Delphi Circuit Stompers

To many a role model is a celebrity, but to the students on team 378 our mentors are our role models. Fred Dempsey, mentor for the Circuit Stompers is one such role model. A retired Delphi Test Tunnel Operator/Mechanic by trade, Fred joined the team in 2003. Fred’s experience at Delphi and his working with gearing and transmissions of race cars has added much to our team and that’s why we, the Circuit Stompers student team members, would like to nominate him for the 2010 Woodie Flowers Award.

Fred grew up around engines and race cars. His father raced, and Fred was right there helping him all the way. When Fred was 14 or 15, he rebuilt his first engine on his father’s race car. By the time his father came home from work, it was together and ready to race. That night they won the feature with it! Throughout the years Fred raced all over the eastern U.S. He won several class trophies and track championships and even made it to the NHRA World Finals. After a 15 year hiatus he got back into racing by building and maintaining the engines for local drivers. In the early 90's he got back into the game himself when he built and raced a Dirt Sportsman car at to Ransomville Speedway. When Fred joined team 378, his expertise with cars and engines helped us to begin building our own transmissions. In the process of building our robot Fred has taught us much about transmissions. For example we have learned how matching the transmission to the motor improves the transfer of power.

From his experience building, testing, and racing cars Fred knows that the designs can be flawed, and if something looks wrong then it probably is wrong. He has been known to say, “If it doesn’t look right, it isn’t right!” What may look right on paper, does not always work as planned. Experience and creative problem solving are often needed to make the transition from paper to reality work, and Fred is an outstanding problem solver. On this year’s robot he was able to come up with a design for the kicker that is not too complicated and works very well. From this design we can see that we should not disregard something because it’s not complicated. Sometimes simple is better.

Fred has also taught us simple tricks that make hard to reach areas easily accessible. For example, he has shown us how to wrap electrical tape on the back of the wrench and then stick a nut onto the tape. With the nut stuck on the tape, it is easy to slide the wrench and bolt into a hard to reach area. This is really helpful when we are working in tight areas. This simple lesson is something we will always use.

Fred Dempsey has a wealth of knowledge that he has been able to pass onto students throughout the years. During the build he makes sure that all the students working with him understand what each step entails. Any of the students and fellow mentors will tell you what a great guy Fred is and how well he works with the students. He has remarkable hands on skills, and he has and will continue to inspire science and engineering on our team. We, the students on team 378, are fortunate to have him our team and are honored to be able to nominate him for the Woodie Flowers Award.

In celebrating our tenth anniversary, The Circuit Stompers would like to honor Norm Weber, a retired Delphi model maker, as our 2009 Woodie Flowers Nominee. Norm has been with the team for ten years as a mentor. Over the years Norm has coached more than 350 students and has attended 19 regional events and 6 championship events. He has also served as volunteer at the championship event in Atlanta.

Norm’s experience as a Delphi model maker helps him to see practical applications for robotics in everyday items. When faced with a design challenge, Norm has been able to redesign existing concepts to create working parts for the robot. For example for our 2005 robot Clawdia there were many complicated designs suggested. Rather than getting too complicated, Norm suggested using the same design as an adjustable drawing lamp. He then brought in a lamp to demonstrate the concept. Team members were inspired once they saw how effective this simple design could be. It ultimately became our design.

As mentor it can be difficult to know when to let go; however, Norm knows when to lead and when to let go. A fellow mentor recalled an experience that he had with Norm and a student sub group. The fellow mentor wanted to interject and step in on the students’ trouble shooting. Norm encouraged the mentor to let the students go. Sure enough within a few minutes the students had solved their problem and were off on their own. By giving them time, Norm empowered them to solve problems on their own.

Norm’s favorite quote on our website is “That’ll never work,” but it is always followed by a smile and a chuckle. In reality, Norm understands that designing and building a robot takes time, and sometimes we need to step back and think about our options and defend our design. Over the past ten years Norm has used this and other humorous tactics to help the team members take a step back and assess the situation.

Sometimes inspiration can come when you least expect it. Norm proved this to us this season when he wrote an e-mail to the team at 3 AM. The e-mail expressed a concern that Norm had along with options that he had thought of to correct the concern. When we read the e-mail in the morning, we understood Norm’s concerns and we also saw that communicating ideas when you think of them is very important. If Norm had waited to address his concern, he may have forgotten some of his ideas. About 15 minutes later Norm sent a second e-mail with more ideas proving to us that once you open your mind to new ideas, you can really see new possibilities.

