RE F.I.R.S.T. on Battlebots
 

OK I was just asking about Dean's involvement on Battlebots. I Think they just included the Segway because it's been such a hot topic. However, the initial responce makes me think F.I.R.S.T. is a bit "Miffed" to say the least.


Best wishes

Steve Alaniz

BB vs. FIRST
 

I have been invloved with High school robotics for several years.
I have been a judge at Battlebots. If the goal is to get people involved an excited about science and technology - FIRST does a much better job. Battlebots is not trying to be FIRST, but they are trying to start a HIGH School division.

Lets talk about the purpose of Battlebots - which is to make money for the promoters, entertain the viewers and also serve as an enjoyable activity for the participants. It ain't trying to educate anyone - and if it gets some kid excited about technology
great. While what the audience wants to see at a battlebot match is smoke fire and scattered parts, in the pits, the mood is almost exactly the same as at a FIRST competition - contestants
from a wide range of backgrounds are friendly and help each other. So as a sport - battlebots has much better sportsmanship
then most. Battlebots isn't any more evil than Monster trucks or the WWF, and at least no one gets hurt.

Finally there are some folks who just love robotics competition but
can't be on a FIRST team - so at least it keeps 'em off the streets.
So Dean can hate Battlebots all he wants - guess what - they don't care.

Dr Bot,
Very well put! Your points are excellent! The only thing I would add is that there is reason for F.I.R.S.T. to attempt to distance itself from Battlebots. F.I.R.S.T. is aimed at high school students and the rise in violent actions at high schools makes school administrations avoid anything with a perceived violent facet.
Rightly or wrongly Battlebots carries that perception; that it's all about violence. As you pointed out we have demolition derbys and they are not considered evil and no one gets hurt, but case in point, not too many high schools have a demolition derby team.
Being closely linked to Battlebots could make F.I.R.S.T. guilty by association. As it is, some F.I.R.S.T. teams get little or no respect from their schools. If F.I.R.S.T. were suddenly perceived as a violent activity, the results would be devastating for the program.
Other than that addition I wish I had written your post.



Best Wishes


Steve Alaniz


"What good is technology if you can't abuse it?" - Ted Forth

1st) ANYONE GOT IT ON TAPE THAT CAN SEND ME A COPY PLEASE! I WILL PAY FOR POSTAGE AND RETURN LOTSA LOVE

2nd- ANYONE SAW DEAN last week (I think) on Jay Leno- he was on after midnight and was after Russel Crowe

It really gets on my nerves when I say "robotics", and the other person goes "like battlebots?!?". Then I say "no", and before I can say anything else, they either walk away or have this "must be crappy" look on their face.

When someone asks me the "Like Battlebots" question, I answer:

"Yeah, but a whole lot better! It's more challenging and the game is not won by the greatest wedge, a boring wedge."

-anton

Actually, wedges have been known to pop up in FIRST every now & then.

Anyhow, my analogy: FIRST is to battlebots as olympic/real wrestling is to the WWF. WWF is by far more popular then the real stuff, but the WWF is all about promotion and entertainment. That's what Battlebotsd is about: entertainment. Wheras, olympic wrestling is all about the competition, just like FIRST.

Wow, good analogy... but... Battlebots may be about promotion and making $$$ for Comedy Central, but it also inspires people the same way FIRST does... It's not completely pointles...

I wonder what's inspiring about watching a robot you've slaved over for months get destroyed in 2 minutes of competition.

I like Battlebots because it is entertaining. FIRST will always be life.

The inspiration comes before that...
People see the fighting robots...
People think "i have a good idea for a fighting robot!"...
People find means to build fighting robot...
In the process, people learn how to build fighting robot...
People have fun building fighting robot...
People build other stuff...
People become engineers... (or fighting robots)

are any of the videos available online?

Dean on tape.
 

Robogirl,
I think I still have part of the Leno show tape, I've been saving it. Is that what you're looking for? Or the clip of Dean on BB?


Best Wishes


Steve Alaniz



"The computers are taking over? Good... let THEM try to figure it all out for awhile..." - Sally Forth

anyone else get the impression that Dean was a little bit agitated on Leno? 3 big name celebrities Leno, Sting, and Russel Crowe (Dean probably had NO idea who they were) running around on segways unsupervised... if one of them had gotten hurt it could have been a big problem...

Also, I found this humorous... after all Dean's exclamations that the Segway is more than a scooter... Leno/Crowe reffered to him as "scooter man"... I bet he LOVED that...;)

Everything except FIRST stinks!
 

I find a number of humerous relationships on this forum:

Battlebots stinks.
Sports stinks.
People who aren't on FIRST stink.

Then, of course:

I don't understand why people think we are snobs or don't respect and worship us!

Dean makes a point of poo-pooing and alienating others, puts down sports, civic pride institutions, and other competitions. What is the natural reaction?

Battlebots is an open competition. Anyone can build and enter. What you see on TV is a show. The competition is different. It is a good bunch of people, building some amazing machines. And, it is all the violence without the guilt. Been there, done that, gonna go back again!

Okay my opinion,
i don't see anything wrong with battlebots, in fact i enjoy watching it, there is only one thing that seperates FIRST and BB and that is a weapon... they both make people use there minds and creat a robot to fit the tasks, they both use creative thought processe, and in both they deal with competiting, So why so much hate aginst BB??? i mean if you could build one of those would'nt you build one, and if it becuase your aginst violence, the get over it and join the real world, hey it's just metal and electronics with a few fancy motors and gears... Can't We all just get along...