Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Evening,

My name is Jeff Martinez, Alumni of Team 229 Division by Zero at Clarkson University, New Hire at Lockheed Martin Owego, and I need help starting a FIRST Robotics Team. More specifically, there is a group called Engineering Explorer Post 76 sponsored by Lockheed. It’s a group of employees and local high schoolers of around 30 people and each year they have an engineering project. Last year they built Telescopes, this year involves Lego Mindstorm and next year I want to encourage them to try FIRST. That’s where I need your help. I want to educate and excite them about FIRST Robotics, any advice you could give me would be most welcome.

What I really want to learn is:
Are there any FIRSTers in the Binghamton Area looking for a Team?
Do any of you have Lockheed Martin Sponsors or Mentors?
Any teams in the Greater Binghamton Area, or elsewhere, willing to help us out?
How did your team first get started and what did you do to get people excited?
Anyone have advice for a potential team where most haven’t heard the name FIRST before?

My ideas so far are:
Next meeting (Tuesday), bring some recap videos from 229’s previous seasons.
Encourage everyone to attend a group meeting to watch Kickoff.
Find a near by team willing to attend a meeting and show off their bot.
Attend a Regional, ether at Rochester or NYC.

So far the Adult Leadership seems to like the idea, and is allowing me to pitch my idea to see what the Students feel about it. That’s why I’m posting here, and really my next move is up to you guys. There is a regrettable lack of FIRST Robotics Teams in the Greater Binghamton Area, and my goal is to forever change that.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff,

Good luck. As you are looking for robotics and automation expertise in Binghamton, be sure to check out Universal Instruments. These folks make some of the best electronics assembly and placement equipment in the business. Their skills would translate very well as technical mentors on a FIRST team.

PM me and I will even give you some names.

Andy Baker

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

I think the closest veteran teams are:
Team 639 in Ithaca (about 30 miles) http://www.team639.org/
Team 84 in Towanda, PA (about 40 miles) http://www.team84.org/
Team 284 in Dimock, PA (about 45 miles)
Team 222 in Tunkhannock, PA (about 60 miles) http://www.tigertrons.com/
Team 145 in Norwich, NY (about 60 miles) http://www.trx145.org/

Our principle programmer AIBob just started at SUNY Binghamton in Computer Science and he needs to keep busy;) .

You could show them the FIRST promo video and the Atlanta wrap video to help describe the program.

Team 365 MOE started years ago from an Explorer Post.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

if you check the top of the CD pages, there is an off-season competition in rochester, NY in 9 days, 22 hours and 09 minutes (as of this post).

Would make a good road trip to let people meet actual teams, see real FIRST robots, talk to current mentors and sponsors...

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

There's also a post-season in South Jersey this weekend, Duel on the Delaware, that both 84 and 222 will be attending. It's a bit of a hike for you, but it's a good show!

84 is not goint to Rochester for the post-season comp. It's just too close time-wise to Duel where we had already made a commitment. :(

If there's anytthing we can do to help, be in touch and Chuck will give it his best effort. Good luck in your initial season. The learning curve is perpendicular, but it's well worth the effort!

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Hey Jeff. Its great that you are trying to start a team. Like Ken said there is going to be an offseason comp in rochester. If you are interested in bring some people that would be great. They could experience the competition first hand, and not just through some videos, but then again they would have to have time for it. Anyways if you do come to Rochester next weekend stop by and see, we will be there.

Good luck again in getting the team started.

Tim Delles

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

I know that before the 2004 season 222 had talked to some people from the Binghamton area who were interested in starting a team for the 2005 season. They were interested in starting a team, but I don't know what became of them because I didn't see their team in 2005. I will do some checking and see if I can get you any names.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff,
1511 would be happy to come down and help out... we could give robot demos, and/or I would be willing to give you all the documentation I used to start our team up here in Rochester (based off my lessons learned from founding 229!!). The only issue with robot demos is we would likely have to do it on a school holiday or a weekend, as it would be enough of a trip from rochester, and our team meetings are tuesday nights as well.

I may have a few contacts at Lockheed Martin, and I do know that they have teams elsewhere (locations/numbers escape me). Aren't/weren't you guys BAE recently? or is that another plant... I get mixed up with all the buys/mergers.

