My personal thanks to Hockey Judge Paul Martin, for keeping good order, and keeping the game moving even when the spectators crowded the ring, or when robots suffered battle damage. They didn't come to play, they came to win. Robot sumo inspires as much emotion as the real thing. For this crowd, this IS the real thing. Autonomous machines are slower, and must find their opponents through infra-red or ultrasound.
Tethered machines are more powerful, and use the brains of their operators.
But both contests, run side by side, are exciting. Sumo Judge Adrian Neal had to calm some folks down after controversial, but correct, calls. Tough job, well done. In the pits, there's a practical synergy of team spirit, lending tools, giving ideas and helping hands. This is obviously not just another contest for these kids.