Automotive Company Sponsored Winners

[Jay TenBrink]

Originally Posted by Don Wright

Ever since I've been in FIRST (since 2003), there has always been a team that is mainly sponsored by one of the automotive companies.

In 2003, the Huskies (#65) sponsored by GM
In 2004, The Martians (#494) sponsored by GM and DaimlerChrysler (I believe)
In 2005, the Hot Team (#67) sponsored by GM
In 2006, The Thunderchickens (#217) sponsored by Ford

What about before this? Any other interesting connections between winners?

Just curious...

Don, my thoughts.

It could be for several reasons that the big three are well represented in the winners’ circle:

1) Sponsor Commitment: GM, DaimlerChrysler, and Ford have been involved with FIRST for many years and have been very supportive and generous to FIRST and their many teams. Look on the big blue banners hanging at an event where they list the founding sponsors.
2) Pool of mentors: There are tons of engineers, designers, technicians in South East Michigan that create, design, build, trouble shoot products for a living. These folks work on vehicles, tooling, equipment, components, etc. Many of these mentors have the basic skills and do well working with teams to create, design, build, and trouble shoot robots with FIRST teams.
3) Good Communication: FIRST gets good coverage in South East Michigan. Many of these potential mentors know about FIRST and many have chosen to get involved. Plenty of mentors from the big three are also working on non-big three teams.

These big three reasons: sponsor commitment, pool of mentors, and good communication make for a very fertile environment for FIRST to thrive. Certainly this environment exists in other communities and there are certainly many teams that excel in less fertile environments.

I have wondered for some time: Where are the non-domestic automotive sponsored teams? Yes, I know that DaimlerChrysler is a German company. I don’t recall ever seeing a team sponsored by Honda, Toyota, or Nissan? Are they out there?

Jay

[Joe J.]

Originally Posted by Jay TenBrink

I have wondered for some time: Where are the non-domestic automotive sponsored teams? Yes, I know that DaimlerChrysler is a German company. I don’t recall ever seeing a team sponsored by Honda, Toyota, or Nissan? Are they out there?

Looking at the full Team List

Honda is in the team names of 4 teams: 677, 691, 1317, 1757
Toyota is in the team names of 3 teams: 974, 1506, 1721
Nissan is in the team name of 1 team: 360

So they are out there but hard to see when:
GM is listed in 36 team names
Ford in 26
DaimlerChrysler in 9
Delphi in 16
Visteon in 5

[Jay TenBrink]

[quote=379Robocat]This years robot was amazing, very simple, very very robust, the machinery was amazing, just simple the best robot I have ever seen from this team in my 6 out of the teams 7 years in existence. Our team had hoped for a quality award instead of winning the KPC&B Entre. award for the 5th time. We were disappointed that we did not win this award at all nor really be considered. I mean the kids described it as well as test it for the judges.

The only reason I can think they received the award instead of us was because they were a GM,Ford,DC,Delphi team. I apologize if I offended anyone or bashed anyone, that wasn't my intention. My point was that there was a robot that won an award and our robot in my mind was up there with that robot if not a step ahead of them and they received the award because they were a Corporate name unlike us.

Robocat:

This provokes a good question: What “other factors” affect how people (judges and other teams) view and judge your robot?

Our team had a very humble beginning in Pat’s garage with no big name sponsor and not much $. We had 2.5 mentors and 8 students. We did well as rookies and did much better the second year (#3 seed at Epcot) and had even less money than before. The third year we became sponsored by DCX and GM, won our first regional, won judged awards, and were National Finalists in Houston. The next year, we were picked by team 71 and won.

Was it:
A) The $
B) The names on the side of the robot
C) Luck
D) The hard work and determination of the team
E) All of the above.

