Story highlights U.S.-based robotics company MegaBots challenges a Japanese company

Suidobashi responds by calling for the robots to fight hand-to-hand, with a person in each robot

MegaBots is trying to raise $500,000 to upgrade its robot for the fisticuffs

(CNN) America's first giant combat robot needs your help.

In late June, the U.S.-based robotics company MegaBots challenged Suidobashi Heavy Industry, a Japanese company, to pit their robots in battle against each other.

Suidobashi responded with the one-upsmanship fitting such a surreal challenge: Let's fight hand to hand.

Now the U.S. team has launched a Kickstarter campaign to upgrade their current robot, so that it can evolve from firing paintballs (as it does now) to throwing punches.

A video posted to Kickstarter on Tuesday explains the updated version of MegaBots' Mk.II has to upgrade its propulsion system so it can move faster, needs better armor to fend off opposing attacks and, of course, could use a Hollywood-esque paint job worthy of such an audacious project.

Read More