1. Robot on Robot Violence a.k.a the Rise and Fall of Battlebots By Aaron Peter And Robert Mazzatto

2. Started in 1994 in the US Started in 1994 in the US Created by Mark Thorpe after an unsuccessful attempt to build a radio-controlled vacuum cleaner Created by Mark Thorpe after an unsuccessful attempt to build a radio-controlled vacuum cleaner Partnered with the New York based Sm:)e record company who provided funding Partnered with the New York based Sm:)e record company who provided funding A legal fight later occurred between Thorpe and Sm:)e over who owned the Robot Wars concept, Sm:)e lost allowing for the creation of the BattleBots tv series A legal fight later occurred between Thorpe and Sm:)e over who owned the Robot Wars concept, Sm:)e lost allowing for the creation of the BattleBots tv series Became UK TV show from 1998 to 2004 running on BBC2 Became UK TV show from 1998 to 2004 running on BBC2 Does not exist anymore Does not exist anymore Independently organized robot combat leagues still exist in UK Independently organized robot combat leagues still exist in UK

3. Organized in a ‘tournament’ structure with matches determined by bracket placement Organized in a ‘tournament’ structure with matches determined by bracket placement Arena featured ‘house robots’ in the corners which would attack anyone who entered their territory Arena featured ‘house robots’ in the corners which would attack anyone who entered their territory Featured a pyrotechnic elimination pit which if a robot fell in was automatically eliminated and flame traps Featured a pyrotechnic elimination pit which if a robot fell in was automatically eliminated and flame traps

4. American continuation of Robot Wars American continuation of Robot Wars Formed after Robot Wars left the US (due to legal fights between the founder and a record company) by various combat robot builders Formed after Robot Wars left the US (due to legal fights between the founder and a record company) by various combat robot builders Started in 1999 as a one-off special on then ZDTV (later TechTV, then G4 Tech TV now just G4), two months later a new competition was a pay-per-view event Started in 1999 as a one-off special on then ZDTV (later TechTV, then G4 Tech TV now just G4), two months later a new competition was a pay-per-view event Became a regularly scheduled prime time show on Comedy Central in 2000 Became a regularly scheduled prime time show on Comedy Central in 2000 TV show ended in 2002 TV show ended in 2002 Started with 1.5 million viewers Started with 1.5 million viewers Had only 500,000 by season 3 Had only 500,000 by season 3 Turned as it progressed from robot fighting sport to a comedy-skit show featuring c-list celebrities as more of an ‘entertainment product’ Turned as it progressed from robot fighting sport to a comedy-skit show featuring c-list celebrities as more of an ‘entertainment product’ Contests still held, but not very regularly Contests still held, but not very regularly

5. Also organized in a tournament elimination tournament Also organized in a tournament elimination tournament Featured only one-on-one battles with no house robots, except after the tournament was over where there was a ‘rumble round’ Featured only one-on-one battles with no house robots, except after the tournament was over where there was a ‘rumble round’ Featured cooler looking, but less damaging arena hazards (sledgehammers, kill saws, pneumatic pistons, spike strips, ‘screws’, etc.) Featured cooler looking, but less damaging arena hazards (sledgehammers, kill saws, pneumatic pistons, spike strips, ‘screws’, etc.) Featured Bill Nye as a ‘technical expert’ Featured Bill Nye as a ‘technical expert’

6. Rammers Rammers Flippers Flippers Crushers Crushers Axe Axe Saw Saw Spinner Spinner Wedge Wedge Weapon Types

7. Forbidden Weapons Radio Jamming Radio Jamming High Voltage Electric Discharge High Voltage Electric Discharge Liquids Liquids Open Combustion Open Combustion Un-tethered Projectiles/Bullets Un-tethered Projectiles/Bullets Lasers Lasers Halon/Fire Extinguishers Halon/Fire Extinguishers

8. Weight Classes 75g- Fleaweight 75g- Fleaweight 150g- Fairyweight (UK - Antweight) 150g- Fairyweight (UK - Antweight) 1 pound (454 g) - Antweight 1 pound (454 g) - Antweight 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) Kilobot (Canada) 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) Kilobot (Canada) 3 pound (1.36 kg) - Beetleweight 3 pound (1.36 kg) - Beetleweight 6 pound (2.72 kg) - Mantisweight 6 pound (2.72 kg) - Mantisweight 12 pound (5.44 kg) - Hobbyweight 12 pound (5.44 kg) - Hobbyweight 15 pound (6.80 kg) - BotsIQ Mini class 15 pound (6.80 kg) - BotsIQ Mini class 30 pound (13.6 kg) - Featherweight 30 pound (13.6 kg) - Featherweight 60 pound (27 kg) - Lightweight 60 pound (27 kg) - Lightweight 120 pound (54 kg) - Middleweight / BotsIQ Large class 120 pound (54 kg) - Middleweight / BotsIQ Large class 220 pound (100 kg) - Heavyweight 220 pound (100 kg) - Heavyweight 340 pound (154 kg) Super Heavyweight 340 pound (154 kg) Super Heavyweight

9. Notable Robots Razer – Won the Wars World Championships Razer – Won the Wars World Championships Blendo – Banned from competition for being ‘too dangerous’ to the spectators Blendo – Banned from competition for being ‘too dangerous’ to the spectators Deadblow – Famous for having its creator turn it into ‘taxidermied tabby’ and various other Mythbusters appearances Deadblow – Famous for having its creator turn it into ‘taxidermied tabby’ and various other Mythbusters appearances

10. Current Combat Robot Competitions Some competition organizers still operating: Some competition organizers still operating: Combots Combots Ohio Robotics Club Ohio Robotics Club Robowars (Australia) Robowars (Australia) Western Allied Robotics Western Allied Robotics Saskatoon Combat Robotics Club Saskatoon Combat Robotics Club Robogames Robogames Battlebots Battlebots

11. Robot-Sumo In Japan, the sport of robot sumo wrestling is more common In Japan, the sport of robot sumo wrestling is more common Standard robot size is 3kg, the weapon is a 45 degree adjustable wedge, and robots often use a vacuum to hold them onto the surface of the dohyo Standard robot size is 3kg, the weapon is a 45 degree adjustable wedge, and robots often use a vacuum to hold them onto the surface of the dohyo Either Remote-Controlled or autonomous are used (using for example IR sensors to find the opponent) Either Remote-Controlled or autonomous are used (using for example IR sensors to find the opponent)

12. Robotica Short lived series on TLC from 2001 to 2002 Short lived series on TLC from 2001 to 2002 Instead of just fighting, robots competed in a series ov challenges, gaining points Instead of just fighting, robots competed in a series ov challenges, gaining points Challenges Challenges Knocking over obstacles Knocking over obstacles Navigating trap filled maze Navigating trap filled maze Figure 8 race Figure 8 race Ended with a “fight to the finish” Ended with a “fight to the finish” Robot sumo wrestling on an elevated platform with fall away sides Robot sumo wrestling on an elevated platform with fall away sides

13. It’s Robot-fightin’ Time http://www.scs.ryerson.ca/ http://www.scs.ryerson.ca/ http://www.scs.ryerson.ca/