate underwater? Take a look at this video that shows how OpenROV will soon make that a possibility.


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Want a Sneak Peek at Next Year's Game Teaser?

Those of you who were at South's BEST already saw it! But Jubilee BEST (Mobile, AL), which is designing the 2013 game, has posted the teaser on their website. We have been unable to embed it here, but you may follow this link to Jubilee BEST's site to check it out!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Need Help Wrapping Gifts? Robots to the Rescue!

Are you one of those people who hates wrapping gifts? Or perhaps you are just short on time and need a little help? Perhaps this promo from GM will inspire you to program a robot to take care of your gift wrapping duties. Now if it would only do the shopping for us...


Thursday, December 20, 2012

Think Glass is Boring? Think Again.

While this video is not directly related to robotics, the people who will design and build items like these will need the same type of skills that are learned through BEST Robotics.


So you think this is too futuristic and unreal? Ask your parents or grandparents about how futuristic the technology we have today would have seemed when they were in high school.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Kit Survey Available

Students, teachers and mentors who participated in Warp XX are asked to complete a brief survey regarding your kit for the 2012 game. This is not the same survey that asked you which parts you used and did not use. The survey may be accessed here. 

Please be sure to select Northeast Alabama BEST as your hub and complete this survey for the folks at BEST Robotics, Inc.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

2012 Game Survey Available

Did you participate in Warp XX as a student, teacher, or mentor? If so, please share your thoughts about the game with BEST Robotics, Inc. officials by participating in an online survey. The survey is located here.

Your input is welcomed and appreciated.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

iRobot 110 Recon Robot

The iRobot 110 Recon robot was recently named in the Best of What's New: 2012 by Popular Science. Do you think that the skills learned in BEST Robotics would be helpful in working for a company like iRobot to build robots or to drive robots for a military, intelligence, or law enforcement agency?

See the iRobot 110 in action here.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Sand Flea Jumping Robot

Popular Science magazine recently announced their Best of What's New Award winners. Topping the list of security products is the Sand Flea, a jumping robot built by Boston Dynamics. Check out this video to see what the Sand Flea can do.



 Be sure to check out the Boston Dynamics website to see a world of innovative robotic products!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Article About South's BEST Robot Competition Winner

Click this link to view an article about St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Tillman's Corner, AL (Jubilee BEST). This middle school team won first place in the robot competition in South's BEST.

Congratulations to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School and kudos to AL.com and The Press-Register for highlighting BEST Robotics in this way!

Monday, December 3, 2012

South's BEST Results

What a great weekend! The 2012 BEST Robotics season is officially over with the conclusion of South's BEST last evening. We are so proud of our Northeast Alabama BEST hub teams! They represented our area with class, dignity, and style.

In the seeding rounds, Marshall Technical School finished 10th, securing a spot in the semi-finals. Fyffe High School finished a very respectable 28th (out of 57). Due to the quality of their engineering notebook, Fyffe competed in the wild card round in which the 8 teams with the best engineering notebooks (that had not already advanced to the semi-finals) competed for two spots in the semi-finals. While Fyffe was not one of the teams that advanced to the semi-finals, they should be congratulated for a strong showing in their first South's BEST competition.

The top four teams in the semi-finals advance to the finals. Unfortunately, Marshall Technical School did not finish in the top four, but did take top honors for Most Robust Robot, meaning that of all 57 teams in the competition, their robot was selected as the one that was most dependable and trouble-free.

Here is the complete listing of awards:


BEST Award

  • 1st Place:  Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy (Wolverine BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Holy Cross (NOLA BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Decatur Austin Robotics Coalition (Tennessee Valley BEST)

 Robotics

  • 1st Place:  St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Jubilee BEST)   
  •  2nd Place: Holy Cross (NOLA BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Spain Park High School (Blazer BEST)
  • Finalist:  Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Tech. (Georgia BEST)

 Middle School Awards
  • BEST Award – Seaside Neighborhood Middle School (Emerald Coast BEST)
  • Robotics – St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Jubilee BEST)
Project Engineering Notebook
  • 1st Place:  Faith Academy (Jubilee BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Wicksburg High School (Wiregrass BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Louis P. Slade Middle School (Connecticut BEST)
Marketing Presentation
  • 1st Place:  Spain Park High School (Blazer BEST)
  • 2nd Place: W.P. Davidson High School (Jubilee BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy (Wolverine BEST)
 Team Exhibit and Interview
  • 1st Place:  Holy Cross (NOLA BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy (Wolverine BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Spain Park High School (Blazer BEST)
 Spirit and Sportsmanship
  • 1st Place:  Wetumpka High School (War Eagle BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Merrol Hyde Magnet School (Music City BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Oak Mountain High School (Blazer BEST)

Team Exhibit Design and Construction Award
  • 1st Place:  North Cobb Christian School (Georgia BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Millsaps (Mississippi BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Central Magnet School (Music City BEST)
 Founders Award for Creative Design
  • 1st Place:  Decatur Austin Robotics Coalition (Tennessee Valley BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Allen Thornton Career Technical Center (Northwest AL BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy (Wolverine BEST)
 Most Elegant Robot
  • 1st Place:  Spain Park High School (Blazer BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Holy Cross (NOLA BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Central Magnet School (Music City BEST)
 Most Robust Robot
  • 1st Place:  Marshall Technical School (Northeast AL BEST) 
  • 2nd Place: Hope Academy (Central AL BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Spain Park High School (Blazer BEST)

Most Photogenic Robot
  • 1st Place:  Louis P. Slade Middle School (Connecticut BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Allen Thornton Career Technical Center (Northwest AL BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  LeCroy STEM Academy (Blazer BEST)
Team Video
  • 1st Place:  Seaside Neighborhood Middle School (Emerald Coast BEST)
  • 2nd Place: W.P. Davidson High School (Jubilee BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Merrol Hyde Magnet School (Music City BEST)
 SolidWorks CAD Design Award
  • 1st Place:  W.P. Davidson High School (Jubilee BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Tuscaloosa Christian School (Shelton State BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Athens Bible School (Tennessee Valley BEST)
 Web page Design
  • 1st Place:  Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Tech. (Georgia BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Athens Bible School (Tennessee Valley BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Miss Porters School (Connecticut BEST)
 Game T-shirt Design
  • 1st Place:  St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Jubilee BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Brewbaker Technology Magnet High School (War Eagle BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Saint James School (War Eagle BEST)
 Best Team Mascot
  • 1st Place:  Keith Middle/High School (Selma BEST)
  • 2nd Place: Holly Pond High School (North AL BEST)
  • 3rd Place:  Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy (Wolverine BEST)
 igus Top Gun Award (scored most points in a single round of competition)
  • Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science & Technology (Georgia BEST)

Briggs and Stratton South’s BEST Teacher of the Year
  • Susan Haddock – Austin High School (Tennessee Valley BEST)
  • Virginia Vilardi – Wetumpka High School (War Eagle BEST)
  • Wilma Whateley – Holly Pond High School (North AL BEST)
 Jim Westmoreland Memorial Judges Award
  • Gary West (Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL)
  • Dr. Bob Ashurst (Dept. Chemical Engineering, Auburn University)
 South’s BEST Volunteer of the Year
  • Bryan McMeen (AFLAC)
  • Vaughn Nichols  (Gulf Coast Power)
 Congratulations to all who competed at South's BEST!