RC Logo without MSU
RM BEST Teacher / Mentor Newsletter 5
June 2021
2021 Game Logo
  • 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
Reserve a DEMO DAZE Game Spot
Register NOW
Planned Season Schedule:
  • Kickoff Event: 11 September, Saturday, Online Game Reveal and Breakout Session Training and In Person Robot Kit Pick Up
  • Practice Day Event: 23 October, Saturday, In Person at TBD Location
  • Game Day Event: 6 November, Saturday, In Person at Auraria Event Center
More Details to Come
Currently Registered Teams
2021 Game Logo

Please Complete Steps 1-2 ASAP To Register for the Fall Competition

  • 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.

You will receive an email when your team's registration is approved.
PREPARE OVER SUMMER
Free Training Program + Licenses
LAST CHANCE!!!!
Free Teacher Summer Training
13-15 July 2021
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.

We are excited to have 3 teachers registered.
Click the button below to register:
DEADLINE TUESDAY 29 JUNE
HELP - Experienced Teacher / Mentor + Students / Alumni Needed:
Online Thursday 15 July

We are looking for a couple of BEST experienced teachers / mentors and students / alumni to share their knowledge with new BEST teachers and mentors.
  • Our 2021 Teacher Mentor Institute Panel will be on July 15th with the Teacher/Mentor Panel starting at 12:45 PM and the Student/Alumni Panel starting at 1:30 PM on a virtual platform.
  • Can you help share your experience of BEST with these new teachers and mentors?
  • If you can help us, please REPLY by 7 July and we'll give you the details you need to participate.

Thank you for always being so supportive of BEST in Colorado!
LAST CHANCE!!!
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 by 1 July if you or your students might be interested.
Currently only 1 school has expressed interest.
Robot Control Software
Licenses with BEST

BEST Robotics Inc
  • Provides 3 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 based computer NOTE: Will NOT work on MAC or LINUX based computer
  • Can be used to control a Physical BEST Robot
  • Can be used to control an ONLINE Virtual BEST Robot
  • Control software generated by MATLAB/Simulink is downloaded to the provided kit 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
Repeat of 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

REPEAT of 6-weekly Live Webinar ~60 minute sessions

  • First session starting 30 June and run through 4 August every Wednesday 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM MDT.
  • REGISTRATION LINK AVAILABLE - Unless you are willing to use recorded video for earlier training sessions, we recommend waiting for the next registration for late June start.
  • Get full files from this link. Download first then go to Examples/Lessons (No re-install required): https://github.com/mathworks-robotics/robotics-playground

More information to come about 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
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.
FALL COMPETITION
Teams Build a Robot this Fall
Expanded 8-Week Season +
In-Person Robot Build and Competition + Other Activities

  • Game
  • DEMO DAZE
  • Game Animation and Rules to be released at Kickoff
  • Robot Physical Build - robot kit provided at Kickoff
  • Robot Competition In Person
  • Classic 4-quadrant head-to head
  • Engineering Notebook - required
  • BEST Award - assessing if online or in-person
  • Marketing Presentation
  • Team Exhibit and Student Interviews
  • Spirit and Sportsmanship -TBD
  • 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
2019 Championship Cheer
We're Optimistically
Planning a
2021 DENVER BEST Regional Championship

11-12 December @ Arapahoe County Fairgrounds - head-to-head competition and other activities similar to hub plan