Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 1
Team Organization.......................................................................................................................... 3
Sponsor Information ....................................................................................................................... 9
Team Outreach/Impact.................................................................................................................. 14
Team Growth Summary ................................................................................................................ 17
Future Plans Summary .................................................................................................................. 21
SWOT Analysis ............................................................................................................................ 29
What Makes 4911 Unique ............................................................................................................ 30
Team Contact Information ............................................................................................................ 31
1 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Executive Summary
Since its inception five years ago in 2008 as FTC 3717, King’s CyberKnights now move forward as
FRC 4911, continuing to prosper through creative applications of science, technology, engineering, and
math. FIRST Robotics provides the platform for the CyberKnights to integrate problem solving skills
and innovative solutions in its young members and surrounding community. The CyberKnights serve
as the founding member of King’s Robotics Program, a group of FRC, FTC, FLL, and Jr. FLL teams
operating within King’s Schools, K-12, in Seattle, Washington.
Mission Statement “Tomorrow’s Engineers today.” The CyberKnights seek to inspire an interest and passion for science
and technology while preparing students to become the technology leaders in tomorrow’s
competitive global market place.
Sustainability In its endeavor to successfully embody FIRST values and goals, the CyberKnights seek to create a
team culture that sustains our community for years to come. From team recruitment to developing
student leaders, serving as FIRST ambassadors in outreach, collaborating with our mentors, and asking
corporate sponsors to support us as the next generation of leaders, the CyberKnights’ strive to be an
organization of people impacting the world for FIRST.
Growth & Impact Since its beginning, the CyberKnights’ experienced tremendous growth, impact, and success. Starting
four years ago in FTC with eight students, the CyberKnights this year have inspired over 100 students
at King’s Schools to participate in FIRST. Over 10% of the K-12 students are involved in FIRST with
24 in Jr. FLL, 30 in FLL, 13 in FTC, and 40 in FRC. Past members have gone on to pursue fields in
engineering and technology, and return to invest back into the program through mentoring our team
members. The team continues to develop its current members in leadership, collaboration, and
communication skills.
2 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Strategy & Development Model
The CyberKnights seek to extend the STEM classroom by proving a hands-on, challenging
problem based learning environment allowing students to apply knowledge and skills learned in the
classroom. As such, the team seeks to be as student led as possible. Mentors serve not only as role
models but as question asking teachers. Mentors have veto authority only in the case of safety issues or
if the decision has a high probability of causing project or schedule failure. Student leaders who have
training and experience also serve as role models and teachers for their peers. Strong emphasis is placed
on students learning and practicing problem solving skills, engineering and project management
process, and rapid prototyping development.
3 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Organization
Students involved in the CyberKnights represent a diverse group of ages, genders, skills, and
interests at King’s High School. By coming together in a single FRC Robotics team, members expand
their intellectual knowledge as well as learn the merits of hard work and working as a cohesive team.
King’s Robotics requires its members, inside and outside the classroom, to daily demonstrate respect
for teachers, administrators, and to adhere school guidelines.
Team Structure
CyberKnights #4911
Coach
Mentors
Team Captain Team Captain
Engineering Non-Engineering
Sub-Team
Sub-Team
Build
Safety
Business
Scouting
Leaders
Leaders
Software Electrical Media Awards
Field
Manufacturing
Pneumatics
4 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Requirements – Team Captains/Sub-Team Leaders Requirements
• Intensely focused and always on task
• Superior collaboration skills and positive can-do attitude
• Demonstrated design, build, and coding skills
• Excellent teacher recommendations
• Deeply involved with problem solving
• Deep sense of ownership and pride in product and team
• Knows, or is learning CAD
• Willing to guide and mentor other team members
