Let me first start off by saying that I agree completely with Andy Baker's last post.
I have been involved indirectly with General Motor's Robotics Teams for the past 7 years and directly involved with General Motor's Robotics Teams for the past 6 years. At no time thus far has my experiences with team 68 (100% sponsored by General Motors) or team 857 (partially sponsored by General Motors) been summed up by David B.'s remarks in this forum. General Motor's, as all other sponsors, would like to see teams they help support at the top of the rankings along with coming away from competitions across the nation with trophies/metals. I have had the opportunity over the course of being involved with General Motors to meet many of the executives that support FIRST and I know many of them on a personal level. Through this I can tell you that they don't want us to be just "glorified mechanics, cheerleaders and nothing more". I have seen the pride on their faces when they walk through the pits at competitions, along with coming down to the build areas that we use during the season leading up to competitions. There is a love to see us working hard and question why can't we do it this way. I know from experience that they enjoy even more one of us students being able to prove that it can be done, when we have been told it can't.
From my experiences on team 68: Each returning student is required to do a fund raising project, a community service project, along with doing at least one presentation to a local school; this is required in order to be considered back on the team. These requirements are often exceeded, along with participating in helping with Lego League and OCCRA (Oakland County Competitive Robotics Association). The team as a whole also does fund raising projects up until build season. These events often take place at Ford Field or at the Silverdome, working concession stands. Last year alone, the 20 students, parents and the 10 advisors of Truck Town put in just more than 19,000 hours. Also leading up to the build season the team host "Robotics 101" sessions. Through these sessions the students from previous years, along with the advisors teach the new members the basics behind robotics. They learn the various tools, along with the names of the machines and the correct way in which to use them. Through this the learning curve is almost eliminated. This also allows the students more freedom once the build cycle starts.
I was on the Truck Town team for 3 years. During this three-year period, I was one of the prime builders. I assisted in the build of the chassis, the drive units, the arms, and transmissions. By assisted I mean my best friend and I designed and built it from the ground up. Yes of course there were a couple of parts that we needed fast and had no idea on how to build, which we asked an advisor to build. The only catch to them building it was we had to both make the time to watch them from start to finish on the part. As you can guess, the next time we needed it, we were able to do it ourselves.
As an advisor now for team 68: I still get phone calls and emails from other advisors in the off season about questions on how to do things that I learned as a student on the team This only further confirms to me that General Motors truly puts their trust in the students hands.
I know that I am not alone in what I have written above. I know many other General Motors Robotics alumni from various teams and I am 100% confident that they will support me in what I have written above.
Recommendation: Talk to the advisors and teachers on your team. If you have anything further to say, please email me at
magarver@mtu.edu Lets try to follow Andy Baker’s advice.
Mark Garver