Servo - February 2009

one round of fighting, there is a costume contest held for the robots themselves.

At high noon, the fighting started and the first weight class in the arena was the ant weights with Pooky (from Team ICE), and Wheely Wacko (from Team Science and Mayhem), matching up for the opening fight, with Pooky winning. After the ants finished their first round of brackets, the flea weights Atom Bomb (a spinning drum from Team Misfit), and Split (also from Team Misfit), fought for a best two out of three wins. The first bout was won by Atom Bomb and the second bout was won by Split, so the third bout had everyone on edge. Using most of the two minute time limit, Atom Bomb was able to kick Split off the fighting platform to take the flea weight championship.

After a short break, it was time for the beetle weights to fight for the best two out of three between Unknown Avenger (from Team ICE), and Arc Pounder (from Team Science and Mayhem). Unknown Avenger was the repeat beetle weight champion from the Gilroy Bot Gauntlets and the 2006 and 2007 Halloween Robot Terrors, and Unknown Avenger was more than ready to defend his championship by winning the first two bouts and using the third bout as a grudge match.

It was now time for the Bot Costume Contest.

The rules for the Costume Contest are simple:

5) The audience will vote for the best costume.

The overwhelming winner of the Bot Costume Contest was the ant weight Nibbler from Team Offbeat Robotics. Nibbler had a teddy bear over his weapon arm and when he activated the grinding disc (that was now inside the bear), Teddy started to wiggle and jiggle big time and everyone found it funny. Then, stuffing started flying out of the bear and everyone laughed harder. The teddy bear eventually fell off the weapon’s arm and Nibbler took a victory lap around the arena. He accidentally drove out one of the push-outs which had everyone rolling on the floor.

The 2nd place winner was the ant weight Stumpy from Team DMV. Stumpy had a plastic skeleton sitting on him to look like it was driving Stumpy. Behind the skeleton was a hangman's gallows and from the hangman's noose was a sign that read "Vote For Me or Else.” The skeleton’s head turned left and right using a tiny servo; its red eyes lit up; and its arms turned handle bars when Stumpy moved left or right.

There was a tie for 3rd place between Capt. Crunch from Team Stupid Robotics, and Baron Underwear from Team Misfit. The ant weight Capt. Crunch was dressed as a pirate with a hat, stuffed parrot, and a plastic sword that was taped to its weapons.

The ant weight Baron Underwear had a two pound layer of clay over it to create a sea wave with the Greek sea god Poseidon with his trident, standing in the wave's trough.

The costume winners got their pick of monster/horror DVDs. After the Costume Contest, the ant weights got back

PHOTO 4. Pirate Capt. Crunch tied for third.

PHOTO 2. Costume contest winner Nibbler.

PHOTO 3. Second place winner Stumpy.

into battle trim and fought it out for the championship. The top four winners were:

1st Place - Baron Underwear,
Team Misfit
2nd Place - Captain Crunch, Team
Stupid Robotics
3rd Place - Rector, Team Road
Rage
4th Place - Nibbler, Team Offbeat
Robotics

1) The costume must go onto the fighting robot you are competing with.

2) The bot must be able to drive
around the arena so the audience
can see it.
3) There is no weight limit on the
costume and bot combination.
4) No open flames.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners from each weight class got their pick from a prize table. Afterwards, there were a number of ant weight no-time-limit rumbles.