Robot on Robot ViolenceRobot on Robot Violencea.k.a a.k.a

the Rise and Fall of Battlebotsthe Rise and Fall of Battlebots

By Aaron Peter By Aaron Peter

AndAnd

Robert MazzattoRobert Mazzatto

Started in 1994 in the USStarted in 1994 in the US Created by Mark Thorpe after an unsuccessful attempt Created by Mark Thorpe after an unsuccessful attempt

to build a radio-controlled vacuum cleanerto build a radio-controlled vacuum cleaner Partnered with the New York based Sm:)e record Partnered with the New York based Sm:)e record

company who provided fundingcompany who provided funding A legal fight later occurred between Thorpe and Sm:)e A legal fight later occurred between Thorpe and Sm:)e

over who owned the Robot Wars concept, Sm:)e lost over who owned the Robot Wars concept, Sm:)e lost allowing for the creation of the BattleBots tv seriesallowing for the creation of the BattleBots tv series

Became UK TV show from 1998 to 2004 running on Became UK TV show from 1998 to 2004 running on BBC2BBC2

Does not exist anymoreDoes not exist anymore Independently organized robot combat leagues still exist Independently organized robot combat leagues still exist

in UKin UK

Organized in a ‘tournament’ structure with matches Organized in a ‘tournament’ structure with matches determined by bracket placementdetermined by bracket placement

Arena featured ‘house robots’ in the corners which would Arena featured ‘house robots’ in the corners which would attack anyone who entered their territoryattack anyone who entered their territory

Featured a pyrotechnic elimination pit which if a robot fell Featured a pyrotechnic elimination pit which if a robot fell in was automatically eliminated and flame trapsin was automatically eliminated and flame traps

American continuation of Robot WarsAmerican continuation of Robot Wars Formed after Robot Wars left the US (due to legal fights between Formed after Robot Wars left the US (due to legal fights between

the founder and a record company) by various combat robot the founder and a record company) by various combat robot buildersbuilders

Started in 1999 as a one-off special on then ZDTV (later TechTV, Started in 1999 as a one-off special on then ZDTV (later TechTV, then G4 Tech TV now just G4), two months later a new competition then G4 Tech TV now just G4), two months later a new competition was a pay-per-view eventwas a pay-per-view event

Became a regularly scheduled prime time show on Comedy Central Became a regularly scheduled prime time show on Comedy Central in 2000in 2000

TV show ended in 2002TV show ended in 2002 Started with 1.5 million viewersStarted with 1.5 million viewers Had only 500,000 by season 3Had only 500,000 by season 3 Turned as it progressed from robot fighting sport to a comedy-skit show Turned as it progressed from robot fighting sport to a comedy-skit show

featuring c-list celebrities as more of an ‘entertainment product’featuring c-list celebrities as more of an ‘entertainment product’ Contests still held, but not very regularlyContests still held, but not very regularly

Also organized in a tournament elimination Also organized in a tournament elimination tournamenttournament

Featured only one-on-one battles with no house Featured only one-on-one battles with no house robots, except after the tournament was over robots, except after the tournament was over where there was a ‘rumble round’where there was a ‘rumble round’

Featured cooler looking, but less damaging Featured cooler looking, but less damaging arena hazards (sledgehammers, kill saws, arena hazards (sledgehammers, kill saws, pneumatic pistons, spike strips, ‘screws’, etc.)pneumatic pistons, spike strips, ‘screws’, etc.)

Featured Bill Nye as a ‘technical expert’Featured Bill Nye as a ‘technical expert’

RammersRammersFlippersFlippersCrushersCrushersAxeAxeSawSawSpinnerSpinnerWedge Wedge

Weapon TypesWeapon Types

Forbidden WeaponsForbidden Weapons

Radio JammingRadio JammingHigh Voltage Electric DischargeHigh Voltage Electric DischargeLiquidsLiquidsOpen CombustionOpen CombustionUn-tethered Projectiles/BulletsUn-tethered Projectiles/BulletsLasersLasersHalon/Fire Extinguishers Halon/Fire Extinguishers

Weight ClassesWeight Classes 75g- Fleaweight75g- Fleaweight 150g- Fairyweight 150g- Fairyweight (UK - Antweight)(UK - Antweight) 1 pound (454 g) - Antweight1 pound (454 g) - Antweight 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) Kilobot (Canada)1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) Kilobot (Canada) 3 pound (1.36 kg) - Beetleweight3 pound (1.36 kg) - Beetleweight 6 pound (2.72 kg) - Mantisweight6 pound (2.72 kg) - Mantisweight 12 pound (5.44 kg) - Hobbyweight12 pound (5.44 kg) - Hobbyweight 15 pound (6.80 kg) - BotsIQ Mini class15 pound (6.80 kg) - BotsIQ Mini class 30 pound (13.6 kg) - Featherweight30 pound (13.6 kg) - Featherweight 60 pound (27 kg) - Lightweight60 pound (27 kg) - Lightweight 120 pound (54 kg) - Middleweight / BotsIQ Large class120 pound (54 kg) - Middleweight / BotsIQ Large class 220 pound (100 kg) - Heavyweight220 pound (100 kg) - Heavyweight 340 pound (154 kg) Super Heavyweight340 pound (154 kg) Super Heavyweight

Notable RobotsNotable Robots

Razer – Won the Wars World ChampionshipsRazer – Won the Wars World Championships Blendo – Banned from competition for being ‘too Blendo – Banned from competition for being ‘too

dangerous’ to the spectatorsdangerous’ to the spectators Deadblow – Famous for having its creator turn it Deadblow – Famous for having its creator turn it

into ‘taxidermied tabby’ and various other into ‘taxidermied tabby’ and various other Mythbusters appearancesMythbusters appearances

Current Combat Robot Current Combat Robot CompetitionsCompetitions

Some competition organizers still Some competition organizers still operating:operating:CombotsCombotsOhio Robotics ClubOhio Robotics ClubRobowars (Australia)Robowars (Australia)Western Allied RoboticsWestern Allied RoboticsSaskatoon Combat Robotics ClubSaskatoon Combat Robotics ClubRobogamesRobogamesBattlebotsBattlebots

Robot-SumoRobot-Sumo In Japan, the sport of robot sumo wrestling is more In Japan, the sport of robot sumo wrestling is more

commoncommon Standard robot size is 3kg, the weapon is a 45 degree Standard robot size is 3kg, the weapon is a 45 degree

adjustable wedge, and robots often use a vacuum to adjustable wedge, and robots often use a vacuum to hold them onto the surface of the dohyohold them onto the surface of the dohyo

Either Remote-Controlled or autonomous are used Either Remote-Controlled or autonomous are used (using for example IR sensors to find the opponent)(using for example IR sensors to find the opponent)

RoboticaRobotica Short lived series on TLC from 2001 to 2002Short lived series on TLC from 2001 to 2002 Instead of just fighting, robots competed in a series ov Instead of just fighting, robots competed in a series ov

challenges, gaining pointschallenges, gaining points ChallengesChallenges

Knocking over obstaclesKnocking over obstacles Navigating trap filled mazeNavigating trap filled maze Figure 8 raceFigure 8 race

Ended with a “fight to the finish”Ended with a “fight to the finish” Robot sumo wrestling on an elevated platform with fall away Robot sumo wrestling on an elevated platform with fall away

sidessides

It’s Robot-fightin’ TimeIt’s Robot-fightin’ Time

http://http://www.scs.ryerson.cawww.scs.ryerson.ca//