Deano on Battlebots
 

DEAN FEATURED ON BATTLEBOTS!!!

wow... anyone else see it?

Wow... what a bad feature...

"Since the beggining of time, man has craved the perfect robot... first the wheel, then the automobile... now the segway..."

My favorite quote from the end (I'm sure Dean loves this)...
"just add a weapon to it and it's ready for battle!"

Saw it, and was amazed (to put it lightly). After all the efforts over the past year to distance FIRST from BattleBots, and all the statements about FIRST avoiding any appearance of succumbing to the violence of BattleBots, to see Dean appearing on the show was startling. And I can't imagine how this could have been done without his knowledge or cooperation.

Dean and Battlebots. What's this world coming too?
Dogs and Cats living together.......Mass histeria.

Before, whenever someone mentioned our robot and Battlebots, in the same breath, I cringed. :eek: Now what do I do :confused:

Wayne Doenges

What?!
 

Dean on Battlebots? What next? The sky falling? WWIII breaking out!? Aliens taking over the planet!?!?!?! :rolleyes: Wow. I remember at our city's Octoberfest this past year we had so many people ask if TOBOR was a battlebot... we dubbed the word "battlebot" the "Double B" word! Yikes. My anti/non/not in FIRST friends are finally understanding the differenece between FIRST and Battlebots and now this? :::cries::: :p

- Katie

Lol Firstae. My teacher says no bb whenever we mention battlebots. She is VERY against it. I really think dean needs a refresher course in advertising a public relations.
Ok he wants more publicity so he makes an audience friendly game then bashes athletes. I think he needs to get it straight. If he wants to have FIRST be a big thing then he shouldnt go on battlebots. That is just crazy.

Did he actually appear on Battlebots or was it just robotics news they talked about on the show. I mean after all how can the not mention something about Segway on a robotics show, destructive or not. The thing is a robotic marvel.

You make a good point, as it was really only news, and not actually Dean on the show.

But that last quote really disturbed me: "just add a weapon to it and it's ready for battle".

An old wise man used to tell me, "The only bad publicity is an obituary"

I thought the little segment was pretty cool, people that don't know dean or what he is about (and never seen the segway) that were watching battlebots are probably more of a target audience for a segway than we think. Most people I know that watch (including myself, hope to have my own bot by next year) are not only watching for the robot mayhem but also to see the ingenious ways that people attack and defend. Watching a legged robot like son of wyachi cruise across the floor like it was on wheels is an engineering achievement in any sense of the word. The way Dean shows off the segway "think forward, it goes forward" I am SURE amazes many people.

Now if I only had a few extra grand for one

Just curious....was this stock footage that they might have had?

I think it is a good move for FIRST to associate with Battlebots. If battlebots is so popular, FIRST can appeal to this popularity and tell Battlebots producers what FIRST is really about: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Furthermore, we have lots of young minds at work benefitting from this. So if Battlebots can help give some light to what we're all in together, then I say go BATTLEBOTS!

-anton

HELP!!!
 

Hey all... I need some clarification.

F.I.R.S.T. is completely unaware of any appearance of Dean on Battlebots. Could someone or several of you verify that there was indeed footage of Dean DURING the broadcast AND does anyone recognize it as footage from a different public braodcast? This would help a lot.


Thanks


Steve Alaniz


"Yeah, those robots are cool...but if you can't play Nintendo on them, what good are they?" - Hilary Forth

Football Analogy
 

I don't think FIRST and BB should be associated. Think of it this way: BB = XFL; FIRST = NFL. Which one lasted? NFL. Which one will last? FIRST. Which one will fail? You guessed it. I enjoy watching a little BB now and then, but the true appeal of the show has yet to show itself. When i mention that I do robotics, people say, "like BB on tv?" I just shake my head and say no oh no oh no. As for the appearance of the Segway, I do not object to that. The Segway is a legitamite public invention, and is not associated with FIRST. Sure, it is through Dean Kamen, but Segway and DEKA are separate companies from US FIRST. I would however, greatly object to a mention of FIRST on BB.

Just my input.

Chris

Re: HELP!!!
 

See Eddie's post above...Dean was not actually on the show, it was just "news"...I'm not personally sure if they used stock footage or if it was just a reference, but Dean was not at the BB taping site.

Actually FIRST has been mentioned a couple of times on BattleBots. BattleBots does Bios of the competitors before matches and many of the participants are still on were previously on a FIRST team. I specificially remember a team of two from Carnagie Melon who were active participants in FIRST during their HS years. Or maybe that was Robotica.

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...

I like watching battlebots too, but mainly for the interesting ideas. I also see nothing wrong with someone who wants to participate. But I'd like to know that people understand the difference between battlebots and F.I.R.S.T.
The focus of Battlebots is to entertain and for the producers to make money by hosting the spectacle. No problem. Everybody's happy.
The focus of F.I.R.S.T. is students and that creates a problem. Battlebots, wheather it was their intent or not, has a perceived violent facet. It doesn't matter what the participants think or say in interviews, their robots engaged in a gladiator style arena is going to make the viewing public think it's a violent sport. I have my opinion and so does everybody else, but most people I talk to THINK Battlebots is only about destruction and don't consider...or care.. if anyone learned anything.
F.I.R.S.T. has to distance itself from Battlebots because of this perceived violence. Complacency is equivalent to endorcement and F.I.R.S.T. can't afford to become guilty by association. The focus of F.I.R.S.T. is to encourage high school students to seek careers in science and technology with robotics as the vehicle for this encouragement.
If F.I.R.S.T. were considered just a stepping stone to the Battlebots arena, how many high schools would buy into the program? Zero, None, Zilch! High school administrators are already concerned with the violence they already have in schools without endorcing some kind of program that glorifies destruction.


