--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the…" description: "\"When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next to me was a high school teacher with no robotics experience at all. There were special effects..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/grant-imahara-13149_battle_when-i-started-battle-bots-in-1999-the-g_954746.png" --- # When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next… ![“When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next to me was a high school teacher with no robotics experience at all. There were special effects guys, engineers, software guys who just wrote code - all kinds of people who had a desire to build something. And they would do it in their…” quote by Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/grant-imahara-13149_battle_when-i-started-battle-bots-in-1999-the-g_954746.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/grant-imahara-13149_battle_when-i-started-battle-bots-in-1999-the-g_954746.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f02/grant-imahara-13149_battle_when-i-started-battle-bots-in-1999-the-g_954746.png) > “When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next to me was a high school teacher with no robotics experience at all. There were special effects guys, engineers, software guys who just wrote code - all kinds of people who had a desire to build something. And they would do it in their garages or even their kitchens.” [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A diverse group of non‑experts can create complex tech projects when motivated and collaborative. **In simple terms:** People from varied backgrounds can build tech together. Key Takeaway Encourage cross‑disciplinary teamwork. Themes collaboration innovation DIY diversity Mood enthusiastic inspired Type motivational practical When to use this quote - garage projects - school clubs - hackathons - maker spaces Key Concepts systems thinking learning by doing community building Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster inclusive tech teams? - What resources help novices tackle complex builds? A Different Perspective Success depends on resources and sustained mentorship. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Bots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-bots-1726479/) [Bots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bots-1002176/) [Bots 1999](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bots-1999-1726480/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robotics Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics-experience-1726482/) [Special effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-effects/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/) [Teacher Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher-robotics-1726481/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“The Bots are taking over”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moore/the-bots-are-taking-over/) [Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moore/) > [We, America, elected Trump. Putin didn't do it, nor the trolls in St. Petersburg with their zillions of busy bots. They may well have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/we-america-elected-trump-putin-didn-t-do-it-nor-the-trolls-in-st/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [A very small group of powerful people is deciding what's going to happen with your data, and they're using bots to help implement what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/a-very-small-group-of-powerful-people-is-deciding-what-s-going-to/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [For most of 2016 and 2017, I would say probably 90% of my Twitter feed was automated bots sending repetitive messages at me. Someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brianna-wu/for-most-of-2016-and-2017-i-would-say-probably-90-of-my-twitter-feed/) [Brianna Wu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brianna-wu/) > [I don't think bots work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-parscale/i-don-t-think-bots-work/) [Brad Parscale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-parscale/) > [“If you retweet only the work of humans who have followed journalistic protocols, you are less likely to debase your brain interacting with bots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/if-you-retweet-only-the-work-of-humans-who-have-followed-journalistic/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [“Bots, who cost money, required a period of indenture to make their manufacture worthwhile. No such incentive was required for humans to make other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/bots-who-cost-money-required-a-period-of-indenture-to-make-their/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“ODE TO STEPHEN DOWLING BOTS, DEC’D And did young Stephen sicken, And did young Stephen die? And did the sad hearts thicken, And did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/ode-to-stephen-dowling-bots-dec-d-and-did-young-stephen-sicken-and/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Human language is the new UI layer, bots are like new applications, and digital assistants are meta apps. Intelligence is infused into all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satya-nadella/human-language-is-the-new-ui-layer-bots-are-like-new-applications-and/) [Satya Nadella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satya-nadella/) > [A life where bots tell us what to do every second - get up, go to work, do this, have kids with this person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-suarez/a-life-where-bots-tell-us-what-to-do-every-second-get-up-go-to-work/) [Daniel Suarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-suarez/) > [“What a familiarity with the construction of Turing test bots had begun to show me was that we fail - again and again- to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-christian/what-a-familiarity-with-the-construction-of-turing-test-bots-had/) [Brian Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-christian/) > [What I meant when I say that the media are bots, I don't want anybody misunderstand this. I'm watching CNN and one of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-i-meant-when-i-say-that-the-media-are-bots-i-don-t-want-anybody/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think it's important for us to have a rule that if a system is really an AI bot, it ought to be labeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-etzioni/i-think-it-s-important-for-us-to-have-a-rule-that-if-a-system-is/) [Oren Etzioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-etzioni/) > [In special effects, you can cheat to make it look good. In real science, you have to have results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/in-special-effects-you-can-cheat-to-make-it-look-good-in-real-science/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-at-the-model-shop-i-couldn-t/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## More by Grant Imahara > [The people who are changing our world are starting from an idea and bringing it all the way through to finished product with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/the-people-who-are-changing-our-world-are-starting-from-an-idea-and/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > ['MythBusters' sounded like such an incredible opportunity. Where else might I be paid to make robots blow things up?