Posted by UltraSane 1/27/2026
"There was a formula in Becker's book for a four-wheel drive vehicle with a powered trailer. Well, Don said, "I played with a formula and quickly found that the most sensitive dimension is the length of the rear axle to trailer hitchball. As I reduced it, performance increased. I went to less [negative number] and the performance continued to increase. But how can you have a negative length for this connecting member?
Don realized that a negative connection length just meant moving the pivot beyond the traditional attachment point. Instead of connecting everything to the frame, he made the four-wheel set a bogie in and of itself and attached it to another member with the other set of wheels. Another way to think about it is that the whole thing is a bogie with a rocker at one end, which is how Donna Shirley christened it when she saw the new design. Hence, the rocker bogie was born. And Don Bickler became known as The "Bogie Man" around JPL."
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I also like the email reproduced at 1:37:06 for the picture it gives of Don as a mentor:
"Mark,
In response to Don Bickler’s efforts over the last 2 months or so, I can't help but tell you how much I want to hang out with this guy! He is my hero! Every time we talk, I feel I walk away with some extra piece of knowledge that I didn’t have before. I told Don, it is so unfortunate that engineers these days are nothing like they were when he came out of school. He has so much common sense and has such a great ability to simplify the situation and come up with a solution that will not only work, but be simple and easy to build, while at the same time wanting nothing more than to solve the problem at hand, he thrives [at] it and that is something I really enjoy observing!
I'm sure this does not come as a surprise to you as every one I talk to, when I tell them that Don Bickler is helping us resolve this spring issue, tells me the guy is a legend and to soak up everything you can from him! Simply put, Don has been an asset to this issue we have had, he has quickly come up with a resolution so we can move forward with the spring design we have.
The issue is not yet resolved because we still have to design and build the spacers that Don recommends, but based on some preliminary testing, it looks like Don's resolution will be the remedy we are looking for. If possible, I would like to be locked in a room with Don through any type of project. Please let me know when and where.
I am currently working in Madrid right now until the 28" but if you'd like more info, please feel free to contact me on my cell phone.
Thanks in advance,
Jason Carlton
Jet Propulsion Laboratory" [line breaks added to ease reading]