ATED PROGRAMMING
Nave later earned an electrical engineering
competitions, Nave has seen firsthand the impact science and math
degree from the University of Central Florida
can have on young audiences when packaged in an entertaining
and launched his control systems engineering
format. He has seen several competitors now on the show who were first
firm in 1989.
inspired by “BattleBots” as kids.
His foray into robot battling was in 2000, shortly
“It’s incredibly important for us to make engineers rock stars, and make
after he watched an episode of the original
engineering and STEM interesting and exciting for kids,” explained Nave.
“BattleBots” series on Comedy Central and
thought, “That is a really good idea, but they’ve
He believes shows like “BattleBots” and others that place technology at
done it poorly, so I’m going to do it better.” He
the forefront aren’t just for entertainment. To him, these shows inspire
quickly went to work, appearing on the show
next-generation engineers who learn not because they need to pass
for three seasons with great success, beating
a test, but because they’re having fun and want their invention to
both the reigning super heavy-weight and light-
succeed.
weight champions.
Similarly, “Shark Tank” encourages next-generation entrepreneurs by
Nave is no stranger to the limelight. His success
spotlighting innovation and invention with potential to greatly impact
on “BattleBots” opened the door to “a world
society.
of opportunities” he wouldn’t have otherwise
had. He starred on TNN’s “Robot Wars” filmed
in London, The Learning Channel’s “Robotica”
and participated with his son on a Nickelodeon
robotics special. Nave has even hosted his
own robotics competition on the DIY Network,
“Robot Rivals,” and has written for Robot
magazine.
While volunteering as a mentor with FIRST
Robotics and helping his son with robotics
florida.HIGH.TECH 2016
69