Why Robots?

[SarahBeth]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Why robots?

Because once the hook is set, there really aren't any other options.

This, SO HARD. GAH. I'm going into my second year mentoring and I've totally fallen down the rabbit hole. And drank the kool-aid.

I don't think it is so much robotics as it is the combination of robotics and FIRST.

FIRST has the right balance of bright minds/helpful attitudes, competition/cooperation, challenge/success, plus a lot of great people and core values that make it appealing and addicting.

All of these things are true.

[mplanchard]

For me, robots have been a part of my professional life that I would not change. Anything you have a passion for, requires time. Understanding robotics can lead to so many other things. But only you know how much time you can devote to your passion in a given month.

I saw my first TV show on robotics when I was 12. I was fascinated then and am still amazed now at new robot technology. I am fortunate in my day job that I can see robots in surgery, robots underwater and robots in school. Here are two new examples:

Chocolate - (well packaging and automation but I like chocolate)

http://blogs.solidworks.com/teacher/...rls-dream.html


Autism research with NAO, cute humanoid robot

http://blogs.solidworks.com/teacher/...olidworks.html

[treffk]

To me it's not why robotics? it's why FIRST?

I did everything in high school (choir, cheer, theater, lots of clubs and robotics) but only FIRST allowed me to be me. It allowed me to grow as a person and has given me so many great opportunities that I'm still discovering. I want to pass those along to students, mentors, volunteers everywhere. The learning isn't just limited to the students and we sometimes forget this.

As someone said in an earlier post. I drank the kool-aid and now I'm addicted and it really has become an obsession, or so my boyfriend thinks.