Organization

To maximize the potential of every team member’s success, Jaguar robotics is broken down into five departments each with its own purpose. This separation encourages flexible collaboration between department members, simulating a workforce environment while serving as an efficient method of task management for the team as a whole. Each department puts emphasis on skills that are essential for prospective job opportunities related to engineering (mechanical and electrical), precision machining, management, marketing, and programming. These divisions are as follows:

Departments

Each department is student- lead and operates within itself but also communicates with other departments for overlapping tasks and cohesive resolution.

The Design Department brainstorms, researches, and creates the part drawings of our robots using 3D model software such as SolidWorks and AutoCAD. The completed models are then tested and adjusted accordingly and are used to create our bot.

The Machining Department is responsible for cutting and drilling materials parts used on the robot. Some cuts require precision up to a thousandth of an inch. Some in-house machinery we have available includes CNCs (Computer Numerical Control), milling machines and manual lathes.

The Electrical Department constructs the inner workings of each robot and programs (when applicable) the internal components necessary for overall functionality. As Fort Zumwalt West Highschool does not have a curriculum course detailing the development of electrical harnesses, team members learn about electrical work from our department head and mentors. This department manages the ordering of parts, electrical design, and the building and maintaining of the bots’ electrical systems.

The Documentation Department writes and officializes the content of all records within the team. Jaguar Robotics competes in a league that requires specific documentation regarding all aspects of the team’s production. These reports are formatted to fit the desired structure and must be entered by a given deadline in order to qualify for competition. This includes areas of process (detailing the robots’ assemblies, part designs, and component inventory), Shop conduct (recording meeting details, timelines and member-specific logged hours), as well as an overview of competitive strategy.

The Communications Department serves as the team’s contact for all sponsorship agreements including fundraisers, materials, mentorships and additional resources. They cooperate with FZW Jaguar Robotics Boosters Club to establish go fund me (insert live link to current) to finance the team’s transportation to out-of-state competitions. Communications manages social media accounts that post information regarding the team and upcoming events (fundraiser dates, competition highlight clips, and other promotional information). These platforms can be found in the contact menu at the bottom of any page on the website.

Our Robots

2023/2024

Name: Dino MK1

Information/Improvements

  • Single-side weapon
  • Innovated armor consisting of aluminum, titanium, and TPU

Rewards/Placement:

  • 1st BotsKC Competition
  • BotsKC Grand Champion

Name: Supernova (Nova) MK2

Information/Improvements

  • Titanium outer frame
  • Innovative hinged wedges
  • Thinner, concise weapon

Rewards/Placement:

  • 5th BotsKC Competition

Name: Blitz MK3

Information/Improvements

Rewards/Placement:

  • 7th BotsKC Regional Competition
  • 1st Documentation BotsKC Regionals

2022/2023

Name: Supernova (Nova) MK1

Information/Improvements

  • Complete Redesign
  • 4-wheel drive system
  • Swivel wedges

Rewards/Placement:

  • 1st CA-2 MO T.E.A.M. State Competition
  • 5th BotsKC Regional Competition
  • 1st Documentation BotsKC Regionals
  • 29th NRL Nationals Competition
  • 2nd Documentation NRL Nationals

Name: Blitz MK2

Information/Improvements

  • Condensed frame
  • Internal modifications
  • Side plate redesigns

Rewards/Placement:

  • Grand Champion BotsKC
  • 1st BotsKC Competition
  • Best Engineering Documentation Award
  • 7th NRL National Championships

Name: Sabertooth MK3

Information/Improvements

This Robot has been retired.

  • Two Wheel Drive
  • Condensed Frame
  • New weapon design

Rewards/Placement:

  • 2nd place BotsKC 2022 Competition
  • 30th in NRL 2022 National Championships

2021/2022

Name: Blitz MK1

Information/Improvements

  • Redesign from Sabertooth
  • Internal Wheels
  • Brushless Internals
  • Toothed Weapon

Rewards/Placement:

  • 1st Bots KC
  • Grand Champion BotsKC
  • 10th NRL National Championships

Name: Sabertooth MK2

Information/Improvements

This Robot has been retired.

  • Toothless Weapon
  • Two Wheel Drive
  • Side Plate Redesign

Rewards/Placement:

  • 2nd BotsKC
  • 32nd NRL National Championships

2020/2021

Name: Sabertooth MK1

Information/Improvements

This Robot has been retired.

  • Redesign from Shogun
  • Two Wheel Drive
  • Box Shaped
  • Eggbeater Weapon
  • Steeper Wedges

Rewards/Placement:

  • 7th BotsKC Regional Competition

2018/2019

Name: Shogun

Information/Improvements

This Robot has been retired.

