Robot Combat League (RCL) is a U.S. television show on the Syfy network about robot fighting competitions. On the show, teams use exosuits to control fighting robots. The series is hosted by Chris Jericho and was first shown on February 26, 2013, at 10pm EST.
Overview Each weekly show has tournament competitions between 8-foot, 1,000-pound humanoid robots controlled by human competitors, one robo-jockey and one robo-tech per team. The series has 12 teams of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Each team is paired with a robot that they control using an exo-suit that directs its movements. Each fight is of three rounds and the winning team advances. There are 12 robots.
The robots range from an axe-headed laser-eyed warrior to a robot made of plexiglass and a roll cage.
The robots and the suits used to control them were created by the robotics expert Mark Setrakian.
Rules
: In the season one finale's championship fight there were five two-minute rounds, with the winner being the first team to win three rounds out of the five.
Competitors Each team consists of a uniquely themed robot and two human controllers.
One human is the "Robo-Jockey," controlling the robot's arms and torso while standing via an exosuit-like harness strapped to his or her back and arms. The other human is the "Robo-Tech," seated in a chair while using two joysticks to control the robot's feet and any other unique parts, such as the movable axe "head" on A.X.E.
Each robot is powered by hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. Each robot moves on two feet, stabilized by a bar that attaches at the back of the robot, above the legs. The robots each have six actuators at the waist, and several more in each arm. The robots are all styled and painted to be unique and distinct from each other. This unique styling is especially expressed in the different types and designs of armour that cover each robot, from sheet steel, to steel pipe roll cages, to carbon-fiber, to leather. The robots' hands are also all individually styled, and can be quickly detached to facilitate repairs between rounds, or swapped out for weapon attachments. Several cameras may be mounted on each robot by the show staff to capture show footage, but none of the camera images were used to help control of the robot.
The robots are controlled by the "Robo-Jockey" and "Robo-Tech" by direct line of sight, from two raised platforms at either end of the arena.
The initial team seed order was determined by a timed challenge in the first episode.
Episodes Overview Season Episodes Season premiere Season finale 1 9
Season 1 (2013) No. Title Original air datePowerup Challenges / training / match-ups Fight winner(s) 1 "Rise of the Machines" Feb. 26, 2013 Man meets machine / Steel Cyclone vs Crash Crash 2 "Blood, Sweat and Gears" Mar. 5, 2013 Scorpio vs Commander / Thunder Skull vs Brimstone Scorpio Brimstone 3 "A Hero's Journey" Mar. 12, 2013 Game Over vs A.X.E./ George Lucas cameo / Robo Hammer vs Drone Strike A.X.E. Drone Strike 4 "The Fight of Your Life" Mar. 19, 2013 Special training with Freddie Roach / Steampunk vs Medieval Steampunk 5 "The Next Level of Carnage" Mar. 26, 2013 Big surprise / Quarter-finals begins / A.X.E vs Scorpio Scorpio 6 "Kicking Bot" Apr. 2, 2013 Steampunk vs Drone Strike / Crash vs Brimstone Steampunk Crash 7 "Wild Card Fight" Apr. 9, 2013 Steel Cyclone vs Thunder Skull (both voted in by remaining teams) / Weapon selection Steel Cyclone 8 "Semi-Finals" Apr. 16, 2013 Crash vs Scorpio / Steampunk vs Steel Cyclone Crash Steampunk 9 "Built Like a Champion" Apr. 23, 2013 Powered weapon reveal & corner man selection / Crash vs Steampunk Crash
Season One teams and competition results
Robots Seed Robot Speed Strength Endurance Height Weight Reach Strengths Weaknesses 1 Steel Cyclone 9 6 5 7'0" 768 lbs 41 in • Torpedo fists with hemispherical striking surface• Low profile head and torso • Medium armor crumple zone 2 Commander 5 10 8 8'4" 814 lbs 46 in • Tank tread feet for extra traction• Giant fists • Exposed midsection 3Game Over 6 9 8 8'7" 760 lbs 40.5 in • Massive steel and polycarbonate body armor • Top heavy 4 Brimstone 10 7 6 8'2" 756 lbs 42 in • Hammered steel dome is impenetrable• Leather armor absorbs impact • Hydraulic fluid breaks down leather armor 5Medieval 6 8 8 7'11" 775 lbs 42.5 in • Spike ball• Shock mounted arm shield • Asymmetrical design may be difficult to control 6Robohammer 8 8 6 8'0" 766 lbs 40 in • Chromoly steel fists are heaviest of all robots • Must maintain striking distance 7 Drone Strike 6 9 8 8'0" 792 lbs 43.5 in • Gatling fists• Complete torso protection • Shallow armor crumple zone 8 Steampunk 5 7 10 8'3" 819 lbs 44 in • Deep armor crumple zone for excellent endurance• No shoulder armor for best arm mobility • No shoulder armor 9 Thunder Skull 5 9 8 8'5" 785 lbs 40.5 in • Massive steel fists are long and heavy• Steel armor with excellent coverage • No easy access for repairs10 A.X.E. 5 7 8 7'10" 842 lbs 37.5 in • Axe-head weapon• Excellent front armor protection • Must maintain close range to fight effectively 11 Scorpio 9 8 5 8'1" 760 lbs 43.5 in • Blade weapons• Carbon fiber composite armor • Carbon fiber armor is not as strong as steel 12 Crash 7 5 10 7'9" 826 lbs 38.5 in • Chromoly steel roll cage • Roll cage is hard-mounted, does not absorb impact