I believe it was mostly D, but I’d have to say E. I’ve phoned a friend and that is my final answer. Here are my thoughts:

1) Money is the price of entry. A team can not buy a win, but starving teams have a real up hill battle. Constant fund raising can drain the energy from already taxed mentors and students. Entry fees, travel, accommodations, etc. are expensive. A team that can afford to attend multiple regional events will have an advantage.
2) I think most people are affected by name recognition whether they admit it or not. This could be a well recognized team (Wildstang) or sponsor (Xerox). When we got our DCX/GM sponsorship I felt we had earned some type of endorsement for our program. Perhaps this was just in my head, but I did feel that way. When you stop for lunch out of town do you try that little diner you’ve never heard of or stick with McDonalds? The diner may have much better food but you know what to expect at McDonalds.
3) We have had luck, both good and bad. Someone said once that “luck is when ability and opportunity come together”.
4) We work long hard hours during the build season and during the competitions. We still have a modest shop but we do have some parts built by a mentor at his work. Our students in the pit know our robot well and have tons of hours invested in it. They have earned the right to speak about it, are passionate, proud, and articulate. I think this is the biggest reason we have won judged awards.

Jay

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Jay TenBrink

I have wondered for some time: Where are the non-domestic automotive sponsored teams? Yes, I know that DaimlerChrysler is a German company. I don’t recall ever seeing a team sponsored by Honda, Toyota, or Nissan? Are they out there?

Our team was sponsored by Toyota in both 2004 and 2005, but they stopped their sponsorship when they decided we were too far away from their facilities (they wanted a closer team so their engineers could actually help out). I do not know if they found another team. They also mentioned their "sister" plant somewhere in California sponsored a team; that might be one of the three listed.

I really think the only connection here is the money and mentors part; I don't see FIRST judges giving away awards simply because there is a corporate name in the title.

[Pat Major]

Originally Posted by 379Robocat

We were disappointed that we did not win this award at all nor really be considered. I mean the kids described it as well as test it for the judges. I don't like to say my bot is better then your bot but one of the robots that won this award was right next to us in the pits and after carefully looking it over I decided that ours would be competition with them. After watching their robot perform I was a little confused. After the start of their 10 balls and they were dumped that was it that robot was done it couldn't reload, HP load or collect it just drove around and played "D". We went against them and pushed them all over the floor, reloaded off the floor, dumped in side goals and played some massive "D". Like I said I'm not one to brag or say my robot is better then yours but this year I was mighty proud of that robot and would have stayed up a month straight during competition season just to get noticed. The only reason I can think they received the award instead of us was because they were a GM,Ford,DC,Delphi team. I apologize if I offended anyone or bashed anyone, that wasn't my intention. My point was that there was a robot that won an award and our robot in my mind was up there with that robot if not a step ahead of them and they received the award because they were a Corporate name unlike us. (I would have found out for sure which one they were but the FIRST website is currently down)

I found it interesting as I read your post and then looked at your signature I see your team has won many awards. As a matter of fact they are the top awards. I should mention that even though we have tried very hard to win a Chairman and an Engineering Inspiration Award, we never have. We have also never won an Entrepreneurship Award. I do have a list as long as my arm as to why we are just as dissevering as the people that have won these awards at the competitions we have attended. Our time will come. We have won many awards that are for the robots we have built. Our students are better versed about the robot than they are on the team history. That might be one of the differences. We have even had mentors that specialize in, and train people on how to interview, come in and speak with our students about how to present themselves to the judges. I think we should get together and you can tell us how to win the top awards and we can advise you on winning robot awards. You also have to remember that there are a lot of other great robots that don’t win the awards, I am sure it is always very tough for the judges. The judges don’t always see what you see, and you don’t always see what the judges see.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Philmont629

Honda is in the team names of 4 teams: 677, 691, 1317, 1757
Toyota is in the team names of 3 teams: 974, 1506, 1721
Nissan is in the team name of 1 team: 360

So they are out there but hard to see when:
GM is listed in 36 team names
Ford in 26
DaimlerChrysler in 9
Delphi in 16
Visteon in 5

Mercedes-Benz sponsors 8 teams in the NJ area. FWIW.

