BEST Robotics has had a very rich history. The beauty of the program is that we are constantly working to improve the experience for students and adapting to industry and technology changes along the way. While we have grown in our reach (hubs, schools, students), we also grow in the varying number of skills that we offer our students.
Below you will find a record of important milestones for the organization and the program over the last 30 years. It tells a unique story about how BEST was formed as a grass-roots organization/program and has become the “best” opportunity for everyone involved.
BEST Robotics Historical Milestones
| Year | Competition | Technology | Events & Training | Organization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Futaba RC Control System | Texas Instruments sponsors 1st hub (North Texas BEST, Sherman, TX) |
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| 1994 | First Regional Championship (2 hubs) @ Howard Payne University |
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| 1995 | Texas BEST Championship Begins (Texas A&M University – 9 years) |
Steering Team is formed.
$1840 hub dues is established. |
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| 1996 | Game Field Drawings are Introduced (3 pgs).
First Game Story. |
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| 1997 | Industry Theme introduced.
Engineering Notebooks, Oral Presentations. |
BEST officially incorporates in Texas as BEST Robotics, Inc. (BRI)
Staff – Executive Director is hired. |
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| 1998 | BRI receives 501c3 exemption from IRS, establishing it as a not-for-profit organization. | |||
| 1999 | BRI receives Texas state tax exemption (retroactive to 1997) | |||
| 2000 | Replaced Dot Matrix Printers in Kit with off-the-shelf drive components. | |||
| 2001 | Game Scoring Software (XLS, Visual Basic). Electronic Tie-breaker introduced.
Piloted electronic scoring (sensors on the field). |
First New Hub Workshop training is established. | Corporate Bylaws Adopted (Steering Team Model) | |
| 2002 | BEST Award Rubrics (Scoresheets) Introduced | Program opens to Middle Schools | BRI Provides Hub Insurance | |
| 2003 | Real-time scoring (manual data entry on field computers) | South’s BEST Championship begins (Auburn, AL) | SMU “The Infinity Project” partnership (2 years)
Bylaws Revised (Adopted Board of Directors model) |
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| 2004 | Robot performance added to BEST Award
Notebooks become required for all teams Wildcard Match added |
Piloted Speedy33 DSP (TIP/BEST) · First robot controllers & software · VAB Block-based programming
Pocket Robot Introduced |
Texas BEST moves to SMU (2 yrs) |
GEAR Program Pilot · 4 BEST hubs
BEST Hub MOA Required, Dues $1840 |
| 2005 | Frontier Trails Regional Begins (UA-Ft. Smith) |
Hub & Regional Operations Policy Introduced
Coaches Survival Guide Published Igus Sponsorship First Collection of Team Demographics |
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| 2006 | BEST Award Scoresheets Open to Teams | TI/BEST Infinity Speedy33 DSP (optional) | Texas BEST moves to Texas Tech (2 yrs) |
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| 2007 | BRAIN Prototype (Internal Custom Design) | BEST MOA/Dues becomes License Agreement + Fee (still $1840)
Advisory Council Formed Hub Operations Manual (later defunct) Bylaws Revision SolidWorks Sponsorship |
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| 2008 | BRAIN Controller Introduction
Programming introduction (C) BRAIN simulator (not widespread) |
Texas BEST moves to UNT (3 yrs) |
License Fee increased to $2000
BRI Board hires Admin Asst |
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| 2009 | Electronic Field Control – custom BRAIN + field s/w |
First Robot Sensors (IR sensor) – game specific (1 yr only) |
MathWorks relationship begins
Hubs required to be 501c3 HEXBug fundraising program begins |
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| 2010 | Game Scoring S/W change to LabView
Electronic Field Control (NI USB6501) First Game Animation. |
VEX Control System Introduction
Programming Software Options |
First National Championship (2010, 2011) |
Advisory Council Dissolved (Jan)
2010 1st Yr hubs now pay license fee VEX Sponsorship (RK Retrofit) VEX Ret Kit Fulfillment Contract WolfRam Research Sponsorship Inspirtech Sponsorship Intellitek (later became Solidwize) Sponsorship CMU Robotics Academy Sponsorship MathWorks Partnership Begins Online team registration (robotevents) Texas Workforce Grant (1st BRI grant) Alabama Workforce Grant Friends of BEST in AL established |
| 2011 | BRI Mobile Scoreboard (Real-time Scores) · web app · iphone/android app
Piloted Mobile Device Score Entry (3 hubs) Piloted Live Web Scoring System (3 hubs) |
Texas BEST moves to UTD
Northern Plains Regional (pilot) |
HSMWorks in-kind Sponsorship (later becomes AutoDesk) | |
| 2012 | VEX Refurbishment Program begins
Added rotary potentiometer to kit (first analog sensor) |
Northern Plains Regional begins | Bylaws – Board member terms (expire alternating years)
BRI Dashboard + Google Apps |
