Our FRC team provides opportunities for real-world experience in business and engineering through our four subteams: Business and Marketing, Mechanical, Programming, and Community Outreach and Service. Our Business and Marketing Sub-team allows our team to operate as a small business. They take care of all fundraising, awards and scouting at competitions, and recruitment. The Mechanical Sub-team designs and builds our robot that allows our team to compete in competitions. They use CAD software to develop parts for the robot and then assembles the parts so we can complete challenges that earn our team points during the matches. Our Programming Sub-team writes code that allows our robot to move both during autonomous and drive modes. A small group of members from this Sub-team called the Drive team controls the robot during the matches. And finally, the Community Outreach and Service Sub-team allows our team to be active members in our community. They organize and complete service projects that combat important issues in our community.
Why the Teutonic Force?
FRC Team 5096 is geographically located in Germantown, Wisconsin; a village formed by incorporating seven separate hamlets that had been settled primarily by German immigrants. “Teutonic” is a term given to Germanic peoples (humans speaking languages of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family generally, and especially, of people speaking German) that dates back to ancient Greek and Roman authors. They are known for their tactical genius, courage, bravery, dedication (some call it stubbornness), and their negotiating / legislative ability. The term “Force” refers both to a group of people brought together and organized for a particular activity, and the strength and energy as an attribute of our machine's physical actions or movements.
Origin
FRC team 5096, The Teutonic Force was created through a multi-directional effort. Dave Woods, a co-worker of Teutonic Force mentor Mike Ronsman, had been involved in the FIRST robotics program as a student (and later a mentor) on FRC team 537, Charger Robotics, out of Sussex, Wisconsin and had co-founded and co-lead FRC team 2506, Saber Robotics, out of Franklin, Wisconsin. Through Mr. Woods, Mr. Ronsman and his son had been invited to attend several FIRST Robotics Competition events. Seven years after co-founding the program in Franklin, Wisconsin, Mr. Woods was actively searching for a new FRC opportunity closer to his residence in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
At a local Boy Scout meeting, parents Mr. Alburg and Mr. Ronsman began discussions about how to bring FIRST robotics to the Germantown area for their children. Mr. Alburg had previously mentored a team in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and had held a role as the Wisconsin Regional Judge Advisor for several years. Both Mr. Ronsman and Mr. Alburg had a child that was in their freshman year and wanted to provide a way for them to experience FIRST.
After a single meeting with prospective mentors, the team began a race to establish itself. FIRST robotics soon became part of the Germantown community. Through Mr. Alburg’s efforts Kennedy Middle School began a FIRST Lego League (FLL) program in the fall of 2013, and the program’s popularity grew rapidly among middle school students and their parents. This growth provided the perfect opportunity to introduce FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) at the high school level. FRC team 5096 was founded in late December of 2013, just days before the 2014 competition season started.
Being located in Germantown, Wisconsin; a village formed by German immigrants, the team decided to name itself ‘The Teutonic Force’. Teutonic is a name given to Germanic people that dates back to ancient Greek and Roman authors. They are known for their tactical genius, courage, bravery, dedication, and their legislative ability. The term 'force’ refers to any interaction that changes the motion of another object.
The team had to work hard to catch up to their competitors. Despite the late start,The Teutonic Force successfully completed construction of a robot within the time limits and were able to quarantine prior to Stop-Build-Day.
FRC team 5096 participated in the 2014 Wisconsin Regional as a rookie team, but the robot outperformed several veterans. After 10 qualifying matches, the underdog team finished placing 29th out of 60 teams and achieved the Highest Seeded Rookie Award and also took home the Rookie Inspiration Award.
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