Thoughts on Robot Wars?

[Denman]

having competed in a "featherweight" competition, it is very true that everyone helps each other and lends stuff etc... one team gave us about 6 batterys as our charger was immensly slow

[MikeJ675]

Semi-thread necromancy, but I figure my first post should be on something I know about.

I've seen both sides of the issue. I've been to battlebot competitions, I've been to First competitions and to events put on by the new robotic combat organization the RFL.

There are a few common things-
-Friendly people. Never have I seen so many happy, friendly people, anywhere. There seems to be no better method of really getting people together for a fun, educational experiance.
-Good sportsmanship. I know, the combat stuff seems to be all about beating the other guy, and having grudges, but it really is not that way. If you went to a competition, you'd see that even after the most brutal beating, when the bot get's swept into a dustpan, the builders will still go back to the pits and have a laugh, and usually try to fix the broken bot.
-General 'aura' of fun. Rarely do you see someone honestly sad at any of these competitions. I've seen robots ripped apart, with battery packs flung across the arena, and the builder just gathered the parts and started putting it back together back in the pits, with the help of the nearest 2 teams.

The goals may be different... VERY different... But the people and the attitudes of the people are very simmilar.

If you want to find out about what is happening in robot combat today(the only show on TV now was taped 1.5 years ago in england) PM me or email me. I'd be happy to share the other side of the story, that doesn't get shown on TV.

Looking foreward to the 6 week build, and building my own fighting robot. I wouldn't want it any other way.

[Kerry547]

I don't really mind the whole idea of the battling robots cause I think it can be interesting at times but I wish some of the people outside of the robotics circle could tell the difference between the two every time I tell someone I'm on a robotics team they always ask me OH is it like robot wars and I tell them that no though we do build robots but for more practical purposes and then they think that FIRST is something stupid and boring cause in the end the robots aren't bashed till they cant run anymore.

[Kyle]

When someone asks about FIRST and then mentions about battle bots or Robot Wars this is what I always say to give them a better idea of FIRST over battle bots.
Battle bots are mostly adult men, FIRST is all high school kids building robots for the first time in some cases.
Battle bots have much much more time then 42 days to design,build,test,program and drive a robot. battle bot builders can use the same robot year after year with only small modifications if any at all. they do not have weight limits they have weight classes so if a builder makes a new arm on there bot and it is heavy they don't have to drill lighting holes in it before they can run, they just enter in a different weight class.
FIRST offers much more of a challenge then battle bots just on the fact that the people who build FIRST robots are not just building robots they are building an experience that will last a life time, battle bot builders are building something to destroy someone else's experience.

just to note i love battle bots and robot wars, I have met and still talk to battle bot builders and they are just as good people as those involved in FIRST.

[Kerry547]

Yeah dont get me wrong I respect battle bots builders just as much as I do FIRST builders but Im with you those are grown men probally majoring in building bots like this and we are high school kids and I just wish that some of the people out there could just realize the difference.