  • N/A

Rewards/Placement: 

  • N/A

2017/2018

Name: The Palminator

Information

This Robot has been retired.

  • First Bot
  • Two-wheel drive
  • Box Shaped
  • Vertical Drum Spinner

Rewards/Placement: 1st BotsSTL 2018 Documentation

Team Coach

Steven Fink
Teacher/Team Coach

The Board

Austin Muchnick-Behrens
Head of Communications, Blitz
Diego Edwards
Head of Documnetation, Dino
Drew Wachsnicht
Co-Head of Electrical, Dino
Lucas Marlett
Head of Machining, Dino
Parker Joern
Head of Design, Supernova
Mason Manion
Co-Head of Electrical, Supernova
Molly Walsh
Graphic Design Head, Blitz

DINO

Ainara Sayuri Noriega Valenzuela
Communications
Ayden Hamblin
Electrical
Benjamin Mettendorf
Graphic Design
James Alexander
Machining
Kyle Davis
Design
Zach Mannon
Design

SUPERNOVA

Jaden Burns
Management
Jaineel Patel
Machining
Kat Kaiser
Electrical

BLITZ

Abby Jones
Machining
Benjamin Jaggi
Machining
Connor Meske
Machining
Evan Schmidtberger
Electrical
Garrett Ray
Electrical
Madison Jeanis
Graphic Design
Moss Dollens
Communication
Sean Anirudh Sathish
Design

Team Coach

Bill Fitzpatrick
Industrial Technology Teacher/Team Coach

Chief Executive Officer

Andy Merkel
Chief Executive Officer

The Board

Ben Jaggi
Head of Manufacturing
Drew Wachsnicht
Head of Electrical
Diego Edwards
Head of Communications
Mason Manion
Lead Website Developer, Electrical/communications Department
Parker Joern
Head of Design
Tyler Zychalski
Head of Machining

Team Captains

Andy Merkel
Supernova Team Leader
Lucas Marlett
Blitz Team Leader, Manufacturing Department
Molly Walsh
Sabertooth Team Co-Captain, Electrical Department
Zach Mannon
Sabertooth Team Co-Captain, Manufacturing Department

Supernova

Andy Merkel
Chief Executive Officer, Supernova Team Captain
Diego Edwards
Head of Communications
Ben Jaggi
Head of Manufacturing
Parker Joern
Head of Design
Mason Manion
Lead Website Developer, Electrical/Communications Department
Grant Mroczkowski
Machining Department
Lauren Mudd
Electrical Department
Drew Wachsnicht
Head of Electrical
Tyler Zychalski
Head of Machining

Blitz

Lucas Marlett
Blitz Team Captain, Manufacuting Department
Kat Kaiser
Electrical Department
Chase Mueller
Communications Department
Jaineel Patel
Design Department
Garrett Ray
Electrical Department
Juan Valencia-Tun
Electrical Department
Sashank Yerapotina
Communications Department

Sabertooth

Zach Mannon
Sabertooth Team Co-Captain, Manufacturing Department
Molly Walsh
Sabertooth Team Co-Captain, Electrical Department
Moss Dollens
Electrical Department
Austin Muchnick
Communications Department
Owen Murray
Design Department
Ainara Noriega Valenzuela
Communications Department
Saketh Subramanian
Website Developer, Electrical Department
Preston Smith

Team Coach

Bill Fitzpatrick
Industrial Technology Teacher/Team Coach

Mentors

Mike Moore
Industry Mentor, Electrical

Not Pictured:

Rosita Edwards, Agile Mentor

Josh Mroczkowski, Agile Mentor

Heather Mudd, Documentation Mentor

Elizabeth Merkel, Marketing Mentor

The Board

Gabe Maher
Co-CEO, Head of Machining, Blitz Team Captain
Andy Merkel
Co-CEO, Head of Electrical
Ben Jaggi
Sabertooth Team Captain
Diego Edwards
CAO, Head of Management
Mason Manion
Head of Marketing, Lead Website Developer
Parker Joern
Head of Design

Design

Tyler Zychalski
Assistant Head of Design
Jaineel Patel
Design Department

Electrical

Drew Wachsnicht
Blitz Driver
Juan Valencia-Tun
Sabertooth Driver
Lauren Mudd
Electrical Department
Garrett Ray
Electrical Department
Chase Mueller
Electrical Department
Sashank Yerapotina
Electrical Department

Machining

Grant Mroczkowski
Assistant Machinist
Lucas Marlett
Assistant Machinist

Marketing

Aakash Sase
Website Developer
Luke Schmidtberger
Website Developer