The hall re-opened for membership in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019. Over these years an additional eighteen robots were elected to full membership and twenty-four robots were named in the honorable mention roll.

Members of the Combat Robot Hall of Fame

Membership in the Hall is by ballot of the global combat robot community. Notification and balloting instructions appear in combat robot forums in the US, UK, and Australia in August of odd-numbered years. Your next chance to vote will come in about:

A robot appearing on at least 50% of authenticated ballots gains full membership in the Hall, and a robot appearing on fewer than 50% but at least 25% of the ballots appears on the Honorable Mention roll and remain eligible for promotion to full membership in future balloting.

Biohazard Inaugural class - The six-time heavyweight champion set the high water mark for longevity and top-notch design. Carlo Bertocchini's low, all electric lifter remains the most successful robot in history with six championships, twenty-seven wins, and three losses. This 'bot gets my vote to set right in the entrance to the Hall of Fame. Biohazard Website



Unanimous Selection

Bite Force Inducted 2019 - Paul Ventimiglia has been building fearsome combat robots for years, but few expected his entries in the BattleBots reboot to so effectively dominate the competition. Winning three championships in four attempts while incurring only a single loss in 24 fights places 'Bite Force' at the apex of the 250-pound class. Aptyx Designs on Facebook

Blendo Inaugural class - The first of the gas-powered spinners, and the first 'bot to be judged too dangerous to compete. The design has been copied by countless imitators, who have learned that there is more to building a good spinner than just getting the thing to spin. James Hyneman was declared heavyweight co-champion of the 1995 Robot Wars. Blendo Website (archived)

Carbide Inducted 2017 - The vanguard of the new and fearsome UK spinners, 'Carbide' was a terror in the 2016 Robot Wars reboot and came back stronger and more durable to walk thru the field for victory in 2017. Experienced and successful roboteers Dave Moulds and Sam Smith joined forces to become the new UK superteam. Carbide on Facebook

Cassius Inducted 2007 - A true Robot Wars design paradigm, Rex Garrod's innovative pneumatic flipper weapon doubled as a SRIMECH. The audience was stunned by the unexpected when it to became the first British combat robot to self-right (Robot Wars 1998). Cassius Website (archived)

Chaos 2 Inaugural class - First flipper to put a 'bot out of the arena. Two-time Robot Wars heavyweight champion with more match wins there than anyone else (19). There are other great British flippers, but if I have to pick one I'll pick Chaos 2. As a plus, driver George Francis is a very nice guy! Chaos 2 Website

Complete Control Inaugural class - This middleweight was the first 'bot that could effectively and reliably clamp its opponent, lift it off the ground, and parade around the arena waving it in the air. What could be more humiliating? Kudos to Derek Young. Complete Control Website (archived)



Unanimous Selection Diesector Inaugural class - two-time super-heavyweight champion with sixteen wins, this 'bot was all action. Independent jaws, dual independent side-mounted hammers and enormous power. Donald Hutson drove it well and made it do a great victory dance. Diesector Website

Dr. Inferno Jr. Inaugural class - Now, that looks like a robot! It won championships, too. Jason Dante Bardis combined a whole lot of power with exotic materials in a lightweight package to make a 'bot with a unique balance of style and performance. Two BattleBots lightweight championships, 12 wins, 3 losses. Infernolab Website

Envy Inducted 2009 - Team Bud is the heart and soul of the UK Roaming Robots and their formidable full-pressure front-hinge flipper dominated their 2008 season. Envy Website

Explosion Inducted 2013 - At the time of induction Team Invade's dominating UK featherweight flipper was the UK champion and may have been the most successful UK featherweight in UK history. The full-pressure flipper pioneered Hardox steel armor in the featherweight class. Team Invade website



Unanimous Selection Hazard Inaugural class - Master of the spinning blade. The design was simple and the results were deadly. Tony Buchignani knew his metallurgy and physics, and created the most feared and successful 'bot in its class with three middleweight championships, seventeen wins, and only one loss! Hazard Website (archived)

Hypno-Disc Inaugural class - The British don't really do the whole-body spinner thing. David Rose's heavyweight disc-spinner took a different tack on big kinetic energy destruction. Its appealing mix of drivability and destruction inspired many imitators. Hypno-Disc Website

