Robot battle: Nearly 50 miniature bots fight at UK championship event

The UK Beetle Championship, held at St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford, Bristol, showcased nearly 50 miniature robots weighing 3.3 pounds or less competing in head-to-head battles. Organized by the Bristol Bot Builders, the event aimed to promote STEM education by engaging participants and spectators in robotics through an interactive and accessible format. Unlike larger combat robots seen on shows like Robot Wars, these beetleweight bots are smaller, more affordable, and easier to build, yet still capable of delivering powerful hits using weapons such as spinning discs that can reach speeds of 250 mph. Around 300 spectators attended the event, which emphasized hands-on learning and community involvement over pure spectacle. Bristol has become a prominent hub for robot combat in the UK, attracting engineers, students, and hobbyists who dedicate significant time to designing, assembling, and programming their robots. Participants engage in a continuous cycle of building, testing, and refining their machines throughout the year, often programming them for autonomous operation