Summary of our Regional Finishes

After a long bus ride down to snowy (yes, snowy) Arkansas, RC Dawson was ready for a nap and some regional competition. Our robot had some technical difficulties early on, but after they were resolved we performed well. The goal of the Arkansas regional was to get in some practice before the Denver regional. In the Arkansas regional our Rank was 32 and we had a qualification score of 54.30 in addition to a playoff score of 87.50. RC Dawson was picked by the 5th ranked alliance and we performed well. This regional gave us the confidence we needed for the Denver regional. RC Dawson was slightly unlucky in Denver and our robot suffered some serious mechanical failures. Our average qualification score was 69.60 and as a result we didn’t get picked. Although we didn’t get the results we were hoping for, we learned valuable lessons and are excited for next year!

Our highlight in week two's top plays for the FRC Top 10
http://bit.ly/1B671y3 

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Looking Back

You know that feeling that no one ever gets when they lose and you run around celebrating. Losing is the third worst thing on the planet behind wasps and brussels sprouts. Unfortunately, losing is something that everyone has to cope with. Losing might feel like the worst thing ever, but it is necessary in order to achieve success. A comparison one could make would be to the 2008 financial collapse. Everyone was getting in the market buying mortgaged-backed securities that had absurd ratings. People were buying houses with nothing down and almost expected a great return. People didn’t realize that there was risk in investing and not everything is as perfect as it seems. Once the bubble burst the United States economy collapsed harder than the Broncos super bowl attempt against the Seahawks. What happened in 2008 was a terrible injustice, but so far we as a country have learned from our mistakes. We have had a raging bull market for the last six years. Employment has gone up and the United States seems to be getting back on its feet. In RC Dawson’s case 2008 was the year it all started, the year we would grow with that six year bull market. The team has learned many lessons since its founding and RC Dawson has been a home for many students pursuing their love of robotics. Last week was a bad week for RC Dawson and the stock market, but at the end of the week the DOW closed at a gain for the day. This made me wonder what our bounce back was and what our gain from the Denver FRC Regional was. We lost, that sucked, but it would be naive of us to not look at the lessons we learned from this past week. The team gave it their all and endured through mechanical failures, long drives, tough losses and a since of defeat. What we have to realize is that at the end of the week robotics is supposed to be fun and educational. So many students have learned valuable life lessons as well as technical skills through the RC Dawson program. We all have spent late nights working on the robot and doing are best to make sure we can show up big at the competition. Although it might appear as if all that work was for nothing I think that the RC Dawson team would disagree. The team became a family throughout the course of the robotics season and I think at the end of the day that is just as good if not better than the DJIA 34 point rally on friday. We will keep our heads high and carry what we have learned from this incredible season into the next. 

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Meet the Team pt. 2

Jonathan Fuller

He is a very important member of the build team who dominates the building process almost as much as his favorite team, the Seahawks, dominate the NFC. When he is not putting together robots while wearing slightly too much Seahawks apparel, he participates in a wide range of physical activities. He is a premier lax bro and listens to questionable pop music while warming up. He also averages some amount of interceptions that I’m sure would make Richard Sherman proud. Although his street skating skills are not to of the type to be emulated, his long boarding prowess is unmatched.

Morgan Fuller

He is one of the most knowledgeable and creative members of the build team. He claims to be a bigger Seahawks fan than his brother…who knows really, they both go overboard with the fan gear anyway. When he is not competing with his brother to determine who the superior builder is, he enjoys cyclocross and playing video games. He is not to be mistaken for just your “average” gamer. He is a self proclaimed legend at head shots in the game Halo and balls hard in various other games. He also finds being shot with hard balls is fun as well and plays paintball to fulfill his enjoyment of this unique obsession. 

