DEAN FEATURED ON BATTLEBOTS!!!
wow… anyone else see it?
Wow… what a bad feature…
“Since the beggining of time, man has craved the perfect robot… first the wheel, then the automobile… now the segway…”
My favorite quote from the end (I’m sure Dean loves this)…
“just add a weapon to it and it’s ready for battle!”
Saw it, and was amazed (to put it lightly). After all the efforts over the past year to distance FIRST from BattleBots, and all the statements about FIRST avoiding any appearance of succumbing to the violence of BattleBots, to see Dean appearing on the show was startling. And I can’t imagine how this could have been done without his knowledge or cooperation.
Dean and Battlebots. What’s this world coming too?
Dogs and Cats living together…Mass histeria.
Before, whenever someone mentioned our robot and Battlebots, in the same breath, I cringed. :eek: Now what do I do 
Wayne Doenges
*Originally posted by Wayne Doenges *
**Dean and Battlebots. What’s this world coming too?
Dogs and Cats living together…Mass histeria.Before, whenever someone mentioned our robot and Battlebots, in the same breath, I cringed. :eek: Now what do I do
Wayne Doenges **
Dean on Battlebots? What next? The sky falling? WWIII breaking out!? Aliens taking over the planet!!! :rolleyes: Wow. I remember at our city’s Octoberfest this past year we had so many people ask if TOBOR was a battlebot… we dubbed the word “battlebot” the “Double B” word! Yikes. My anti/non/not in FIRST friends are finally understanding the differenece between FIRST and Battlebots and now this? :::cries::: 
- Katie
Lol Firstae. My teacher says no bb whenever we mention battlebots. She is VERY against it. I really think dean needs a refresher course in advertising a public relations.
Ok he wants more publicity so he makes an audience friendly game then bashes athletes. I think he needs to get it straight. If he wants to have FIRST be a big thing then he shouldnt go on battlebots. That is just crazy.
Did he actually appear on Battlebots or was it just robotics news they talked about on the show. I mean after all how can the not mention something about Segway on a robotics show, destructive or not. The thing is a robotic marvel.
You make a good point, as it was really only news, and not actually Dean on the show.
But that last quote really disturbed me: “just add a weapon to it and it’s ready for battle”.
An old wise man used to tell me, “The only bad publicity is an obituary”
I thought the little segment was pretty cool, people that don’t know dean or what he is about (and never seen the segway) that were watching battlebots are probably more of a target audience for a segway than we think. Most people I know that watch (including myself, hope to have my own bot by next year) are not only watching for the robot mayhem but also to see the ingenious ways that people attack and defend. Watching a legged robot like son of wyachi cruise across the floor like it was on wheels is an engineering achievement in any sense of the word. The way Dean shows off the segway “think forward, it goes forward” I am SURE amazes many people.
Now if I only had a few extra grand for one
Just curious…was this stock footage that they might have had?
I think it is a good move for FIRST to associate with Battlebots. If battlebots is so popular, FIRST can appeal to this popularity and tell Battlebots producers what FIRST is really about: For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Furthermore, we have lots of young minds at work benefitting from this. So if Battlebots can help give some light to what we’re all in together, then I say go BATTLEBOTS!
-anton
Hey all… I need some clarification.
F.I.R.S.T. is completely unaware of any appearance of Dean on Battlebots. Could someone or several of you verify that there was indeed footage of Dean DURING the broadcast AND does anyone recognize it as footage from a different public braodcast? This would help a lot.
Thanks
Steve Alaniz
“Yeah, those robots are cool…but if you can’t play Nintendo on them, what good are they?” - Hilary Forth
I don’t think FIRST and BB should be associated. Think of it this way: BB = XFL; FIRST = NFL. Which one lasted? NFL. Which one will last? FIRST. Which one will fail? You guessed it. I enjoy watching a little BB now and then, but the true appeal of the show has yet to show itself. When i mention that I do robotics, people say, “like BB on tv?” I just shake my head and say no oh no oh no. As for the appearance of the Segway, I do not object to that. The Segway is a legitamite public invention, and is not associated with FIRST. Sure, it is through Dean Kamen, but Segway and DEKA are separate companies from US FIRST. I would however, greatly object to a mention of FIRST on BB.
Just my input.
Chris
*Originally posted by s_alaniz *
**Hey all… I need some clarification.F.I.R.S.T. is completely unaware of any appearance of Dean on Battlebots. Could someone or several of you verify that there was indeed footage of Dean DURING the broadcast AND does anyone recognize it as footage from a different public braodcast? This would help a lot.
**
See Eddie’s post above…Dean was not actually on the show, it was just “news”…I’m not personally sure if they used stock footage or if it was just a reference, but Dean was not at the BB taping site.
Actually FIRST has been mentioned a couple of times on BattleBots. BattleBots does Bios of the competitors before matches and many of the participants are still on were previously on a FIRST team. I specificially remember a team of two from Carnagie Melon who were active participants in FIRST during their HS years. Or maybe that was Robotica.
OK I was just asking about Dean’s involvement on Battlebots. I Think they just included the Segway because it’s been such a hot topic. However, the initial responce makes me think F.I.R.S.T. is a bit “Miffed” to say the least.
Best wishes
Steve Alaniz
I have been invloved with High school robotics for several years.
I have been a judge at Battlebots. If the goal is to get people involved an excited about science and technology - FIRST does a much better job. Battlebots is not trying to be FIRST, but they are trying to start a HIGH School division.
Lets talk about the purpose of Battlebots - which is to make money for the promoters, entertain the viewers and also serve as an enjoyable activity for the participants. It ain’t trying to educate anyone - and if it gets some kid excited about technology
great. While what the audience wants to see at a battlebot match is smoke fire and scattered parts, in the pits, the mood is almost exactly the same as at a FIRST competition - contestants
from a wide range of backgrounds are friendly and help each other. So as a sport - battlebots has much better sportsmanship
then most. Battlebots isn’t any more evil than Monster trucks or the WWF, and at least no one gets hurt.
Finally there are some folks who just love robotics competition but
can’t be on a FIRST team - so at least it keeps 'em off the streets.
So Dean can hate Battlebots all he wants - guess what - they don’t care.
Dr Bot,
Very well put! Your points are excellent! The only thing I would add is that there is reason for F.I.R.S.T. to attempt to distance itself from Battlebots. F.I.R.S.T. is aimed at high school students and the rise in violent actions at high schools makes school administrations avoid anything with a perceived violent facet.
Rightly or wrongly Battlebots carries that perception; that it’s all about violence. As you pointed out we have demolition derbys and they are not considered evil and no one gets hurt, but case in point, not too many high schools have a demolition derby team.
Being closely linked to Battlebots could make F.I.R.S.T. guilty by association. As it is, some F.I.R.S.T. teams get little or no respect from their schools. If F.I.R.S.T. were suddenly perceived as a violent activity, the results would be devastating for the program.
Other than that addition I wish I had written your post.
Best Wishes
Steve Alaniz
“What good is technology if you can’t abuse it?” - Ted Forth
1st) ANYONE GOT IT ON TAPE THAT CAN SEND ME A COPY PLEASE! I WILL PAY FOR POSTAGE AND RETURN LOTSA LOVE
2nd- ANYONE SAW DEAN last week (I think) on Jay Leno- he was on after midnight and was after Russel Crowe
It really gets on my nerves when I say “robotics”, and the other person goes “like battlebots?!?”. Then I say “no”, and before I can say anything else, they either walk away or have this “must be crappy” look on their face.