And this is really short notice, but if you can get anyone interested, come up to Ruckus October 29th. We can let some of your kids drive our bots around, and they would get to see a live competition!!! Entrance is free! Im sure we could even find you housing if you needed it. 229 will be down too, so you can show them the team you were on too!

As for the leadership, the way we did it last year that worked well was we had mostly adult leadership as you suggested (mainly me, supported by the Harris Engineers), and this year we are transitioning to 90% student/10% Adult Leadership... The first year is hard to have students do a lot of the leading, as most dont know anything about FIRST. What we did do, is each subteam had a mentor & student leader, and thats where they got the flavor for leading to start up this year.

Im not sure about FIRSTers, but like I said, I might have some LM contacts
Like I said, we can help you out with whatever you need :)
I have a lot of documentation on this, and am working on a "power rookies" document based off of this. But reality is, talk it up, do any recruiting you need to (USE robot demos!!), then try and train your team in what they need to know for build. But FIRST can be as much or as little as you want, depending on when you start, so just do what works best for your team! But real competition is the way to get them really psyched... I dont think my team "really" got it until we held the Pre-ship Rally... this is why you should really try and bring a bunch of them to Ruckus!
Hmm, Clarkson, middle of nowhere... yeah I think Ive covered that :) haha. At Clarkson, I first obtained sponsorship (of course I told them I would only go there if they would let me start a FIRST team my freshman year... so it was recruiting for them!). Then I went out recruiting mentors. I put up posters, signs & sent emails. We had an info session night with free food (free food is key!). We then built up some ideas, and went to the schools to recruit students... more posters, signs & another info session with food. At the schools its easier because you can get teachers to help you target students. At the info sessions, show videos, do a presentation, have a robot to demo (I dragged 176 up to clarkson to help out). You will hook them :) The other nice thing about binghamton, is even if LM cant give you a ton of money, you have plenty of business around you and can do a patron drive to get more money.

Anyways, please let us know how we can help... 1511 "the old rookies" at your service!! :)

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Thanks for the Info all. I'm planning to attend Ruckus and looks to be a fun time. The next group meeting is Tuesday, so I'll mention the competition and hopefully drag a few people North with me.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Above Judy mentioned attendiing DoD this weekend.

I'll take that a step further,

How about your existing FIRST team and the new team attend Brunswick Eruption on Nov. 19th in Central NJ? We encourage existing teams to bring pre-rookies using borrowed refitted older robots. If you don't have one we might even have the answer to that. Right now I am looking to fill the last two slots.

If playing in the games doesn't get these guys jazzed up to start a team nothing will. And Binghamton is only 3 hours away at most. 222 (Tunkhannock) is coming down. We can find a cheap hotel for you if needed.

Think about it.

WC :cool:

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

And there is a slight chance that you can stay at my house/maybe someone elses house. No promises but just a heads up

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Ok, I'll be in Rochester for Ruckus this weekend and be more than happy to chat with people about starting a team. Presentation went well, but to be honest I couldn't tell if they overwelmed, bored or just didn't care. No one even came up to ask me questions during the meeting. So far, not a single interest in coming to Ruckus ether. Not much a surpise I suppose, but dissappointing. It will just be me, and at least I can avoid a one day 6 hr road trip!

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Well as you have PM'ed me thanks to Mr. McLeod's comment's, I must reiterate the fact that I would be very interested in getting some mentors from here at SUNY Binghamton, and I would love to volunteer, life just isn't the same without FIRST.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

So far the quest continues and all goes well. Right now I'm and trying to gain Corporate Sponsorship from Lockheed Martin Owego and have receieved a positive email from the Community Relations Rep. I have also found a Tech teacher at Owego High School who sounded intereted. Further more, I'm also started networking a small group of volunteers to build a strong foundation from. So far so good and I strongly feel we will have a team ready for the 07 season.

Two questions for the fokes here:

Is anyone one aware of a team at Waverly High School? The Community Rep mentioned that school by name, had been to a demo, and was "truly impressed."

Does anyone know where I could find a copy of the IRS letter stating that the organization is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code for FIRST? It is one of the items require to gain a contribution from Lockheed Martin Owego. I may or may not need it since the Rep hasn't requested it, but it would be a good thing to have.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

You have several potential sources.
1) If you are still going through the Explorer Post, they are a division of Boy Scouts of America and will have access to a 501(c)(3) letter through their local Council from the National organization. The Post can request a copy from their local Council.

