Robot Combat Shows

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When I was a very young person, I was obsessed with Robot Wars (USA version) and Battlebots. Something about watching those robots fighting was extremely exciting for me and I would spend time making my hot wheel cars fight like the robots. Later I started watching shows like Robotica and Robot Wars UK as well. Anybody else here love these kinds of shows?

I also did similar things with a now nearly completely forgotten show called Full Metal Challenge. Shame those episodes can't be found anywhere now though.

i used to watch these shows as well, the rules have changed as the years have went by with the robot fights, i remember one bot that used a chainsaw as a weapon, until it was attacked and the gas leaked out of the chainsaw (i dont remember if there was any fire)

after that they banned anything that uses gas or hydraulic fluid (actuators, engines, pistons, flame throwers) now its all pneumatic or electromechanical actuaters powering the bot weapons.

-Jess

Used to love UK robot wars, hypnodisk ftw! Lol miss that show, what happened?

Those shows were cool. I remember reading about the original (pre TV show) Robot Wars in Nuts and Volts magazine. I can't remember if it was San Fransico or Seattle.
I always though it would be fun to build one , but those guys sink some serious money into those things!
I build my tiny robots with junk.

I was actually more of a Tornado/Drillzilla (USA version) fan. I like the idea of a sturdy fast bot that can push other robots around well.

I have thought of it before too FJP...used to make rough sketches with details of weapons and such as a kid. Remember my dad making one with a water cannon and I corrected him, saying that they aren't allowed in the series haha.

There is a guy who comes in to the hardware store where I work who built one, and did very well in a national (but lower profile) robot wars competition. He was always coming in to buy parts, as it was pretty much killed each time he was in a competition. His had a basic base on wheels, but his wepon was a spinning arm with a hardened bolt sharpend to a spike on the ends. ( This was powered by a weed trimmer motor) He showed me a video of the one that took him out of the comp. His opponent was made almost entirly of Titanium. When the spinning arm hit the Titanium bot, It did more damage to itself. It finally broke off. They gave it to the guy at the end of the competiton as a souvenir

Now that's chivalry...it would be really cool to meet someone who makes these, did he ever show you the circuit boards and such required? It seems very complex.

He just used an off the shelf RC controller. He wasn't much of an electronics guy.

I would like to see autonomous robot cambat! That would be some complex stuff! I think they do have some in Japan maybe

Now that would be interesting, especially if you hook up weapons to that. Problem is this: what if someone accidentally turns theirs on before the fight starts?

Good point!

Try here
The UK still allows hydraulics but it's very specialised & not for the faint hearted.
I believe Combots & Robogames (Same arena) allow flamethrowers with appropriate certification.
A lot of the time, it's insurance. One company has £1 million pounds public liability insurance. They can't get insured for a flame thrower despite being having a pyrotechnic license & it being mounted by steel in a bullet proof box.

They broke the arena That's 1/4" or 6mm riot shielding plastic btw. After that I'm guessing Health and Safety or Insurance. Bearing in mind, the wall panels are the same thickness and plastic.

FJP,it was San francisco


Unlikely to happen. Current autonomous rules state that the machine should an Radio Control ignition and fail to safe (Stop) should that channel be lost. In addition to all robots having the main power circuits fitted with a removable safety link (looped connector) to remove power from the weapons and drive. Very safety concious but it can go so badly wrong. (Pre link)More Pandamonium got dropped and allegedly spiked someone in the leg. It was fine but touch & go for a minute.

Thank you ALmighty_CRG, I am glad someone finally posted the episode(s). Was an awesome show to watch back when it was still on.

Well I watched Full Metal Challenge again...it remains awesome. Makes it the only show I like that is based around cars besides Top Gear.

Sanity Theorist,
Just wondering whether you'd like a show. You heard of a program called Driving Wars. Remote control car across assault courses. You might like it.

UK robot wars was awesome.