Boomer Scripps

Not only does he have the best name on the RC Dawson team, he also is a master programmer. He practically knows more about Java than the creator himself…or maybe he is the creator :o. HE doesn't always listen to music, but when he does, he listens to Gold by Imagine Dragons on full volume. Easily the most informed member of RC Dawson on current events and cool things happening in the world of robotics. He strongly recommends the youtube channel source fed news. Bottom line he is a forced to be reckoned with and all in all, the man.

Zach Worthing 

If someone needed the biggest chassis ever made moved he would be the first person anyone with a brain would call. His brute force combined with his gentle, easy-going attitude make him one of the best and most productive builders on RC Dawson. After exhausting evenings building robots he goes to sleep and dreams of his one and only love, a Dodge Ram 3500 larmie longhorn edition turbo-diesel V8 short bed dually (mouthful right?).  After he is done dreaming about trucks he wakes up and watches NCIS for as long as he can until he goes to robotics.

Bryant Lord

A true renaissance man who can do just about any task placed in front of him. He does a little bit of everything for the RC Dawson Team: marketing or building, you name it he has done it. When not running around doing everything he prefers to go one direction: Downstream. Although, Canoeing is his first and only love, he also enjoys listening to Spongebob Trap music (Yes that is a thing). He also says “ya dude” to much.

Brooks DeFrees

He is a member of the build team and appears to know what he is doing all the time. His pastimes include skiing and shredding gnarly waves at a surf spot he doesn't want to disclose because it’s sacred. His Hawaiian shirt game is at one hundred billion trillion and wears them to let everyone know he is in fact the man at surfing. The way he glides across waves resembles his unique ability to carve the band saw and make important pieces for the robot.

Michael Nannen

Michael is a builder on the RC Dawson team who knows how get things done. When not building robots he enjoys helping maintain proper animal diversity. He is also a truck enthusiast and upgraded from his rust ridden “truck” to a TRUCK. He considers himself a mediocre baseball player who hasn't yet reached his full potential. When driving his truck or shooting things or even playing baseball he listens to country music(who knows why, but he does…)

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The Name Game (aka North West has nothing on us)

Every year out team codes and coddles a fresh new robot. Like a small child, we teach it to move, play games, and interact with the world around it. And, like a baby, we are tasked with naming it. Whether you are a soon-to-be parent seeking naming advice from a top team or another frc team looking for some inspiration for your own bot's title, you have come to the right place! Here is a look back at the monikers of RC Dawson’s past creations:

Doug: 2014 Season

Doug, a derivative of Douglas, is an ancient Celtic name meaning “black water”. Our Doug, too, flaunted a darkish tint, but he, being a robot, was very allergic to water. The name was originally popularized by swashbuckling pirate Douglas Fairbanks. This fits our team, which is comprised almost entirely of swarthy rouge-types (we’re like STEM Pirates). 

OddJob: 2013 Season

The dictionary.com definition of “odd job” is: a casual or isolated piece of work, especially one of a manual nature. While it may seem an ill fit at first, this name suits our bot quite well. This is because OddJob was built by a whirlwind collection of small, effective tasks. And, though they may have seemed insignificant at first, they all came together to build one of the best robots in RC Dawson history. OddJob was, essentially, the product of many odd (but awesome) jobs. Ok... but less symbolically, the name OddJob is actually a reference to an old Bond villain. A man who threw his stovepipe hats like our robot threw frisbees.

Tim Tebot:  2012 Season

With a name reminiscent of the Denver Broncos’ star quarterback (ok, before Manning), its no surprise that Tebot was such a good sportsman. Just like his namesake, Tebot threw great passes that almost lead his team to victory... if it weren’t for that pesky movement thing.

BeastMode: 2011 Season

BeastMode, as his name would imply, was a total beast of a robot. Drawing his name from the “beast mode activated” meme of the 2010, *shudders at thought of old memes* this robot was a tank, weighing in at over 100 lbs. Ironically, BeastMode’s “beast mode”, his autonomous, was not exactly what you’d expect from a bot specifically named to be activated to achieve success. Don’t worry, though, we have since improved and scored 3rd place in states for our “beast mode” performance last season. Sharing his moniker are Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and rapper Juvenile’s ninth album (also released in 2010).

