Sterling Engine..........just another 'IT'

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by sejeff

Remember IT, you know the most awesomest invention ever. Get ready for 'that', as in 'that was another waste of our time'. Kamen thinks he developed a sterling engine, oh goodness. NASA hasn't even been able to do that, and they have sent people to the MOON. A feat much more complicated than installing gyroscopes on a two wheeled platform. Don't get me wrong, I love Kamen, he has made my gf's life so much easier with the insulin pump, and giving clean water to all the malnurished dessert people in Africa. BUT, this is another waste of our time!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai..._deankamen.xml


What do you all think of this???

I am disappointed by your post.

As a FIRST alumnus, I am disappointed that you were unable to gain the respect and wonder that FIRST attempts to instill.

As a FIRST mentor, I am disappointed that you would put effort into denigrating the value of engineering to FIRST students.

As a Chief Delphi community member, I am disappointed that you chose this place to do so.

As a world citizen, I am disappointed that you do not choose to see this as a well intentioned attempt to provide a more accessible energy source that can provide electricity to those who so desperately need it.

As a DEKA employee, I am disappointed that you are unable to share in our philosophy: Impossible is a fleeting notion.


Many of the projects we work on will never see the light of day. This is a direct consequence of the difficult nature of what we do - if we limited our projects to the realm of the easily feasible, we would never be able to do things like the prosthetic arm. We try to limit ourselves only by physics. As the first person on the planet to communicate over a quantum encrypted AOL instant messenger session, I try to ignore those limits as well.

If you do find a team that needs a "very smart engineery person", my sincere hope is that the students on that team will provide you with a second chance to become inspired by FIRST. I know that my students changed my perspective, I hope your students change yours.