FIRST & Combat Robotics

[K2unit]

OK this is a three-part question:
By now we’ve all had a chance to watch Battlebots (CC), Robotica (TLC) and now the new RobotWars (TNN) so I was curious how you would rate them relative to each other. Do you like the combat nature of BB & RW or do you prefer the challenges of Robotica and to some extent RW? Do you like RW housebots over the Battlebox hazards? Which competition is more “FIRST like”? What are your thoughts?

Second question:
Three robot shows have made it to TV in the last year. BB is going on its fourth season, Robotica will be filming season 2 & 3 within the next month, RW is very encouraged with its debut and has started plans for season 2 and Battlebots IQ (high school league) should be recorded early next year. The question is, how important do you believe a TV presence is to promote & inspire science and technology as well as potentially get young people interested in an engineering career.

Third question:
With the near competitionless “challenge” the FIRST game was last year, do you believe that we will have a new game this year with more head to head competition and a lot more of a “Made for TV” feel to the game? Should FIRST be pursuing the TV publicity?

K2
Engineer
Ramtech 59