Iron-Awe 5 Inducted 2009 - The 2008 UK heavyweight champion does not just dominate other robots, it removes them from the arena. In its first year of competition it flipped 33 robots out of the arena - five in a single match (twice)! Add to that a 19 match winning streak starting in 2007 and you have a true hall of fame robot. Team Iron Awe Website

KillerHurtz Inaugural class - This Robot Wars polycarbonate uni-body wonder crossed the pond to finish heavyweight runner-up at BattleBots. John Reid's sophisticated control systems and a powerful pneumatic overhead axe made for a dangerous package. Teamhurtz Website

La Machine Inaugural class - The original wedge and icon of the early years of Robot Wars. Winner of the 1995 Robot Wars middleweight crown, Greg Munson's superstar performer also won both the middleweight and heavyweight class rumbles that year. La Machine Website (archived)

Last Rites / Tombstone

Inducted 2009 - Ray Billings has a simple approach to building robots - build a giant weapon and attach a tough drivetrain to shove it at your opponent. Brute Force has no better friend. Motto: "Strategy is for those guys without weapons." When one of Ray's robots fires up, EVERYBODY heads for the stands to watch. Tombstone's BattleBots title in 2016 was just the cherry on top of the cake. Hardcore Robotics Website

Mauler Inaugural class - The first 'Tuna Can' spinner was nearly as dangerous to itself as to its opponents. The various incarnations of Mauler were always entertaining, as was the Tilford clan that built them. When the heavyweight spinner demonstrated the physics of the 'tippy-top' and flipped itself onto its back in a moment of supreme instability it coined a term: forever after known as 'doing a Mauler'. Mauler Website (archived)

Mechadon Inaugural class - It only had two match wins, but that makes no difference. What it lacked in fighting ability, it more than made up for in coolness. This 480 pound, six-legged superheavyweight wonder was a true walker, with independent multi-axis control of each leg. How did Mark Setrakian operate this thing? Team Sinister Mechadon Demo.

Megabyte Inducted 2005 - The only single 'bot to win championships in two weight classes, Robotic Death Company's heavyweight spinner competes and wins against superheavyweight 'bots. Overall record: 49 wins, 19 losses, and 1 national championship. Robotic Death Company website

Minion Inaugural class - This two-time champion was fast, controllable, and capable of thunderous ramming attacks. Christian Carlberg raised the bar in the super-heavyweight class with this bot. Minion Website (archived)

Nightmare Inaugural class - King of the vertical spinners. A pure weapon on wheels, this heavyweight 'bot was the poster boy for destruction. The first 'bot capable of throwing pieces of its opponent up and out of the arena, Jim Smentowski forced event organizers to put a roof on the containment box. Nightmare Website

Original Sin Inducted 2015 - Possibly the toughest heavyweight ever built. Team Late Night Racing believes that the way to win is to hurl their robot at you until you break. An unmatched heavyweight record of 64 wins and 15 losses, seven RoboGames titles, and four ComBots Cup championships say they are correct! [No Website Available]

Overkill Inaugural class - It's all about the blade, dude. The huge heat-treated 4130 steel blade is a real eye-catcher. Maybe the best of the show-off bots, Christian Carlberg's heavyweight Overkill looked great and performed at the highest level. Overkill Website (archived)

Panic Attack Inaugural class - Looking like a piece of construction equipment and painted to send a strong 'keep away' message, Kim Davies' durable and strong lifter was a tough opponent. A Robot Wars champion and BattleBots heavyweight competitor, this Welsh 'bot surprised me with its strong showing in the voting. Panic Attack Website (archived)

Panzer / Wrath Inaugural class - Todd Mendenhall's 'Panzer' is the only robot to win two different televised competitions. The adaptable six-wheel drive platform won the third season of Robotica, dominated the second Robot Wars Extreme Warriors tournament, and (as 'Wrath') had a 75% match win record at BattleBots. Versatile, powerful, and fast, the 'bot is difficult to match at any aspect of combat. [No website available]

Professor Chaos Inducted 2011 - The middleweight terror from WPI Combat Robotics ruled the middleweight class in the U.S. since its first tournament in 2008 'til its retirement in 2010, and pummeled the top robots in the division. Record: 14 wins / 2 losses. WPI Robotics website



Unanimous Selection Razer Inaugural class - Two-time Robot Wars world heavyweight champion and a real work of art. Ian Lewis and company built the first successful hydraulic crusher-bot on the planet. Razer Website

