New to Combat Robotics?

Two remote-controlled robots fight in a walled arena, usually for three minutes. A fight ends early if one robot is knocked out (it can no longer move) or its driver taps out. If both are still moving at the end, judges score damage, aggression, and control.

Every robot is built to a weight limit, so a 1 lb robot only ever faces other 1 lb robots.

• Spinners Horizontal bars or discs and vertical wheels that store energy and hit hard.
• Drums A spinning cylinder that chews up whatever it touches.
• Hammers and axes Swung down on the opponent, powered by a motor or pneumatics.
• Lifters and flippers Get under the opponent and throw or tip them.
• Wedges and control bots No weapon; win by pushing, pinning, and outdriving.

Spinning weapons store a lot of energy, so combat robots only run their weapons inside a purpose-built arena, with a weapon lock on whenever they are anywhere else. Lithium batteries also need careful charging and storage.

• NHRL nhrl.io: a major U.S. league with full fight footage on YouTube.
• Robot Combat Events robotcombatevents.com: where most events post schedules and registration.

• 1 lb Plastic Antweight AKUU!
• 1 lb Antweight Roflcopter
• 3 lb Beetleweight Counterspell, Equinox, Zenith
• 12 lb Hobbyweight Bumbleblitz, Buzzzz-Kill
• 30 lb Featherweight Parallax