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Throughout the course of BattleBots history, a number of Forbidden Weapons have been listed in official regulations for designing and building robots. In most cases, these referred to weapon types which had been used, and later outlawed after a specific event. Others were simply banned from the start for sportsmanship, safety or practicality concerns, to discourage builders from incorporating them into their machines.
Types[]
Electrical Weapons[]
In most cases, these involve discharging electric currents to directly damage opponents, or using electromagnetic devices to interfere with radio control signals required for drive and/or weapon functionality. According to the Technical Rules for Season 5.0 and the 2009 Pro/College Championship, the weapons concerned included, but were not limited to, stun guns, cattle prods, tesla coils, radio jamming equipment, and 'Electro-Magnetic Pulse' ('EMP') generators.[1][2]
Fouling Weapons[]
According to the 2009 Championship Building Rules, Fouling Weapons (alternatively fouling devices) refer to sub-sets of weapons intended to either cover/damage the BattleBox, or 'foul' an opponent's internal components and/or mechanisms. Alongside liquids and lubricants, the devices include, but are not limited to:
- Fine or powdered substances, including sand, fibers and metal filings.
- Ball bearings.
- 'Non-combustible gas' intended to extinguish internal combustion engines.
- Bolts.
- Magnets.
- 'Long lightweight fibers' (e.g. fishing line and string).
- Adhesives (e.g. glue, sticky tape).
- Flexible coverings (e.g. nets).
Nets were initially omitted from this classification in the Design Rules for ABC Season 1, a matter which caused controversy when Complete Control used one to entangle Ghost Raptor's bar spinner.[3] This was amended from ABC Season 2 onwards, with nets remaining a prohibited weapon under current BattleBots rules.
Liquids and Lubricants[]
Though legally used within certain systems such as hydraulics, liquids cannot be used as a weapon in their own right; i.e. by being squirted at opponents or purposefully discharged onto the BattleBox floor. These include water or water-based solutions, liquefied gases (e.g. liquid nitrogen)[4], chemical or corrosive substances, 'Foaming liquids', glues or other adhesive substances.
Later design rules considered most of these as 'BattleBox Fouling Weapons', highlighting their potential to not only require clean-up, but also potentially damage the arena in one or more ways. Lubricants (e.g. oil, grease and silicone) were also outlawed under this sub-type.[2]
Visual Obstruction Weapons[]
Alternatively referred to as obscuration weapons, these are devices which are purposefully intended to 'impair the viewing of' competitors by drivers, BattleBots crewmembers or the audience. Examples include:
- Heavy smoke/mist generators.
- Strobe, arc or incandescent lighting systems.
- External lasers.
The latter two are especially hazardous from a safety standpoint; risks include the potential for heavy strobes to trigger seizures in attendees suffering from epilepsy, and permanent eye injury if lasers are used.
Mutually-Destructive Weapons[]
Weapons designed to incapacitate both an opponent and a wielding robot were prohibited, as were purposefully self-destructing weapons (e.g. flywheels). This extended to the use of certain internal components as weapons in their own right, including batteries, pneumatic tanks and hydraulic accumulators.[2]
CO2 Systems[]
Prior to 2015, CO2 was permitted as one of the gas types usable for pneumatic systems. This was changed from the 2015 season onward, with the Design Rules for the reboot prohibiting the use of this gas over storage and safety concerns. Because of this, pneumatically-powered weapons in the ABC and Discovery runs were required to use Nitrogen or compressed air only.[4]
Previously Forbidden[]
Flamethrowers[]
BattleBots had previously forbidden any use of Flamethrowers due to safety concerns, especially during the Comedy Central days when the Lexan walls were much more exposed to attacks from competing robots. However, with a modern arena containing new and stronger barriers, allowing for more protection for the Lexan walls, production have since allowed them as an additional weapon or a deterrent.
Untethered Projectiles[]
Much like Flamethrowers, untethered projectiles such as Cannons were strictly prohibited for much of the show's duration. Rules which outlawed untethered projectile weaponry were relaxed as the show found its feet on ABC and moved to Discovery, with the first cannon robot debuting in 2018.
References[]
- ↑ 'BattleBots Inc. Technical Regulations, Version 2.2', 2002, Battlebots.com (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 'BattleBots Building Rules 2009 Season' (Pro and College Classes), 2009, Battlebots.com (archived)
- ↑ 'BattleBots 2015 Design Rules', BattleBots
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 'BattleBots 2016 Design Rules', 2016, Battlebots.com