FIRST History
2012 FRC Season
Simbotics will be attending the following events:
- Greater Toronto East Regional
- Greater Toronto West Regional
- Waterloo Regional
2011 FRC Season
The 2011 season began with heavy hearts for the Simbotics team and family as founding member Stephen Rourke tragically passed away in May of 2010. The 2011 robot was named Simbot Steve to honour Steve who represented a mentor, a friend, a colleague and even a father figure to members of our large Simbot family. The regional season ended with three regional victories for Simbot Steve and wins in Pittsburgh and Toronto were with another team founded by Steve Rourke, fellow NiagaraFIRST team, Spartonics (Team 1503). The Waterloo Regional was won with our friends from OP Robotics (Team 2056) and a rookie team founded and mentored by Simbotics, Team 3756 Ram-ferno. The event also saw a world-wide high score set and then surpassed by our own alliance one match later. During the regional season, Team 1114 also received three technical awards and received recognition off the field with two Dean's List Finalist Awards, two website awards, an Outstanding Volunteer of the Year and the Greater Toronto East Regional Chairman's Award. At the World Championships, Simbotics finished out of the top 8 and were selected by the number one alliance and were unfortunately eliminated in the semi-finals.
Driver: Q-Tip
Operator: Jessa P.
Human Player: Taylor N.
Coach: Kyle W.
Chairman's Presenters: Butters R, Brittany S, Matthew C.
2010 FRC Season
Team 1114 Simbotics entered the 2010 season hoping to build on their performance from 2009. Swept up by an Olympic year, Simbotics Chairman's Award theme and robot name (Simbot Quatchi) both displayed the enthusiasm Canada showed for the games. The team was able to capture its fourth Regional Chairman’s Award in team history. A very successful regional season earned them Regional Champion Banners at the Pittsburgh, Greater Toronto and Waterloo regionals; marking the third time in Simbotics history that three regional wins were captured in a single season. At the regional events an additional seven awards were captured including, among others, an Industrial Design Award at the Greater Toronto Regional. The team entered the World Championships in Atlanta, Georgia with high expectations and were placed in a strong Curie Division. Simbotics seeded first in qualification rounds and along with Las Guerrillas (Team 469) and The Robocats (Team 2041) managed to capture a Curie Division title and make it to the Einstein Field. Unfortunately, after two tough matches, the alliance was knocked off by a strong Newton alliance and Simbotics left with World Finalist honours.
Driver: Matt C.
Operator: Jessa P.
Human Player: Taylor N.
Coach: Kyle W.
Chairman's Presenters: Butters R., Stacey W.
2009 FRC Season
Team 1114 entered 2009 looking to defend their World Championship title. Going into the 2009 season, Simbotics helped found two new rookie teams, Team 2809, "Kbotics" at Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Kingston, ON and Team 2852 "Redmen" at Dennis Morris High School in St. Catharines, ON. Team 1114 won their third Regional Chairman's Award, this time at the Greater Toronto Regional. Simbot "Panthro" was created hoping to distinguish itself from the field, and succeeded being regarded as one of the best "shooters" in Lunacy and taking home a regional victory at the Greater Toronto Regional and a design award. Team 1114 seeded first at the World Championships, becoming the first ever team to earn a Championship first seed in consecutive years. Unfortunately the team was defeated in the semi-finals, by the eventual division winners. After regional awards at Midwest and Greater Toronto regional, simbotics.org also took home the award for the Championship's Best Web Site.
Driver: Brandon P.
Operator: Chris L.
Human Player: Luke V.
Coach: Kyle W.
Chairman's Presenters: Matt C., Candice E., Ryan S.
2008 FRC Season
After the success of the previous few seasons, Team 1114 came in ready to take the next step as a team. A new team was founded with the aid and mentoring of Team 1114, Team 2505 at Don Mills Collegiate Institute in North York, ON. Team 1114 won their second Regional Chairman's Award at the Waterloo Regional. With our simplest robot to date, Simbot SS, the team took home three regional victories for the second time in 1114 history, with wins at the Midwest, Waterloo and Toronto Regionals. Team 1114 advanced to the World Championships in Atlanta with large expectations, considered by many the favourites to win it all. A strong qualifying round record led the team to a first overall seed, enabling us to select an alliance of Teams 217, the Thunderchickens, and 148, the Robowranglers. Despite competition from strong alliances representing the Archimedes and Curie divisions, Team 1114 won their first ever FRC World Championship.
Driver: Brandon P.
Operator: Chris L.
Robocoach: Luke V.
Coach: Derek B.
