RAID 2537 Leadership Team

Students:

Team Captain: Lauren

        My freshman year I joined the robotics team, following my older brother’s lead, and was the only girl on the team. That year I assisted in wiring the entire electronics board of our robot, which caused me to fall in love with FIRST robotics! The following year I joined the mechanical team, and was primarily focused on the wheels of the robot. We spent weeks putting together five complete mecanum wheel assemblies for use on the robot. As a junior, I took on the role of Manipulator 1 Team Lead, in which my division was responsible for designing, building and testing the robot’s arm that was capable of reaching over 9ft in the air! This year, I was elected to be our team captain, in charge of overseeing the activities of all the engineering divisions. For me robotics has been a long, hard journey full of late nights and stressful decisions, but it has also been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Because of robotics I know that I want to major in mechanical and/or electrical engineering, and I have gained so much real world knowledge, not limited to technology, that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Hardware Captain: John

        I joined the robotics club my freshman year and quickly found that I had a talent for the the electronics team. Where others saw a massive tangle of wires, I saw a logical flow of electricity and signals. The next year, I became the electronics lead and lead the designing and building of a functioning electronics board. The electrical department grew the following year to include a mentor and another student. Continuing as the electronics lead, I spearheaded the construction and design of the most complicated electronics board to date. In my senior year, I became the hardware captain, in charge of the communication and design reviews of the manipulator groups and drive team. I plan on using my electrical background to introduce a different point of view to the designs of the mechanisms that will make the integration of electronics and software smoother.

Integration Captain: Blair

        I joined RAID Robotics as a freshman in the fall of 2009, where I was assigned to software division due to my programming experience and enrollment in a computer science academy. I immediately became a part of the team and made significant contributions to the control system that won us the Excellence in Control Award at the Chesapeake Regional. The next year, I was the Software Captain, and this year, the Integration Captain. I am responsible for the integration and communication between hardware and software.The team has given me opportunities to take advanced classes and intern at JHU APL. I am going to be a computer engineer.

Game Captain: Brian

        I joined the robotics club my freshman year. I was volunteered to be an ambassador at the robotics competition. I also participated during build season on the CAD design of certain parts. The experience was a blast, and it got me hooked into the FIRST robotics. The second year I wanted to learn about the software part of the team, so naturally I ended up spending the majority of the year being sucked back into the CAD team. My junior year I designed and constructed the Mini-bot for "LogoMotion", which turned out to be the most essential part of scoring at the competition.Once again, I was the team ambassador. My senior year, I am the Game Captain of our team, in charge of the Strategy and Outreach divisions, as well as ensuring that our robot meets the requirements set out by the strategy team. My time on first robotics has been the best part of my time in high school, and while I am sad that it is coming to an end, I am looking forward to my college career that will be centered around the valuable skills I learned on the team.

CAD Lead: Anibal

        I joined FIRST robotics as a freshmen in order to experience the field of engineering and to demonstrate my skills in auto desk. After joining the team, my CAD skills improved so much that as a sophomore I am already the CAD team. FIRST has inspired me to experience technology in a different view.

Business Lead: Camran

        I am current Business Leader for Team 2537, in which I am in charge of keeping track of the team's finances and incoming parts in order to ensure maximum efficiency throughout the build season. This year I have been responsible for making sure orders came in on time, all materials are accounted for, and much more. I have provided valuable backbone infrastructure help for our FIRST robotics team.

Drive Train Lead: Nick

        I joined robotics as a freshmen, and three years later I'm still going strong. I spent most of my freshmen year learning the proper terminology and the necessary skills to be a successful contributor to my team. I have spent all three of my years on the drive train division and this I was elected to be the drive train division lead. Now, thanks to FIRST I've learned the value of teamwork. 

Mechanism 1: Ben

        I joined robotics as a sophomore and one year later I'm still going strong. I spent my first year in FIRST learning the proper skills needed to succeed in FIRST. This year, I was elected to lead one of the mechanical teams and have contributed to the success of our robot. My experiences in FIRST has helped me to understand the need for science and technology in society and has helped me know what I want to do.

Mechanism 2: Grace

        Even before I entered Atholton high school, one of my  friends introduced me to FIRST robotics and urged me to join the team as a freshman. Although I was hesitant at first, I soon joined the design team. Year after year, as I steadily became more and more involved with our FIRST team, I began enjoying designing, building, testing, and re-building even more and more. This year I was elected to lead the Mechanism 2 division and have helped build major components of the 2012 robot. Joining FIRST Team 2537 has allowed me to gain first-hand experience about the field in which I want to major, and inspired me to enjoy technology in a different way.  

Mechanism 3: Adam

        Robotics is the next step in creating a better future for myself and gaining experience in what I will do in the future. My first year was sophomore year, and I walked in the room seeing a giant robot driving around with seniors showing how it worked. I simply thought to myself, there is no way I could build anything like that. Throughout that year I was assigned to the drive team, after the game was released I ended up taking on a mechanism, which was a launcher for a mini-bot. That year I assisted with all mechanism teams and worked on the entire robot all over. This year I know I want to work with a Mechanism, so being the lead of one is a great accomplishment. This experience has confirmed my love to be an engineer and use the skills I have learned to the fullest in my life.