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/mythbusters-sounded-like-such-an-incredible-opportunity-where-else/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I have a secret weapon. And it could have something to do with special robot knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-have-a-secret-weapon-and-it-could-have-something-to-do-with-special/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [As a former competitor, robot combat is near and dear to my heart. I enjoy the mix of creativity and mayhem that are essential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/as-a-former-competitor-robot-combat-is-near-and-dear-to-my-heart-i/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [First career I had right out of engineering school was at Lucas film, not working in the movies but working in home theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/first-career-i-had-right-out-of-engineering-school-was-at-lucas-film/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There's nothing like experiencing the sights and sounds of a live robot combat event.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-s-nothing-like-experiencing-the-sights-and-sounds-of-a-live/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [People always ask why I would leave ILM, and it's because 'Mythbusters' sounded like fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/people-always-ask-why-i-would-leave-ilm-and-it-s-because-mythbusters/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I think we're on too many government watch lists. We'd better let this one go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-think-we-re-on-too-many-government-watch-lists-we-d-better-let-this/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Walking the streets of Porto and speaking with the top engineers at Veniam, I am struck by the passion that they bring to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/walking-the-streets-of-porto-and-speaking-with-the-top-engineers-at/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I wasn't in the AV club. I was the AV club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-wasn-t-in-the-av-club-i-was-the-av-club/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [I worked at ILM the same time Masi Oka was there. Who would have thought that two Asian-American nerds from ILM would be on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/i-worked-at-ilm-the-same-time-masi-oka-was-there-who-would-have/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Everybody has stories about using duct tape. Of course, most don't try to lift a car with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/everybody-has-stories-about-using-duct-tape-of-course-most-don-t-try/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [There are plenty of myths out there that are either really expensive to do or incredibly difficult or complicated to execute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/there-are-plenty-of-myths-out-there-that-are-either-really-expensive/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [When I used to work in special effects at the model shop, I couldn't imagine having a better job. We made spaceships and miniature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/when-i-used-to-work-in-special-effects-at-the-model-shop-i-couldn-t/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) > [Not only will innovative technology create a more connected human race; it will normalize access to our most basic needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grant-imahara/not-only-will-innovative-technology-create-a-more-connected-human/) [Grant Imahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) [Explore all 51 Grant Imahara quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grant-imahara/) ## More Battle quotes > [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/) [Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [“Which people take the time to care for their souls, these days? I reckon not many. But...hear this: I think that maybe in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-fletcher/which-people-take-the-time-to-care-for-their-souls-these-days-i/) [Susan Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-fletcher/) > [Only great and general battles can produce great results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/only-great-and-general-battles-can-produce-great-results/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Life is a battle of wits, and many people have to fight it unarmed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/life-is-a-battle-of-wits-and-many-people-have-to-fight-it-unarmed/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [There's little in taking or giving, There's little in water or wine: This living, this living, this living, Was never a project of mine.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/there-s-little-in-taking-or-giving-there-s-little-in-water-or-wine/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [I knew Jimmy Dean. He tested for 'Battle Cry'. Paul Newman tested for 'Battle Cry'. I did nine tests to finally get that role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/i-knew-jimmy-dean-he-tested-for-battle-cry-paul-newman-tested-for/) [Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [It's almost ironic sitting here watching stories about Norm's courageous 'battle' with cancer. He actually did a bit on stage about how stupid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-macdonald/it-s-almost-ironic-sitting-here-watching-stories-about-norm-s/) [Neil Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-macdonald/) > [“Other folk thought the Rage was simple bloodlust, a berserk savagery that neither knew nor cared what its target was, and so it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/other-folk-thought-the-rage-was-simple-bloodlust-a-berserk-savagery/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) [Browse all 4,526 Battle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started Battle Bots in 1999, the guy sitting next to me was a high school teacher with no robotics experience at all. There were special effects guys, engineers, software guys who just wrote code - all kinds of people who had a desire to build something. 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