Old Man Notices A Thing: Lots of Robot Names

[MechEng83]

We name both our competition and practice/second robots each year.

2006 The Revolver
2007 Mantis, IRI: Nessie
2008 Thaddeus
2009 μ and Sherman
2010 Scorpion and Kirby
2011 Sampson, Destroyer of Worlds, Minibot: He-man, Master of the Universe; Squeaky, Minibot: Pipsqueaky
2012 Swish and Mordecai
2013 Whisbee and Rizzler
2014 Jaws and Inertia
2015 A.N.D.Y. and The Claw
2016 Knight Fury and Ballista

[Gary Dillard]

S.P.A.M. has named its robot each year based on either some specific feature or characteristic, an inside joke or pun, or some random name that was thrown out on the table and stuck for reasons unknown. If you scroll through their robot photos at the bottom of their history page, you'll see the names as you mouse over each photo. I'm pretty fond of this year's "Brave Sir Lobbin'", but it all started with the rookie year robot Kenny (from South Park) because it kept dying.

[EricLeifermann]

I love robot names. They add a sense of pride to the team, and while they might not stick in other teams memories as much as the team number and game year each robot is unique and deserves some recognition.

We started giving robots and practice robots unique names starting in 2014. Before 2014 they were all Land Shark Mk 1, 2, etc.

This year comp bot is Quickstrike and our practice robot is Farquad.

[Jaci]

This is the first year we've officially 'named' a robot. We found it much easier to refer to the bucket of bolts than just "The robot", since where we work there are 2 other robots being built at the same time, so "the robot" isn't very helpful.

We called it Donkey given all the "I like that boulder" jokes at Kickoff.

We also called it Donkey because whenever we have to troubleshoot or repair something it's a pain in the $@#$@#$@#.

[Oromus]

I personally enjoy naming robots and frequently try to remember the names of as many robots as possible. When a robot is given a good name, it helps (in my opinion) individualize it and give it some character/personality. Not everyone is going to bother remembering names, though. It's a lot easier to just remember the team number and the year the robot was made. To each their own, I guess. Might as well drop a list of 1902's robot names while I'm here

2007: Fire Pig
2008: Walrus Pig
2009: B.D.P.
2010: Bacon Strips
2011: Disco Pig
2012: Porcus Magnus
2013: W-Ham-O
2014: Boxer
2015: Pork Lift
2016: Battering Ham

[frcguy]

Because our team name is B.R.E.A.D. we are naming our robots types of bread. For example, our robot this year is named Focaccia.

[Ken Streeter]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Since I have been on teams that have named their robots and chassis, it is so much better. ...

3 questions...

First, what do you think about the whole naming robots thing?

We on 1519 have always named our robots, usually shortly before our first event, when the robot is mostly completed, once the robot's character has evidenced itself.

Well, except for 2007, when we never came up with a robot name. Our 2007 robot was also the least successful robot we've ever had. We set our objectives too high, and never finished either of the major capabilities that we intended. (See Second-System Effect.) At the one and only regional we went to that year, we nearly exclusive played defense. Ironically, it was the highest seeding position (#3) we would ever have at a regular season tournament until our sixth year in 2010.

(To this day, I don't know if we didn't name the robot because it wasn't deserving of a name, or if it was because we didn't name the robot that it didn't perform as intended.)

In any case, since then, we've always named our robot!

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Second, can you share names that you especially like/dislike?

Team 1519's robot names are as follows:

• 2005 - Elvis, the King of Rack and Rail (our tetra-placing mechanism used a rack traveling on a rail)
• 2006 - Sergeant York (after the famous sharpshooter from World War I)
• 2007 -
• 2008 - Fezzik and Speed Racer (our dual-configuration robot)
• 2009 - Colonel York (our fictitious name if Sergeant York were promoted)
• 2010 - Vortex (used a vacuum to hold the soccer ball, making all the noise of a vacuum cleaner)
• 2011 - Kanga and Roo (Roo was the minibot)
• 2012 - General Vesuvius (general in the sergeant-> colonel theme for our "shooting" robots; Vesuvius for the way the partially completed robot had spouted basketballs out the top of the harvester like a volcano spewing lava bombs)
• 2013 - Discobolus Rex (after the Greek discus thrower)
• 2014 - Kaizen ("continuous improvement" and partly in remembrance of Team #1276, Kaizen Blitz, the alliance captain that picked us in our first ever regional win back in 2006.)
• 2015 - King Tote-n-Can-um (stacks totes and cans...)
• 2016 - Lady Launch-a-Lot (our medieval boulder launcher)

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Third, am I just getting old** or are more teams this year giving their robots real names this year?

No idea. In general, I don't know the names of other teams' robots and wouldn't anticipate they'd know our team's robot names, either.

However, we are getting old, Joe!

