Robot Combat League
Robot Combat League (RCL) is a television show on the Syfy network about robot fighting competitions. On the show, teams use exosuits to control fighting robots. The series is hosted by Chris Jericho, and premiered on February 26, 2013 at 10 PM EST.
| Robot Combat League | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action |
| Presented by | Chris Jericho |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 9 |
| Production | |
| Production company(s) | Smart Dog Media |
| Release | |
| Original network | Syfy |
| Original release | February 26 – April 23, 2013 |
| External links | |
| Robot Combat League @ syfy.com Website | |
Overview
Each weekly show features tournament competitions between 8-foot, 1000-pound[1] humanoid robots controlled by human competitors, one robo-jockey and one robo-tech per team. The series features twelve teams of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Each team is paired with a robot that they control using an exo-suit that directs its movements. Each fight goes three rounds, and the winning team advances.[2] There are 12 total robots.
The robots range from an axe-headed laser eyed warrior to a robot made of plexiglass and a roll cage.
The robots and the suits used to control them were created by robotics expert Mark Setrakian.
Rules
Every game has its rules – even ones involving giant, fighting robots. Below are the rules of Robot Combat League:
• Fights consist of three,^ two-minute rounds
• Three ringside judges score the action to determine a winner
• Points are awarded to strong solid hits to vital parts
• Teams have a pit crew and twenty minutes in between rounds to make all necessary repairs
• Judges can stop a round early due to excessive damage
^Note : In the season one finale's championship fight there were five two-minute rounds, with the winner being the first team that won three rounds out of the five.
Competitors
Each team consists of a uniquely themed robot and two human controllers.
- One human is the "Robo-Jockey," controlling the robot's arms and torso while standing via an exosuit-like harness strapped to his or her back and arms.
- The other human is the "Robo-Tech," seated in a chair while using two joysticks to control the robot's feet and any other unique parts, such as the movable axe "head" on A.X.E.
Each robot is powered by hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. Each robot moves on two feet, stabilized by a bar that attaches at the back of the robot, above the legs. The robots each have six actuators at the waist, and several more in each arm. The robots are all styled and painted to be unique and distinct from each other. This unique styling is especially expressed in the different types and designs of armor that cover each robot, from sheet steel, to steel pipe roll cages, to carbon fibre, to leather. The robots' hands are also all individually styled, and can be quickly detached to facilitate repairs between rounds, or swapped out for weapon attachments. Several cameras may be mounted on each robot by the show staff to capture show footage, but none of the camera images were used to help control of the robot.
The robots are controlled by the "Robo-Jockey" and "Robo-Tech" via direct line-of-sight, from two raised platforms at either end of the arena.
The initial team seed order was determined by a timed challenge in the first episode.
Episodes
Overview
| Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | February 26, 2013 | April 23, 2013 |
| 2 | 9 | February 25, 2014 | June 3, 2014 |
Season 1 (2013)
| No. | Title[4] | Original air date[5] | Powerup Challenges / training / match-ups[6] | Fight winner(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rise of the Machines" | Feb. 26, 2013 | Man meets machine / Steel Cyclone vs Crash | Crash | |
| 2 | "Blood, Sweat and Gears" | Mar. 5, 2013 | Scorpio vs Commander / Thunder Skull vs Brimstone | Scorpio | Brimstone |
| 3 | "A Hero's Journey" | Mar. 12, 2013 | Game Over vs A.X.E./ George Lucas cameo[7] / Robo Hammer vs Drone Strike | A.X.E. | Drone Strike |
| 4 | "The Fight of Your Life" | Mar. 19, 2013 | Special training with Freddie Roach / Steampunk vs Medieval | Steampunk | |
| 5 | "The Next Level of Carnage" | Mar. 26, 2013 | Big surprise / Quarter-finals begins / A.X.E vs Scorpio | Scorpio | |
| 6 | "Kicking Bot" | Apr. 2, 2013 | Steampunk vs Drone Strike / Crash vs Brimstone | Steampunk | Crash |
| 7 | "Wild Card Fight" | Apr. 9, 2013 | Steel Cyclone vs Thunder Skull (both voted in by remaining teams) / Weapon selection | Steel Cyclone | |
| 8 | "Semi-Finals" | Apr. 16, 2013 | Crash vs Scorpio / Steampunk vs Steel Cyclone | Crash | Steampunk |
| 9 | "Built Like a Champion" | Apr. 23, 2013 | Powered weapon reveal & corner man selection / Crash vs Steampunk | Crash | |
Season One teams and competition results
Robots
| Seed | Robot | Speed | Strength | Endurance | Height | Weight | Reach | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Cyclone | 9 | 6 | 5 | 7'0" | 768 lbs | 41 in | • Torpedo fists with hemispherical striking surface • Low profile head and torso | • Medium armor crumple zone |
| 2 | Commander | 5 | 10 | 8 | 8'4" | 814 lbs | 46 in | • Tank tread feet for extra traction • Giant fists | • Exposed midsection |
