Not sure how to title this one...

Okay, so I received an email a few weeks back from a reader who sent me a picture of his VEX robot with some Technic parts used to create a small basket in front (maybe back?) for holding small items. I was asked if I'd include the picture and his writeup on the blog.

I politely responded that our blog focused on NXT robots (with an occasional off-topic post but we try to keep it related to NXT or at least robotics in general) - "Thanks for sharing... sorry to have to say no, but keep up the good work... etc."

I got a reply back stating that the VEX robot was using NXT parts (he seems to not understand that Technic parts are Technic and not limited to just NXT) and that he couldn't get an NXT robot to complete some challenge map (he didn't specify). He then went on to rip on NXT and saying how VEX was better... blah blah blah. Nothing I haven't heard in emails before. But then... he goes and says this:

"I can drive my VEX robot around and finish the challenge in half the time it took (NXT team name) to do the same stuff because they don't have remote control! LOL LOL LOL"

Hmmm... where was I to begin? I responded politely (again) that driving a robot around via remote control completely negates the "robot" description. I included Webster's online definition:

–noun

1.	a machine that resembles a human and does mechanical, routine tasks on command.

2.	a person who acts and responds in a mechanical, routine manner, usually subject to another's will; automaton.

3.	any machine or mechanical device that operates automatically with humanlike skill.

–adjective

4.	operating automatically: a robot train operating between airline terminals.

I mentioned the key to me: "operating automatically" and congratulated him. Of coure, I couldn't just let it go completely, so I added "Technically, the NXT team wins the challenge in my mind as their robot completed the challenge without human control."

And this started a firestorm which has since caused me to block that user's email due to some not-so-nice language and unprofessional behavior. No follow-up info to report.

But this brings me to the purpose of this post - do you consider a remote controlled "robot" to be a robot? If something is being manually controlled by a human versus performing actions autonomously, which do you find more interesting - challenging - impressive?

In the NXT world, I'm sure this is bordering on the Mac vs. PC debate, so keep your responses clean and professional. I'm just curious to know what our readers think...