Teams must use their robots to retrieve aircraft subassemblies and complete an aircraft from these components. The aircraft components, consisting of wings, fuselage, empennage, and power plant, are initially located in a storage rack behind the closed doors of a warehouse. Prior to entering the warehouse, the robot must turn on the warehouse lights. The warehouse manager (spotter) is responsible for opening the warehouse doors, but may only do so after the lights have been turned on. The aircraft subassemblies are to be joined with the landing gear located in the assembly area that is just outside the warehouse. Completed aircraft may be transported to the shared delivery center in the middle of the field where the aircraft may be assisted to one of three flight levels.
The warehouse light switch is also used as a tiebreaker. Machines must start and fit within the designated 2x2x2 ft cubic space. The machine starting area also serves as a receptacle into which foreign object debris (FOD) can be placed. Two pieces of FOD, a nut and a bolt, are located in the team’s area at the start of the match.
Points are awarded for completion of various tasks towards the overall goal of assembling and assisting two aircraft to flight. Each completed aircraft scores points based on the position at the end of the match as indicated in the table below. Only fully completed and flight worthy aircraft may be moved to the delivery center.
| Location | Point Value |
| Assembly Area | 600 |
| Delivery Center | 800 |
| Flight Level 1 | 900 |
| Flight Level 2 | 1000 |
| Flight Level 3 | 1200 |
Partially completed aircraft and subassemblies located in the assembly area score 50 points for each unassembled component in the assembly area and 150 points for each installed subassembly. Parts that have not left the warehouse score no points even if they are assembled with other parts.
In addition to scoring based on the aircraft, points are awarded for other activities as listed in the table below. Points are based on the status at the end of the match.
Team machines are restricted from entering another team’s assembly area and may not interfere with another team’s progress or steal another team’s subassemblies. There are numerous other rules and restrictions that the teams must comply with as they compete in the 3-minute-long matches.
| Item | Point Value |
| FOD in Waste Container | 50 |
| Closed Warehouse Doors | 50 |
| Warehouse Lights Off | 50 |
| Tiebreaker 1st | 50 |
| Tiebreaker 2nd | 40 |
| Tiebreaker 3rd | 30 |
| Tiebreaker 4th | 20 |
San Antonio BEST Award Results:
- Holy Cross of San Antonio*
- United Engineering and Technology Magnet*
- Saint Mary's Hall School*
- Robert E Lee High School*
Competition Results:
- Holy Cross of San Antonio*
- Robert E Lee High School*
- New Braunfels Home School*
- Saint Mary's Hall School*
- STEM/Nimitz Middle School
- William Howard Taft High School
- Stevens High School
- Saint Anthony Catholic High School
* teams advancing to Texas BEST from SA BEST
Other Awards:
- Founders Award -
- Canyon Lake High School
- Clark High School
- Most Robust - Stacey High School
- Most Photogenic - East Central High School
- Best Table Display and Interview - Holy Cross of San Antonio
- Most Spirit and Sportsmanship - United Engineering and Technology Magnet
- BEST T-shirt - Highlands High School
- BEST Use of Game Theme - Stevens High School
- Blood, Sweat and Duct Tape - Bastrop High School
The 2008 Game Results are available.
