Click to view
larger image

The Texoma Home Educators (THE) rocketed to the top at the 2005 Texas BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) regional competition, largely in part to products donated by igus® Inc. The team, also known as the Comet Rider Repair Squad, completed this year’s challenge dubbed “Mission to Hubble” in first place among 64 participating teams and used a DryLin® linear guide system, igubal® rod ends and DryLin S aluminum shafting on their robot. The team had to switch out faulty batteries with fully functioning ones on a simulated Hubble Telescope.

Specifically, the team used the DryLin linear guide system, igubal rod ends and aluminum shafting to enable a grabbing mechanism on its robot to remove four batteries from the telescope at one time. This innovative idea aided THE in winning the Founder’s Award For Creative Design, one of the most revered prizes at the competition. THE also took home the overall BEST Award for delivering the most impressive performance in competition, presentation, sportsmanship and teamwork and the SMU Leadership Award for a stellar oral presentation.

Ed Cox, a mentor for the THE team, expressed how much his students enjoyed working with the igus products.

“The students were extremely excited when they saw the igus products in this year’s BEST kit,” said Cox. “They worked with the products throughout the design process and made an incredible robot this year, in part thanks to igus. The team's design used a number of the company's donations and made the robot's special, multiple-battery pick-up feature possible.”

THE is proud of all its accomplishments in 2005 and waits eagerly for the 2006 BEST year to kick-off. Students hope to use igus products in next year’s robot as well.

To learn more about the THE team, visit www.thentbest.com. To learn more about BEST, visit www.bestinc.org/MVC/.