School team registration for the NM BEST Robotics Competition is now open. The robotic design challenge for middle- and high-school students is hosted by New Mexico State University’s College of Engineering. (Courtesy photo)

School team registration is open for a hybrid version of the 20th annual NM BEST Robotics competition hosted by the New Mexico State University College of Engineering.

The NM BEST Robotics Competition is a robotic design challenge for middle- and high-school students. Participants are introduced to engineering and technology concepts and skills through participation in an eight-week program.

For this year’s competition, Demo Daze, teams will design and build a robot to assist with complex and safety-critical tasks needed on construction and demolition sites. Teams receive kits that include parts and electronics needed to design and build remote-controlled robots to accomplish a specific task and a small field to test their robot. As part of the competition, teams maintain an engineering notebook, prepare a marketing presentation, and display their robot in a virtual exhibit.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s game day will occur in a hybrid format, with teams testing their robots at their respective schools.

School team registration is open now and kick-off is tentatively set for Aug. 28 with kit distribution the first and second week of September. Game day is tentatively set for Oct. 23. There is no cost to participate in BEST, and this year all supplies will be delivered to an area near you. Visit https://engrstem.nmsu.edu/nm-best/ for more information or contact Clara Welles, STEM program manager, at 575-646-7854 or cwelles@nmsu.edu.