Twelve small robots equipped with innovative defenses went head-to-head during the inaugural Crimson Bot Brawl, a display of creativity, teamwork and passion for action-packed robotic combat.
The day-long event brought together 150 students and community members to watch agile bots clash in a plexiglass arena. While some were equipped with rotating metal arms, others defended with wedge-shaped bodies, quickly turning the competition literally upside down.
Of the twelve bots competing, six were made by members of WSU’s Crimson Robotics. The student organization brings together mechanical enthusiasts to design, prototype and build remote-controlled robots.
Viren Uddanwadiker, mechanical engineering sophomore and president of Crimson Robotics, said the club members enjoyed watching the products of their hard work fight together in the same arena.
Student participants got to use skills that they have learned in their engineering classes, such as computer design, 3D printing, design, and fabrication. Nick Charters, a Bot Brawl finalist and junior mechanical engineering student, said the event was rich in learning experiences and real-world applications.
“The event and weeks leading up to it were some of the most valuable learning opportunities I’ve had at WSU.”
Nick Charters
Bot Brawl finalist & junior mechanical engineering student
Washington State University
“We have been working on cool new stuff for nearly a year now, and this was the first real event where we got to see all our work pay off. It was amazing,” he said. “The event and weeks leading up to it were some of the most valuable learning opportunities I’ve had at WSU.”
The 20-round event concluded with a bot left shattered in pieces in the arena. Watching the destructive power of the small, three-pound bots was memorable, said Uddanwadiker.
Crimson Robotics plans on continuing the Bot Brawl in the coming years to foster mechanical innovation and camaraderie between WSU students and robotic fanatics across the state.
