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My episode of "Mad Scientists" on the National Geographic Channel — Parallax Forums

My episode of "Mad Scientists" on the National Geographic Channel

norris56norris56 Posts: 69
edited 2011-11-09 19:59 in General Discussion
Below is a link to the video promo for my episode of "Mad Scientists". This new series starts on September 28th at 10:00 PM on the National Geographic Channel. Each episode highlights the work of an individual maker/inventor. In my case, the show focuses in on my collection of robots that I have built over the past several years for articles that have appeared in Robot Magazine. There is a “reality” spin to the show where the inventor is challenged to build something with the show’s host (John Bowler) in just two days. For the grand finale the “build” is revealed to an audience of friends and family and put to the test. For me the challenge was to build a robot that could play the basketball game of PIG. You’ll have to watch the show to see how well we did.

All the robots you will see in the show are based on the Parallax Propeller. You may catch a glimpse of a Propeller Proto Board as well as some screen shots filled with Spin code.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/national-geographic-channel/shows/mad-scientists/ngc-robot-genius.html
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Comments

  • MicrocontrolledMicrocontrolled Posts: 2,461
    edited 2011-09-01 18:28
    Wow, great way to get the Propeller out there! Congratulations on the episode!!! :)
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-09-01 18:45
    This is great!

    Congratulations! I've always enjoyed your robots and your articles.

    I'm excited to watch this.

    Duane
  • vanmunchvanmunch Posts: 568
    edited 2011-09-01 20:09
    That's great! Reading your articles inspired me to move move from the BS2 to the propeller. Can't wait to see what you've cooked up next!

    Dave
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2011-09-01 20:48
    Steve... Blown away! Get segment and looking forward to the show!

    OBC
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-09-02 07:00
    I envy you!
  • Roger LeeRoger Lee Posts: 339
    edited 2011-09-02 07:22
    Thanks Steve, calender marked. Looking forward.
  • Matt GillilandMatt Gilliland Posts: 1,406
    edited 2011-09-02 07:52
    Steve - this is FANTASTIC!
    Steve... Blown away!
    Absolutely, Blown away!

    Way to go. Dude!
    -Matt
  • jdoleckijdolecki Posts: 726
    edited 2011-09-02 08:49
    I gonna watch it.

    About time we get some quality programming.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2011-09-02 16:15
    Wait, you're going to get a protoboard on TV in a role where it's not part of a bomb? Awesome!
  • graffixgraffix Posts: 389
    edited 2011-09-03 09:07
    Loved your site,especially your arm clock idea.I hope to make one someday.
  • Martin_HMartin_H Posts: 4,051
    edited 2011-09-03 19:44
    This is great. I've enjoyed watching your videos for a while now, so this will introduce more people to them.
  • Roger LeeRoger Lee Posts: 339
    edited 2011-09-25 18:14
    National Geographic Channel schedule is showing "Rocket City Rednecks" for this time slot.
    Anyone know if "Mad Scientists" got bumped or dumped?
    I have not been able to find it anywhere on their schedule.
  • norris56norris56 Posts: 69
    edited 2011-09-26 09:53
    It has been rescheduled to start on Wednesday October 5th at 10::00PM. There will be two back to back 30 minute episodes shown each Wednesday night.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2011-09-26 10:18
    I hope to see this in Taiwan.
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2011-09-26 11:27
    norris56 wrote: »
    It has been rescheduled to start on Wednesday October 5th at 10::00PM. There will be two back to back 30 minute episodes shown each Wednesday night.
    Excellent. Thanks for the update. Good luck with everything.
  • Kenny GardnerKenny Gardner Posts: 169
    edited 2011-09-26 11:38
    The two shows that are on my NGC on Oct 5 are:

    Ultimate Rock Crawler and
    The 26-Foot Lawn Dart

    Neither one of those seems to have anything to do with Robots.

    I'm Cox Cable in Southern California.
  • norris56norris56 Posts: 69
    edited 2011-09-26 13:04
    Kenny Gardner wrote: »
    The two shows that are on my NGC on Oct 5 are:

    Ultimate Rock Crawler and
    The 26-Foot Lawn Dart

    Neither one of those seems to have anything to do with Robots.

    I'm Cox Cable in Southern California.

    My episode will broadcast on November 2nd but that is always subject to change. I'll post here when I have an "official" date.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-09-26 13:36
    Steve: Absolutely fabulous! I'm really looking forward to seeing this. I've been a fan of all your ROBOT mag bots for a long time. Well done, Sir!
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2011-09-26 13:47
    This definitely sounds like a fantastic episode to watch with the kids. They really enjoyed seeing your Baxter project in the magazine. So much so that I ended up building a similar robot for them.

    Great Job!

    Robert
  • Roger LeeRoger Lee Posts: 339
    edited 2011-09-26 17:36
    Thanks for the updated timeline Steve.
    Looks like an interesting series.
  • SeariderSearider Posts: 290
    edited 2011-09-26 19:29
    It is so great to get to hang out with such cool people. I hope some of it rubs off but if not, my life has already been enriched !
  • norris56norris56 Posts: 69
    edited 2011-09-29 08:37
    Mad Scientists now has an official Facebook page. You can view photos from various episodes (2 from mine) and also leave comments. Be sure to "Like" it.

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-Scientists/170938372988970
  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2011-10-05 19:16
    The ultimate rock crawler is cool! It looks like the 26-ft lawn dart is on next.
    ch 186 on Dish Network.
    -dan
  • norris56norris56 Posts: 69
    edited 2011-10-10 07:03
    It's official! (or as official as it gets in television). My episode of Mad Scientists will air on Wednesday, November 2nd at 10:30 PM on the National Geographic Channel. Check your local listings for the channel number.
  • w4fejw4fej Posts: 264
    edited 2011-10-10 07:45
    Ok, it's official, you're insane!!

    I just watched the promo and I gotta say I was laughing my backside off.. They got the title of the episode correct!!.. I hope I haven't missed the episode here in North Carolina, gotta check... This one will be TVO'd and erase protected on my DVR!!

    Mike B.

    P.S. Can you ship me one of those beer hustlers? My Wife actually made ME go and get my own beer the other day, unacceptable!!!
  • norris56norris56 Posts: 69
    edited 2011-11-02 05:16
    I'm going to restart this thread with one last act of shameless self-promotion. Tonight (Nov 2nd, 10:30 PM EDT) is the airing of my episode of Mad Scientists on the National Geographic Channel. The show will air again at 6:30 PM on Nov 9th and it will be available On-Demand. I hope you get watch it! It was great fun and was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
  • RS_JimRS_Jim Posts: 1,768
    edited 2011-11-02 06:25
    Unfortunately, Ngc is one of the NewsCorp channels and the scumbags at Newscorp are wanting to up their rate by 40%. Therefore DirectTV has removed them from the air. I agree with DTV but it just happens to come at a bad time. I will have to figure out how to get it On-demand with my laptop rather than through Direct.
    Jim
  • SeariderSearider Posts: 290
    edited 2011-11-02 07:34
    I recieved an email from DirectTV saying that the contract talks are over and NatGeo (and others) will continue with no interruption in service.
  • Bobb FwedBobb Fwed Posts: 1,119
    edited 2011-11-02 10:13
    Glad I caught this thread (not sure why I missed it months ago), looks like a very cool project, and a interesting show. I've set it up to record!
  • SeariderSearider Posts: 290
    edited 2011-11-03 10:57
    I just watched it and it was AWSOME. They even showed some coding. I loved seeing your bots. Very Very Cool !
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