Servo - February 2012

famous faces added an air of relatability to the general public, but the competitors were mainly veteran builders.

To add more excitement to the matches, arena hazards operated by “Pulverizer Pete” like the pneumatic rams known as “Hell Raisers” could spring into action at any time.

As the show gained in popularity, celebrities began to get in on the act too. BattleBots was featured on an episode of the Tonight Show, where Jay Leno revealed a BattleBot of his own: Chin-Killa (Figure 3).

The show was also featured in an episode of the popular sitcom Malcolm in the Middle. Soon, a clothing line and remote controlled replicas of the robots were available for sale, introducing a new generation of viewers to robot combat. The show would go on to have a five season run, but the lasting legacy would endure, with BattleBots becoming the popular face of robot combat in America from that point on.

BattleBots Today

The end of the television series in 2002 was by no means the end of BattleBots. Since the show’s end, BattleBots has continued to host tournaments across the country. BotsIQ — a competition sponsored by BattleBots — focuses on teaching robotics, as well as other STEM areas to middle and high school aged students.

EVENT REP RT:

“Beware the Hobby that Eats” (Benjamin Franklin): Franklin Institute 2011

● by Pete Smith

The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA ( www2.fi.edu) was host to the Northeast Robotics Club’s ( www.nerc.us) 5th Autumn Event last year on October 15th.

Forty-five Bots had entered, spread over the five different weight classes — from the 1 lb Ants up to the 30 lb Featherweight and Sportsman classes. With few no shows, it meant there would be a busy fight schedule.

Competitors started arriving just after 7:00 am, and fights started at 10:00 pm when the venue opened to the public. Pit space was tighter than last year with more space allocated to the audience, but this proved worthwhile with good crowds throughout the day. A new feature this year was a large flat screen TV facing the pits. This was much appreciated as it allowed even those busy repairing their bots to keep up with the action and reduced the press of competitors around the arena for the most exciting fights.