Señor Chang Mark 1: 2010 Season

Señor Chang Mark 2: 2009 Season

Señor Chang Mark 3: 2008 Season

Admittedly not the most creative names, the Señor Changs hold a special place in RC Dawson’s heart. As our first 3 robots, the Changs were the very beginnings of Dawson robotics. Drawing inspiration from Señor Chang of the television show Community, our robot was bound for success (in sitcoms and Spanish, at least). To quote Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope on Parks and Rec), this name's "ambiguous ethnic blend perfectly represents the dream of the American melting pot." More excitingly, however, is the second half of their names: Mark 1, Mark 2, and Mark 3 respectively. These phrases indicate multiple iterations, or models, of our robot (in this case, three of them). Because no one has told us otherwise, we can safely assume that we, the students of RC Dawson, coined this term. Meaning that in Iron Man 3, when Tony references his suits as Mark 1 - Mark 42, he is using our very own term (are we entitled to a cut of the profits?). Step over JARVIS, the original bots are here.

Having learned all about RC Dawson’s vivid naming history, I’m sure that you’re asking yourself “Well what is the 2015 robot named?” As much as I would love to just give away that valuable information, it has yet to be determined. Some names that have been considered are TARS, WallE, and Mr. Nickerson’s twenty-second bowtie. Unfortunately, we have no consensus or conclusion on this pressing matter as of today, so I will have to update you later. Thanks for Reading (and feel free to use these names for any STEM-minded children you may posses)!

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The ACTUAL History of RC Dawson

Ok, I’m going to level with you, RC Dawson practices can go as long as 7 hours on the weekend days; so, to keep motivated, and amused, we must employ a certain element of satire to our roles on the team. This comedy comes in particularly handy on the RC Dawson team blog. Recently our most prolific, accomplished, and sarcastic writer, Cole, added a surprisingly popular post about the history of RC Dawson. For clarity’s sake, you should know that it was mostly satire; for contrast’s sake I write this post. Luckily for us, the very first RC Dawson team coach, Ryan Depew, dropped by our practice today, and granted me an interview. So, with further ado, I present The ACTUAL History of RC Dawson:

Contrary to what you may now believe, RC Dawson did not start out of the back of a beat up van (you may be thinking of the Scooby Doo Crew). We did not have an uninteresting formation, however. According to Ryan Depew, RC Dawson was founded when the fine folks at DeVry University approached him and asked if he had ever heard of First Robotics. They were looking for a team to sponsor, and, as fate would have it, they wanted us. Looking back, Mr. Depew has no idea why DeVry contacted him specifically, but he couldn’t be happier that they did. So, on one fateful day in 2008, Alexander Dawson School started its very first day of Robotics.

When I asked Mr. Depew about RC Dawson’s very first robot, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “We couldn’t get it to move.” he told me. Back in those days, all of the robots had to be packaged up and shipped to competition; even if you were just driving down the street, it had to be Fedexed. That very first competition, RC Dawson didn’t even have their robot moving until the weekend before shipment. That year the game was called “Lunacy”, and it was designed to feel like driving on the moon. The RC Dawson robot was called Señor Chang (read my Robot Names post to find out why) and he was virtually useless. He could not pick up or throw game pieces, merely herd them around. According to Mr. Depew, he did little more than “run amok” in the competition field. Towards the end of the competition they learned how to play defense, but at that point it was too late. Thankfully, our skills have developed rapidly and Mr. Depew expressed awe at the current team’s ability to build extremely complex and functional robots with little need for help.