[Dwight_2]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Not the weightiest of topics but after years of having a conversation that was something like this:

Person One: "I think we should have [Fill in robot feature] just like we had on CD-[Fill in robot sequence number]."
Person Two: "No no, that was CD-[Fill in different robot sequence number]"
Person One: "No, I don't mean THAT feature, I mean THIS OTHER feature."
Person Three: "You're both wrong. We actually had that mechanism first on CD-[Fill in lower robot sequence number]
Persons One and Two: "What? You're crazy. We're not even taking about that mechanism and even if we were, you have the robot number wrong. The robot you are thinking of was CD-[Different Number] for [Fill in FIRST's Official Name of Game]."
Person Three: "You mean [Fill in Common Name of Game, example, The Soccer Year]?"
Persons One and Two: "YES!"
Person Three: "Oh yeah, you're right. Please continue..."

I have come around to the idea that robots should have names, actual names and names of the form "TeamNameOrIntialsOrIconicPhrase"-"NumberOfYearsTeamExisted" don't count. In fact, I go even farther, practice robots and concept chassis should have actual names too.

TeamName_SequenceNumber names have some positives (specifically you can know which robot was built before/after another) but on the negative side, I believe you give up the ability to have a real conversation about robot without having to get into conversation like the above.

Since I have been on teams that have named their robots and chassis, it is so much better. I still sometimes get corrected about a robot but no more than the number of times I call my son CJ by my daughter's name Sarah* (I'm terrible with names).

Seriously, year's hence do you think there will be any doubt about what Robonaut (#118) robot you are taking about when you say "Arsenal" or which Overclocked (#246) robot will be taking about when we say "Scorpion"? No, no there will not.

So... I have 3 questions and I'm out of here.

First, what do you think about the whole naming robots thing?

Second, can you share names that you especially like/dislike?

Third, am I just getting old** or are more teams this year giving their robots real names this year?

Discuss.

Dr. Joe J.

*i.e. about as often as random chance would predict -- I'm terrible with names, but I blame my mom. She still calls me Ruthie more often than I deserve ;-)

**Old people being famous for noticing something and then deciding that the thing came into existence the second they first became aware of it. Actually, when I frame it like that, young people are guilty of this too. Perhaps my introductory phrase should be "Am I just being a human or.."?

I completely agree, I think its kinda cheating when you use those types of names.... Last year we had a practice bot named Sir Flaps A Lot because of our intake mechanism we had on it and we thought that probably would be a good name to call our competition bot so we named our comp. robot the Black Kight to go with the color and our team mascot. we also do VEX and Battlebots as a club at our school and we have always named them.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

Not the weightiest of topics but after years of having a conversation that was something like this:

Person One: "I think we should have [Fill in robot feature] just like we had on CD-[Fill in robot sequence number]."
Person Two: "No no, that was CD-[Fill in different robot sequence number]"
Person One: "No, I don't mean THAT feature, I mean THIS OTHER feature."
Person Three: "You're both wrong. We actually had that mechanism first on CD-[Fill in lower robot sequence number]
Persons One and Two: "What? You're crazy. We're not even taking about that mechanism and even if we were, you have the robot number wrong. The robot you are thinking of was CD-[Different Number] for [Fill in FIRST's Official Name of Game]."
Person Three: "You mean [Fill in Common Name of Game, example, The Soccer Year]?"
Persons One and Two: "YES!"
Person Three: "Oh yeah, you're right. Please continue..."

I have come around to the idea that robots should have names, actual names and names of the form "TeamNameOrIntialsOrIconicPhrase"-"NumberOfYearsTeamExisted" don't count. In fact, I go even farther, practice robots and concept chassis should have actual names too.

TeamName_SequenceNumber names have some positives (specifically you can know which robot was built before/after another) but on the negative side, I believe you give up the ability to have a real conversation about robot without having to get into conversation like the above.

Since I have been on teams that have named their robots and chassis, it is so much better. I still sometimes get corrected about a robot but no more than the number of times I call my son CJ by my daughter's name Sarah* (I'm terrible with names).

Seriously, year's hence do you think there will be any doubt about what Robonaut (#118) robot you are taking about when you say "Arsenal" or which Overclocked (#246) robot will be taking about when we say "Scorpion"? No, no there will not.

So... I have 3 questions and I'm out of here.

First, what do you think about the whole naming robots thing?

Second, can you share names that you especially like/dislike?

Third, am I just getting old** or are more teams this year giving their robots real names this year?

Discuss.

Dr. Joe J.

*i.e. about as often as random chance would predict -- I'm terrible with names, but I blame my mom. She still calls me Ruthie more often than I deserve ;-)

**Old people being famous for noticing something and then deciding that the thing came into existence the second they first became aware of it. Actually, when I frame it like that, young people are guilty of this too. Parhaps my introductory phrase should be "Am I just being a human or.."?

I am actually in charge of the robot naming on the team. I go around and take nominations from every team member and compile a list (the rule is it should either be tied into something with an X in it. Cat themed or related to the game). I delete anything that doesn't meet the criteria or is obscene (one of our students nominate Classy Cat which is the name of a well known strip joint in the area)and at the end of the meeting we put the name up to a vote. It's kind of a big deal on the team. I even make logos for the robots and make burrons to give away.
I remember back in 2005 our robot coach, Brittany and spirit leader, Lizzy really wanted to name the robot X-WhAAAt!?! (which horrified the mentors) and actively campaigned amongst the students to vote for that name which ended up winning (much to the mentors horror). Lizzie and Brittany actually came up with a cheer for the name and all sorts of idea and itt was our most successful robot ever.
Previous robot names:
2005: X-WhAAAt!?!
2006 = XOX-Cat
2007 = X-Static
2008 = Xtender
2009 = Apollo X
2010 = X-Force
2011 = LegXXcy
2012 = Exxio Auditonimous
2013 = SphinX
2014 = Xcelente'
2015 = XCycler
2016 = Sir X Alot

[Carol]

I think robot names are nice when you are discussing past competitions - ex., "we used this type of motor for CamMOElot". It also gives new students a sense of a brand, a sense of the history of the team.