General Team Requirements
• Excellent work ethic
• Focused on team collaboration, therefore highly positive and flexible
• Willing to suspend own ideas to hear the thoughts of others
• Does not use sarcasm or put downs to control or influence
• Keen interest in engineering and robotics
• Teachable attitude and keen desire to learn/grow
5 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Engineering Team
Build Sub-team Manufacturing Sub-team
Danny Helms 12 Danny Helms 12 Daniel Wang 9 Max Kang 11
Noah Hoppis 10 Josh Lee 11
Sarah Rudberg 11 Steven Lee 12
Max Kang 11 Sarah Rudberg 11
Jackson Whipple 11 Daniel Wang 9
Josh Lee 11 6
Alex Kim 11
Steven Lee 12
9
Software Sub-team Pneumatics Sub-team
Payton Ratzliff 11 Jon Fuller 12
Aaron Bae 11 Noah Hoppis 10
Elijah Elliott 12 Tyler Snow 12
Jack Holt 10 Jonathan Sprague 12
Jae Jung 11 David Winningham 11
Tommy Lee 10 5
6
Electrical Sub-team Safety
Josh Lee 11 Sarah Rudberg 11
Tony Li 11 Belita Ho 11
Liberty Lomonaco 10 2
Jon Rasmussen 12
4
Note: sub-team leads are in bold text
6 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Non-Engineering Team
Business Sub-team Media Sub-team (Web, Photo, Video)
Annie Long 12 Luke Caughell 10
Aaron Bae 11 Pauliana Dang 12
Sarah Bretz 12 Anna Fitch 12
Ariel Clark 12 Delaney Foster 10
Valentina Peng 10 Annie Long 12
Jack Ramirez 11 Benjy Taflin 10
Caleb Judd 12 Grace Snitselaar 11
Delaney Foster 10
8 7
Awards Sub-team Scouting Sub-team
Jennifer Taflin 12 Jennifer Taflin 12
Sarah Bolton 11 Sarah Bolton 11
Belita Ho 11 Belita Ho 11
Jack Ramirez 11 Caleb Judd 12
Gabriella Yu 10 Jae Jung 11
Pauliana Dang 12 Jack Ramirez 11
6 Anna Fitch 12 Delaney Foster 10
Pauliana Dang 12
Benjy Taflin 10
Gianna Geiger 10
11
Note: sub-team leads are in bold text
7 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Demographics
Number of Students on Team 40
Number of Females on Team 17
Number of Males on Team 23
Percent of Students of Color on Team 41%
Percent of Caucasian Students on Team 59%
Number of High School Freshmen on 1
Team
Number of High School Sophomores on 8
Team
Number of High School Juniors on 16
Team
Number of High School Seniors on 15
Team
Team Sustainability
Future CyberKnights begin in kindergarten, and our team members become role models by training
and encouraging these young students in elementary and middle school through JrFLL, FLL, and FTC
until they join our high school FRC team. The CyberKnights continually reach out to the student body
of King’s High School to maintain a steady inflow of new FRC team members, some of whom are new
to the program and others who have been involved for years. Our FRC team seeks to develop student
leaders by providing many opportunities for individual team members to step up and take on
responsibilities with team members doing the work and adult mentors supervising and teaching. We are
now starting to see CyberKnights alumni returning to mentor the current team with the skills they have
learned in college and the workforce.
8 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Mentors • Thomas Anderson - Software/Programming Lead Mentor (Fluke)
• Philip Bjorge - Software/Programming Mentor (Microsoft) – King’s alumni
• Kayla King - Marketing Mentor (Rochester Institute of Technology) – FRC Team 151 Alumni
• James Donnelly - Engineering Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Emmett Lam - Software/Programming Mentor (Student, UW) – CyberKnights alumni
• Ryan LeCompte - Engineering Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Dan Matteson - Engineering Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Marian Morris - DECA Advisor (King's Schools)
• Bobby Neckorcuk - Engineering Mentor (Microsoft)
• Justin Nielson - CAD Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Nathan Olds - Electrical Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Andrew Olmstead - Engineering Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Lars Osborne - Engineering Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Mike Pringle - Electrical Lead Mentor (Boeing)
• Bob Richardson - Engineering Mentor (Romac)
• Todd Rudberg - Engineering Lead Mentor (Electroimpact)
• Juanita Thompson - Non-engineering Mentor (King's Schools)
• Mike Thompson - Program Director (King's Schools)
9 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Sponsor Information
Financial Sustainability
The CyberKnights team is reliant on corporate sponsorships and personal donations to fuel operations.
King’s Schools provides approximately 36% of the team’s annual $45,000 budget with the remainder
coming from corporate sponsorship (32%) and private donations (32%) The team annually reaches out
to local businesses and large neighboring corporations who are willing to encourage and support
students as a priceless investment in their future. Sponsors provide not only financially, but also
provide equipment and supplies, and allow their employers to serve as valued mentors who build
positive professional relationships with our team.
Sponsors
Aldercrest Auto Rebuild provides painting and decaling services for the team. We look cool because
of these guys!
