We don’t have one of them fancy-pants high speed cameras, but someone else who was at RoboGames did, and they took some sweet footage. I can’t say I agree with their choice of background music (would have preferred something more blowy-uppy myself), but stick it out until the very end to see Last Rites punch a hole through the quarter inch steel floor of the arena.

That kind of thing makes me think twice about having my nose up against the measly double sheet of plexiglass that surrounds the arena as a spectator… But then I think a third time and decide to stop worrying and just love the bots.

[ MadOverlord ] VIA [ Make ]

Last year at RoboGames was the very first Mech Warfare competition. Like, ever. And it was pretty cool. But this year was exponentially more awesome. Mech Warfare pits walking robots armed with airsoft rifles against each other in a detailed cityscape. The robots are controlled remotely, but the catch is that you can’t directly see your robot. Instead, competitors rely on wireless cameras mounted on the bots themselves to see where they’re going, kinda like the old Mech Warrior computer game. I’d tell you more about how it all went, but I’m sure you’d rather just watch the video:

Next year, things are going to get even more epic. The arena will be increased in size, and a couple new match types will be introduced, including 2 on 2 matches and attack and defense, where the defending robots will be able to use things like autonomous turrets to help keep the attackers from capturing a target. The hardcore class will be back next year too, where instead of airsoft guns, the robots will be allowed to use things like missiles and flamethrowers. You can keep up to date with all the latest happenings in the Mech Warfare world at the official website, and also on the Trossen Robotics Forums.

One or two more pics, after the jump. (Read more…)

Perhaps inspired by Pleo’s epic Combot battle, Willow Garage decided to put one of their Texai telepresence robots in the RoboGames combat arena to see what would happen. Unlike poor Pleo, however, the Texai found itself up against a friendly little drink serving robot called Phun Bot, built by Jerry Serafin. Violence ensued:

The lesson here? It’s obvious: use ROS or else Texai will kick your bot’s ass. BAM.

[ Texai ]

RoboGames 2010 kicked off yesterday, and so far it’s shaping up to be another spectacular event. Most of the competitions start tomorrow, and today was largely taken up with the preliminary rounds of combat. I’ve put together a highlight video of some of the action:

Remember, there’s way more going on at RoboGames besides just combat… You can check out the entire schedule of events here. If there’s anything specific you’d like me to focus on, post a comment and I’ll see how many places I can be in at once.

[ RoboGames ]

RoboGames, the world’s largest robot competition, starts TODAY! Over 50 different events featuring hundreds of robots from all over the world. We’ll be there if you can’t be, taking pictures and video of every single event, even the ones that take place at the same time in different parts of the venue. How? I don’t know how. But I’ll make it happen. Geez, if only I had some kind of system that would allow me to be in two places at once…

Last year, I apparently managed to put together highlight videos of the events every evening, and I’ll try my damnedest to do that again, so it’ll be worth checking back on a day to day basis over the weekend. I mean, either that, or I’ll a.) sleep or b.) relax and enjoy myself at the event. But be assured, that neither of those things have the least appeal to me, the professional journalist that I am (or pretend to be, anyway), so please feel free to berate me for not posting stuff fast enough.

Or, YOU could come experience RoboGames in person, which is a WAY better idea! The event starts today (Friday) and runs though Sunday, 12-7 in San Mateo. Get tickets here.

[ RoboGames ]

Last Thursday we posted a preview of a robot v. human place kicking contest starring Ziggy the Combot and San Francisco 49ers kicker Joe Nedney. That contest took place today, and here’s the video:

Now, it’s worth noting that Ziggy was actually able to kick over 60 yards (repeatedly) in practice, off of a concrete surface with no headwind. The grass surface of the football field was much softer than concrete, meaning that a significant portion of the energy released by the pneumatic arm went to driving the robot down into the ground as opposed to into the football. But, that’s kinda the deal with robots… They work great in the lab, and then all kinds of crap happens when you get them outside. Suffice it to say that Ziggy will undoubtedly be up for a rematch next year. Meantime, while us humans may not be able to match Ziggy in sheer power, we’ve still got adaptability going for us, with the ability to adjust to new situations on the fly. So for now, we’re still in charge.

For now.

Don’t forget, you can see Ziggy in its element (i.e. not on a football field) tossing 340 pound robots all over the place at RoboGames this weekend in San Mateo, CA. Get your tickets here.

[ RoboGames ]

This is Ziggy. You remember Ziggy, right? He weighs 340 pounds, is covered in titanium armor plate, and tosses other robots like salad with his pneumatic lifting arm. I’ll bet you didn’t know that he played football, though… You might think a robot like Ziggy would be best suited for linebacker or something, but instead, Ziggy is putting that pneumatic arm to use as a placekicker.

In a shameless PR ploy for RoboGames 2010, Ziggy will test out his kicking ability by going roboto-a-mano with San Francisco 49ers placekicker Joe Nedney, whose current in game record is something like 56 yards. Ziggy here broke 40 yards in testing last night without breaking a sweat, so check back next Monday to see how badly the puny human loses (assuming the robot decides to function properly, of course).

Gratuitous Ziggy video, after the jump. (Read more…)

In a world where robots and humans struggle together in the fight against boredom…

Only one event ends up with the robots dancing “The Human” while the meat puppets (you) end up singing the praises of RoboBartenders.

BarBot is a celebration of cocktail culture and man-machine interface. Get a drink from an actual robot. Chat up a snarky electronic bartender. Listen to some graceful tunes being played by robotic music makers. And, after downing your sixth martini, you can finally admit that it’s the geeks who shall inherit the earth.

These robots don’t clean the carpets. What they will do is much, much better. They make you a drink! Let your roommate do the vacuuming. These bots have got better programming on their mind.

Wed/Thur Feb 17-18, 2010 – 9pm-2am
21+ with photo ID $10 advance / $15 at door

And here’s a special deal for BotJunkie readers: if you donate $1.50 to RoboGames at the door and say you’re a BotJunkie reader, it’s good for 10% off the cover. How ’bout that!

Buy tickets here.

[ BarBot ]

This is all kinds of awesome, but it’s the sound that really makes it. Plus I love watching how excited the robot (named X-BRAT) gets when he spots his target. And then, kaBLAM! The target acquisition and firing system is fully autonomous, and X-BRAT is being built to compete in the Mech Warfare event at RoboGames 2010. When he’s done, his designer (xdream on the Trossen Robotics forums) will just stick him in the arena and autonomous carnage will ensue. More details are available in a discussion thread here.

VIA [ Trossen Robotics ]

I swung by the Automatic benefit art show for RoboGames 2010 last night, and was astounded by the variety and quality of robot art on display. Not only is it all awesome, most of it is for sale, and proceeds go to support your favorite robot competition. Also, if you go, one of the curators will molest you while two robots take turns humping your leg. Seriously… If it happened to me, it can happen to you.

The Automatic benefit closes tonight; the gallery is open from 5pm to midnight and there will be booze after 7. You’ll find it at the lowerDeck Gallery, 2295 3rd Street in San Francisco.

Check out a bunch of awesome robot art from the show, after the jump… If you’re interested in one of the pieces, I can put you in touch with people who will happily take your money. (Read more…)