2) If with teacher involvement you end up as a school club, then of course the school will have a similar IRS designation that will satisfy Lockheed Martin reporting requirements.

3) If the grant is processed through FIRST then you can call 1-800-871-8326 and ask for the Financial dept.

Demo Team Needed
 

I would like to hold a Robotics Demo in the Owego area to get the locals excited about FIRST. Most I am sure have not even heard FIRST let alone seen one these machines or a competition, so I feel this would be a great way to "spread the word" as it were. The goal really isn't to help promote my specific team that I am trying to create, but rather FIRST as a whole letting people know hey, we exist.

Jan 12th: Architecture Awareness Day
This year, Tioga Middle School is holding some activites to promote Engineering. I'm not exactly sure on the details but I believe last year they built Spaghetti Bridges. Lockheed Martin will be involved and some Execs may even be present. To my knowledge, Tioga Middle School does not have a Lego League team. While I realise this is during a Thursday in the middle of build season, I would apreachate if someone could attend. Personally, I plan on taking the day off and at the least pass out some flyers.

Feb 22nd: National Engineers Week
Every year Lockheed Martin Owego invites local Eight Graders from a variety of schools to come to the site. At this time I'm not sure of the exact details but I beleive there will be many activities and I feel this would be an excellent time to Demo a Robot. Since these are Eight Graders, there is the potential for them to get really excited and want to create a team at their schools for the 07 season. Again, my thinking is this would be a Get to Know FIRST kind of thing. Since it is at Lockheed Martin, then the employees also would get to see what we are up too!

The first date is about a month out, and I realise people are getting excited both about the holidays and the upcoming season. However if any fokes here would be willing and able to hold a demo in Owego, I'd enjoy the conversation ether here, by PM or on AIM. I also plan to email the five "local teams" listed in Mark McLeod's post to see what they think in the next few days. Have a happy Thanksgiving and I hope to hear back from someone.

Regards, Jeff Martinez

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Did you contact Binghamton University at all? (Just as a way to even get engineering students to help out). I talked to the chairman of mechanical engineering (James Pitarresi I think) while I was there for an open house, he seemed like a very proactive person in technology. You should try dropping him an email (probably available on the binghamton website). If contacting him turns into a dead end you could try contacting one of the engineering clubs on campus (ASME perhaps?) - see if they have an interest.

I know from just walking around that they have a pretty good machine shop there (which is at least always a problem for our team in particular - getting parts made).

Good luck!

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff:

MOE, Team 365 started out with FIRST (as stated earlier) as an Explorer Post 7 years ago. I was the Post Advisor for the post. Due to various reasons, after our second season in FIRST, we decided to form our own non-profit corporation, which is about two years old.

Send me a message and I would be happy to discuss our history with you. My work e-mail is John.A.Larock@usa.dupont.com.

Good luck!

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff:

If you would like a FREE "Team in a Box" DVD just go to www.team341.com Click on the banner and then scroll down to order.

We made this DVD to help Rookie teams, but we are finding that teams are also using this disk to explain the FIRST experience to groups that are unfamiliar with FIRST.

Anyway its free so you can't lose.

Best of luck

Al Ostrow
Team 341

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Things continue to go well in Owego. I’ve developed a sixteen page power point presentation on FIRST Robotics and the common team organization to be used as a business proposal. Last week I had a meeting with my manager to discuss the proposal and he’s given me my support. Honestly, I think he is a bit surprised from such initiative from a new hire just out of college, but hey I want to see this happen. Next step is a presentation in front of Communications and Human Resources, which will be scheduled some time after New Years. Then there will be another presentation in front of Frank Meyers, the Site President, and hopefully after that we will be off and running.

On the High School front, working through the Explorer Post has fallen through. I do not believe the group has the ambition or drive to become a FIRST Robotics team. They are very good at what they do, and I just do not want to push too hard for a project they are nether prepared nor excited to dive head into. For instance, the teams have now spent four meetings trying to get their Lego Mindstorms to travel an elliptical black track. By no means do I mean to knock them for they are truly a good group of people with the students both excited and inspired by engineering. Combined with the possible logistics of working with six schools, having the Explorer Post as their own existing team just doesn’t feel doable. So my thinking is to have the Explorer Post and a Robotics team as two separate entities both supported by Lockheed Martin Owego. We may or may not be working together during the six weeks having people involved with both groups and will have to wait to see how things progress.

