<div dir="auto">Setting a robot on fire is very educational. I learn a ton every time one of mine goes up in flames.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">DFRobot is based in China. Somewhat different perspectives. "They" could make a serious argument for "us" being overly protective of kids and litigation. </div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Mar 7, 2021, 2:30 PM Carl W Ott Jr via DPRGlist <<a href="mailto:dprglist@lists.dprg.org">dprglist@lists.dprg.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Well -<br>
They did use the tag line ‘unleash your creativity’ - kinda excusing themselves from having to make a point in educational value...<br>
<br>
Does seem irresponsible and even childish considering the audience.<br>
<br>
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...<br>
<br>
One possible moral of the story - maybe not overreacting - but also maybe easy to brush off... let’s see how they react...<br>
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> On Mar 6, 2021, at 5:39 PM, Murray Altheim via DPRGlist <<a href="mailto:dprglist@lists.dprg.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">dprglist@lists.dprg.org</a>> wrote:<br>
> <br>
> I'm kinda interested in seeing DFRobot's response to my comment about<br>
> their "Flamewheel" robot, which they promote by setting fire to it.<br>
> <br>
> <a href="https://www.dfrobot.com/blog-571.html" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.dfrobot.com/blog-571.html</a><br>
> <a href="https://youtu.be/uyXzKd1LB2Q" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/uyXzKd1LB2Q</a><br>
> <br>
> Rather than repeat I'll just post my comment here:<br>
> <br>
> "I'm still trying to understand why anyone would promote the idea of<br>
> setting fire to a robot, showing how cool it looks while burning<br>
> accompanied by music, then tell children that you are "professional<br>
> engineers" that "know exactly what you're doing". You clearly don't,<br>
> or at least don't take responsibility for what is clearly a highly<br>
> irresponsible demonstration, knowing that your audience includes<br>
> children. "If it can survive fire, it can survive anything!" is<br>
> basically asking someone to set fire to it. There will be some kid<br>
> out there that will try this at home, now that you've suggested it,<br>
> given you've even named the robot "Flamewheel". Yes, it has nice<br>
> wooden wheels, yes, they're flammable. So are my kitchen chairs. I<br>
> don't set fire to them.<br>
> <br>
> "And setting fire to this robot is pointless, it has no research value,<br>
> no educational value, no value whatsoever in the field of robotics,<br>
> it proves nothing.<br>
> <br>
> "Could you explain the logic of why you feel this dangerous<br>
> demonstration was a good idea?"<br>
> <br>
> Am I overreacting? I tried not to use the word "stupid" in my comment.<br>
> In the YouTube video it even shows the flaming robot driving over a<br>
> pile of scrap paper and setting fire to it. Maybe they could include a<br>
> small can of lighter fuel in every order...<br>
> <br>
> Cheers,<br>
> <br>
> Murray<br>
> <br>
> ...........................................................................<br>
> Murray Altheim <murray18 at altheim dot com> = = ===<br>
> <a href="http://www.altheim.com/murray/" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.altheim.com/murray/</a> === ===<br>
> = = ===<br>
> In the evening<br>
> The rice leaves in the garden<br>
> Rustle in the autumn wind<br>
> That blows through my reed hut.<br>
> -- Minamoto no Tsunenobu<br>
> <br>
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</blockquote></div>