Aldercrest Auto Rebuild specializes in complete collision repair. They are the first autobody shop in
Snohomish County to qualify as meeting hazardous waste and air quality standards set by the
EnviroStars Program and Puget Sound Clear Air Agency.
Boeing supports us by providing a $6,000 FIRST@Boeing Grant paying for our FRC registration
fees. Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial
jetliners and military aircraft combined.
10 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
The Center supports our teams financially.
The Center has been providing comprehensive, professional excellence in treatment and whole-person
care for addictions, depression, trauma and other life challenges since 1984. Their vision is to be “A
Place of Hope,” accomplished through their mission of providing individuals with whole-person care
– “inspired healthcare” for restoring balance to the body, mind and spirit.
The Christine Allen Family
The Christine Allen Family generously supports our teams financially.
Electroimpact has been a significant financial supporter and has provided the team use of
corporate milling and fabricating equipment. Our 2011 and 2012 robots that competed at the FTC
World Championship were milled at Electroimpact!
Electroimpact is a world leader in design and manufacturing of aerospace tooling and automation.
GM Nameplate supports our teams financially.
2004 marked GM Nameplate's 50th year serving customers by offering an ever-broadening range
of custom manufacturing possibilities.
11 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
The Larry Bossidy Family
The Larry Bossidy Family generously supports our teams by hosting corporate fund raisers.
Microsoft supports our team financially with its generous employee Volunteer Matching program.
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services, and solutions that help
people and businesses realize their full potential.
Point B supports our teams financially.
Point B, Inc. helps organizations form, execute, and thrive. With capabilities including Strategy,
Venture Investment and Advisory, and Management Consulting this integrated set of businesses provide
value to the organizations and communities they serve.
SolidWorks provides our team the professional CAD software we use to design our robots. SolidWorks
Corp. offers complete 3D software tools that let you create, simulate, publish, and manage your data.
SolidWorks products are easy to learn and use, and work together to help you design products better,
faster, and more cost-effectively. The SolidWorks focus on ease-of-use allows more engineers,
designers and other technology professionals than ever before to take advantage of 3D in bringing their
designs to life.
12 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Taco Time supports our team financially.
Taco Time is an upscale quick service restaurant chain that specializes in freshly prepared, home-style
Mexican fare. They offer quality fresh ingredients in large portions with a unique blend of spices. Great
tacos, great food ... what more can you say!
Tecplot supports our team financially.
Tecplot, Inc. is a highly skilled team of creative, trustworthy and caring professionals dedicated to
serving the scientific and engineering community. Founded in 1981 and based in Bellevue, Wash.,
Tecplot, Inc. empowers engineers and scientists to discover, analyze, and understand information in
complex data, and to effectively communicate the results to others. Since then, Tecplot has been
applying and influencing the latest advances in visualization technologies and plotting capabilities.
With thousands of users worldwide, Tecplot has become the trusted name in data visualization.
Ward Phillips
Ward Phillips is a generous financial supporter of our team.
13 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Sponsor Benefits
Degrees of Sponsorship:
Title Sponsor - $1,000 +
• Robot: Logo of business
• Team T-shirt: Large logo of business at the back of the T-shirt
• Website: Name and link of business on sponsorship page& logo on the front page
• Pit Display: Logo of business
• Banquet: Invitations to all sponsors
• Letters of appreciation
Platinum Sponsor - $500 - $999
• Website: Name and link of business on sponsorship page
• Pit Display: Logo of business
• Banquet: Invitation to all sponsors
• Letters of appreciation
Gold Sponsor (Families) - $100 or less
• Website: Name of individual sponsors (families) on sponsorship page
• Banquet: Invitations to all sponsors
• Letters of appreciation
14 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Outreach/Impact
Sustainability The CyberKnights seek outreach opportunities that lead to deep long term impact with a focus on
positive relationships. Further, CyberKnights outreach has not only touched our local school
community but has crossed state lines to serve in South Los Angeles, and crossed the oceans to serve in
Uganda Africa.
Local School community Outreach (King’s Schools)
• 2009-2014: Demonstrate team robotics to elementary and junior high school students at our
12 school through classroom visits, assembly demonstrations, school carnival ‘Drive-a-bot”
activities, etc.
• 2009-2014: Help inspire, start and mentor numerous FIRST teams K-12 directly involving over
10% of our entire student body. This school year we support five FLL teams including one all
girls team), four Jr. FLL teams, and two FTC teams.