Chairman's Presenters: Matt C., Candice E., Stuart M
2007 FRC Season
As successful as the 2006 season was, Team 1114 looked to keep improving. Two new teams were founded, Team 2166 at Appleby College in Oakvile, and Team 2056 at Orchard Park SS in Stoney Creek. For the first time since 2004, Simbotics did not actively collaborate with any other teams, ending the run of the Niagara Triplets. Still, the team was able to achieve the same types of success that was found during the triplet era. Two regional victories in FRC by Simbot "Prime" took place in Waterloo and Toronto. 2007 also marked a new accomplishment for the team, winning the prestigious Indiana Robotics Invitational over the summer. This event featured the best teams from across FIRST, in what was one of the toughest competitions in FIRST history.
Driver: Brandon P.
Operator: Chris L.
Human Player: Luke V.
Coach: Derek B.
Chairman's Presenters: Lindsay D., Matt C., Candice E.
2006 FRC Season
Team 1114 had developed a strong reputation for success over its first three seasons. But nothing accomplished in the past could match the events of the 2006 season. Simbot "Beckham" was created with the goal of being the strongest robot on the playing field, yet while having the ability to handle "poof balls" with finesse. The goals were met, as at times Beckham seemed like an immovable object on the field. As a result the team had arguably the most successful regional season of all time, with three regional wins. This was the first time this feat was accomplished since 1998. Making this feat even more impressive was the fact that all three victories were with our younger triplet, Team 1503. On-field accomplishments were accompanied with success off the field. In 2006, Team 1114 won its first ever Chairman's Award.
Driver: Jeff B.
Operator: Peter D.
Human Player: Brandon P.
Coach: Derek B.
Chairman's Presenters: Peter D., Lindsay D.
2005 FRC Season
After two successful seasons in FIRST, Simbotics realized it was time to start spreading FIRST to the rest of the Niagara Region. With limited resources, the team knew expansion would be difficult. A creative strategy was needed. From this line of thinking, NiagaraFIRST was born. NiagaraFIRST is an organization that supports and funds FIRST teams in the Niagara Region. NiagaraFIRST.org uses creative and collaborative strategies to minimize development, manufacturing, and travel expenses, allowing for smaller allocation of resources to support a greater number of FIRST teams. By uniquely managing mentor support and financial resources, NiagaraFIRST was able start two new FRC teams in the region. Team 1503 (Westlane SS) and Team 1680 (Fort Erie SS) became the newest members of the NiagaraFIRST community. The 2005 robot, Simbot "Kevin" was named after the late Kevin Heins, a young Simbot who had passed away in a tragic accident that January. Simbot Kevin started the year slowly, but finished strong bringing home the gold with a regional victory in Toronto.
Driver: Jeff B.
Operator: Peter D.
Human Player: Stuart M.
Coach: Derek B.
Chairman's Presenters: Emerald C., Jeff B.
2004 FRC Season
With the taste of success still lingering from the rookie season, Rourke and Phillips built on the successful foundation. Organizational development discussions were held to align the team mission, culture, and core values. Organizational strategy set the stage for improved team structure. Student team leaders and sub-team leaders were established to run the team business. The mentor base was strengthened. Rourke recruited former Woburn Team #188 FIRST Robotics veterans Ian MacKenzie and Karthik Kanagasabapathy (both of whom were attending The University of Waterloo) to provide seasoned mentor experience and to pass along lessons learned from past competitions. SimSwerve (a strafing, omni-directional mobility system) was born from the creative juices of the design team. Strategy development and analysis drove Simbot "Simon" to new heights of success in the 2004 FRC Game, "FIRST Frenzy - Raising the Bar". A gold medal at the Long Island Regional, silver medals in both the Pittsburgh Regional and the Canadian Regional, and another trip the National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia are just a few of the memorable highlights of the successful sophomore season - with "GM Simbotics" winning more awards than any other FIRST Team in the nation.
Driver: Brent S.
Operator: Tyler H.
Human Player: Paul M.
Coach: Karthik K.
Chairman's Presenters: Emerald C., Sean M.
2003 FRC Season
The seed for NiagaraFIRST.org was planted in October 2002. General Motors of Canada St. Catharines Ontario Engineering Director, Stephen Rourke and Governor Simcoe Secondary School Technical Director, Greg Phillips met to discuss the possibility of fielding a rookie team in 2003 FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). The enthusiastic discussion, along with generous financial and mentor support from General Motors of Canada, quickly unfolded into an exciting rookie season for FRC Team #1114 "GM Simbotics". The team designed and built Simbot "Sally" - competing in two successful 2003 Regional Competitions in Pittsburgh and Toronto, followed by a trip the National Championship in Houston, Texas. Engineers from General Motors mentored the motivated and creative students from Governor Simcoe to achieve one of the most successful rookie seasons in the 2003 FRC Game "Stack Attack".
Driver: Brent S.
Operator: Emerald C.
Human Player: Sean M.
Coach: Paul M.