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RM BEST Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 4
May 2021
  • Please FORWARD this newsletter to others that might be interested. They may use this email address (RM.BEST.INFO.REQUEST@bestinc.org) to request to be added to the 2021 Distribution List.
  • Please REPLY if you do NOT want to be on our 2021 Distribution List
Register NOW
Reserve a DEMO DAZE Game Spot
2021 Game Logo

Please Complete Steps 1-2 ASAP

  • Step 1 - Login or Create Account - Lead Teacher and other teachers and mentors use the link above to Login or Create a new account.
  • Step 2 - Register Team - Lead Teacher is expected to complete this step by selecting the blue Register a School button on the Schools page. Select Rocky Mountain BEST as your hub. Find your prior School Profile by selecting your school from the popup list of prior schools. OR If you are registering a new school, CREATE NEW School with button at bottom of the list.

Email will be sent when your team's registration is approved.
Currently Registered Teams
PREPARE OVER SPRING & SUMMER
Free Training Program + Licenses
Weekly Game Hints Available
with bESTology
bESTology is a resource for schools (teams) participating in the nationwide BEST Robotics Program to learn educational and workforce development concepts revolving around the 2021 game – DEMO DAZE
Teachers: 
We encourage you to incorporate bESTology into your curriculum, summer camps, enrichment activities and more.  
All videos have been previewed and embedded to ensure child safety.
Students: 
Knowledge is Power! bESTology will teach you the skill sets to be successful in the workplace and in life. 
We challenge you to become a bESTologist.
Look for 9 weekly lesson postings. Here are the titles of the first 5 postings:

  1. Week 1-To Renew Or Not That Is the Question
  2. Week 2-Crunch, Crunch
  3. Week 3-Danger! Can I Enter?
  4. Week 4-Is There a Second Life?
  5. Week 5-The Cycling of Materials
Free Teacher Summer Training
13-15 July 2021
Registration NOW Open
Free 3-day Teacher / Mentor Institute - a great way to refresh your knowledge
  • Intended for teachers, coaches, & mentors of BEST Robotics teams. Must be at least 18 to attend.
  • Participants will build and compete with a mini-BEST robot.
  • Classroom participation PLUS ~18 hours pre-classroom reading, testing, scoresheet judging.
  • Focused towards new(er) BEST teachers, even veterans will gain tips and valuable experience. 
  • ~3.8 hours of Colorado Continuing Education Units.
Looking for Panel Members: Please REPLY if you or one of your students might be interested in supporting 1-hour on-line panels.
Click below to register
Robot Control Software
Licenses with BEST

BEST Robotics Inc
  • Provides 3 physical robot control software license options
  • All are complementary to BEST teams

Options
  1. easyC
  2. RobotC - free legacy version
  3. MATLAB/Simulink

MathWorks has 2 MATLAB/Simulink Access Options - each with Different BEST Team Use Requirements

MATLAB/Simulink DOWNLOAD

  • Requires a Windows, Mac or LINUX based computer (System Requirements Link)
  • Required to control a Physical BEST Robot
  • MAY be used to control an ONLINE Virtual BEST Robot
  • Control software generated by MATLAB/Simulink is downloaded to a physical robot VEX Cortex processor via a USB

NEW MATLAB/Simulink ONLINE

  • Any computer can access the software via the web.
  • Virtual Robot control is possible only via a Keyboard (no Joystick control)
  • Cannot control a physical BEST robot
  • Includes MATLAB Drive for File Storage
  • Eases student computing requirements as it runs on a dedicated remote host

STEPS to access complimentary MathWorks license

  1. Register your team in the BEST National Registry with RM BEST Hub
  2. Any of your BEST team members can request a MathWorks Individual Account
  3. Generate a MathWorks account for BEST MathWorks Sponsored License by clicking Complimentary Software Request Software button at www.mathworks.com/best-robotics
Summer MathWorks Training
6-Weekly Webinars
If NEW to MathWorks, HIGHLY RECOMMEND viewing the following prior to the Weekly Webinar Sessions:

MATLAB and Simulink Getting Started Guide for BEST Robotics - Software Ramp Up (Video links - page 2)
  1. Intro to MATLAB (titled: Learn to Code with MATLAB)
  2. Intro to Simulink
  3. Intro to Stateflow

6-weekly Live Webinar ~60 minute sessions


More information to come about a late June repeat of Live Webinar and an on-your own option from August into September
Weekly Webinar Class Topics
Class 1:
  • Introduction to programming using MATLAB
  • Programming basic robot movements
Class 2 :
  • Introduction to robot simulations using Simulink
  • Programming interactive robot controls
Class 3:
  • Using a distance sensor for autonomy
  • Hardware basics
  • Hardware demo- proportional motor control during obstacle detection
Class 4:
  • Creating custom functionality
  • Hardware demo - External mode Robot Sensors & Actuators
Class 5:
  • Task sequencing with flow diagrams using Stateflow
  • Hardware demo- IR sensor line follower
Class 6:
  • Programming of maze-solving robots
  • Hands-on programming task
Improved BEST Robotics Training
You asked for: Emphasis on More, Shorter, Earlier, Focused Training

NEW BESTedu - New home for all training/resources - Site Release planned for June
  • Training / workshop events
  • On-demand training
  • Training Calendar
  • Presentations and documents
  • More details to come
Thank you for your feedback, BEST Robotics Inc. is using it to improve our training
POTENTIAL Electronics Workshop
If Sufficient Interest
BEST Robotics Inc Electronics Workshop
TBD - potentially 16 July - AM Class
How to use the provided IR Sensor Kit to build and use an IR sensor.

Electrical design content specific to the IR sensor includes:
  • Introduction to Soldering (including practice time)
  • Introduction to BEST IR Sensor (how it works, how it can be used)
  • BEST IR sensor assembly (by students)
  • Testing the sensor operation (no software required)

Please REPLY if you or your students might be interested.
FALL COMPETITION
Teams Build a Robot this Fall
Expanded 8-Week Season +
In-Person Robot Build and Competition + ONLINE Activities

  • Game
  • 2021 Game: DEMO DAZE
  • Game Animation and Rules to be released at Kickoff
  • Robot Physical Build - robot kit provided at Kickoff
  • Robot Competition in person - one of the following
  • Standard 4-quadrant head-to head OR
  • Classroom 1-quadrant with provided field kit
  • Engineering Notebook - required
  • BEST Award - assessing if online or In-person
  • Marketing Presentation
  • Team Exhibit and Student Interviews
  • Spirit and Sportsmanship -TBD
  • ONLINE Returning activities
  • Critical Design Review
  • BESTMania Skill Challenge
  • Minecraft Challenge
  • ONLINE Optional skills challenges - TBD offering
  • Robot modeling
  • Engineering drawings
  • Video design
  • Website design
  • Hub 8-week schedule and venues - planning to establish in June
2019 Championship Cheer
We're Optimistically
planning a
2021 DENVER BEST Regional Championship

6-10 December Online Activities TBD
+
11-12 December @ Arapahoe County Fairgrounds - head-to-head competition