• 2011-2013: Host “Build-a-bot’ birthday parties as a school based fundraiser.
Local Community Outreach (Greater Seattle Area)
• 2009-2013: Featured in numerous articles by local newspapers.
• 2010-2013: Demo FIRST robotics to senior citizens in a local retirement and assisted living
facility.
• 2010-2013: Run week long robotics summer camps teaching NXT robotics to elementary
students and FTC Tetrix to middle school students, reaching over 150 different students.
• 2010-2014: Demo FIRST robotics at Shoreline PTA Science Night.
15 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
• 2011: Demoed FIRST robotics at Seattle 2011 Robothon event, Seattle Center.
• 2011: Demoed FTC robots at WACTE Convention for Washington Schools CTE directors.
• 2011-2012: Helped run and demo robots at 2011-2012 Girl Fest, Centurylink Event center
• 2011-2014: Demoed FTC robots at Northshore Christian School.
• 2011-2013: Demoed FTC and FIRST robotics at Electroimpact (a corporate sponsor).
• 2012: Demoed FIRST robotics at Seattle 2012 See It Be It career fair, Seattle Center.
• 2013: Demoed FIRST robotics at the Seattle 2013 Technology & Engineering Day Fair,
Seattle center.
• 2013: Demoed and spoke at Seattle Rotary luncheon, highlighting benefits of STEM based
FIRST programs.
• 2013: Interviewed and demoed our award winning FTC robot on live television and radio at
KOMO broadcasting.
FIRST Community (Washington and Idaho States)
• 2010: Helped run a mini FIRST event for the filming of a FIRSTWA training video.
• 2010-2012: Served as volunteers helping to run the Idaho State FTC Championship in
Moscow ID.
• 2011: Demoed FTC robots at Washington FIRST Robotics fundraiser.
• 2013: Helped with set up of new FIRSTWA headquarters and warehouse facility
(multiple weekends)
• 2014: Hosted the first ever “5th
Week Unveiling Celebration” during the 2014 Aerial Assist
season with four local FRC teams (over 120 people) joining us to show our bots, share game
strategies, socialize and celebrate FRC!
16 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
US Based Outreach (South Los Angeles)
• 2011: Helped write, submit and win a $10,000 Google grant for the South Los Angeles based
Adventures Ahead tutoring center allowing them to purchase laptops, WeDo and NXT
Mindstorm robot kits and start a new robotics program and FLL team.
• 2011-2012: Made two separate trips to South Los Angeles to help establish a STEM based
robotics curriculum and FLL team at an inner-city tutoring center Adventures Ahead for
disadvantaged and underserved elementary students. Trained and mentored the tutoring
center FLL team who in their first year advanced to the LA district meet (team, 2780).
International Outreach (Uganda Africa)
• Head coach and team leaders traveled to Soroti Uganda summer of 2013 to start a robotics
academic and FIRST program at the Beacon of Hope School. Trained school math and science
faculty in problem based learning techniques and the NXT Mindstorms robot curriculum.
• This project has now gained the direct in county support of Dr. James Webb (University of
Massachusetts Amherst), Dr. Lane Seeley (Seattle Pacific University), and PhD student,
Tina Fletcher (Purdue University). Tina Fletcher will be working summer 2014 at the
Beacon of Hope School extending and deepening STEM curriculum and projects for girls.
• The CyberKnights will be returning to the Beacon of Hope School in Uganda this summer to
continue the training with the goal of establishing the first FLL or FTC robotics team in
Uganda by 2015.
17 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Outreach/Impact (persons affected)
40
35
Community
270
LA
International
Team Growth Summary
Overview
The CyberKnights was founded by King’s High School math and computer science teacher,
Mike Thompson. We started working in our coach’s math lab, using a Microsoft engineering and
milling lab each Saturday to cut and bend plastic and metal materials. When our small rookie team made
it to Worlds our very first year, our potential was recognized by King’s High School administration, who
began working with us to gain sponsors and members to expand the program. During the next 3 years,
we were given a large office space that was converted into a workshop area, yet very quickly outgrew
the space. In 2011, we had grown to four FTC teams with so many members that only three teams could
meet per week. We were forced to create a formal schedule so that all teams could get in the requisite
practice time.