Next, I asked Mr. Depew about his current job (as he is no longer a high school physics teacher). In all honesty, I didn’t expect much from this question, but I was very pleasantly surprised. According to Ryan, he would not have his current job if it weren’t for RC Dawson. He told me that his high school had never offered any sort of engineering classes, despite it being, in his opinion, the best thing that one could do in high school. Mr Depew said that his work with RC Dawson “engaged his imagination”. So, when he was searching for his next path in life, he knew that engineering was to be his field. “Now I work for a company that makes robots.” He said with a smile. Work with RC Dawson is not only transformative for our students, but for sponsors, teachers, and mentors as well. So, even though Ryan Depew is no longer our coach, we are proud to know that he is continuing the mission of RC Dawson: bringing robots to the world.

Finally, I asked Mr. Depew if there was anything he wanted to share with our readers about RC Dawson. I will leave you with his parting words:

"It doesn’t matter if you think you’re technical or not. it doesn’t matter if you think you’re science or math minded or not. There is a place for anyone with an interest at RC Dawson, and it is potentially the most engaging, most real-world thing that you can do in high school."

Ps. Follow Ryan on twitter @FRC2972Mentor (and RC Dawson @FRC2972)

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The History of RC Dawson

Long ago at a school named Dawson two young men decided to buy a poorly-maintained van. Although the van was something you might find in breaking bad, it became the catalyst that started it all. RC Dawson was spray painted on the side of the van and little knew that this name spray painted onto a van with mediocre artistic ability would become the centerpiece of the greatest program known to Dawson. The van sat in Dawson’s parking lot begging to be towed, but just like the resiliency of the RC Dawson team, the van stayed put and refused to be towed away. The van was a foreshadow of events to come, great, phenomenal events. In 2008 the owners of the van decided that the work they were doing was limited due to the confined space of this van. They took it upon themselves to found the robotics team at Dawson and fittingly named it after their beloved van, RC Dawson. 

When the program was started in 2008 little paid attention to it and it received less credibility than it should have. RC Dawson was the underdog, the abandoned van, the group of misfits. The funny thing is though the misfits seem to always find their way and in most cases rise above anyones expectations. It didn't take long before RC Dawson rose to the top and became the most participated in extracurricular activity at the Dawson School. Here is a timeline:

300 BC - Not really sure what was happening, but something important probably happened 

1776 AD - Most important year ever…very critical to the ability for RC Dawson to be founded

2008 - The van makes its debut on Dawson School’s campus and RC Dawson is founded

2009 - This was a landmark year for RC Dawson because it was our first event. The event was comparable to the first episode of Glee. For those of you who don’t watch glee the first episode goes like this: A teacher has 5 or 6 students that would kind of dance around and sing with enthusiasm. They showed up to the first competition and were amazed. The first team to perform is choreographed, has matching outfits and their performance in general was very professional. There is this great shot of the team in Glee that shows the team just in aww. RC Dawson was essentially the cast of glee in the first episode, but just like how Glee improved after seeing what their competition was like, RC Dawson followed suit.

note that team grew 330% in terms of student participation in first two years 

2010 - Our team builds a robot that looked like a pile of gold compared to the other one. This year 7th and 8th grade students are now eligible to partake in the program.

2011 - Due to our less extensive resume RC Dawson was picked last during the alliance selection at regionals. We made it effortlessly through regionals and competed in the Archimedes division at World Championships in St. Louis. Although we didn't perform well in the arena, our team members dancing prowess was displayed at Roboprom and was unmatched to say the least. 

2012 - Our robot “Tim Tebot” makes competes in the Kansas City regional and does extremely well. Program is still growing…a lot

2013 - We went to Denver regional and came out 3rd in autonomous and 17th overall. We were selected by the fourth place alliance and lost to eventual champions.

2014 - This year the program had its largest number of participants and only one senior. Our team endured a miserable bus ride to Lubbock, Texas where the odors of team members became overbearing on peoples noses. We didn’t exactly pass inspection smoothly, but we made it to the quarterfinals. However, the decision to go to Texas was a good one because we were more than prepared for the competition in Colorado. After the preliminary rounds we were in 7th place and unlike recent years we were now the captains selecting the other teams. We lost to the eventual winners in the semifinals. 

