MAKE at RoboGames: Robot Combat

Robot combat: fun for the whole family!

Despite the large number of categories of robots here at RoboGames, the resounding sounds of metal on metal and cheers from the crowd keep drawing us back to the combat arena. We were immediately surprised by the variety of locations and backgrounds these teams come from, whether it’s a High School from across the country, a local engineer working in his garage, or a robotics team from Brazil.

It seems like the typical strategy for combat teams is to bring as much of their machine shop and tools with them as they can; one team from South America brought along drill and arbor presses, among many other hand tools and a veritable arsenal of LiPo batteries. The team of my alma mater, the Georgia Tech RoboJackets, even built a scrap robot with leftover parts, called “MPP” (or “More Pit Places”), in order to secure a larger pit area for their team, to support their main robot Mandii.

Photographing the combat itself isn’t easy, but you can check out a few photos of the action below:

The pits are buzzing with activity.

Check out that arsenal of LiPo batteries!

Peeking inside the arena.

An early LiPo fire filled the arena with smoke and a nasty smell.

…and the bot had to be pulled outside for dousing.

Deadly, especially when spinning at 3000+ RPM.

One bot tossing another.

It gets really loud in here; this guy’s got the right idea.

Pay $5 for a mini 3-minute match against your friends!

The GT RoboJacket’s main contender, Mandii. (Go Jackets!)

Who doesn’t love a robot with a flamethrower on it?

Hmm, I wonder what that large gas tank is for…

The Super Fluffy Pink Bunny from the land of candy and rainbows.

MAKE Volume 34: Join the robot uprising! As MAKE's Volume 34 makes clear, there’s never been a better time to delve into robotics, whether you’re a tinkerer or a more serious explorer. With the powerful tools and expertise now available, the next great leap in robot evolution is just as likely to come from your garage as a research lab. The current issue of MAKE will get you started. Explore robot prototyping systems, ride along with the inventors of the OpenROV submersible, and learn how you can 3D-print your own cutting-edge humanoid robot for half the price. Plus, build a coffee-can Arduino robot, a lip balm linear actuator, a smartphone servo controller, and much more

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