Some call it research; others call it corporate espionage. Call it what you wish, but it's good to think about what is allowed and even encouraged in BEST.
First, it is an excellent idea to see as much robotics competition as you can. Even if you don't advance to South's BEST at Auburn, it would be excellent research for next year to visit to learn what others did to make it to South's BEST. Another good research method is to visit other hub's game days. All BEST hubs are required to post their game days on Eventbrite, so you can find out about other game days and visit to see how others have approached the problem. Since Northeast Alabama BEST typically uses the last available game day, there are two other approved BEST Game Days (October 18 and 15).
If you can't attend a game day, you can follow other BEST teams and hubs on Twitter and Facebook and see photos and videos from their game days. To find more BEST teams and hubs, connect with Northeast Alabama BEST on Twitter and Facebook as other teams and hubs follow us. All of these methods are perfectly acceptable and even encouraged.
So put away your spy pens and don't plant a camera in Mrs. Parris' classroom. And don't try to get information about the game before kick off. But going to other game days is just another method of R&D. In BEST terminology that means "Rip off and Duplicate".
If there is ever a question about what is, and is not ethical, do not hesitate to ask.
