John Matejka's Blog Page

2007-07-03T12:33:00.000-04:00

(1969, five years of age with my first robot)

I have worked with automation and robots all my life. My father, Joseph, owned an electronics manufacturing business, Omtronics. Dad designed and constructed his own automation. I was inspired by my father. Omtronics customers included NASA and the United States Air Force.

After being exposed to automation at an early age and seeing robots in cartoons and comics, I developed a fascination with robotics. As a senior in high school, my father died from cancer.

At the age of 18, I took a part-time job at Showbiz Pizza, now Chuck E. Cheese, they had video games and robotic entertainment. Who could ask for a better place to work! This was my first exposure to entertainment robotics.

2007-07-03T12:27:00.000-04:00

Within a couple of years, I was promoted to District Technical Manager at Showbiz/Chuck E. Cheese. I was now responsible for all of the video games and animated robotics.

After Showbiz/Chuck E. Cheese, I worked at the Robot Factory constructing animated robots. During this time, I attended college, studying electrical engineering and solid state Physics at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

2007-07-03T12:23:00.000-04:00

I became friends with a Physics Professor at the University, Richard Blade. I started my own business, consulting for automation and animated robotics, as well as starting a business with Richard.

Customers included Chuck E. Cheese Pizza, Garden of the God's Visitor Center, Cave of the Winds, Kiddie Rides International, Virginia Fire and Police Museum, The International Journal of Virtual Reality, and the Railroad Administration.

(Robot Factory-Myself and Seymore, the tricycle riding robot).

2007-07-03T12:10:00.000-04:00

In 1997, I moved to Richmond, Virginia, accepting a position with a Hewlett Packard contractor. The position included working with Adept industrial robots. After a couple of years and several courses in industrial robotics, software programming, and others, I accepted a position with a Dupont contractor as a Systems Engineer. In this position, I designed, specified, integrated, and programmed state of the art automation.

(1993, "The Wizard," coin-operated robotic entertainment for "Cave of the Winds.")

2007-07-03T12:01:00.000-04:00

Then, one day through a mutual friend, I discovered that AMF Automation Technologies was looking for someone to write robotics manuals, and the person in charge of the department was none other than an old friend from the Hewlett Packard days. Fate had stepped in. I had the robotics experience needed to start writing these robotic manuals.

(Shep, the radio controlled, robotic dog)

2007-07-03T11:54:00.000-04:00

After writing manuals for industrial robots the past several years, in December 2005, it occurred to me to write a children's book, based on a fictitious, animated robot. It is a story for children that would not only be entertaining, but would also convey sound mechanical, electrical, and physics principles.

(One of the many industrial robots that I work with)

2007-07-03T11:49:00.000-04:00

I am still currently writing robot manuals, and recently helped high school students compete in the "first" robotics competition. Pictured are myself and Marty (left to right).

2007-07-03T11:32:00.000-04:00

From an early age, I have been an adventurer and world traveler.

This is a picture of myself at the Arctic Ocean and am holding a pet iceberg at 8 years of age.

2007-07-03T11:30:00.000-04:00

Skiing on Mount Hood at 8 years of age.

2007-07-03T11:19:00.000-04:00

Riding my go-cart at 9 years of age.

2007-07-03T11:16:00.000-04:00

Riding my motorcycle in 6th grade.

2007-07-03T11:15:00.000-04:00

Rodeo Bull Riding in 9th grade.

2007-07-03T11:12:00.000-04:00

Myself scuba diving in 11th grade.

2007-07-03T11:11:00.000-04:00

Pilots license in my early 30s.

2007-07-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

I am still an adventurer at heart. This is a picture of myself skydiving in my early 30s.

2007-07-03T11:05:00.000-04:00

Our House in Goochland, Virginia

2007-07-03T11:03:00.000-04:00

My wife Cindy, and myself.