Livonia Warriors FIRST Robotics
2832 GEAR UPdate
March 21, 2016
Build Management Teams Interviews
Mr. Cole, Chief Game Strategist Mentor, gave me an insight on the formula for teamwork and strategy: First, they looked at the game manual which helped develop strategies. Second, they used Hot Wheels to test those strategies. They used the play book to figure out our opponent's Achilles heel. It's paramount to plan ahead and to prepare for any possible outcome.
It’s vital to have a Chief Project Manager, Ms. Zobel, to keep the team on track. Ms. Zobel created a time plan for the team to meet deadlines along with Dr. Mackenzie, Chief Systems Engineer. This helps our team develop a robust robot design that can be completed in the time requirements needed for the first competition.
One of the constraints of the deadlines can be too many suggestions on designs. For example, disagreed to use 6 wheels or treads according to Ben Lenze, Student Systems Engineer. The build team tries to cooperate to get CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) prototypes done quickly.
Mentor Spotlight
Nominated by the Livonia Warriors for the Woodie Flowers Award 2016.
Woodie Flowers Award is presented to an outstanding Mentor in the robotics competition who best leads, inspires and empowers their team using excellent communication skills.
Submitted by Mya Constantino, Stevenson High School
The best mentors not only inspire and teach, but also give students a sense of belonging, contributing, and a passion for their work. As an electrical mentor, Jeffery Tumavitch is an excellent leader, who guides and encourages instead of just managing. He is an important member of “The Livonia Warriors”, where he teaches by example and his enthusiasm is contagious.
“Mr. T,” as he is known, went to Michigan State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He currently works at Ford and has been there for twenty-two years. Presently, he is a supervisor for transmission safety.
His love for electrical engineering comes from his love to tinker. He likes being on the robotics team not only because his daughter is on the team, but also because he enjoys what he does. This includes teaching his all-girl electrical team. Now, his younger daughter is going to be joining the FTC team, so he became an electrical mentor on the FTC team. Again, he is transferring skills and shaping young minds to have a passion for technology. Mentors and students grow when they are around him, and he grows in turn. He truly enjoys being on the Livonia Warriors and FTC “RoboEagles” team.
Mr. T brings new ideas to help the team be the best that we can be. He brings in supplies such as lights, instamorph (a moldable plastic), and metal etching. If there is a design plan or vision that the students want to create, he shows them how to think outside the box to produce the effect. He helps the students go beyond obvious boundaries – to explore, discover, and experiment. He has sparked a discipline that is fondly referred to as “electrical aesthetics” – fusing art and electrical technology. The team won two imagery awards in the 2015 competitions because the robot was stunning on the field.
Mr. Tumavitch has additional roles and contributions on the team. He is the pit mentor; he helped the team receive the UL safety award, and brought in sponsors. He is dedicated to the success of the students and the team.
The experiences on a robotics team give students training for all career paths where a product is created. It is a process--a developmental process. A good mentor, however, imparts more than that. He knows it also takes dedication and energy. It is a way of thinking and appreciating how things work and how to make them work for you. Mr. Tumavitch makes building and creating a fun process. The team meets the challenges of the competition with a positive attitude and an appreciation for the building process that will make the students great leaders and an inspiration to others in whatever profession that they pursue.
About Us
Email: icarlini@livoniapublicschools.org
Website: www.livoniawarriors.com
Location: 16200 Newburgh Road, Livonia, MI 48154
Phone: (734) 845-7961
Facebook: facebook.com/LivoniaWarriors
Twitter: @LivoniaWarriors