2015 - To be determined….(but it will be great)

3000 - We will have robots making our robots…hopefully

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RC Dawson Gears Up New Team Members During Week One

Although veteran RC Dawson team members never seem to stop working on various robotics projects, the official season started last monday. There already has been a sizable increase in participation for RC Dawson. The program has become the fastest growing extracurricular at Dawson and the team is working to ensure the accommodation of everyones ideas. The growth of RC Dawson has been almost exponential. The program originated from just a select few students who shared a common interest, to a large team. 

The RC Dawson team has become a family in the sense that traditions and knowledge are passed down. Opening week is a special time because the veteran members get a chance to bond for the first time with THE future of RC Dawson. New members get a chance to explore every branch of the RC Dawson program and find their niche. Whether it be business, PR, or just passion for building, the RC Dawson program offers something for everyone. 

Below are the internal thoughts of a new member during week 1 of robotics:

Monday, Day 1

Note: Jim is not actually a real person

Jim:

I have never really been a natural at integrating myself into groups of people…C’mon Jim show some confidence, they are probably super nice and you will fit in great. 

Alright just step in and check it out…I cautiously walked into the room hoping not to break anything and look like a rookie even though it was evident that I was in fact..a rookie

I knew who everyone on the team was because I spend to much time on facebook, but I didn't really “Know” them which might be awkward…

Oh my gosh the captain of the team is approaching me. I kind of want him to talk to me, but at the same time I don’t want to say something wrong. 

(He says “Hi how are you? You’re here for robotics right?”)

I literally could not form a cohesive thought because I felt like I was in the presence of a legend.

I kind of mumbled something and he showed me around the room, my face looked as if it was raining skittles: pure astonishment…

After he introduced me to other members of the team I sat down along with other wide eyed novices to listen to the captain give a welcoming speech. He assured everyone that regardless of their skill level they would be received with open arms. 

We split up into groups and rotated stations, learning about various parts of the team: programming, business, journalism and building

As soon as I got to the build station I knew I would never regret my decision of joining the team. 

Tuesday, Day 2

I patiently waited for school to end absorbing what material I could even though all I really cared about was robotics after school. 

As soon as I was dismissed I stumbled out the door while receiving accolades for my questionable coordination from fellow classmates…haters

I practically fell down the stairs so eager to get into robotics…

I spent the whole time with the build team learning how last year’s robot, Doug, was built. 

I experimented with gearboxes and asked probably too many questions to the members about how things worked, but I didn't care because I felt like I was in heaven…if heaven had lots of robots and students running around building stuff. 

Wednesday, Day 3

I went through a similar routine…you know…school…waiting

Today was my day…all I could think about was learning how to use the new band saw and CAD

I once again displayed my unique athleticism when I ran to robotics…but ran is a generous term when addressing my athleticism…really it was more of a stumble

I accomplished everything I had wanted to do that day and still had time to spare

I was pleasantly surprised because one of the veteran members walked in with donuts and soda to celebrate the announcement of the new team captain. It was fun, but I was eager to get back at my attempt to assemble a gearbox…I had a long way to go to say the least

Thursday, Day 4

After my daydreaming about robots I actually had a chance to work with the robots after school

I continued to expand my knowledge of engineering…slowly, even though a thought I had accumulated the knowledge of a rocket scientist

Today was also the day the team was test driving and making improvements to old robots

Some might say I was a natural at the whole process…which was kind of true-ish..more of a stretch, but I felt like a champion none the less. Even though my driving prowess was superseded by almost everyone on the team it was only a matter of time before I became THE BEST. 

I could see myself…standing there making clutch maneuvers in the world competition and the team lifting me up and carrying me around but then I realized I had probably eaten too many donuts to be lifted up and robotics class was over. 

