Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST
Would anyone find it interesting to know what the people who post here do in their everyday job, outside of FIRST? I think it might be interesting, especially for letting the students know a little more about what’s out there. What does everyone think?
Posted by Ken Patton, Engineer on team #65, The Huskie Brigade, from Pontiac Northern High School and GM Powertrain.
Posted on 4/27/99 6:05 PM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
I work on new engines (oops, propulsion systems) for General Motors Powertrain. I am in ‘advanced engineering’ which means we work on things that will go into production in 5+ years or so.
Pop the hood on an Olds Intrigue with the 3.5L DOHC V6 and you’ll see what I worked on a few years ago…
Ken
Posted by Andy Baker, Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 4/27/99 6:30 PM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
I am an automated equipment designer for Delphi-Delco’s in house
equipment development department. I have been part of a team who has
developed an automated robotic cell which can do many tasks for the
final assembly of automotive electronics. I am one of the mechanical
engineers on the team.
Also, I’ve been working on the production process (and a bit of product
design) of a neat new product, a Passenger Object Detection System (PODS).
This product can tell who or what is sitting in the passenger seat and
therefore determine whether or not to deploy the passenger side airbag.
Andy B.
Posted by Greg Mills, Engineer on team #16, Baxter Bomb Squad, from Mountain Home and Baxter Healthcare.
Posted on 4/27/99 7:59 PM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
:
If you ever donate or receive whole blood, platelets, plasma, bone marrow, etc.; use dialysis; or receive an IV; you may be using products manufactured in Mountain Home on automated equipment designed and built by the Baxter Engineers. Even though we are proud of what we make, I hope you never have to use any of them.
Posted by Joe Johnson, Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 4/27/99 8:21 PM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
My division of Delphi make a wide variety of stuff that goes into cars.
I work in the Advanced Development Group in the Electro-Mechanical Dept. or the Door Systems Dept. (the two groups have merged and things are still a bit muddled).
Anyway…
I basically design clever mechanisms for a living.
From door latches, to seat hardware, to window lift systems, to power products, I do FIRST type project all year round.
Really.
Joe J.
Posted by P.J. Baker, Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.
Posted on 4/28/99 9:37 AM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
I’m a research engineer at Gerber Scientific Products. I’m trained as an ME, but I do a little bit of everything in the name of creating new and different products for GSP. We provide equipment, software, and materials to the signmaking industry. A lot of you had cool, printed vinyl graphics on your 'bots. It’s likely that they were made on our machine, the Gerber Edge. FYI, the funky floppy holders on the Bobcat were basically a copy of a product made by another Gerber division, Gerber Technology. In real life, the bracket is used to ferry pieces of cloth from one sewing station to another in high volume shops.
p.s. - My responsibilities while we were in Florida kept me from looking a lot of you guys up in the pits. Hopefully I’ll get to meet some of you at the rumble this summer.
Later,
P.J.
Posted by Chris, Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monster, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.
Posted on 4/28/99 10:54 AM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
I suppose I should put up what I do since I started this.
My official job title is Algorithm Develpment and Application Engineer. My degree is in ME with a concentration in Controls and Dynamic Systems. With that background I do algorithm development (advanced work) as well as application work (more mundane) for automotive safety systems. Safety algorithms include algorithms for crash sensing, weight sensing, occupant sensing, and others. I also model mechanical crash sensors and create computer simulation packages for the sensors (yes Joe, some of them are in DOS (UNIX too)). Overall, the job has been pretty cool. Most of my work appears in Toyota products.
Like Greg Mills said, I’m proud of my work but I hope no one ever needs to use it.
And Joe - how do you get cash? I get paid with a check. Do you get tips? 
: Would anyone find it interesting to know what the people who post here do in their everyday job, outside of FIRST? I think it might be interesting, especially for letting the students know a little more about what’s out there. What does everyone think?
Posted by Mike King, Other on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater Raynham and Johnson & Johnson Professional.
Posted on 4/28/99 6:31 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: What do I do? posted by Chris on 4/28/99 10:54 AM MST:
Should I complain to you then that the Airbags on the toyota tacoma have a tendency not to go off.
Couldn’t resist the jib.
Mike
Posted by Raul, Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.
Posted on 4/28/99 12:22 PM MST
In Reply to: What do you do? posted by Chris on 4/26/99 10:22 PM MST:
Although I am a mechanical engineer by training, my job is nowhere near as fun as Joe J’s or Ken P’s. I don’t get to design or make anything. I am a senior project manager. Like the director of a film we only get to make sure everyone does their job and the final product is what it was intended to be. We get all of the stress and none of the fun of actually producing something. No wonder I need to get involved in FIRST - It gives me the opportunity to ‘get my hands dirty’ from January to April just like I used to do when I started at Motorola. Besides that, I love showing the kids how things work. Regardless of what anyone thinks, it is a lot less stressful to deal with all kinds of high school students than it is to deal with VP’s when things aren’t going right.
Raul