New Book on history of robot competitions - and FIRSt

[gearheads]

Hi all, I'm a Newsweek writer with a new book, "Gearheads: the Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports," published this month by Simon & Schuster. I don't intend to sound overly commercial here, but I think this is something the FIRST community will want to discuss on the forum. My book explores the history of robot competitions going back to Woodie's 2.70 contest at MIT. It tells the real reason Dean came up with FIRST, how he enlisted Woodie, and their fateful clashes with those involved with the more combative versions of the sport.

To get more information or to write me directly, you can check out www.gearheadsthebook.com. But I will check back here occasionally to respond to anyone who wants to discuss the issues I raise in the book.

Good luck to all with this year's FIRST season!

Brad

[Jeff_Rice]

The site gives me the impression you are focusing on the gladiatorial aspects of robot building with FIRST-like competitions as a comparison. Is this correct? Or does it equally focus on all? Or does it focus on the ones like FIRST?

Well designed site. Did you make it?

[Rich Wong]

Great, a book for summer reading to
cut down the FIRST Competition withdrawals.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Well, if done right, this could be some good publicity for FIRST. I'll have to check that book out sometime.

[David Kelly]

I just purchased this book at Borders for $14. It looks pretty good. Seems to be a lot about Battlebots and Robot wars. There is a pretty good section about FIRST and there is one picture of team's 121 and 335 competing in last years game.


Mr. Stone, an error I did see was on page 209 where you are describing the 2000 game as "coompetition." The game was actually called "Co-Opertition." But it's no biggie I look forward to reading your book.

[Adam Y.]

Im getting the book because it looks like a good read about the differnt types of competition.

[gearheads]

coompetition... coopertition. this is why i could never learn a foreign language. Thanks for pointing that out, i will get it fixed in the next printing of the book.

Jeff, in answer to your question, i would describe it as a tour through all forms and levels of the robot-building world. The book begins with the anarchist mechanical artists of the Bay Area's Survival Research labs, and then moves through the various versions of the sport, including FIRST and 2.70. But, yes, the main, driving narrative, woven throughought the book, is the story of one entrepreneur in particular, Marc Thorpe. As his original Robot Wars (not the one you see on TV) wins a community of likeminded gearheads and attracts the attention of TV producers, he falls into a dispute with his investor and is eventually ruined. My literary goal was to use the philosophy of the various competitions (i.e. "gracious professionalism") to reflect on Thorpe's very tragic but all too normal business story. Perhaps you can tell me if I succeeded in this goal!

FYI, I ran into Dean at a tech conference this week and gave him a signed copy of the book. He looked pleased - he generously helped me with the research. Thanks,
Brad

[Joe Matt]

OH MY GOD!



GUESS WHO THAT IS STANDING UP IN THE BACKGROUND!!!!!



I'M GOING TO HAVE NIGHTMARES!!!!!

[gearheads]

Woodie sent me that photo. It's from a competition in the early '70s! Will someone please ask him at an event why the column in the background says "women women women?" i have been dying to know for two years.
brad

[Brandon Martus]

Originally posted by gearheads
Will someone please ask him at an event why the column in the background says "women women women?" i have been dying to know for two years.
brad

My guess is that the competition was held in a gymnasium, and that picture was taken by the entrance to the women's locker room. Maybe?

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by Brandon Martus
My guess is that the competition was held in a gymnasium, and that picture was taken by the entrance to the women's locker room. Maybe?

Sounds as good as anything. It's definitely an ...interesting... picture.

[Joe Matt]

Anyway, I'm going to oreder that book and pre-order 'The Complex' ASAP.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I just bought the book today at Borders. It's pretty interesting. I haven't gotten very far yet (darn Chemistry homework!), but I enjoyed what I've read so far.

[Mr.B]

One of my private joys, when time permits, is to visit the Chief Delphi site. I have been reading and posting to this site (infrequently) since it’s inception.

I had to share this thought.

Robot Sports is old enough to have it’s first history book.

The new book, GEARHEADS, authored by Brad Stone, a writer for Newsweek Magazine, recently debuted. I just finished reading it. If I could have written a book like it, I would have.

In the book, Brad Chronicles the story of Robot-Sports through the eyes of the people who shaped it. And he does it well.

This is a story that belongs to all of us, and especially to people who traffic this forum and who have trafficked this forum in years past, people whom I respect, remember and admire.

Brad’s book is about the community that surrounds the Sport of Robotics. An extended community we are all a part of.

This young author has done us all a good turn. He has told our story, and in my humble opinion, told it with a reporters impartiality.

Mech-Sports, was born to the children of the 80’s and 90’s. It will mature with them, and they will become responsible for the direction it takes. Brad Stone has taken the time provide them with a historical perspective, while it is still fresh enough to record with accuracy.

The young writer from Newsweek has written a book that will, in time become a resource for anyone who cares to look back to the genesis of robotic sports in order to understand it, anytime in the future.

This is our story really. One that Mr. Stone has chronicled to date, but a story that is far from over. Each and everyone of us who participates in robotic sports events is a part of this continuing story and we are all responsible for the remaining chapters.

I would like to thank Brad for the months of research it took to write this book, for the insight into the history of this, still emerging, sport, and for recognizing that the significance of mech sports lies in the fact that good, decent, hard working and (sometimes) intelligent people simply like the camaraderie of other good, decent, hardworking and (sometimes) intelligent people. Brad clearly reports that robot sports are successful because people (like to) build robots.

I am certain that some young students reading this will, in time, write a thesis about this (Robot Sport) phenomenon we are all a part of. One, or more of you will endeavor to understand the motives, and the consequences of what we are doing.

One of you will one day be the custodians for university programs like 2.007 or perhaps be the producers of a Techno-Extravaganza of unimaginable sophistication. Regardless, you will have a shared historical perspective, you will have recognizable roots and a history born of the vision of artists, University Professors, Entrepreneurs and, most important, yourselves.

When that time comes, recognize that what you have been a part of, has a history, and that that history was shaped by the visions and dreams and expectations of the people who birthed the phenomenon as well as those who participated in it. GEARHEADS offers a close up look at those visions, dreams and passions.

Let’s remain active in the creation of our own history, and let’s take a moment to celebrate the men and women who take the time to chronicle our achievements and our folly.

Thanks Brad, for recognizing our passions, and for providing us with a mirrored look at who we are.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I just finished the book, and I really enjoyed it. I was a little turned off by parts of the portrayal of FIRST. The FIRST community came off as somewhat stand-offish and disdainful of robotic combat. Having seen some posts here (some that I recognized in the book!) and knowing Dean's attitude towards BattleBots, though, I can see where that would come from.

All in all, though, it was a very good story. The backgrounds on major players (Including Dean and Woodie) were very good, and the overall theme of Marc Thorpe's challenges with Robot Wars made for a very good story. I'd give it a look.