To be continued…

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How to properly hit on people at robotics events!

From a guys perspective:

Walking up to a girl at a robotics competition can have two outcomes…(maybe three, hopefully not though). The first outcome is you feel like a champ, score some digits and make it very evident to the rest of your team that you are in fact “the man”. If you achieve this high honor it is your job to excessively boast your prowess effectively increasing your confidence. This is important so if you ever encounter the second outcome you feel like fine china that got dropped but didn't break. The second outcome can make you feel…like a broken dish in the sense that your teammates need to pick you up and piece you back together. The third outcome is a more harsh form of the second outcome which involves getting slapped in the face…this is avoidable if you act like a gentleman, but if you're into getting slapped, respect, you probably have really thick skin…literally. 

I by no means have the answer to picking up girls 100% of the time because women are confusing and have a secret language that even the most sophisticated coders could not decipher. However, Throughout my extensive seventeen years on this beautiful earth, my game with women has increased ten fold because of these tips.

1. Confidence: Don’t be like that robot that sits in the corner of the arena and waits for the right time to strike. If you see a good looking girl don’t lean over to your best friend and say…hey, she’s pretty hot right? Instead set down whatever it is your are doing and stroll over to her. There is a good chance you will most likely never have to talk to the person again if you don’t want to so be confident, strike up a conversation and see what shakes out. 
2. Eye Contact: Some philosopher person maybe once said (not completely sure though) that “eyes are the path to the soul.” If you look down you are doing two things wrong 1. You are not being confident which is a violation of tip number one and you’d be better off trying to hit on inanimate object 2. What are you afraid of her seeing? let her look at your face, your eyes. I don’t care if you have a horn growing out of your cheek, YOU REP IT AND BE PROUD OF IT. She will most likely love your confidence and that will make your chance of being her man exponentially higher. 
3. DON’T BE AWKWARD: Just don’t…
4. Absurd pickup lines are not a surefire way to impress her: 
5. The right moment doesn’t always present itself: I used to think that the right time to talk to that girl you have been eyeing always presents itself and, well….I kind of had a reality check. The girl is not always going to fall off the stands and land in your arms. She is not always going to wink at you from across the gym (but if she does you have every reason to talk to her). She is not always going to be by herself needing condolences. Regardless of the situation, you should talk to her. BUT always remember to be respectful, don't interrupt and if she's not into you, SHE’S not into you. Accept it, move on. There are plenty of robots in the ocean (if that’s how the saying goes…whatever) 
6. ALWAYS BE A GENTLEMAN AND TREAT HER LIKE A PRINCESS! Popular belief is that nice guys finish last. Maybe, but not all the time! If you are respectful and genuine she is more likely to adore you. Yes, adore. 

In short, be confident, you never know where a bit of chivalry and eye contact can get you. Trust yourself and remember…Don’t be that robot in the corner.

From a girls perspective:

If you flash a wink guys confidence goes through the roof…of a skyscraper. That’s literally all you need to do. But, in general if you are nice and cool, the guys will come to you. Don’t be afraid to tell guys the truth, but try to let ‘em down soft. “Why you gotta be so rude? Didn’t you know guys are human too?” -adapted from a song I hear a lot on the radio. 

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The Beauty of Tangible Goal Setting

We believe this is our year to do what no other RC Dawson team has done. This year is the first time that our team really implemented goal setting. Goal setting can make or break seasons. It can determine if a football team gets bulldozed or is the bulldozer. Goals provide incentive, but can also cause disappointment. In our team’s opinion it would be foolhardy to set unrealistic expectations yet it is important to set a high enough goals that seem tangible so the team works harder. A similar comparison I could draw is sprinting. If someone walked up to me and told me to run a 4.4 I wouldn't even try because I’d have a better chance finding the last number of pi. However, if I was told to run a 5.1 and there was a box of Krispy Krems at the finish line I would train harder than everyone who trains hard….multiplied by a lot….plus a little more. Bottom line I would run that 5.1 like a champ and eat those krispy krems like a king because a tangible goal was put in front of me. The same idea applies to RC Dawson, were not trying to achieve something insane, but we are giving ourselves a tangible task that will require hard work. 