Another two cent's of mine... I must be in the hole at least a dollar by now!


Best Wishes


Steve Alaniz




"Sure those robots are cool... but if you can't play nintendo on them, what good are they?" - Hilary Forth

s_alaniz
 

YES! I AM LOOKING FOR THAT TAPE AS WELL!!! do you have it on comp or tape tape?

THIS IS GONNA KICK SOME BUTT

yes, your probably right about Dean not knowing who the HECK those guys were!

Also, this is off topic but OH WELL!!!! BOO TO YOU!!!

Remember last year at the Nats- when Dean said that he was going to get his friend that owns this softdrink company to be a BIG sponsor for FIRST and even asked him? Well is it Coca-Cola and are they a big sponsor this year???? OR who is it?

P.S I just got the BB game and it KICKS!
and also, we are suppose to do the HS competition for BB.. thats once FIRST finishes

I myself am actually opposed to the HS Battlebots series. If you ask me, it's a blatent invasion of FIRST. If high schoolers want to play with the big guys, I am fine with that. But when you specifically target the high schoolers with their own seperate competition, that is crossing the line.

Besides, 1 can of Dew says it wont be half as successful as FIRST has been, mainly because of the violence issues stated above, and the fact that it is now invading FIRST's territory. You know the big sponsers wont stand for that.

Eddie-

you are right. I chose FIRST over BB. but i dont mind making a robot for BB show... surely I see other things that can be done with that money that is much beter SUCH AS FREAKING ATTENDING THE NATIONALS (big price diff) but its not my choice. Its better than nothin

I seem to think Big D is becoming more and more of a sellout. He used to be really dynamic and psyched about FIRST. Now it seems publicity and money are coming more and more into the picture. Yeah, It will/would be great to have more people interested in sports but (kickoff: "make more robust robots") I think things are moving toward BB under the cover of science & tech. Who knows.

BLASPHEMY!!!

Personally I kinda agree with you...
Dean has never been my fav person.

Deano on Battlebots
 

Nola Garcia - #59 Team Coordinator for six years
BattleBots National Education Director 1 year

Just a few points

*Schools can and DO participate in both FIRST and BattleBots IQ

*Dean Kamen and Trey Roski and Greg Munson ( the founders of Battlebots) are three GREAT human beings - all of them have taken $$ they made in industry and put it into programs for kids. By the way Trey and Greg admire Dean VERY much and recognize his contributions to mankind!!

*Battlebots like any other tv show makes $$ - BB gives the builders a lot of $$ for tv appearances as well as a LOT of money from toy sales- Team Loki from Miami generally gets over $15,000 per year from it. Team Loki also mentors FIRST Team #59

*Dean has repeatedly said that FIRST is about inspiration NOT education - BattleBots has a robotics curriculum for high schools - they haven't charged the schools even a dime for it. Registration for BattleBots IQ is only $100/ team

*Dean has said that the goal of FIRST is to get more kids interested in science and engineering - many have been inspired and as a result of FIRST and the millions of viewers of BB lots of kids are wanting to be a part of upper level science, physics and technology classes as well as the BB IQ Curriculum Program

*There are thousands and thousands of high schools across the country, only 650 are involved in FIRST this year , that leaves a whole lot more that might want to be a part of the High School BB Curriculum Program , so it isn't necessary to pull them away from FIRST

*Lastly, if a school has a football team, a hockey team, a basketball team , I gaurantee that more kids will get hurt with those sports than BB. I have witnessed many fights after football games and basketball games and not ONe after a BattleBots match.
Wise people allow for different expressions of interest and involvement. Like I have said before - you don't have to hate strawberry ice cream because you like vanilla - you can appreciate both.

Team #59 will be at KSC Regional and Nationals ready to have lots of fun and see our friends form the past 6 years. good luck to all!!

Since this thread won't die....
 

This is what happened.

The BattleBots season kickoff show downloaded available video from B-roll of the Segway launch. This Segway public video was orginally fed via satellite and obtained from the Segway launch event (presumably from another media group) and compiled into a 50 second segment about Segway. If begins on BattleBots with, "First we travelled by foot, then cars, now the Segway".

The video clip contains Segway launch footage which is primarily Dean speaking and demonstrating the product. The BattleBots narrator chimes saying the Segway is good for city or suburban environments. The clip shows individuals riding around on Segways (again from launch event) and the BattleBots narrator says, "Add a weapon and this guy is ready for Battle Bots."

The BB show containing this clip aired on 10 p.m Eastern on Tuesday, January 15. It may have been repeated.

FIRST and Dean were not at all involved with this clip pickup; we were surprised by it. We do not intend to provide any public comment on the pickup of Segway footage.

"First we travelled by foot, then cars, now the Segway".

That is NOT the way it began... It was WAAAAAAAAAY cornier than that.