For the third year, Troy University is sponsoring the Troy University BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) Robotics hub competition.
The TROY BEST Robotics competition is an event designed to inspire students in southeast Alabama to pursue careers in technology, science and engineering through participation in competitive programs.
The competition is a virtual and classroom event that has taken place over a nine-week period, beginning with Kickoff Day Sept. 19 and concluding with a Game Day on Nov. 21.
The TROY BEST Robotics hub is sponsored wholly by local area businesses and benefactors to provide a free-of-charge event to local middle and high school students.
Each team must design and build a robot using materials they receive in kits received during Kickoff Day.
From the competition, students are able to gain skills necessary for students in fostering knowledge, teamwork and communication. Some of those include planning skills, learning how to use computer software, and learning technology and budgeting skills.
Some of the judged categories for the competition include participants giving an oral marketing presentation, constructing an educational team exhibit, creating an engineering notebook, designing a team webpage and participating in a critical engineering design process interview.
This year’s game day competition is titled “Outbreak” and will take place virtually Nov. 21 beginning at noon through a classroom competition event. A total of six teams will be competing.
“This year, because of the pandemic, the robots that teams have designed and built will participate in the time trials competition virtually in the classroom competition. Instead of the students coming to the Troy Campus on our Game Day, students will perform the time trials on game fields build in their classrooms,” said Dr. Robin Bynum, Executive Director of Educational Outreach. “Using cameras provided as a part of the kits received during Kickoff Day, they will be able to broadcast their robots participating on the field in their classroom. This way judges and referees are able to score the robot time trails and other competition components, and present awards during the virtual awards ceremony.”
An optional classroom site has been set up on the TROY campus in Hawkins Hall, room 217.
Event sponsors include:
Troy University ACCESS
Troy University College of Education
Conecuh Bridge & Engineering, Inc.
Dr. Kirk L. Davis
Folmar Consulting Firm
Lockheed Martin Corporation
South Alabama Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Ray Allen
Wesley Killingsworth
Wallace Pump & Supply
Crown Trophy
McDonald’s
Subway