At Owego Free Academy, progress is going quite well. I’ve met with the Tech Teacher mentioned before. He thinks its very “doable” with he and the high school are now on board. In fact we are planning a kickoff meeting in the computer lab to watch the Manchester web cast. Who to invite is a bit up in the air right now, since clearly we will not be participating and are more than a year out. My thinking is to have a meeting with folks interested in starting a team, discuss the proposal and how we want to organize while watching the broadcast. The only real question is financing. Owego is in a budget crisis and will likely not be able to provide any revenue. That’s perfectly fine in my mind with Lockheed Martin and possibly other local companies helping out, but I was wondering if anyone here knew of any NY State aid such as BOCES who might be able to help out.

Thanks to everyone here for their support and input. I got the Team in a Box this weekend, you guys did a great job and I’ll be passing it around so people can get a better idea about the competition. Further more I’ve now spoken with two leaders of other Lockheed Martin teams, with one being an hour and half away near Clarks Summit PA, and it’s been really helpful knowing how the company works with them. Have a great holiday and wish everyone the best of luck next season.

Oh, and does anyone know how to Edit posts? I would like to update the front page so it better reflects where we are at and what needs we are looking for.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff:

Sounds like you are really on the move! Thanks for the kind words about Team in a Box. we hope it continues to be one of many tools you will use to organize your team. As you have already found out, finding a good mentor close to your location is your most important step.

Best of luck!!

Al Ostrow
Team 341

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Great Job Jeff!

Keep in mind that the Regional in Rochester is only a few hours away and a day trip is possible during the competition. Seeing is believing especially when you're at an event.

If Team 191 X-CATS can help out please let me know!

Ellery

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Good News. I had twenty minute presentation on tuesday with the Communications Director and one of the VPs with Lockheed Martin Owego about FIRST Robotics. He thinks its a great program and that Owego should support a team. The next step is a conversation with the head of Tech Ops (our engineering division) and then with the Site President. Right now I couldn't be happier, but I have some homework.

They would like as much statistical information as possible about the effectiveness of the program. If any one does student tracking, it could be really helpful. How many students go to college, what they major, do they graduate, who they then work for and then compare it to broader student population. I think the idea is if this could be a recruitment tool, is there a trail out there linking them from A to B. Also, Owego is Big on diversity: race, gender, income etc. They do not want to seem supporting a program that only caters to rich white males. Now we all know this is not the case (and from memory can give some good examples), but they want to see Hard Numbers. Coming from Clarkson or looking at our team pictures..... thats not exactly easy.

So, yeah. Any statistics you could give about your team would be awsome.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Great work Jeff,

We've been keeping track of our kids from the beginning, I'll see what I can dig up for you and try to update the presentations we used to provide.

Send me an email and we can communicate directly.

Ellery.wong @xerox.com

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff, last week, the principal of a high school in Johnson City and someone from BAE came by our team's meeting to see how we operated and whether it would be feasible for them to start a team next year. Binghamton's pretty much in the same place and we welcome you to ask for any help that you need and to possibly coordinate with Johnson City. Are you by any chance affiliated with the people that gave us a visit?

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

The hunt continues. This Friday, Chuck 84 will be visiting Lockheed Martin Owego as a part of National Engineering Week. 150 middle school students and teachers from around the county will be exposed to Robotics for the first time. Each of these groups along with their Lockheed tour guides will be ours for twenty five minutes to do as we please. Granted will not be allowed to drive around the facilities but we have a full hanger bay to act as our play ground.

Mwahahahahaha
*cough* cough*
Oh, sorry. You know what they say about power.....

Any way, I'm starting to get real excited. I'll let you fokes know how it turns out. Now here's hoping last years robot is fully up and working.
:yikes:

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Friday was an overwhelming success. I want to thank the other mentors of Chuck 84 who I am very much now in their debt. The robot was present despite the blizzard the day before and I managed to get a laptop so I could finally show people some videos.

Seven groups each from a different school of about fifteen students, their teacher and two Lockheed employees filed through during the day. We started with an intro to FIRST, showed them this year's game, had them brainstorm the robot they would want to make, then drove the robot around for a little bit. In each group there was few students who really got into it and usually a guide who walked up to get a closer look of the robot. It will be interesting to see if any one makes it to the regional this weekend, which of course we highly advertised.