RC Dawson wants to make it to the world championship and establish a name for ourselves on the biggest stage. To achieve this goal we have a two plans. 

First Plan

Our first plan is to perfect our building technique and robot efficiency in competition. The team will also study the competition and know literally everything about the game, our competitors and strategy. The winner of the regional gets a spot in the world championship and that is what we want.

Second Plan

This plan is a surefire way of getting recognition while going for the world championship. The chairman’s award is a prize given to a team the has done community outreach through STEM educational endeavors in addition to various other things. Then a video will be created attempting to highlight the teams outreach and what RC Dawson really is. The whole point of having a robotics program is to learn through competition and hands on experience. We will emulate that in our video and hopefully receive the prestigious chairman’s award.   

Life Isn't always about winning…but not really. Anyway, the RC Dawson program has additional goals that are not just winning. Robotics is supposed to be fun and we need to make sure that the program doesn't lose the ability to have a great time while learning. 

The Krispy Krems are waiting, it is our job to get them.

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Meet RC Dawson's Team-Part 1

Sage Thomas

He is the lead programmer for the RC Dawson team and could have written the book on coding for dummies. When he is not teaching the team and the robot how to do almost everything, he is busy creating a code to essentially solve the worlds problems. He is undisputedly the worlds best Llama racer and his three Llamas owe the world to him as well as the rest of the RC Dawson team. He only accepts encrypted emails so good luck contacting him… sthomas@dawsonstudents.org

Cole Folwell

He is a self-appointed Vice Chairman of Public Relations and Journalism for RC Dawson. When he is not sending emails and writing columns he thinks are funny, he enjoys spending time on the golf course. He is a self proclaimed scratch handicap and wished he had another twenty yards off the tee. He’s a fan of music that sounds like a broken gearbox (EDM) and can most likely be found on his couch wishing he could program like Sage. He can be contacted at cfolwell@dawsonstudents.org. 

Hayden Dodge

There is a good chance he is smarter than everyone in the Chipotle line he often finds himself in. His fiery personality (and hair) as well as his vast knowledge of physics are extreme assets to the RC Dawson team. No one really knows what he does outside of school, but we can only assume its solving complex equations and searching for the last number of Pi. He is a future graduate of an amazing school where he will graduate with honors. On an unrelated note, a huge fan of all you can eat restaurants and can be contacted at hdodge@dawsonstudents.org.

Erik Nickerson

Really he can only be described as the man because his talents are rarely superseded, but he continues to eat vast amounts of humble pie to keep it on the DL. There is rumor that he joined the CIA at a young age and that he could climb Everest faster than Usain Bolt’s mile time. He is the foundation of the RC Dawson Robotics Program and easily the best dressed teacher at Dawson. He can be contacted at enickerson@dawsonschool.org

Jacob Goldman

He is the lead builder and snack supplier for the RC Dawson Team. He plays a key role in actually bringing to life what the team envisions. When he is not at Dawson he can most likely be found at the gym, hitting the biceps again or riding his bike. He is a senior and one of the most committed members of the team. You will see him at competitions eating chick-fil-a while aggressively competing. He is the man to go to for almost any question and can be contacted at jgoldman@dawsonstudents.org.