Software Lead: Evan

        I have been on the RAID FIRST Robotics team since my freshman year in high school. I have a lot of experience with the way the software team operates, and work to make sure the team operates as efficiently as possible. I have multiple years of computer science at Atholton High School and I am currently in Computer Science IV G.T. Thanks to F.I.R.S.T, I am able to realize the importance of science and technology in the world and work to improve my understanding of them as much as I can.

Electrical Lead: Ryan

        I have been on the robotics team since my freshman year in high school. Throughout my robotics career i have made many new friends and have learned a lot about what goes into building a successful robot. My sophomore year I join the electrical team and since then I have learned how a wiring system should be properly implemented on a robot. As a member of the electrical team, I have worked closely with the software team and through my experiences I have found software very interesting. I started taking computer science courses through my high school and have enjoyed them a lot and thanks to FIRST robotics I have realized that I want to pursue a career in computer science.

Strategy Lead: Steven

        First Robotics has given me an opportunity to express my intellect and creative potential like never before. Ever since I joined in my freshman year the robotics team has constantly been an enriching and insightful experience. I got a unique experiance in my sophmore year in the team when I was allowed to first take the stick at competition, a suprisingly excellent and thrilling experience. Ever since I have provided important feedback on the robots design in the area of game strategy on the lead positon of the Driver team. In my senior year I was promoted to the lead of the strategy team to help design the overall goals and requirements that the robot needed to fill if we are going to be competitive. Such an opportunity like this is unrivaled in my highschool experience and has left me with invaluable skills which will no doubt be useful in the future.

Outreach & Promotion Lead: David

        This is my second year in FIRST Robotics and I cherish every moment I am here. I have learned so many invaluable skills that can prepare me for a career in the engineering world. This year, I have taken on the role of Outreach and Promotion lead, which is responsible for funding, communicating, and advertising the team to the outside world.

Mentors:

Faculty Sponsor / CAD Mentor: Mr. Fox

       I have been a teacher at Atholton High School for over three years now, and have been greatly involved with FIRST Robotics Team 2537. Prior to teaching at Atholton High, I taught at Folly Quarter Middle School (2003) and participated in the FIRST LEGO League every year. I have an undergraduate degree in Industrial Arts/Vocational (Machine Tool) from Western Michigan University, along with advanced degrees in Technology Education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Administration and Supervision from the Johns Hopkins University. I am also Engineering Education (PLTW) certified from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. I oversee all things involved with the RAID organization, handling administrative responsibilities, planning, and scheduling. I love everything that FIRST® stands for and work diligently promoting it in his classroom and beyond.

Technology Booster: Mr. Qualls

        My childhood was typical, summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat helmets. When I was insolent I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds, pretty standard really.Now as a third year mentor, I enjoy working on the robot and telling stories that put the students in a coma. I wear bifocal safety glasses and badmouth the metric system. I sometimes use more washers than are strictly necessary.In my spare time I work as a structural engineer. People are usually surprised that graduated from Virginia Tech.

Chief Engineer: Ms. Brackett

        This is in my fourth year as a mentor to RAID. In addition to being a team sponsor, I have served as integration mentor, software development mentor and this year the Chief Engineer mentor. I am President/CEO of Tiresias Technologies, a Howard County based technology company. I have been a serial entrepreneur and trained as a computer engineer having built and designed many kinds of systems including satellite ground stations, optical interferometer telescopes and specialized communication systems.

Drive Train Mentor: Mr. Kaplan

        I am currently the drive train mentor. This is my second year mentoring, having mentored project management and team support last year. In my other life, I am a MIT grad and former Navy Engineering Duty Officer, and have supported DoD systems acquisition and logistics for longer than the kids on the team have been around.

Mechanism 1 Mentor: Mr. Saunders

        I am one of the original mentors for the Atholton FIRST Robotics program. Throughout my time as a mentor for the Atholton Robotics team, I have helped robot design divisions and mechanism divisions. This year I am proud to be the lead mentor for the Mechanism 1 division. Though both of my children are in college, I continue to work with the our team each year.

Mechanism 2 Mentor: Mr. Johnson

        I am now in my third year as a mentor to the team, originally havingbeen brought onto the team by my son, Alex, who is now in his secondyear at West Virginia University. I joke that my job title is 'company jack of all trades', since I am both a mechanical designer and electrical designer for an electronics firm in Columbia MD. 

Software Mentor: Mr. Dunn

I have been involved in developing software solutions, including commercial products for over 27 years.  I am currently COO of Helm Point Solutions, a Government contracting company that specializes in software engineering and cyber. 

This is my third year helping out the team, and my first year as a full time mentor.  In previous years I helped the fabrication mentor, but I made the mistake of mentioning my software background...and well...now I'm the Software Mentor.  I really enjoy working with the students and helping them develop creative software sensors and controls on the robot. 

Electrical Mentor: Mr. Bialick

        I am President of AKAYLA, Inc., a Clarksville, Maryland-based company that provides subject-matter expertise consulting in computer security and internet protocols. 

        Now in my second year as the electrical mentor, I work with a small team of students to create the robot's nervous system.  If electrons flow through it, it is our responsibility.  The robot has a power bus, Ethernet network, CAN bus, and numerous discrete analog and digital signals that must be wired reliably. Our team motto, "Without us, it is just a big, shiny paperweight."