Robots in Durham,
NC on March
20th. Go to
www.carolina
combat.com for
more information.
RoboGames will be
presented by
ComBots
April
23rd
through 25th in San Mateo, CA. Go
to www.robogames.net for more
information. SV
EVENT REP RT:
The ComBots Cup 2009
Over the weekend of December 19-20, 2009, the ComBots Cup
event was held in San Mateo, CA
where combat robots ranging from
one pound up to 220 pounds
competed for honor and glory. The
action was fast and furious in every
weight category, but the main focus
of the event was on the 220 pound
heavyweight class, as contestants
faced off to compete for the
ComBots Cup trophy.
The ComBots Cup event is the
pinnacle of today’s heavyweight
combat robotic action which also
has the possibility of a sizable cash
prize. The ComBots Cup was
founded by Dave Calkins in 2005. As
a robotic enthusiast, Dave
appreciates all forms of robotic
endeavors. As a promoter, he
understands this simple truth:
Audiences prefer watching the
larger combat machines. In an effort
to actively encourage involvement by
larger combat machines, he wanted
to pick a single weight class to
promote with a large cash prize.
PHOTO 1. Sewer Snake with its tough lifting
wedge takes on the overhead spinning bar
of Brutality.
● by Ray Billings
Cash prizes at the ComBots Cup
have been as high as $10,000! He
reasoned that this would spur new
machines in the category, and
promote a higher level of
competitiveness overall. With
dwindling numbers in the 340
pound super heavyweight category
— but relatively strong numbers for
the heavyweights — the decision
was made to provide some incentive
for that category and the ComBots
Cup was born.
The ComBots Cup is similar to
the Stanley Cup in hockey. The
ComBots Cup is a piece of history,
and a living, growing record of
championship. Unlike trophies from
other combat robotics events, a new
ComBots Cup trophy is not made
each year. With each event, the
previous winner must surrender the
Cup to the new champion. The
winner’s name and robot image are
then engraved into the base of the
trophy. By winning the Cup, you
become part of that history. At any
one time, there is only one ComBots
PHOTO 2. Avalanche with its 360° rotating
plow faces off against Original Sin.
Cup champ, and being the holder is
an honor indeed!
Currently, the event is run and
managed by Simone Davalos, who is
also the referee. This is how she
describes the event: “The vision of
the ComBots Cup is to reinvigorate
the big bot heavyweight class. We
PHOTO 3. All three previous ComBots Cup
champions competed at this event. Shown
here left to right are: Ray Billings with Last
Rites, Paul Ventimiglia with Brutality, and
Matt Maxham with Sewer Snake.
32 SERVO 03.2010
