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For robots, Robogames is the ultimate fighting competition. It’s where brain turns into brawn, electronics trump athletic prowess and the arena is heavy not with sweat, but with the smell of solder and burnt metal.
At this year’s games, held in the sleepy Silicon Valley town of San Mateo, California, some 500 robots from 17 countries competed, while at least 5,000 spectators witnessed the mechanized mayhem.
“It?s just like the Olympics, but for robots,” says David Calkins, founder and one of the organizers of Robogames.
At Robogames, robots compete for medals across categories such as combat, soccer, hockey, sumo and kung fu. Scores are tallied and medals awarded. But fun and games aside, Robogames also helps advance technology breakthroughs, says Calkins.
“There?s nothing that motivates a person more than to lose,” he says. “If you are an athlete you train harder but if you are an engineer you spend more time in the garage and rewrite the code. Without that level of competition, it is difficult to stay motivated.”
There?s more at stake than just medals: Reputations can be made within the metal-Plexiglas robot combat arena. And it’s not just for geek cred: Last year, winning teams from Indonesia and Mexico found themselves invited to meet with the presidents of their respective countries.
Want to see what it takes to make a competitive robot? Watch our video, below, or click here: What’s Inside a Winning Battle Bot.
Then, read on for some highlights from this year’s games.
Photo courtesy Willow Garage
Full story at http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/VG6iRtb2L28/
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