Early in 2013, King’s Robotics moved once again, this time to an old workshop area previously
used by the art teacher. It is a very large space, which allows the team to keep the FTC field set up for
18 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
the rookie junior high and freshman teams, with enough room left over for our machine workshop.
There is also an attached room where the programmers can set up computers and have a quiet
environment away from the loud machines. Inside this room whiteboards cover the walls, and it’s big
enough for all of our team members to meet before breaking off into our groups to work on the FRC
season tasks.
Sustainability
As a result of the CyberKnights’ emphasis on team sustainability, all of our FIRST teams from Jr.
FLL to FRC have experienced growth in the last five years. Currently, at our school, it is cool to be on
the robotics team. The CyberKnights team provides a community for students to belong and learn at
the highest levels. Our team is comprised of not only engineering minded students, but includes many
students who are interested in other types of extra-curricular activities, making our team well-rounded
with many skills and abilities; just like a real world corporation.
Details
2009-2010 Season: Hot Shot!
During our first year as a FTC rookie team, the CyberKnights miraculously made it to The
Washington State Competition. We were ranked 5th at the end of the qualifying rounds, and when
the number two alliance captain joined the number one alliance for the final rounds, we moved into
the fourth alliance captain position. We won the competition and earned a ticket to the World
Robotics Competition in Atlanta, GA. In Atlanta, the CyberKnights finished in the top 20.
The 2009-2010 season taught us that the best robot will not always win; it is often the team
that has the most reliably running robot. The CyberKnights built their robot proficiently, first in CAD,
and then in the Microsoft milling lab, so that it would continue to run even if something went wrong.
The build team designed the robot so that motors and wires were easily replaceable for quick repairs.
19 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
2010-2011 Season: Get Over It!
During our second season, the CyberKnights won the B.C. Canada Inspire Award, and was the
Winning Alliance Captain at the Washington State Competition. A new team was started because the
number of people in our robotics program doubled, so the rookies formed the team, CyberDaze. The
CyberDaze won the Idaho State Competition Inspire Award and were also the Winning Alliance
Captain. Both teams went to the World Competition in St. Louis, MO where the CyberDaze took 7th
place overall. Also, at the world competition, NASA was running a live stream of the CyberKnights’
division, and paid special attention to their autonomous mode since it was one of the most
impressively accurate and consistent robots at the competition.
From the 2010-2011 season we learned how to use infrared sensors, gyros and ultrasonic sensors,
working in unison, and creating an incredibly accurate autonomous mode that even if we were blocked,
or hit by another robot our bot would stay on course.
2011-2012 Season: Bowled Over!
During the 2011-2012 season, King’s Robotics grew large enough to form four FTC teams. They
were split up into Varsity, Junior Varsity, and the two new rookie teams, called CyberReign, and
CyberSquires. All four teams were loosely one large group until build season started, and then each team
met to create their own robot designs.
The CyberKnights won the Washington State competition as the Winning Alliance Captain. The
CyberDaze were Winning Alliance Captain at the Idaho State Competition, and both rookie teams
made it to state through regionals. At World’s in St. Louis, the CyberKnights went on to win their
division, and take 4th
place overall, and the CyberDaze made it to the semifinals in their division.
During the Bowled Over season, we learned how to mentor the rookie teams as they came into
the program. Our season begins in mid-August where we focus on building skills until the FTC
season started at the beginning of September.
20 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
2012-2013 Season: Ring It Up!
Last year in the Ring It Up competition in FTC, our varsity team 3717, the CyberKnights, were
unsure of how to tackle the game, but we worked endless hours, prototyped, manufactured, and
programmed our way to state. Part of the reason we got to state was because we took our past
experiences creating the engineering notebook and decided to change the way we designed it. We made
it simple, easy to read, and visually appealing.
In the first few weeks while we were analyzing the game, we decided that the requirements
would be to have a robot that is easy to maneuver, hard to push, and powerful. A swerve drive best fit
this description, so even though one had never been made in FTC, we agreed that it would be a good
opportunity to innovate and design something new. The swerve drive met our expectations and was an
asset during competition. The requirements for our scoring arm was to be able to score on the top row of
the scoring rack, and be able to score over another robot. The final result was a four degree freedom of
movement arm with a scoop for collecting and dispensing rings. We also wanted control of the arm to
be very simple so the team programmed it using forward and inverse kinematics. Additionally, we
invested in buying a 3D printer that augmented the robot’s design. 3D printing was critical to the
development of our robot as we used it to make custom gears and innovative components like our
electrical slip rings. As we worked on the swerve drive and electrical slip ring, our team learned how to
properly compile a successful engineering notebook and shared the knowledge with other teams at a
FTC workshop.
