Approximately 300 of you came to St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford, Bristol. They experienced the incredible excitement of a World Championship match where almost 50 mini robots weighing 1.5 kg or less competed for glory through engineering ingenuity and powerful strategy. The event, part of the UK Championships, showcased the creativity and technical skills of competitors from across Europe who pushed the boundaries of robot technology.
Those contestants then faced off in bloody battles to the death where robot combatants used all kinds of incredible weaponry to render their enemies inoperable. Dominating the field were the most feared weapons—spinning discs, which could spin up to 250 mph (402 km/h). The kinetic energy produced by these discs caused teams to do major damage to their opponents.
Craig Croucher, a prominent figure in the robot-building community and member of the Bot Builders, noted the diverse background of the attendees. “There are normal people from all walks of life,” he stated, highlighting how robot fighting serves as a unique platform for learning about science and technology.
MPO Croucher spoke about the thrill that captures everyone during the event, “It is always really exciting. Spectators shouted encouragements to their favorite robots, creating a lively atmosphere. At the same time, challengers released their creations on the field of battle, changing hope to reality.
The competition was a clash of the bots, with impressive machines demonstrating unique designs and strategies all fighting for glory. Croucher said a lot of the creators are still wanting to keep their projects super simple and super basic but still doing some really cool performances. He suggested the robot-building scene was a “nice community,” where hobbyists, teachers, and engineers can find each other and engage with each other’s interests in robotics.
Among the most innovative entries was an autonomous laser weeding robotic, a testament to technological innovation taking place in the field of robotics. Croucher remarked, “We’ve even got an autonomous robot here today,” indicating a growing trend among competitors to explore new functionalities in their designs.
While her fellow competitors executed strategies to disable their opponents, making friends as slippery as cactus spines, Croucher opened up about the heavy nature of the bouts. “The best way to win is to disable your opponent, that might be.” Adding unconventional session formats was a highly successful way to engage participants more deeply, while delivering an informative learning experience for virtual viewers.