Rust In Peace Inducted 2015 - Dominating success in combat? How about 45 wins, 2 losses, and 12 tournament victories! This 60 kg drum robot pulled Indian combat robotics onto the world stage. The team also leads the movement toward safer combat arenas in India. Well done! R.I.P. on Facebook

Sewer Snake Inducted 2007 - Team Plumb Crazy has held an unprecedented stranglehold on the U.S. large combat robot classes. At one time Matt and Wendy Maxham's stable included the #1 ranked heavyweight (Sewer Snake), the #1 ranked middleweight, and the #3 ranked lightweight. Sewer Snake's record: 77 wins, 30 losses. Team Plumb Crazy Website

Silent Spring Inducted 2019 - Jamison Go's dominant US beetleweight has terrorized the class since its first tournament win in 2015. The first beetleweight in the Hall rides in on an 18 win / three championship undefeated streak. Copies of its big water-cut, single tooth, 4130 steel disk abound but this is the original. G3 Robotics Website

Son of Whyachi Inaugural class - If brute force doesn't work, it's because you're not using enough of it! Terry Ewert packed a really big punch with this monster spinner that combined a rule-shaving 'shufflebot' propulsion system with huge power and great craftsmanship. Also gets a point for being rendered ineligible to defend its heavyweight title due to rule changes it precipitated. Team Whyachi Website

Tazbot Inaugural class - Donald Hutson builds cool 'bots. I think that if I had my choice of 'bots to drive in a tournament just for fun, I'd pick heavyweight Tazbot. The rotating turret with lifter adds an extra degree of movement and excitement. Miniature replicas of Tazbot were the most popular of the BattleBots toys. Tazbot Website

TerrorHurtz Inducted 2009 - The 2004 Roaming Robots champion and 6th Wars semi-finalist carried the most powerful overhead axe in the UK: 900kg of force and 2300 joules of energy. Top notch design and workmanship made John Reid's 'bot a favorite with builders and the audience. This 2007 Honorable Mention winner achieved full Hall of Fame membership in 2009. TerrorHurtz website

The Judge Inducted 2005 - You just had to be there! When the giant overhead hammer came down, the whole building shook and the crowd shouted "GUILTY!" A unique rack and pinion hammer actuator by Jacha Little gave the super-heavyweight unprecedented striking power and speed. Overall record, 24 wins, 12 losses. Mechanicus website (archived)

The Master Inducted 2011 - The original 'thwackbot', The Master was a pioneer in interchangeable weaponry and the 'all in the wheels' drive train. Weapon modules included a grinding wheel, a lifter, and a long chain 'whip'. Mark Setrakian was co-winner of the 1995 Robot Wars heavyweight title with this creation, and it continued to compete for many years. Record: 8 wins, 4 losses. [No website available]

Tornado Inaugural class - Innovators and Robot Wars champions. Andrew Marchant's rambot once claimed to have the most power of any combat 'bot on the planet. The controversy over the 'anti-crusher web' alone should put them in the hall of fame. Tornado Website

Toro Inaugural class - Alex Rose took the game into the air! This 'bot stunned the robot community when it first rolled out and started throwing its super-heavyweight opponents end-over-end through the air. Winner of the championship and back-to-back rumbles. Simply awesome! Inertia Labs Website (archived)

Vertical Disc of Destruction Inducted 2005

The first insect-class 'bot inducted into the hall, Ted Shimoda's VDD brought the power of the vertical disc spinner to the antweight world in a big way. The current incarnation features a revolutionary kevlar-wrapped carbon fiber rod spaceframe chassis. Team Think Tank Website (archived)

Vlad the Impaler Inaugural class - Chunky and powerful, this two-time heavyweight champion by Gage Cauchois pioneered the pneumatic lifter as an effective weapon and was the first immobilized robot to self-right in competition (1997 U.S. Robot Wars). Record: 16 wins, three losses. Vlad the Impaler Website (archived)

Unanimous Selection

Voltronic / Voltarc Inaugural class - Another of the early BattleBots icons and a very tough heavyweight competitor. Builder Stephen Felk may give the most animated interview in robotic combat and has been immortalized with his own verb, as in: "I got too excited at lunch and I felked myself." (No website available)