Our creative design helped us to excel at state competition. We ended up as the finalist alliance
captain after competing and overcoming the adversity of having nine burned out motors. We were blessed to
be awarded the Inspire award at State as well. After State, one of the areas we wanted to augment on our
robot was making the wiring more organized because it often got tangled up. A member of our team decided
to try making electrical slip rings which would help clean up the wiring on our drive
21 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
train and also help the drivers control the robot better. It took an incredible amount of time just to make
one slip ring, so we were not sure if we had enough time to fit them onto the robot, but we managed to add
them on. The additional slip rings and the existing features on our robot helped us to place second at the
World Championship FTC competition in St. Louis and aided us in winning the Rockwell Collins Innovate
Award.
Last summer, a few members of our robotics team and our coach went on a mission trip with a
group of students from our school to Africa. We worked with the organization Pilgrim Africa and went
to the Beacon of Hope School in Soroti, Uganda with the goal of setting up a robotics program. In
addition, we worked with math and science faculty, teaching them how to run an inquiry based
robotics class as well. For this reason, our team received a “Peace Through Science” award from
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Our team lead’s mother
worked with Pilgrim Africa for several years and she was a member of the Seattle Rotary Club. She
notified the Rotary Club about our accomplishments and the US National Commissioner to UNESCO
presented the award to our FTC team along with a scholarship of $1,000.
Future Plans Summary
Short Term
Our main goal as a team is to win the Rookie All-Star Award, thereby gaining the honor of
participating in the FRC National Championship. To accomplish this goal the team will have to
collaborate not only to achieve an efficient and safe engineering environment, but also to reach out to
fellow FRC teams, and to compile a professional engineering notebook. Most importantly, while
closely working together throughout the season, we aspire to provide special opportunities for each
team member to learn an abundance of skills pertaining to their personal jobs, as well as expertise in the
numerous activities that make our program successful.
22 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
This is our rookie year in the FRC program after being a FTC team for four years. Our team
has expertise in constructing a FTC robot, and we are presently helping our school rookie FTC teams
in the hope of maintaining our King’s legacy in robotics and engineering. Members of our FRC
engineering crew have been sent out to the new FTC teams to assist them in their robot construction;
they will be helping to correct the common problems that a FTC team confronts while constructing
robots. Our members will need to teach clearly, and explain the solutions to their problems using more
understandable terms. By coherently explaining problem solving skills to other teams, our team will
benefit by learning how to approach the future problems we will inevitably face later in our season.
Since obtaining the new workshop area this year, the team is working towards creating a safer
work environment. The safety lead will be certifying people to be able to use the new milling and
manufacturing machines the team is receiving this year. The main robotics mentor is also working with
the safety lead to set up barriers and rules so that only students using the machines will be allowed into
the milling/machine area. This is so students have a minimal chance of getting injured on one of the
machines. The machines are company grade, and could be very dangerous if someone isn’t paying
attention.
Team 4911 aims to streamline the process of creating a business plan format into easily
accessible summaries for the purpose of increasing efficiency and work quality for future business
team members. Additionally, the team intends to recruit more DECA members, either in a part time
mentor position, or a full time team member capacity.