Each year MOE 365 has a contest to name the robot where the team votes on team members' name suggestions. (Also for team shirt designs, which is another thread.) The name must have MOE in it and hopefully, but not always, reflective of the year's theme. Examples:

CaMOElot
TerMOEnator
MOEhawk
DynaMOE

After so many years, it is getting hard to think up names, but the students always come through!

[Billfred]

Since a spammer decided to revive this thread...

I've been on a few different teams over the years, and each had its own method of going about it.

1293 (2004-2006): No particular pattern--it drifted around a few times. Bob, Ockham's Raizor (and Hockham), Chomp (and Circumstance)

1618 (2007-2009): By about 2:00 PM at my first event with them, with me nursing a sore jaw from the arm whacking me and the team deciding to rename the robot on the spot, the pattern was simple: whatever the malady was, at least until their final year when we decided to get stylish. What Robot? Uppercut, Speedy Debris, The Blackout

2815 (2009-2013): This might be the most notorious naming system in FIRST--to the point that when we gave our alliance partners shirts for picking us, they couldn't wear them to school. Y'see, 2815 was started at the University of South Carolina, home of the Gamecocks, where the fight song goes like this. Co-founder Stephen Kowski set the precedent of honoring the mascot in the robot name, and it just stuck until the team (after my departure) moved to the high school and rebranded for 2015. Cocked and Loaded, $@#$@#$@#$@#-A-Doodle-Doo, Cockasaurus Rex, Incocknito, Cocket Launcher

4901 (2014-2016): 4901 operated out of 2815's corner of the USC shop after they vacated. 2815 hadn't rebranded in 2014, and while both teams had the same garnet and black on that year we knew naming our robots the same way would be unabashed gimmick infringement. (And, frankly, we were having to veto more and more would-be robot names towards the end.) So we drew inspiration from elsewhere on campus. Sandstorm I, Sandstorm II, Sandstorm III

[GreyingJay]

Interesting thread.

I do think robots should be named. It's fun. However, when referring to other team's robots, we generally just refer to the team number and the game. It would be too hard to also remember robot names and correlate them. For example, I would refer to "1114's Recycle Rush robot", not "Simbot Sideswipe".

We named our first robot (for 2016 Stronghold) "Mergius Maximus" and I suspect our future robot names will try to play with the "Merge" theme. We'll see how well that works

[RoboChair]

Back in 2009 when 1678 became Citrus Circuits we have been naming our robots after citrus in some fashion.

2009: Lemon Squeeze: Juice Master 1678
2010: Orange Crush
2011: Optimus Lime
2012: The Juicer
2013: The E-Lime-O-Nator
2015: Lemon Drop

We have had 2 memorially named robots in the last few years.
2014: Beca, named for my late wife.
2016: Adrian, named for a former team member turned mentor of the team.

I've got some good citrus themed names I've been wanting to use for years saved up.

[Ari423]

423 has a tradition of letting our mentor's daughter choose the robot's official name. She is pretty young, so they are usually things like Bunny, Fluffy, or Pickles. Its funny to hear the MCs say the names of the robots and they're like "and on the Red Alliance, The Destroyer, Beast Bot, and Fluffy." They are often chosen before kickoff, so they rarely describe the robot well.

Since the name doesn't describe the robot, we also tend to give our robots nicknames based on their appearances. Some notable ones include: Fish Tank (it was basically a tall square frame wrapped in clear plastic), Toucan Looking Backwards (the intake looked like a toucan's beak facing backwards), and Arm Bot (basically a hunk of aluminum with a giant arm on it).

Originally Posted by Carol

The name must have MOE in it and hopefully, but not always, reflective of the year's theme...After so many years, it is getting hard to think up names, but the students always come through!

Not sure if 365 is aware of this but since 423 is always next to you in the pits we like to come up with alternative names for your robots. Some of the better ones I can think of off the top of my head are: The DeMOElisher, MOE Money MOE Problems, MOEstradamus, and MOEnetary Compensation. If you ever manage to run out of robot names, just hit me up.

[Foster]

Originally Posted by Carol

Examples:

CaMOElot
TerMOEnator
MOEhawk
DynaMOE

After so many years, it is getting hard to think up names, but the students always come through!

I love the MOE names, I know they work on it, but it's so cool to see the names.

My home FRC team, Sab-BOT-age, calls robots by number, this year will be DEWBOT XIII. It's great, pay homage to Downingtown East and West robotics. And I love the number, it's like yes, we've built a number of these robots and every year they get better and better.