| 3 | Game Over | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8'7" | 760 lbs | 40.5 in | • Massive steel and polycarbonate body armor | • Top heavy |
| 4 | Brimstone | 10 | 7 | 6 | 8'2" | 756 lbs | 42 in | • Hammered steel dome is impenetrable • Leather armor absorbs impact | • Hydraulic fluid breaks down leather armor |
| 5 | Medieval | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7'11" | 775 lbs | 42.5 in | • Spike ball • Shock mounted arm shield | • Asymmetrical design may be difficult to control |
| 6 | Robohammer | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8'0" | 766 lbs | 40 in | • Chromoly steel fists are heaviest of all robots | • Must maintain striking distance |
| 7 | Drone Strike | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8'0" | 792 lbs | 43.5 in | • Gatling fists • Complete torso protection | • Shallow armor crumple zone |
| 8 | Steampunk | 5 | 7 | 10 | 8'3" | 819 lbs | 44 in | • Deep armor crumple zone for excellent endurance • No shoulder armor for best arm mobility | • No shoulder armor |
| 9 | Thunder Skull | 5 | 9 | 8 | 8'5" | 785 lbs | 40.5 in | • Massive steel fists are long and heavy • Steel armor with excellent coverage | • No easy access for repairs |
| 10 | A.X.E. | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7'10" | 842 lbs | 37.5 in | • Axe-head weapon • Excellent front armor protection | • Must maintain close range to fight effectively |
| 11 | Scorpio | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8'1" | 760 lbs | 43.5 in | • Blade weapons • Carbon fiber composite armor | • Carbon fiber armor is not as strong as steel |
| 12 | Crash | 7 | 5 | 10 | 7'9" | 826 lbs | 38.5 in | • Chromoly steel roll cage | • Roll cage is hard-mounted, does not absorb impact |
Human competitors
| Seed | Robo-Jockey | Robo-Tech | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayano Kamani, former Olympic athlete | Dr. George Kirkman, robotics teacher | Won Wild Card round; returned in semi-finals |
| 2 | Jeffrey Fellin, helicopter pilot | Paulo Younse, JPL engineer | Did not participate in Wild Card selection |
| 3 | Keisha Howard, pro gamer | Annika O'Brien, robotics engineer | |
| 4 | Devonric Johnson, former All-American athlete | Russell Tait, mechanical engineer and software developer | |
| 5 | John Peel, former college athlete | Heather Knight, electrical engineer | Did not participate in Wild Card selection |
| 6 | Amanda Lucas, MMA fighter | Saura Naderi, roboticist | Daughter of George Lucas, cameo appearance episode 3 |
| 7 | Ciji Thornton, pro gamer | Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair, rocket scientist | |
| 8 | Ashley Mary Nunes, superhero impersonator | Kyle Samuelson, robotics teacher | Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair in Championship |
| 9 | Heather Williams, race car driver | Brandon Lewis, I.T. specialist | Lost Wild Card round |
| 10 | Andrew Montanez, MMA fighter | Ross Mead, PhD, robotics researcher | |
| 11 | Diana Yang, industrial design student | Chris Hardouin, toy designer | |
| 12 | Amber Shinsel, software engineer | Dave Shinsel, software manager | Father/daughter team; assisted by Ross Mead in Championship |
Tournament results
| Teams | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Championship | |||||||||||||||
| 12 | Crash | Rd.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Steel Cyclone | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Crash | Rd.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Brimstone | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Brimstone | Rd.2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Thunder Skull | DQ'd | ||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Crash | 84 | ||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Scorpio | 81 | ||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Scorpio | Rd.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Commander | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Scorpio | Rd.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 | A.X.E. | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 10 | A.X.E. | Rd.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Game Over | UD | ||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Crash | 144 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Steampunk | 136 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Drone Strike | Rd.1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Robohammer | KO | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Steampunk | 90 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Drone Strike | 75 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Steampunk | 88 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Medieval | 83 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Steampunk | 86 | ||||||||||||||||
| Wild Card | 1 | Steel Cyclone | 85 | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Steel Cyclone | Rd.3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Thunder Skull | KO | ||||||||||||||||
Season One team status