23 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Action-Implementation Plan
STRATEGY ACTIONS GROUP PLANNED
RESPONSIBLE COMPLETION
Provide -Mentor junior high Engineering sub- June 2014
assistance and through ninth grade team
mentoring to FTC and FLL (Members with
rookie teams new -Student leadership
significant FTC
to the FTC
experience and
and idea exchanges
competition
training)
with other FRC
teams
Inspire interest Mentor robotics Team 4911 Ongoing
in robotics program at Beacon
programs of Hope school in
overseas Soroti, Uganda
Develop strong Combine business Sub-team leads, January 2014
collaboration and engineering sub- mentors
between teams to host FTC
engineering and league meets
non-engineering
teams
Inspire high Robotics Executive Ongoing
school students demonstrations/Q&A
to develop skills sessions
in STEM
Increase Create business plan Business sub-team June 2014
efficiency and template
streamline
procedures on
Business team
24 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Win Rookie All Focus energies on Team 4911 June 2014
Star award (get service, bringing
to World’s) attention to STEM
fields in community
and abroad, and
developing a high
quality robot for
competition
Compile a Collaborate with Business sub-team June 2014
professional engineering team to and engineering
quality compile information sub-team
engineering as the team develops
notebook and builds the
competition robot
Develop an Put up barriers in Engineering sub- Ongoing
efficient and safe machine shop, Team/Executive
working improve safety
environment for measures and first
engineering and aid training, organize
build sub-teams new space to
increase storage and
efficiency
25 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Long Term
The CyberKnight team long term goals for FRC are to continue a sustainable program by
reaching out to the student body to keep a steady inflow of rookies. The team will also continue to
have veteran team members serve as team leads, and use the time during the school year before the
FRC game starts in January to teach the rookies the new skills necessary to be a good team member
during the 6 week build season. In this environment, they will be able to further their skills in their
field, yet remain under careful watch of the team lead to ensure correct application of skills. In this
manner, team 4911 will create a system of team members continually learning, solidifying, and
teaching skills to the next rookies after them.
King’s CyberKnights will continue to serve the Beacon of Hope School in Soroti, Uganda
(student body composed of former child soldiers, refugees, and orphans), by giving them the tools
and training they need to teach their students anything they want to learn and to help them find hope
for a profitable and rewarding career. In order to further help these students discover the incredible
opportunities they can have in engineering, the team will return to Uganda this summer 2014, and
continue to work to improve the quality of life for these children.
2% 5%
20%
23% 43%
King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
SWOT Analysis
Strength Weaknesses
• Coming on as a robust team from • We are brand new to FRC, “sailing in
previous FTC team experience uncharted waters”
• Coach and mentors have been in the field • First time to having a non-engineering
for most of their careers. team.
• We have a variety of strong sponsor • Three times as many people on the team
support in our community. than we are used to; team management is a
• Our school has a STEM based challenge
curriculum so academically we are well • Coach and some mentors are unfamiliar
supported; computer and CAD labs with the procedures of FRC.
• Facilities and machinery are up to date to • Team is unfamiliar with the procedures of
support our sciences. FRC
• We are consistently part of the circle of
teams that helps organize FTC events.
Opportunities Threats
• Outreach programs at The Beacon of • Critical skills for non-engineering teams
Hope school in Uganda to teach the are missing
students robotics • Lack of focus and knowledge of new
• Working with FTC teams in King’s Junior
hardware and software.
High School.
• We have no knowledge and lack of
• Working with the FLL teams in the King’s
experience of how FRC competitions run.
Elementary.
• New machinery that could possibly
• FIRST District meet at Glacier Peak High
malfunction or be misused
School, will give us a chance to prove and
reinvent ourselves.
What Makes 4911 Unique
The CyberKnights are a collection of individuals utilizing their unique qualities to create a
positive, productive, sustainable team learning experience. The people who constitute the King’s
Robotics community originate from diverse backgrounds with a wide variety of professional
expertise. King’s CyberKnights intentionally works to meet a common goal and gain knowledge for
possible future careers in STEM fields. The team’s support system stretches far beyond the team
members themselves, including the parents, the school, and sponsors. Every member supports one
another, creating an environment that encourages every member to perform to the best of their ability
and endeavor to learn from one another. Team 4911 is unique because even as a young team, the
CyberKnights have carried the FIRST banner to not only their local school and community in Seattle,
but also far away to Idaho, South Los Angeles, and to Uganda Africa. The CyberKnights are making a
real difference in the world.
King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
31 King’s CyberKnights’ Business Plan
Team Contact Information
Website: http://mhthompson.com/KingsRobotics/FRC/index.php
Team Email: [email protected]
Main Contacts:
Coach Name: Mikel Thompson
Title: Program Director and Coach
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 206-931-8117
Team Meeting Information (before Build Season):
Location: King’s High School
Dates: Every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 3:15 to 5pm
Team Meeting Information (during Competition Season):
Location: King’s High School
Dates: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3:15 to 7pm
Dates: Saturday from 9- 5pm (engineering teams may stay later)
Dates: Sunday from 1- 6pm
Sponsorship Information:
Checks should be made payable to: King’s High School
Donations may be tax deductible; please contact the team for more information.
Mailing Address:
King’s High School, MS-95
19303 Fremont Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98133