For ten years of dedication, humor, and inspiration, our team thinks Norm Weber is the perfect Woodie Flower candidate. We are excited to nominate him as our 2009 nominee.

Richard Coleman, an eight year member of the Newfane Circuit Stompers, has been instrumental in helping our team fulfill the FIRST mission.  It is for this reason that we believe that Rick is the perfect candidate for the Woodie Flowers Award.

One area that Rick has helped our team with is fundraising.  With the uncertain financial situation, it has been very important to identify alternate funding sources.  Rick helped to alleviate some of this burden through a creative community outreach fundraising program.  When Rick learned that the Newfane Soccer Program needed someone to run the concession stand for the summer, he thought that this may be one venue to help ease the financial concern.  Rick presented this idea to the team, and the Circuit Stompers ran the concessions. In addition to assisting with finances, this program also heightened community awareness to the FIRST program. 

Rick has also helped to inspire engineering.  In recognizing that engineering involves many career opportunities, Rick arranged for tours of local engineering companies, including a power plant and a wastewater treatment facility. Joining team members on the tours were family members and members of team 1507.   By touring the facilities we were able to see first hand the many engineering opportunities available in our hometown. As an added bonus we were able to make our presence and goals known to engineering facilities.  Who knows, in the future this exposure may add increased funding or mentorship for our team.  

Rick has also helped our team solve storage and practice problems.  When the town fire company moved to a new facility Rick seized the opportunity gain community support for our team.  After a presentation by Rick and the student officers to the town board, the team was granted a storage barn and space for a playing field at the old fire hall site.  We now store our trailer and supplies in the storage barn.  We also have a practice field ready for use when we need it.  In the spirit of gracious professionalism we also share this field with team 1507.

Having a practice field has helped Rick to develop a drive team training program.  Students interested in driving are allowed to practice with the old robot.  Rick patiently instructs each driver to build confidence and improve agility. Working with a student panel Rick also put together a two part driver’s test. Ultimately drivers chosen to operate the robot are selected on their ability to handle the robot, their commitment to the team, and their knowledge of the game’s rules. 

For giving his time and energy to promote engineering and for helping our team solve problems, we believe that Rick is the perfect Woodie Flowers candidate.  We are proud to nominate him for this honor.

When most people think of a hero, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman all come to mind.  These super human individuals all have exceptional skills, are dedicated to helping others, and come to the rescue to save the day.  When our FIRST Robotics students think of a team member with these characteristics, they think of Jim Christen.

Jim has exceptional skills.  Thanks to Jim’s knowledge and guidance, our controls team has been presented with several prestigious awards for innovativeness in controls and programming.  Since 2003 Jim’s control prowess has received recognition not only from FIRST judges but also from other FRC teams.  In 2003 our team developed an autonomous mode that reached the center stack of boxes in just over three seconds.  This extraordinary achievement was awarded "Leadership in Controls Award" at the Canadian Regional.  In 2004 fellow FRC Team1064 witnessed our team’s triumphs and awarded us “Best Autonomous Function” as well as “Most Feared Robot” at Buckeye.  In 2004 Team 174 awarded the Stompers with the “Best Autonomous Award” for an autonomous program that consistently opened a hopper and collected balls.  In 2005 during the Triple Play season Team 1126, awarded the Stompers with the “Best Autonomous Mode” for a program that capped a goal and knocked a triangle into the goal during the first fifteen seconds of play.  Last year Jim’s efforts brought recognition from FIRST officials as the team was awarded the prestigious “Delphi ‘Driving Tomorrows Technology’ Award” for an exemplary program and a controls module that effectively demonstrated our arm in at the Buckeye Regional.  These awards highlight the effort of our exceptional mentor. 

Like a superhero, against all odds Jim uses his talents to “save the day.”  Once the fabrication of the robot is done, Jim manages to get all the control work done in a few days.  Often the design makes placing the controls in awkward and delicate positions.  Jim uses what he has and works with it.  Without complaining he finds a solution and makes it work. Jim’s calm demeanor never lets a problem be too big solution that is too hard. When we take our robotics trips, Jim is always one to voice the kid’s opinions.  His voice of reason helps the other mentors to see things from a kid’s point of view and allows us to make our own decisions.  Thankfully he’s also there to support us if the idea stumbles and falls.

 We consider Jim to be a great role model for kids and adults alike.  Jim’s modesty and knowledge are admirable. His impressive work ethics and his aura of patience are contagious.  His dedication is exemplary. He has helped us to realize that you don’t have to be a super hero to make a significant impact on lives.  To our team Jim is a super, and that is why we nominate him for the Woodie Flowers award.