Logan Gafner

He is the chairman of sponsor relations and business operations. While the team works hard to build the robot he makes sure the team has sufficient funding to actually buy all the parts. He spends his free time volunteering on political campaigns and being a rancher (whatever that means). He also enjoys driving large trucks and listening to country music (I guess that might be considered rancherish…?). For questions about team financing and business operations he is the man to talk to. lgafner@dawsonstudents.org

Alex Pelletier 

He is a lead programmer for the team and codes like nobody’s business. He plays a key role in helping our robot operate effectively. He and Elliot are young entrepreneurs on the road to success. He has never understood why people like skydiving, and has been in a long rivalry with his sister Madison, for reasons neither of them choose to reveal. He is easily the best driver on the team (self proclaimed) and has vast knowledge of almost all branches of the team. He can be contacted at apelletier @dawsonstudents.org.

Connor Smith

He is the Vice Chairman of building operations for the RC Dawson team. He passed the gearbox test with flying colors and knows how to put things together like a champ. He consistently beats Cole in putting competitions on the golf course and studies harder than everyone at the school….combined and multiplied….by…a lot. He also is a talented jeweler and is a stand up guy. He can be contacted at csmith@dawsonstudents.org. 

Madison Pelletier 

She is a content and public relations manager for RC Dawson and says she enjoys editing the gibberish Cole calls writing. When she is not editing poorly organized columns or making witty comments to the RC Dawson Team,  Madison pretends to be well-read, finds excuses not go outside, and actually has a life outside of her role on RC Dawson. If you have any exciting robotics information, feedback for the team or epic stories & everything else in between, feel free to hit her up at: mpelletier@dawsonstudents.org.

Lexie Schmelzer

She is the head of social media and film department because the ability to creatively splice film together seems to allude a large majority of the RC Dawson team. When she is not creating inspirational videos and providing useful feedback for the team, she enjoys going to concerts, long walks on the beach and modeling. She likes to stay behind the scenes however which is good for Cole because it means he gets more attention. She enjoys listening to old records and social medias like no other (Yea I used media as a verb…Deal with it). She can be contacted at lschmelzer@dawsonstudents.org

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Recycle Rush Information and Explanation

Every year, at exactly 8:15, the fat cats at First Robotics release a file. This file is heavily encrypted and extremely important; it is the game rules. With each new season comes a new challenge. Every challenge is different, but they have many similarities. For example, they are a game conducted entirely by robots, they require many different skills and operations, and are based on forming alliances. This year, the game is titled Recycled Rush. To complete this challenge, our robot must have driving, turning, lifting, throwing, and placing capabilities. To score points, the robot must pick up and stack large, heavy boxes, or “totes”. To achieve maximum points, four boxes must be stacked, and then a full-sized recycling can must be placed on top of the set, this can add 12 points to our score. Even more challenging is the “litter”, represented by neon green pool noodles. Our robot must be able to lift the noodle and place it into a small, circular cutout on top of the can; this will require height and expert precision. Although it is challenging, placing this littler gives us a bonus of 6 points per stacked tote. Not only must we build these tours, but we must do it whilst navigating within extremely thin borders. Intersecting the field are long ramp like structures that could easily unbalance a tall robot. Thankfully, we are not alone on the field. We will have 2 other teams in an alliance on our side of the field, sharing points and working together. We will have 2 other robots helping us. Unfortunately, so will our opposition, who is trying to complete the same task more efficiently than us. The game starts with 15 seconds ‘Autonomous’ mode, which is pre-programed and involves no human driver. After this, there are 2 minutes of real gameplay, where our drivers will drive and control our robot to stack totes, place cans, and score points. Hopefully this information will help you understand the work that RC Dawson is doing, if you have any question feel free to drop them in the comments section below. Thanks for reading, and stay tuned!

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Hello from RC Dawson!

Hello, and welcome to the RC Dawson Blog. RC Dawson is a robotics team in Lafayette Colorado; we are accosted with Alexander Dawson School. The Robotics season officially began yesterday, and we are hard at work. The game for this year was announced, and so our task began. We must build 2 different robots capable of moving, lifting, and building according to the requirements of the team. Stay tuned to this blog for updates on our progress, funny stories, and interesting information!

Thanks for reading,

The RC Dawson Team

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