Robots set to invade UWF

 The fourth annual Emerald Coast BEST Robotics Hub is set for Oct. 23 at the University of West Florida Field House. This year’s theme, “Total Recall,” refers to quality control. In the competition, students will control their robots to successfully process and package as much “good” product as possible while striving for Six Sigma quality levels on each production line. Some products may be identified as “defective” and will be “recalled.” 

 

It’s all a part of an initiative to inspire students to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology through participation in a sports-like, science and engineering-based robotics competition each fall. Student teams are judged on robot performance, marketing presentation, team exhibit/interview, project engineering notebook, and spirit and sportsmanship.  

Introduced by two MIT students, BEST — Boosting Engineering Science and Technology — has grown into a nationally recognized competition challenging more than 50,000 participants since its start in 1993. Area schools have been competing since 2004, when Gulf Power sponsored eight local teams in the regional competition in Mobile. Twenty schools across Northwest Florida will participate in the regionals, with the top schools advancing to competition at Auburn University.

 

Competition

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., UWF Field House.

 

Teams

Bay County

 Deane Bozeman K-12 School - 271

 Merritt Brown Middle School - 272

Escambia County

Bailey Middle School  - 273

 

Bellview Middle School  - 274

Escambia High School  - 276

Pensacola High School - 277

Tate High School - 278

West Florida High School  - 279

Woodham Middle School - 280

Workman Middle School - 281

 

Holmes County

Bethlehem K-12 School - 282

Jackson County

Cottondale High School - 283

 

Okaloosa County

Max Bruner Middle School - 284

 

Santa Rosa County

Hobbs Middle School - 286

Holley Navarre Middle School - 287

Milton High School - 288

Pace High School - 289

Sims Middle School - 290 

Woodlawn Beach Middle School - 291  

Walton County

Seaside Neighborhood Middle School - 292

 

For more information, visit the website at: http://uwf.edu/ece/EmeraldCoastBEST/

 

 

Gulf Power is committed to help put science and math on a fun level with students while teaching the skills needed to join the workforce. Another educational program, I LOVE SCIENCE, provides a one-hour, hands-on science project each month in fifth grade classrooms. To find out more about Gulf Power’s education initiatives, please visit www.gulfpower.com/ecodev/wf_development.asp.

 

Gulf Power Company is an investor-owned electric utility with all of its common stock owned by Atlanta-based Southern Company. Gulf Power serves more than 400,000 customers in 10 counties throughout Northwest Florida. The company’s mission is to safely deliver affordable, reliable and environmentally responsible energy to very satisfied customers in strong communities.