The robots were ready to rumble in anticipation of the Robot Sumo Wrestling Competition at California's Exploratorium museum over the weekend. The popularity of these robot battles has been growing over the past 20 years as robo-technology has transformed the bots into more challenging and clever competitors.
Sumo bots use a variety of strategies for kicking robutt.
The robot's simple detector mechanism, consisting of a wing that locates corners and other obstacles, may someday be used in rescue robots deployed to find land mines or natural disaster victims. Last Year's Robot Races Explore our two-week archive. Stargazing Check out our telescopes and accessories.