COMBAT TECHNOLOGY LEAPS FORWARD
 Viewers of the popular Robot Wars and BattleBots television shows of a few years ago are amazed when they attend one of today's robot battles. The number of weight classes, limited to four on the television shows, has expanded to nine at most North American events. These weight classes now range from a miniscule 5 ounces up to a hefty 340 pounds.
Advances in battery, motor, armor, and electronics technology have permitted quantum leaps in the power that is packed into the latest generation of combat robots. Driven by the pressure of a National competition schedule that includes about 50 events a year all around the country, top competitors are forced to evolve and improve their machines every few months.
Brian Nave, a veteran of many televised events, and organizer of the Battle Beach combat series, says "High tech advances in combat robotics in the last few years have vastly expanded design options for the growing number of robot teams. The awesome power previously reserved for super heavyweight robots is now available all the way down to the middleweight class."
 Kevin Berry, who fights in the smaller "insect" weight classes, reminisces; "My first 3-pound 'beetle' bot back in 2003 was built under a cake pan and it held up pretty well. Now I use custom formed titanium over a Kevlar honeycomb and we still get beaten up pretty badly in competitions."
Robot designers who combine armor and weaponry use hardened-metal spinning shells rotating at 2,000+ rpm, packing an unprecedented punch (for details on maintaining stability and the science behind such weapons, click here.
There is a trend: robots are becoming ultra spinners that demolish a foe at a single strike or ultra wedges that no spinner can break. That’s what it has boiled down to—weapons and armor. Tournament organizers are working on fine tuning the rules to ensure the future evolution of hammer bots and other diverse types.
Curious about the variety of combat robot designs now being campaigned? Take a look at Brian Nave's survey of combat robot designs at: here. To find out how you can see the phenomenal advances in robot combat live and in person, visit www.BattleBeach.com.
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