Robot Battle in the Middle Of Moscow Stuns Locals and Tourists
Today, robots were fighting on New Arbat Avenue. Dozens of people watched the fight of Shelby and Ponchik, two specially constructed machines. They were destroying out-of-use home appliances in front of the public. Our reporter Vladimir Starikov also learned how to control the robots.
Robot Shelby destroys an old DVD-player in a second and proceeds to a printer. Its weapon is a pneumatic lift. With the 2-ton push, it can even toss up a small elephant.
Anyone can try his hand at controlling the robot. The remote looks like the one for a children's remote-controlled car. This knob, I think, makes it move and this... I guess this button is for throwing printers.
This powerful mechanism was built by a team of young engineers fresh out of Bauman University.
Dmitry Melkin, engineer: "Wheels from a kart, chains from a scooter, a fire extinguisher, another one. Regular batteries, a Soviet-time cylinder".
The second robot, dubbed Ponchik, can be controlled even by kids.
Dmitry Melkin, engineer: "It must be the first robot in the world that has a hole inside"
But even Ponchik is not to be trifled with. He's destroying old gadgets pretty much like Terminator.
Dmitry Melkin, engineer: "In our spare time, we build electric scooters. We also want to start developing parts for electric cars. Like electric motor controllers".
- And these robots are just a warm-up?
Dmitry Melkin, engineer: "Well, yeah. See, you start learning about something and you realize that it doesn't exist in Russia — it has to be created".
The home uncluttering event, which is part of the Year of Ecology, took place at the Golden Autumn festival.
Natalya Khrebtova, Event Organizer: "Even though they are called combat robots, they can also be used for a good cause, like for environmental protection. In this case, the robots are destroying the appliances which are then going to be recycled to protect the environment".
The remains of printers and microwaves will be used to make art, but some pieces have already attracted young robotics fans: "We also want to build a robot. Together with grown-ups. And we need some parts for that".
At the end of October, Shelby and Ponchik will represent our country at the international robot fight, also in Moscow. Our team is already a front-runner.
Vladimir Starikov, Anton Fedotov, Timur Temirbulatov and Yana Novikova. Vesti.