Not long ago, an artist/inventor in California stumbled across a new idea: to hold a competition where radio-controlled cars with weapons fight each other in a tournament. Since then, the idea has become a sport, with technology and creativity increasing at a rapid rate. No longer are most competitors' entries radio-controlled cars; often each is a specially designed machine with metal armor, powerful motors and, sometimes, a menacing weapon. Some machines are masterpieces, works of art achieved only through brilliant engineering, tens of thousands of dollars, and cutting-edge technology. But one doesn't need a hefty budget or an engineering degree to put together a robot that can be successful . You only need imagination, some basic knowledge and perseverance. This website is designed to help you with the knowledge aspect: you only need to supply the rest.
I called these machines "robots" earlier, however, some argue this is not the case. Some believe a robot is by definition an autonomous machine. The robots featured on shows such as "Robot Wars", "BattleBots" and "Robotica", among others, are almost always radio-controlled, which doesn't fit the definition. However, since different people take different sides in this topic, these machines which I will refer to will be called "bots" from here on, so as not to be too confusing. To inspire you to think about making your own bot is the goal of this website. Far too many people think they cannot succeed in building a bot, yet the process is surprisingly simple to newcomers. With luck, you will soon be able to fabricate your own monster, and turn a daytime doodle into a contender in the world of fighting robotics.
So, are you ready to tackle the basics of this sport? This sport is one-of-a-kind: it unites all sorts of topics that you may have already studied into something original and new. The overall inventiveness of the bot builders can be seen merely by looking at the bots produced, and each bot reflects its owner, be it by artistic ability, creativity, driving style or just an uncanny resemblance. And there is a real sense of community among builders and an even stronger sense of sportsmanship. Almost any competitor may offer you help if you have questions during the build process or if you are panicking at a competition. So, what are you waiting for? Oh, right: the link. On to the next page: the infamous disclaimer page...
