Page 28 - Build Your Own Combat Robot

Chapter 1:
Welcome to Competition Robots
Walking robots get an extra 20-percent weight increase bonus, so the weight 9
classes for walking bots are 72 pounds for lightweights, 144 pounds for middle-
weights, 264 pounds for heavyweights, and 408 pounds for superheavyweights.
All of the details about BattleBots, including rules and regulations, can be
found online at www.battlebots.com.

Robot Wars
Robot Wars is where it all began—two robots fighting to the death. In the early
days of Robot Wars, there was an arena filled with hazards, including spikes, buzz
saws, and a swinging bowling ball. Robots fighting in this competition had to
avoid the hazards while attacking opponents. Not only were there remote-control
robots fighting, there were also autonomous machines competing.
Since Robot Wars moved to the United Kingdom in 1997, the event has
changed quite a bit. Before the bots get a chance to go to the big fight, they now
have to pass a series of obstacle course tests. These obstacles include crashing
through brick walls, climbing over teeter-totters, passing between two closing
walls with spikes, avoiding large pendulums, knocking over large metal drums,
and steering clear of fiery pits.

FIGURE 1-4
The vicious-looking
Razer has been a
crowd favorite for
several years
running at the
U.K. Robot Wars.
(courtesy of
Vincent Blood)