| Seed | Robot | Robo-Jockey | Robo-Tech | Team status | Defeated by | Wins | Losses | Final position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steel Cyclone | Bayano Kamani, former Olympic athlete | Dr. George Kirkman, robotics teacher | Knocked out in Round 2 of first fight; lost by decision (86–85) | Crash and Steampunk | 1 | 2 | Semi-finals (Ep. 8) | Won Wild Card round; returned in semi-finals |
| 2 | Commander | Jeffrey Fellin, helicopter pilot | Paulo Younse, JPL engineer | Knocked out in Round 3 | Scorpio | 0 | 1 | First fight (Ep. 2) | Did not participate in Wild Card selection |
| 3 | Game Over | Keisha Howard, pro gamer | Annika O'Brien, robotics engineer | Lost by decision | A.X.E. | 0 | 1 | First fight (Ep. 3) | |
| 4 | Brimstone | Devonric Johnson, former All-American athlete | Russell Tait, mechanical engineer and software developer | Knocked out in Round 3 | Crash | 1 | 1 | Quarter-finals (Ep. 6) | |
| 5 | Medieval | John Peel, former college athlete | Heather Knight, electrical engineer | Lost by decision (88–83) | Steampunk | 0 | 1 | First fight (Ep. 4) | Did not participate in Wild Card selection |
| 6 | Robohammer | Amanda Lucas, MMA fighter | Saura Naderi, roboticist | Knocked out in Round 1 | Drone Strike | 0 | 1 | First fight (Ep. 3) | Daughter of George Lucas, cameo appearance episode 3 |
| 7 | Drone Strike | Ciji Thornton, pro gamer | Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair, rocket scientist | Knocked out in Round 3 | Steampunk | 1 | 1 | Quarter-finals (Ep. 6) | |
| 8 | Steampunk | Ashley Mary Nunes, superhero impersonator | Kyle Samuelson, robotics teacher | Lost by decision (144–136) | Crash | 3 | 1 | Championship (Ep. 9) | Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair in Championship |
| 9 | Thunder Skull | Heather Williams, race car driver | Brandon Lewis, I.T. specialist | Disqualified during first fight / Knocked out in Round 3 | Brimstone and Steel Cyclone | 0 | 2 | Wild Card (Ep. 7) | Lost Wild Card round |
| 10 | A.X.E. | Andrew Montanez, MMA fighter | Ross Mead, PhD robotics researcher | Knocked out in Round 2 | Scorpio | 1 | 1 | Quarter-finals (Ep. 5) | |
| 11 | Scorpio | Diana Yang, industrial design student | Chris Hardouin, toy designer | Lost by decision (84–81) | Crash | 2 | 1 | Semi-finals (Ep. 8) | |
| 12 | Crash | Amber Shinsel, software engineer | Dave Shinsel, software manager | Undefeated | (Undefeated) | 4 | 0 | Champions (Ep. 9) | Father/daughter team; assisted by Ross Mead in Championship |
Semi-finals match-ups
| Robo-Jockey | Robo-Tech | Seed | Robot | Speed | Strength | Endurance | Wins | Losses | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Mary Nunes | Kyle Samuelson | 8 | Steampunk | 5 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won | |
| Bayano Kamani | Dr. George Kirkman | 1 | Steel Cyclone | 9 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | Lost | Won Wild Card round |
| Amber Shinsel | Dave Shinsel | 12 | Crash | 7 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | Won | Father/daughter team |
| Diana Yang | Chris Hardouin | 11 | Scorpio | 9 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 0 | Lost |
Championship match-up
| Robo-Jockey | Robo-Tech | Seed | Robot | Speed | Strength | Endurance | Wins | Losses | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Shinsel | Dave Shinsel | 12 | Crash | 7 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | Champion | Father/daughter team; assisted by Ross Mead |
| Ashley Mary Nunes | Kyle Samuelson | 8 | Steampunk | 5 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | Lost | Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair |
| Championship scores | ||||||
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judges | 30–25 | 29–25 | 30–27 | 29–28 | 30–27 | 144–136 |
| Winner | Crash | Crash | Steampunk | Steampunk | Crash | Crash |
See also
- Real Steel – a science fiction sports drama film, starring Hugh Jackman, where in the year 2020 human boxers have been replaced by robot boxers
- Robot Jox – a science fiction sports drama film about giant mechanical machines, that fight international battles in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world, piloted by "Robot Jockeys" who represent their respective nations
- Robot Wars
- BattleBots
- Robot Fighting League
- RoboGames
- Combots
- Robo One
- Robot competition
- Rockem Sockem Robots
References
- Hibberd, James (20 November 2012). "Giant boxing robots reality show unveiled by Syfy". insidetv.ew.com. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
- "About | Robot Combat League | Syfy". syfy.com. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
- "Rules of the Game | Robot Combat League | Syfy". syfy.com. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- "Episodes | Robot Combat League | Syfy". syfy.com. Retrieved 17 Apr 2013.
- "Robot Combat League – Episode Guide – Zap2it". tvlistings.zap2it.com. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- "Robot Combat Tournament | Robot Combat League | Syfy". syfy.com. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- "Filmmaking Legend George Lucas Appears on 'Robot Combat League' Tuesday, March 12 on Syfy". TV by the Numbers. 2013-03-06. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
- "Meet the Robots | Gallery | Robot Combat League | Syfy". syfy.com. Retrieved 19 Apr 2013.