Robotics Competition Prepares Local Students For High Tech Future

October 26, 2014

Young scientists from 14 area middle and high schools tested their science, math and problem-solving skills at the seventh annual Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition Saturday at the University of West Florida.

This year’s theme, Blade Runner, involved students using teamwork and innovative thinking to execute five sets of tasks to assemble and position a wind turbine into a completed state.

Each team was judged on its robot performance, marketing presentation, team exhibit, technical notebook and spirit and sportsmanship. The top two overall teams and the team with the top robot advance to the regional competition December 5-7 at Auburn University.

Woodlawn Beach Middle School took the overall competition and will be joined by Brown Barge Middle School to represent the Emerald Coast BEST hub at Auburn.

Gulf Power has sponsored the BEST Robotics competition for the past seven years. The event teaches teamwork, problem solving, project management and pride in task completion.

BEST Robotics Inc. — Boosting Engineering Science and Technology — is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mission is to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition.

“This annual competition has continued to grow in popularity because it provides local students the opportunity to learn engineering, science and math skills in a hands-on practical setting,” said Jeff Rogers, Gulf Power spokesman. “Gulf Power is very proud to sponsor an event that has such a visible impact on local students.”

Area schools have been competing in BEST since 2004, when Gulf Power sponsored eight local teams to compete in the BEST hub in Mobile, Ala. The funding of hub operations depends entirely on corporate and individual sponsorships. Materials kits to build the robots are provided to the teams by the hub. No fees are paid by students or schools participating in BEST robotics.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Advancing to Regionals at South’s BEST – Dec. 5-7 at Auburn University

  • Robotics: Brown Barge Middle School
  • BEST: Woodlawn Beach Middle School

BEST Award — The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the attributes associated with “Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology” in its development which include teamwork, diversity of participation, sportsmanship, creativity, ethics, positive attitude/enthusiasm, school/community involvement and exposure to and use of the engineering process.

  1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  2. Woodham Middle School
  3. Sims Middle School

Robotics Award — Awarded to the teams whose machines finish first, second and third in the tournament bracket.

  1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  2. Brown Barge Middle School
  3. Capstone Academy

Founders Award for Creative Design — Awarded to the team that makes best use of the engineering process in consideration of offensive and defensive capabilities in machine design; awarded in recognition of BEST founders Steve Marum and Ted Mahler.

  • Woodlawn Beach Middle School

Most Robust Machine — Awarded to the team whose machine requires the least maintenance during and between matches and is generally the sturdiest machine in the competition.

  • Pace High School

Most Photogenic Machine

  • Brown Barge Middle School

Gulf Power Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape Award

  • Little Flower Catholic School

Best T-Shirt Design

  1. West Florida High School
  2. Sims Middle School
  3. Woodlawn Beach Middle School

Web Page Design Award — Awarded for the best team website; based on page functionality, creative use of the game theme, information about team members and community efforts.
Woodham Middle School

Best Spirit and Sportsmanship — Recognizes the vigor and enthusiasm displayed by team representatives and the outward display of sportsmanship (e.g., helping other teams in need), grace in winning and losing, and conduct and attitude considered befitting participation in sports.

  1. Seaside Neighborhood School
  2. Pace High School
  3. Sims Middle School

Best Team Exhibit and Interview — The purpose of this category is to communicate through a display, and through discussion with judges, information about the team’s efforts to promote BEST in the community and schools; foster BEST spirit, camaraderie and participation and give evidence of sportsmanship.

  1. Woodlawn Beach Middle School
  2. Woodham Middle School
  3. Seaside Neighborhood School

Best Marketing Presentation — Teams should view themselves as employees of a “company” that is marketing their “product” (robot) to a potential buyer (judges). This marketing team is an integral part of the engineering team that has designed a specialized robot.

  1. Sims Middle School
  2. Seacoast Collegiate High
  3. Seaside Neighborhood School

Best Project Engineering Notebook — The purpose of the notebook is to document the process the team used to design, build and test their robot.

  1. Seacoast Collegiate High
  2. Sims Middle School
  3. Pace High School

2014 Teams:

  • Avalon Middle School
  • Brown-Barge Middle School
  • Capstone Academy
  • Creative Learning Academy
  • J.M. Tate High School
  • Little Flower Catholic School
  • Max Bruner Jr. Middle School
  • Pace High School
  • Seacoast Collegiate High School
  • Seaside Neighborhood School
  • Sims Middle School
  • West Florida High School
  • Woodham Middle School
  • Woodlawn Beach Middle School

Pictured: The seventh annual Emerald Coast BEST Robotics competition Saturday at the University of West Florida. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

5 Responses to “Robotics Competition Prepares Local Students For High Tech Future”

  1. Jane on October 28th, 2014 4:56 am

    So happy to see this! Robotics are very interesting and we used them in the electronics industry quite often. I hope to see some companies here use them so these youngsters can put their knowledge to good use!

  2. Cantonment Neighbor on October 27th, 2014 6:58 am

    I love that this competition is about learning, team work, and sportsmanship. I am amazed that kids have such abilities to built a functioning robot. How cool. One of these kids may be the one to design the medical device that saves lives, or a NASA engineer who designs a robotic machine to go into space, who knows where the imagination will leave, and it started here in middle and high school.
    Kudos to the teachers who give of their time to teach, and to Gulf Power for sponsoring this incredible event.

  3. Casual Observer on October 26th, 2014 3:45 pm

    Congratulations to Woodlawn Beach Middle School! Two years in a row going to Auburn is quite an accomplishment. The robotics program at Woodlawn continues to be a success year after year. A job well done by the sponsor and students.

  4. Leslie Watson on October 26th, 2014 1:25 pm

    Being a National First place winner of the Urban Search and Rescue E.O.D. challenge for 2014 , and the State of Florida First place winner, for the same competition, I would say to learn your passions well and be the best you can be in this field and opportunities are going to open for you. As the Technological advances continue to grow with Robotics.

  5. Proud Parent on October 26th, 2014 12:22 pm

    Congrats to Brown Barge Middle School. Everyone is very proud of you!

    Congrats to all the other teams who competed as well.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under FEATURE TOP STORY, Features, News