Combat Robotics F.A.Q.

DISCLAIMER: Combat robotics is a dangerous sport by it's nature. Extreme caution should be taken when performing any operation explained on this site. Any injury or death resulting from the use of these pages is the sole responsibility of the user and not totalinsanity.net. By undertaking the construction of a combat robot you assume all responsibility for your actions. When building a combat robot, always make sure you are, or are with, a responsible adult.

Build Responsibly.

This page lists the most often asked questions about robotic combat & this site, and simple answers. For more in depth discussions on topics raised here and many more, check out or tutorials section or our what is combat robotics page.

Is <insert show name here> still on TV?
Do people still do this?
Can I do this?
What is Combat Robotics?
What powers the robots?
How do they move?
How big are the robots?
I have an R/C car I want to make into a robot, how do I do it?
Can I buy parts from you guys?
Why doesn't anyone use a gun or water or radio interference or a net? That would rule!
I was given the url combatrobotics.net but it just sent me here, why?
I'm a TV executive and would love to put a show on the air, will you guys help me!

 

Is <insert show name here> still on TV?

Currently no new episodes of any show are being produced, however you may be able to find some repeats on syndication in some areas. There is currently a grass roots operation to bring the sport of combat robotics back to TV, so you may be seeing some new combat on TV soon!

Do people still do this?

Yes! Check out the links on our resources page to see how many events are still happening. Combat robotics may not be on TV but it is still a thriving sport with events happening all the time. Check out the buildersdb for events happening soon.

Can I do this?

Anyone who wants to do this, can do this! There is plenty of info on the web at our site and others for any skill level. Whether you are a skilled engineer, machinist, or just an average joe, you can build a competitive robot if you set your mind to it.

What is Combat Robotics?

Click here for an overview of the sport.

What powers the robots?

Most robots use electricity stored in batteries though a minority run on gasoline, and some use pneumatics or hydraulics for weapons.

How do they move?

Though autonomous (self controlled) robots are allowed per the rules, they are rare. Most robots are simply controlled by radios similar to those used in R/C planes.

How big are the robots?

Combat robots come in a huge range of sizes ranging from 150 g to 390 lbs. The robots you saw on TV were most likely in the 220 lb class and were about 3 foot squares on average, with larger robots also being common. The cameras on many TV shows were raised high to avoid damage, but this also made the robots appear much smaller than they actually are.

I have an R/C car I want to make into a robot, how do I do it?

Most R/C cars that you find in toy stores use AM Radios and cannot change what frequency they operate on. Because of this, they are illegal for competition. Some higher end R/C cars, like those you find at hobby stores, may use more expensive FM radios. If you can change the frequency and the radios is FM, then you can use it in a competition (more about radios). However, we strongly recommend against it. Even the strongest most powerful R/C car pales in comparison to combat robots. To put it simply, R/C cars would be destroyed. Robots are best built from scratch. The amount of money needed to buy an R/C car that would be legal for competition could buy enough parts to build a competitive insect or sub light class robot.

Can I buy parts from you guys?

We have no plans to start selling parts at this time. . Check out our resources page for links to those who are selling parts.

Why doesn't anyone use a gun or water or radio interference or a net? That would rule!

They are against the rules! The sport is about mechanical hand to hand combat, for a general overview of the rules, check out this page.

I was given the url combatrobotics.net but it just sent me here, why?

We realize our actual url, http://www.totalinsanity.net, is hard to remember. Because of this, we registered a secondary url, http://www.combatrobotics.net, so that people could remember the site more easily at first.

I'm a TV executive and would love to put a show on the air, will you guys help me!

Ok so this isn't the most frequent of frequently asked questions, but if you want to put a show on the air, we'd love to help you out! Although we ourselves have not put on any events, we can get you in contact with those who have. Send us an e-mail to adam at totalinsanity dot net if you want our help.