Autobots at Technovanza 2012: Robot Contests on Land and Water

Autobots was the robotics section of Technovanza 2012. The organisers described a range of competitions that tested both mechanical design and programming, with courses laid out across land, air and water, so teams had to build machines that could beat both the clock and each other.

Who it was for

The track offered two beginner-friendly tiers, labelled level 1 and level 2, as well as more unusual and demanding contests for experienced builders. It was pitched as a platform for showing off design skills.

Examples of contests

The timetable lists entries such as Flying Dutchman, Wall-E, Monster Arena, Split Second, Cable Crane, Master of Puppets, Step Up, Prison Break and Robowars. See the schedule summary for how they were arranged. A full rulebook for the flagship challenge is summarised on the robotics challenge page.

A famous reference

The track introduction opened with a nod to science-fiction author Isaac Asimov and his three laws of robotics, which say that a robot should not harm people, should obey humans, and should protect itself, in that order.

Return to the festival overview.