Don

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by 379Robocat

Our team had hoped for a quality award instead of winning the KPC&B Entre. award for the 5th time. We were disappointed that we did not win this award at all nor really be considered. I mean the kids described it as well as test it for the judges. I don't like to say my bot is better then your bot but one of the robots that won this award was right next to us in the pits and after carefully looking it over I decided that ours would be competition with them. After watching their robot perform I was a little confused. After the start of their 10 balls and they were dumped that was it that robot was done it couldn't reload, HP load or collect it just drove around and played "D". We went against them and pushed them all over the floor, reloaded off the floor, dumped in side goals and played some massive "D". Like I said I'm not one to brag or say my robot is better then yours but this year I was mighty proud of that robot and would have stayed up a month straight during competition season just to get noticed. The only reason I can think they received the award instead of us was because they were a GM,Ford,DC,Delphi team. I apologize if I offended anyone or bashed anyone, that wasn't my intention. My point was that there was a robot that won an award and our robot in my mind was up there with that robot if not a step ahead of them and they received the award because they were a Corporate name unlike us. (I would have found out for sure which one they were but the FIRST website is currently down)

Wow...I'm sorry about all your frustration. Having been in EXACTLY the same position (as far as building a great robot that seemed to get passed over...) I understand how you must feel. Been there- felt that. (Just look for some of their comments about the quality of our robots and you may understand what I mean.) We build well thought-out, well designed, well built, good looking machines that (usually) do a great job.

In 2003 we won the Arizona Regional, and the Industrial Design Award in LA. This year we won the Motorola Quality Award and were the alliance captains for the winner at the LA Regional, we won the Newton division and were finalists on Einstein. Did this happen because we are "a GM,Ford,DC,Delphi team"? NO!!!

We are a team in a mid-low economic bedroom community made up of mostly blue-collar workers. No GM, NO Ford, NO DC, and NO Delphi, NO big companies at all. In fact our only major sponsor is our own school! Last year we attended only ONE competition, and that was only possibly because of a FIRST grant for underfunded schools.

Do we have lots of mentors? Sure! Two (wonderful) college students and myself. Period. And none of us get any compensation for our time or effort. And we are not the ONLY school in this position. I know of SEVERAL underfunded, under-sponsored teams that do very well year after year, wining both competitions AND AWARDS.

Do we do well and receive awards because we are a well sponsored team? NO!!! We earn these IN SPITE of this. Our students and college student mentors work VERY hard to earn what we get and the idea that someone feels that a team (ANY team!), is 'given' these awards just "because they were a GM,Ford,DC,Delphi team" is, in my opinion EXTREMELY degrading to the members of that team! It completely denies the value of the efforts of every member of that team, and belittles the idea that a team, ANY team, is capable of doing quality work without major sponsors and engineers. Please understand that what you just said (or implied) is that no matter what a team does, without that 'big name sponsor' on it's robot, it doesn't matter what you accomplish - you only get the award if you have the right name attached to yours.

You said "I apologize if I offended anyone or bashed anyone, that wasn't my intention". That may not have been your intension, but your lack of knowledge in this area, poor understanding about why/how things happen at FIRST (or any other) events, and your "poor me" attitude has resulted in malignment of every team that has won an award. If after six years in FIRST your concern is about "why they won that" or "why we didn't win this", perhaps it's time for a refresher course in "why we DO THIS".

[kireitenshi00]

Hey everyone,

I'm from team 677, the Ohio State University/Columbus School for Girls Wirestrippers. We're sponsored by Roush Honda, which is a local car dealership, but still has Roush in its name. I just wanted to say that unlike other corporate teams, we have no professional engineers on our team, and it is a completely student-run team.

[santosh]

Originally Posted by KTorak

As I skimmed through the thread, I didn't see it mentioned, but Big Name Sponsors tend to provide a little bit more financial backing/mentor support than say your average local business would...

I agree with that statement to an extant. With some big name sponsored, very few people know you exist (which is very understandable) whereas when you are with a hometown business everyone knows you. Luckily we have a big sponsor/mentor that is local. Georgia Tech.

But that is kinda cool, 2001 till now? Well we are sponsored by Ford indirectly, so maybe we can carry the torch next year. lol

[anna~marie]

I don't wish to sound rude or offend... or even complain.
That said, please take my opinion as just that - mine.
Sometimes having a corporate sponsorship is harder because some people don't like you for it - granted not all, just some. From those people you get harassed. I have been on the receiving end of this before, but, thank God, not often.
It shouldn't really matter who your sponsors are. Just work with what you have, to the best of what you can offer.