FRR did our usual warm-up show as the folks were getting their combat robots ready and the audience was waiting.  Dennis Clark did the talking, explaining the difficulties of autonomous robots have verses the remote controlled robots.  Greg this year won both the autonomous Critter and Mini-Sumo demos.  Right photo is the finished form of Dennis robot, named Darth Blader.  The robot has lots of potential, assuming the drivers skills can be improved. :-)

The robot that made the biggest buzz was a robot that used a vacuum system to generate a great deal of traction ground force.  It is appropriately named Inhaler.  The robot took 1st place in the 20 pound division.  At Denver's altitude the atmospheric pressure is about 12 psi, at sea level its 14.7 psi.  Assuming the robot can draw the pressure down under it to 2 psi.  Assuming the robot is about 10" by 10" of floor foot print, for a total area of 100 square inches.  The force generated by the column of air above the robot to the floor via its axles and wheels is about 1000 pounds of force!  Lots of folks are now no doubt trying to figure a way of dealing with this robot design!  One photo I wish I had gotten was the demo of the robot sticking to the side of a wall!

Terry Fritz, FRR member came in second place this year. Center picture, Ti-Tan probably lasted the longest in each battle against the very formidable Inhaler.  Right picture is the battle of the Inhaler against the much hated robot that for too many years dominated the 20 pound division.  There was much rejoicing in the crowd when the Inhaler tossed this bot out of the arena!

The most fun and loved robot was this 2 pound fighting nun!  Its arms did work, though just for fun.  It's eyes glowed a nice friendly red!
It got second place and its driver was very skilled!

A non Critter robot was shown by a group proposing a Robot Rodeo.  Their web address is  www.robot-rodeo.org .  Their idea is to have a competition based around a standard chassis.  In this case a Fisher-Price "Power Wheels" of any model.  The base rule is the original drive train and steering has to be used.  The servo drive moving the steering column is from a jet ski water jet thrust vector system.  Hall effect sensors are used for steering column position feedback.  A Parallax Java Stamp is the processor.  After the end of the Critter Crunch events, they did a demo run in a parking lot next the the hotel.  It was cool to see such a large toy moving about on its own.

As usual it  I didn't manage to get photos of all the robots.  Below are some of the robots at this years event.