Battlebots an Newsweek

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Posted by colleen - T190 at 05/23/2001 3:29 PM EST


Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and WPI.


In Reply to: Battlebots an Newsweek
Posted by s_alaniz on 05/22/2001 1:14 AM EST:



FIRST
BattleBots (and BB IQ)
Robot Wars
Junkyard Wars
etc
etc
etc

They all have the same goal in mind: teaching people to flex the right muscle-- the brain.

Basketball, football, hockey, track&field, field hockey, soccer, softball, etc, etc, etc.. they are just as much 'in competition' as FIRST is with the likes of the these other robotics competitions..

And do you want to know what-- it's no big deal!! there's room enough in the world for all those sports.. just as there is room enough for all robotic competitions.. and there isn't an 'issue' over it unless someone makes it... unless someone tells companies not to sell to battlebot folks.. unless... unless..

You don't see the coaches of the NBA going around telling their uniform suppliers not to sell to NFL teams cause, well, their game is 'just too rough for our liking' and because Superbowl season cuts into basketball's airtime..

No one would think of it.. and why should we? Different people like the different competitions for their uniqueness.. because they have particular tastes, and they don't get bored cause they have the right to choose which they watch.. and as long as the games are played there will be fans in the stands.. there will be little kids running around wanting to "be like mike" etc etc..

So congrats to the people in Plymouth North and Mr.B.. for knowing the velocity of that radio as it flies.. for building the 'bot.. etc etc.. congratulations to them for making the point i think everyone needs to wake up to: it's not the means to the end that matters, it is the end itself that counts for something. In the end, those kids will be just as educated in robotics as any of us. They will be just as 'inspired' and have as much 'recognition' of science and technology as anyone in FIRST will..

They just play football & hockey while we play golf. That's all..

And as the great Mr.B once said back in 1996.. "These robots are just 3-dimensional, physical metaphors of what we are actually trying to accomplish" think about it.

So any author or editor notes from me would go to the tune of "thank you for helping to get robotic sports more attention by mass media."

--colleen