Robot Fightin' Workshop - 23 July 2022

After the successful inaugural event in March we wanted to run a beginners’ event to help get a few newbies get into the apparently intimidating but actually secretly quite easy and very fun sport of robot fighting.

The day started with an engaging intro talk by Sam Roberts, going through a potted history of combat robotics, Robot Wars and the associated events, describing plans for the day, and dispensing valuable advice.

Workshop

For the first part of the day, our 7 new beginners’ teams – a good mix of individuals and pairs – were given a starter kit and let loose to construct their robots. The kit contained:

• 2 x motors plus 3d printed cradles
• Speed controller
• Laser-cut wooden chassis
• 2x 3d printed wedges to attach superstructure
• 2x wheels (extra chunky wheels were available for £1 extra)
• Rechargeable NiMH battery plus connector cable

The whole was controlled through a rather nifty receiver controlled by a phone app over the WiFi (the price of a transmitter otherwise being something of a barrier to entry).

After a few hours of activity our robot roster was complete. There was a fantastic array of imaginative designs – going in we’d been a bit worried we’d end up with seven identical robots but instead the competitors were:

The (new) competitors

Robot	Roboteer(s)	Comments
Adam Antweight	Gareth	If you feared there would be no 80s new wave themed robots then FEAR NO MORE
Bog Marley	Andrew	Cleverly repurposed plumbing bot
Evil Kermit	Lynn & Charlie	Charming yet psychopathic frog bot
Johnny 5	Paul M	An aerodynamic wedge reminiscent of Series 1 Robot Wars champion Roadblock
The Killer	Patrick & son	Armoured with packing foam and duct tape and as such INDESTRUCTIBLE
Mr Confusion	Paul T	Went for the obvious “twitchy almond-headed android on the roof” design
The Wooden Box	Christophe	Well, it’s a wooden box. But with wheels!

Joined by veterans Auntie Hamps, Battle Bunny, Big Loader, Chewdas Priest, Thwack Sabbath, Time for Crab! and reigning champion Alice Scooper, the battles began.

Battles!

All the battles are up on YouTube here but here’s a summary in glorious text:

Round 1

Adam Antweight vs Bog Marley

A cagey start without much contact after which Adam Antweight almost drives itself out of the arena. The two then find themselves in a dance of death for a while, but an unexpected development sees one of Adam Antweight’s wheels come loose – but it’s not immobilised and continues dragging its semi-autonomous innards about the place. The fight continues until a cunning feint sees Bog Marley drive clean out of the arena! Which goes to show, never give up just because your wheel falls off of its own free will. Winner: Adam Antweight by ring out

Big Loader vs Alice Scooper

Big Loader is an exciting new design by veteran roboteer Steve, capable of running at almost any orientation. After an even start, alas, one of its tracks comes a bit loose and Alice Scooper is able to push the Loader out of the arena. Winner: Alice Scooper by ring out

Thwack Sabbath vs Chewdas Priest

A Designed for Demise (those are the ones with the bad metal puns) deathmatch sees the twitchy Priest almost drive itself out of the arena a couple of times before Thwack Sabbath drives (or is pushed, it’s hard to tell) off the side. Winner: Chewdas Priest by ring out

Mr Confusion vs The Wooden Box

The two biggest robots hurl themselves at each other for a bit before the Wooden Box is pitched upon its unfortunately extremely flat wooden sides. Winner: Mr Confusion by immobilisation

Auntie Hamps vs Time for Crab!

OK so perhaps Auntie Hamps is actually the biggest robot. In the first clash Time for Crab! is able to bend one of Auntie’s wheels at an upsetting angle – and with the resulting lack of control it’s an easy job for Crab! to push it off the side. Winner: Time for Crab! by ring out

Battle Bunny vs Johnny 5

Johnny 5 almost drives out of the arena immediately, but is able to pull back at the last moment. It seems this is the done thing, as Battle Bunny follows suit, but this time isn’t able to save itself from oblivion. Winner: Johnny 5 by ring out

Evil Kermit vs The Killer

Evil Kermit sprints out of the blocks with great enthusiasm. Its clever cable tie legs prevent it leaving the arena and tempt The Killer into a foolhardy charge, leaving it suspended out of the arena and just touching the ground… Winner: Evil Kermit by ring out