So to sum up the results:
100 inspired students who never heard of FIRST.
Lockheed Martin Owego's initial involvement with FIRST Robotics.
Bout 25 employees and one upper level manager got see the robot first hand.

The Waverly teacher, also an engineer involved at the high school level, is very much excited. Currently their seniors are building a battle bot who I think next time will be shifted to FIRST. I suspect Waverly will ether be joining Chuck next year or starting their own team.

Owego Free Academy is extremely on board. There have been several informal meetings and we have their full support including from Project Lead the Way. The middle school teacher not only knew about FIRST but felt, in his own words, "this is going to happen."

Wow. All we need now is Lockheed endorsement then off and running. Even if they don't, I think next month I'm going to hold a info meeting session at the high school, try to capture some of this energy. With or without Lockheed, things are definitely coming together. Till next time, and looking forward to seeing people at Rochester.

Best Regards,
Jeff "Martinez" Martinez

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Jeff:

It was great to hear how well things went. Chuck has an awesome team. We have worked with them at many off-season events. We always enjoy their friendship in the pits and partnership on the field.

If you need anything else from team 341 including more copies of Team in a Box, just let us know.

Take care!

Al Ostrow

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

One of the ways that companys sometimes become sponsors:

1. you start a team at a local HS.

2. students join the team, parents of the student become interested and want to help

3. the parents work for companies like Lockheed, IBM, BAE, SUNY Binghamton....

4. the parents get their companies involved.


Its sort of a backwards way of doing things, but whatever gets you there in the end is all good.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

A copy of the FIRST Robotics Owego Program Proposal is now listed in the Chief Delphi White Papers. Pictures have been removed in order to minimize file size. Any and all critiques are welcomed. Next meeting with management is at noon on Wednesday, so wish me luck!

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/papers/1805

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Excellent news: Robotics Owego had our first meeting on Monday. It was an infomation session with about ten students, about three parents, the high school teacher, and four Lockheed employees. Its hard to judge opinions, especially with little feed back, but I don't think the students were bored, rather become quite interested once we start doing something.

Key right now seems to be fundraising. Lockheed has not commited to sponsoring a team. However, I think they will and since we have six months before registration am not worried. What we do need is additional sponsors, some amount of cash to hold a summer program to keep the interst levels up. That and more money means more opertunities, so more sponsors are always welcomed.

Being new to the area, I don't know much about tech companies in the Owego (Vestal Binghamton) area. If you know of any, please post them so we can add it to the growing list of fokes to talk to.

Definately a good start and soon I'm sure we will be off and running.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Just heard back from Lockheed who agreed to donate $2,000. In addition to local companies, we will be pursuing a possible matching donation from Corporate and possibly any local suppliers, distributors, etc that Lockheed works with that would be willing to help out.

The good news is we have our first sponsor!
:yikes: :yikes: :yikes:

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Man, that's scary... its been almost two years since I last posted on this thread.

For those not in the know, a team at Owego fell through due to lack of funding. Lockheed has continued supporting Chuck at $2,000 per year but is NOT interested in supporting more. In the mean while I just try to keep talking up Robotics and learning as much about team different teams (how they work and operate) as I can. Well, a coworker and I spoke in person to the Principle of Owego and he's interested in setting up a team and wants to talk with the School Board around June!

Looks like it's time for round two. Wish us luck.

PS: Keep your ears open to the Elmira area. Monday's Star-Gazette had an article asking about FIRST and how to get a team. There may be genuine interest there and I've already pinged the collumist (Leanna Landsmann) looking for information.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Good luck! It would be nice to have more than one rookie next year at FLR! :p

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Hello, I live in Bainbridge, NY which is only 30 mins from Binghamton, NY. I am part of T-Rx 145 which is out of Norwich, NY about 45 mins from Binghamton. Another team in the Binghamton are is out of Endicott i think. That is team 2053 Tigertronics, also there is 639 which is Code red, they are out of Ithaca, NY. If you need any help with anything please give 145 a shout. I can also give you contact info to my mentors. We are having an open house at the Norwich High School on May 6th if you are interested.

Re: Need Help Creating a Binghamton Robotics Team
 

Yep, familar with all of those teams being on Chuck the last 3 years and prior 4 at Clarkson. This will be more a matter of getting the school on board and "seeing the light" as it were. Funding scared them off last time and I'm hoping it doesn't happen again. Thanks for the offer and I'll keep in touch!