Building Robots, Building Community  

McKenzie Robotics Program Teams Up with Local Firms to Create Winning Partnerships 

INDIANAPOLIS -- March 4, 2008 -- Just imagine ... It’s almost 11 p.m., and a teacher at McKenzie Career Center has to actually tell the kids to go home from school!  An Aircom Manufacturing engineer and a fascinated Lawrence North student sit shoulder-to-shoulder examining metal parts and discussing detailed engineering plans.

That’s when you know it’s “robot season.” For the last five years, Aircom Manufacturing has been among a small group of local companies who have dedicated manpower and materials to support this unique Lawrence Township program, which has high school kids completely engaged in science and technology -- and having a ball at the same time!

Lawrence Township’s Robotics Team, the McKenzie Kil-a-Bytes, has grown from a startup program in 2003 to a dominant presence in the robotics arena with 50 kids on the team this year. The Kil-a-Bytes and their robot recently took First Place at the Midwest Regional competition in Chicago, securing a spot at the national FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Championship in Atlanta, Ga., April 17-19.

Part of the team’s success stems from the dedicated involvement of mentors such as Aircom Engineer Mick Trompen, and Jason Zielke of Precise Path Robotics in Carmel. The two met through their involvement with McKenzie Robotics and have since fostered a business relationship between their respective companies. Aircom provides prototype manufacturing and engineering services for Precise Path’s new robotic greens mower.

“I knew how quickly Aircom could turn stuff around and what they could do for the Robotics Team, so that’s what led us to working together,” explains Zielke, who is Precise Path’s Vice President of Operations, as well as Lead Mentor for the Kil-a-Bytes. (Precise Path President Doug Traster mentors Warren Township’s Robotics Team, making for a friendly rivalry at work!)

Aircom stepped in to help the McKenzie Team five years ago after McKenzie’s School-to-Work Coordinator, Carletta Sullivan, identified the Indianapolis contract manufacturer as a good fit to assist the team. As a program mentor, Trompen helps students understand what is manufacturable and assists with laser-cutting and fabrication at Aircom’s northeast side facility. After the robot is built, Aircom also coordinates a powder-coated paint job with Commercial Finishing, another local business and sponsor. “That makes a huge difference in having the robot look like a finished product,” Sullivan said.

Each year, Aircom donates a significant amount of time and material to McKenzie Robotics as a way of giving back to the community while promoting interest in technology careers. The partnership has been so positive that Aircom has hired its first high school intern from the McKenzie Robotics Team.

Lawrence North Senior Taylor Chenoweth joined Aircom as a summer intern in 2007 and continues to work part-time during the school year. Chenoweth has assisted Aircom engineers in designing an array of products ranging from medical devices to sophisticated laboratory testing equipment.

“He’s just a unique kid,” Trompen says of Taylor. “He has a good head for things that are mechanical.  He’s able to envision the end result.” With his experience at Aircom and on the Robotics Team, he will be far ahead of his peers when he gets to Purdue University next fall.

“It’s been fun to watch this kid develop into a really accomplished young adult through all this,” Sullivan said. “When you walk into the room and you see a kid on his hands and knees on the floor with an engineer talking about the trade off between speed and power, that’s a rich moment.”

Each year, the McKenzie Robotics team designs and builds a 120-pound robot in 42 days and then ships it off to compete in three regional FIRST competitions. Then it’s on to the national Championship, where more than 1,600 teams compete for top honors. Founded by Segway inventor Dean Kamen, FIRST aims to “create a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.”

Aircom Manufacturing and Precise Path Robotics are proud to support local students and encourage them to explore technology careers right here in Indiana. 

Aircom Manufacturing provides “Total Package” capabilities as an ISO-9001-certified company, offering a complete range of manufacturing processes. For more information, please visit www.aircommfg.com. 

Precise Path Robotics is leading the development of robotic solutions for turf conditioning and maintenance -- bringing new levels of productivity to golf courses, sports fields and residential homeowners. For more information, please visit www.precisepath.com. 

For more information on the McKenzie Kil-a-Bytes or other unique programs at McKenzie Career Center, contact Carletta Sullivan at carlettasullivan@msdlt.k12.in.us.