RobotWars
From Mod Mania
It all began back in 1992, when an American engineer tried to modify his vacuum cleaner into a radio controlled vacuum in order to make his house work more interesting. After it resulted in destruction in his living room, he decided that it was much fun, and started to organize competitions.
During 1998-2002, robot wars was then modified, turned into a British television series, which then became very popular in the U.K. There were other similar series which include Battle Bots and Robotica. The television series involved competitions involving creating your own robot: This basically is a remote control miniature vehicle, packed with deadly weapons such as a circular saw, powered hammer in attempt to immobilize your opponent in a 3 minute battle. Battles which are divided in different weight categories (e.g. Antweight 0-150grams – Superheavyweight 100-145kg), set in hazardous battle arenas, with implanted deadly traps. Battles can be one on one or many.
After some time, the series dropped out from the airwaves, either because the public or TV administrators lost interest.
Even though robot wars is off broadcast, there are still people around the world dedicating their time, efforts and money modifying whatever means to build their robots, putting them through the test in robot combats.
There is also a big online community of robot warriors. And also a lot of robot war, combat related websites on the net, international and Australian based sites. A particular web page, www.robowars.org created by a Melbourne-based group of builders. Their aim is to “Encourage the Australian inventors, engineers and mad thinkers out there to turn their dream machines into solid metal and put it on the line and in the zone to build the ultimate destruction machine!” This site offers information about robot wars, general news about the robot combats and such, rules and guides. Robo wars provides guides for first timer robot builders, a broad over view of what to think about before designing their first robot. Images and build reports of certain robots are also uploaded on robo wars. Helpful links are also attached, both international and Australian based sites, showing videos, starting builder guides etc. (robotcombat.com, coolrobot.com). An online forum is also available. Where people get to talk to other builders around Australia, chat, argue, help each other out, discuss technical subjects, tell each other about what cool stuff they have seen, experienced or suffered etc…
Because the people of robo wars (the robo warriors as they call themselves), are based in Victoria around Melbourne and Geelong, apart from communicating with each other robot warriors around the country, robo wars arrange monthly meetings, and at these meetings video footages are shown, discussion of design and construction methods are carried out, and whoever wants to bring in their machines for show, can. There are also other events being held by robo wars. Such as an upcoming event called ‘Ideas Festival’ which is held from March 27-29, 2009, which is a 3 day competition held at the Suncorp Piazza at Southbank Packlands in Brisbane, Queensland.
The people of this online community seem to be quite interested, excited and enthusiastic about this upcoming event. Why? People have commented who have experience a similar event say that it was the best event in history. The joy they get out of the event. Many of the competitors say that being able to participate, to be able to plan the design engineering, materials science, machining skills, electronics, strategy and just straight cunning, is the most enjoyable and creative experience they know of.
Robot wars wasn’t only targeting a mature audience, they also targeted a younger aged audience, after Nickelodeon did their take on robot wars. There are also competition targeted to younger audience to get them inspired in the engineering and technology fields such as, FIRST For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology and BEST Robotics Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology and Rob games.
For those who don’t have the time or money or whatever reason to create their own robots and compete, but wants to experience it in a way. There is an alternative. In 2001 television series robot wars was modified into a video game, the video game based on the series. ‘Robot wars: Arenas of destruction (RWAOD)’ and other versions, ‘Robot wars: Extreme destruction’ and ‘Super robot wars’. It has the same idea as the television series, you battle and you also get to modify your robot with different components, weapons etc. as long as u earn enough money (like in real life). Now it’s not the same experience as when you do in reality, but u get a taste of it. And in a review for Arenas destruction it rated 8 so it must be pretty good.
On a different note, robots in Japan are being developed in an increasing pace. In the latest development in the robot world, Androids have been created and are developing even more. These androids not only look like humans but they also act like humans. They have specialized texture skin made of flexible silicon. They also have sensors built in them so they react when touched. Compressed air is being pumped through the body to give the appearance that the android is breathing, and they also blink, they talk as well and mouths that move. These androids are seen at robot technology fairs at various places such as Tokyo or Washington D.C. After more modifications and development, these androids are thought to have the potential to be used as a helping hand for the elderly or bed ridden people, or working as receptionists and television reporters.
Robot creations are made all around the world, whether they are made for destruction or made to help. Robot making is just getting better and better after processes of destruction and modifying it better. Ways of learning these techniques are readily available from many sites on the net, many forums available; also there is a huge online community of robot warriors out there! Robots are coming back!
