[Dprglist] Flamewheel: a "reliable educational robot" that you apparently set fire to...

[Karim Virani]

Setting a robot on fire is very educational. I learn a ton every time one
of mine goes up in flames.

DFRobot is based in China. Somewhat different perspectives. "They" could
make a serious argument for "us" being overly protective of kids and
litigation.


On Sun, Mar 7, 2021, 2:30 PM Carl W Ott Jr via DPRGlist <
dprglist at lists.dprg.org> wrote:

> Well -
> They did use the tag line ‘unleash your creativity’ - kinda excusing
> themselves from having to make a point in educational value...
>
> Does seem irresponsible and even childish considering the audience.
>
> where is dfrobot based?  At least in some US states, claiming to be
> “professional engineers” without having any registered PE on staff can get
> you in hot water.  I recall reading about a company that performed dynamic
> aircraft simulations of some kind - who portrayed themselves as an
> engineering services company but didn’t even have any PE in staff -
> contractors used by the likes of Lockheed Martin.  As I recall, The Texas
> Board of Professional Engineering went after them with a ~$5,000 fine and
> told them to “stop practicing engineering”.   When I next checked, they had
> removed any website reference portraying themselves as offering engineering
> services - vuola - problem solved...
>
> One possible moral of the story - maybe not overreacting - but also maybe
> easy to brush off... let’s see how they react...
>
>
>
>
> > On Mar 6, 2021, at 5:39 PM, Murray Altheim via DPRGlist <
> dprglist at lists.dprg.org> wrote:
> >
> > I'm kinda interested in seeing DFRobot's response to my comment about
> > their "Flamewheel" robot, which they promote by setting fire to it.
> >
> >  https://www.dfrobot.com/blog-571.html
> >  https://youtu.be/uyXzKd1LB2Q
> >
> > Rather than repeat I'll just post my comment here:
> >
> >  "I'm still trying to understand why anyone would promote the idea of
> >   setting fire to a robot, showing how cool it looks while burning
> >   accompanied by music, then tell children that you are "professional
> >   engineers" that "know exactly what you're doing". You clearly don't,
> >   or at least don't take responsibility for what is clearly a highly
> >   irresponsible demonstration, knowing that your audience includes
> >   children. "If it can survive fire, it can survive anything!" is
> >   basically asking someone to set fire to it. There will be some kid
> >   out there that will try this at home, now that you've suggested it,
> >   given you've even named the robot "Flamewheel". Yes, it has nice
> >   wooden wheels, yes, they're flammable. So are my kitchen chairs. I
> >   don't set fire to them.
> >
> >  "And setting fire to this robot is pointless, it has no research value,
> >   no educational value, no value whatsoever in the field of robotics,
> >   it proves nothing.
> >
> >  "Could you explain the logic of why you feel this dangerous
> >   demonstration was a good idea?"
> >
> > Am I overreacting? I tried not to use the word "stupid" in my comment.
> > In the YouTube video it even shows the flaming robot driving over a
> > pile of scrap paper and setting fire to it. Maybe they could include a
> > small can of lighter fuel in every order...
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Murray
> >
> >
> ...........................................................................
> > Murray Altheim <murray18 at altheim dot com>                       = =
> ===
> > http://www.altheim.com/murray/                                     ===
> ===
> >                                                                   = =
> ===
> >    In the evening
> >    The rice leaves in the garden
> >    Rustle in the autumn wind
> >    That blows through my reed hut.
> >           -- Minamoto no Tsunenobu
> >
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