Initially only focused on Combat Robots, RioBotz now competes as well in other categories such as autonomous and remote-controlled Robot Sumo, Humanoids, solar-powered BEAM, Self-Balancing and Line Follower.  

     Combat robotics attracts all kinds of participants, from all ages especially those interested in engineering, machine design, computer science, new technologies and their trends. The competitions involve one-on-one duels between radio-controlled robotic vehicles in a bulletproof arena. To win by knockout, one robot must disable the opponent’s robot or throw it in a dead zone in the arena periphery. The robots can use any kind of mechanical weapon to accomplish that, such as hammers, axes, blades, saws, spears.

     Each combat lasts up to 3 minutes. If there’s not a knockout, a panel of three judges decides the winner based on the performance of each robot, awarding aggression and damage points. Similarly to boxing, the robots are divided in weight classes, which range from the very light 150-gram “fairyweights” to the astonishing 150kg “super-heavyweights”. Competitions like these stimulate the builders’ creativity, allowing them to apply their knowledge of physics, mathematics, mechanics, electronics and programming to build real robots.

     The focus of combat robotics is on construction, not destruction. Any damaged robot will provide knowledge to build improved and more resistant systems. In addition, any contestant may give up and stop the fight at any time to avoid costly damages to his/her robots. 

     There are several combat robot leagues all over the world, especially in the USA, the UK, Australia and Brazil. A few of the many broadcasters covering these events are CNN, Discovery, BBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, MTV and The History Channel. Currently, Brazilian competitions are organized by RoboCore, the only combat robot league in the country, responsible for the annual Winter Challenge.