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| 2013 | Simulink Design Award added | Simulink 3D Environment introduced (1 yr) | bESTology begins | Bylaws update – board/officer selection, various voting clarifications
Staff – Director of Operations hired Standardized BRI Calendar |
| 2014 | Scoring Software change to web server | Kit random parts rotation begins
Small motor replacement VEXnet USB keys replacement |
BRI mini-grant program started (hubs receive grant $ from BRI) | |
| 2015 | First BEST Game designed entirely by former BEST students
Detailed Scoring Rubrics introduced Software & Simulation added to Engineering Notebook (plus unique award) BEST Forums introduced/released |
Drive System (belt & pulley) changes | BEST Simulink Summer Program begins | Staff – Development Officer Staff – Hub Development Officer Contract – Grant Writer Staff – Half-time Exec. Director
AutoDesk in-kind sponsorship |
| 2016 | Allow 2 Team Custom Parts (can be 3D printed) |
1st BEST in Texas UIL Championship | BEST of Texas established
Staff – Full-time Exec. Director |
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| 2017 | BEST Real-Time Leaderboard | Simulink 3D playground (trial)
Added shaft couplers |
Denver BEST Championship begins
Northern Plains Championship ends (final year) |
Bylaws – HC voting eliminated, districts/reps eliminated, board size (5-21)
Staff – Development, Marketing |
| 2018 | BEST National Rankings | BEST is officially UIL sanctioned competition in Texas
Frontier Trails Championship ends (final year) |
$2500 License Fee for New Hubs | |
| 2019 | New Q&A System
Scoring Manager includes BEST Award judging support. BEST National Registry introduced Common Leaderboard/Results Site Virtual National Champion (via Leaderboard) |
Added Wheel hubs, First Autonomous Programming. |
Staff – Director of Education | |
| 2020 | Field Kits (Classroom Competition)
New Skills Challenges (6) Online Scoring Manager Team Ticker Symbols introduced |
Virtual Field/Robot (Online Competition) – via Mathworks Robotics Playground
First virtual autonomous programming challenge. |
COVID Pivots 2 new competition formats: · BEST Classroom · BEST Online (Virtual field/robot)
Program length extended to 8-9wks due to COVID. New Skills Challenges BEST National Online Challenge Hub offered |
Industry Development Committee Established |
| 2021 | BEST National Skills Challenges formed – Simulink Award – Minecraft – Autonomous Programming |
COVID Pivots 8-week competition length. |
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| 2022 |
BEST Alumni Network officially opens |
Spring Autonomous Programming Challenge | Texas Unified UIL Championship begins | BEST 30th Anniversary! |
| 2023 | Spring Virtual Challenges | BESTedu site opens | ||
| 2024 | Projected Control System Change |
More Organizational History
| 1993 | Ted and Steve start an excellent adventure [1 hub, 14 teams] |
| 1995 | Hub Council [5 hubs] |
| Oct 1997 | BEST Robotics, Inc. officially incorporates in the state of Texas [8 hubs] |
| Apr 1998 | BRI approved for 501c3 exemption by IRS |
| Apr 1999 | BRI approved for state tax exemption under 501c3 (retroactive to Oct 1997) |
| Nov 2001 | Corporate bylaws officially adopted [18 hubs] – Steering Team model |
| Nov 2002 | The Caperton Group performs assessment of the organization |
| Jan 2003 | BRI bylaws revision is adopted, sent to HC for review/vote [23 hubs] – Board of directors model |
| Mar 2003 | BRI bylaws changes adopted after comments/changes from HC. “BEST Robotics” trademark application is filed with US Patent & Trademark Office Interim board officers appointed. |
| May 2003 | Policies & Procedures committee established. |
| Jan 2004 | First annual meeting of the board; officer elections |
| Jan 2005 | Bylaws amended – hub council approvals by electronic vote. |
| Mar 2007 | Bylaws revision [33 hubs] – Increase # Directors from 11 to 13 – Increase # Districts from 6 to 7 Hub MOU becomes license agreements, fee $1840 |
| 2008 | License fee increased to $2000 |
| 2009 | Hubs required to be 501c3 |
| 2010 | 1st Yr hubs now pay license fee. Numerous partnerships formed. |
| 2012 | Bylaws – Board member terms (expire alternating years) |
| 2013 | Bylaws update – board/officer selection, various voting clarifications Staff – Director of Operations hired |
| 2014 | BRI mini-grant program started (hubs receive grant $ from BRI) |
| 2015 | Staff – Development Officer Staff – Hub Development Officer Contract – Grant Writer Staff – Half-time Exec. Director |
| 2016 | BEST of Texas established Staff – Full-time Exec. Director is hired |
| 2017 | Bylaws revision – Removed Hub Council votes – Removed District Reps – Changed board membership to 5-21 Staff – Development, Marketing |
| 2018 | $2500 License Fee for New Hubs |
| 2019 | Staff – Director of Education and Advancement |
| 2020 | COVID-19 Pandemic! The organization answered the call! |
| 2021 | |
| 2022 | BEST 30th Anniversary Celebration |
Leadership History
Leadership History [Board]
Steve Marum, Chairman, 2001 – 2004
Janne Ackerman, President, 2005 – 2008
John Martini, President, 2009 –2010
Garry Ackerman, President, 2011
Eric Heiselt, President, 2012 – 2013
Kenneth Berry, President, 2014-2015
Todd Atkins, President, 2016-2018
Jennifer Holm, President, 2019
Mike Bright, President, 2020 – 2021
Paul Lutes, President, 2022 – current
