Once upon a time, computer geeks knew how to take apart a computer to fix it. The best ones also knew how to build it from scratch. IT people knew what parts a computer was made of and how they interacted together, and how software breathed life into them. Today, that knowledge hasn’t been lost: it starts with a Raspberry Pi, and it ends in a ring where coders, engineers, and AI interact in bot battles. But there’s a lot more to it than just entertainment.
What are bot battles?
A bot battle (or robot battle) is a type of competition where custom-built, remote-controlled robots fight against each other in a special arena. The robots are typically designed with various offensive weapons such as axes, hammers, flippers, and spinning devices, while adhering to safety rules that prohibit certain dangerous elements like gun-like weapons or high-voltage discharges.
Competitions are often organized into weight classes, with heavier robots generally having more power and stronger armor, and the rules are designed to ensure the safety of builders, operators, and spectators.
However violent in nature, bot battles aren’t just about sparks flying and steel colliding. They’ve grown into a subculture with its own heroes, rivalries, and communities—spanning grassroots hobbyists, student engineers, and professional builders backed by sponsors. What started as a niche spectacle has become a global phenomenon that blends technology, culture, and economics.
The culture of robot combat
At its heart, robot combat culture celebrates DIY spirit and creativity. It’s where makers, hackers, and engineers come together to build machines that embody their personality and philosophy. Some bots are designed to be brutal destroyers, optimized purely for maximum damage. Others are built as tricksters, relying on agility, traps, or clever mechanics to outwit heavier foes.
Teams often adopt memorable names, logos, and personas, creating a sense of identity not unlike esports or wrestling. Fan communities also play a big role. Competitions like BattleBots have cultivated cult followings where viewers not only cheer for machines but also connect with the people and stories behind them: the underdog students, the eccentric inventors, and the families who turn garages into workshops.
In fiction, the movie Real Steel tried to capture this culture.
Social groups and communities
Robot battles bring together diverse social groups:
- Hobbyists and makers: many come from hacker spaces, robotics clubs, or local maker communities. For them, the arena is an extension of the workshop.
- STEM students and universities: engineering programs sponsor battle bot teams as a way to give students hands-on experience, often turning competitions into recruitment showcases.
- Professional engineers and veterans: former competitors have spun off into startups, applying their expertise to robotics industries beyond the arena.
- Fans and digital tribes: online forums, Discord servers, and Youtube channels keep the culture alive between televised seasons, making bot battles part of Internet culture.
Interestingly, the social dynamics reflect a mix of collaboration and rivalry. Behind the scenes, teams share parts, tools, and knowledge, even helping repair an opponent’s bot after a brutal fight. The ethos is competitive but rooted in mutual respect for the craft.
The economics of bot battles
In real life, bot battles have grown into a multi-million-dollar economy: shows like BattleBots and Robot Wars attract sponsorships, ad revenue, and global syndication deals. Teams often secure corporate sponsors such as tool manufacturers, tech companies, and even universities. A flashy bot can be both a competitor and a marketing platform. And then there’s the merch and the fandoms: T-shirts, model kits, and even action figures keep fan engagement (and team funding) alive.
Smaller local competitions and maker fairs have their own micro-economies, where parts suppliers, 3D-printing shops, and independent builders sustain a cottage industry. For some, robot combat is a hobby. For others, it’s a career path, launching opportunities in robotics R&D, defence, automation, and AI-driven systems.
The future of robotics, beyond the arena
As robotics and AI advance, the cultural and economic significance of bot battles may deepen. Could fully autonomous combat bots become a new division, changing what it means to “fight”? Will the economics of esports merge with robotics, making bot battles a digital + physical hybrid sport? How will the global community of makers and fans evolve as new regions, like Asia and South America, rise on the scene?
In the meantime, robots’ capabilities are becoming increasingly advanced, as you can see from the many videos of robots from Boston Dynamics, blurring the line between utility, entertainment, human and machine.
What’s certain is that robot combat is no longer just about who wins the fight. It’s about the people, communities, and stories behind the machines, and how this culture of creation and destruction reflects our relationship with technology.