Human competitors Time spent on Power-up Challenge Speed Robo-Jockey Robo-Tech Notes16.20s8 Ashley Mary Nunes, superhero impersonator Kyle Samuelson, robotics teacher Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair in Championship15.26s6 Amanda Lucas, MMA fighter Saura Naderi, roboticist Daughter of George Lucas, cameo appearance episode 308.77s3 Keisha Howard, pro gamer Annika O'Brien, robotics engineer 10.23s5 John Peel, former college athlete Heather Knight, electrical engineer Did not participate in Wild Card selection16.02s7 Ciji Thornton, pro gamer Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair, rocket scientist 20.50s10 Andrew Montanez, MMA fighter Ross Mead, PhD, robotics researcher21.76s11 Diana Yang, industrial design student Chris Hardouin, toy designer 07.00s2 Jeffrey Fellin, helicopter pilot Paulo Younse, JPL engineer Did not participate in Wild Card selection20.02s9 Heather Williams, race car driver Brandon Lewis, I.T. specialist Lost Wild Card round09.28s4 Devonric Johnson, former All-American athlete Russell Tait, mechanical engineer and software developer06.64s1 Bayano Kamani, former Olympic athlete Dr. George Kirkman, robotics teacher Won Wild Card round; returned in semi-finals65.12s12 Amber Shinsel, software engineer Dave Shinsel, software manager Father/daughter team; assisted by Ross Mead in Championship
Tournament results
Season One team status
Seed Robot Robo-Jockey Robo-Tech Team status Defeated byWins Losses Final position Notes 1 Steel Cyclone Bayano Kamani, former Olympic athlete Dr. George Kirkman, robotics teacher Knocked out in Round 2 of first fight; lost by decision (86–85) Crash and Steampunk 1 2 Semi-finals (Ep. 8) Won Wild Card round;returned in semi-finals 2 Commander Jeffrey Fellin, helicopter pilot Paulo Younse, JPL engineer Knocked out in Round 3 Scorpio 0 1 First fight (Ep. 2) Did not participate in Wild Card selection 3 Game Over Keisha Howard, pro gamer Annika O'Brien, robotics engineer Lost by decision A.X.E. 0 1 First fight (Ep. 3) 4 Brimstone Devonric Johnson, former All-American athlete Russell Tait, mechanical engineer and software developer Knocked out in Round 3 Crash 1 1 Quarter-finals (Ep. 6) 5 Medieval John Peel, former college athlete Heather Knight, electrical engineer Lost by decision (88–83) Steampunk 0 1 First fight (Ep. 4) Did not participate in Wild Card selection 6 Robohammer Amanda Lucas, MMA fighter Saura Naderi, roboticist Knocked out in Round 1 Drone Strike 0 1 First fight (Ep. 3) Daughter of George Lucas, cameo appearance episode 3 7 Drone Strike Ciji Thornton, pro gamer Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair, rocket scientist Knocked out in Round 3 Steampunk 1 1 Quarter-finals (Ep. 6) 8 Steampunk Ashley Mary Nunes, superhero impersonator Kyle Samuelson, robotics teacher Lost by decision (144–136) Crash 3 1 Championship (Ep. 9) Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair in Championship 9 Thunder Skull Heather Williams, race car driver Brandon Lewis, I.T. specialist Disqualified during first fight /Knocked out in Round 3 Brimstone and Steel Cyclone 0 2 Wild Card (Ep. 7) Lost Wild Card round 10 A.X.E. Andrew Montanez, MMA fighter Ross Mead, PhD robotics researcher Knocked out in Round 2 Scorpio 1 1 Quarter-finals (Ep. 5) 11 Scorpio Diana Yang, industrial design student Chris Hardouin, toy designer Lost by decision (84–81) Crash 2 1 Semi-finals (Ep. 8) 12 Crash Amber Shinsel, software engineer Dave Shinsel, robotics manager Undefeated (Undefeated) 4 0 Champions (Ep. 9) Father/daughter team;assisted by Ross Mead in Championship
Semi-finals match-ups Each semifinalist was offered a choice from four different weapons. The weapons are only meant for use during the third round. They are assembled to only one arm of the robot. Weapon Robo-Jockey Robo-Tech Seed Robot Speed Strength Endurance Wins Losses Status NotesGrinder Diana Yang Chris Hardouin 11 Scorpio 9 8 5 2 0 Lost Double Shank Ashley Mary Nunes Kyle Samuelson 8 Steampunk 5 7 10 2 0 Won Tornado Bayano Kamani Dr. George Kirkman 1 Steel Cyclone 9 6 5 1 1 Lost Won Wild Card roundBunker Amber Shinsel Dave Shinsel 12 Crash 7 5 10 2 0 Won Father/daughter team
Championship match-up Robo-Jockey Robo-Tech Seed Robot Speed Strength Endurance Wins Losses Status Notes Amber Shinsel Dave Shinsel 12 Crash 7 5 10 4 0 Champion Father/daughter team;assisted by Ross Mead Ashley Mary Nunes Kyle Samuelson 8 Steampunk 5 7 10 3 1 Runner-up Assisted by Fazlul "Fuzz" Zubair
Championship scores Round 1 2 3 4 5 Final score Judges 30–25 29–25 30–27 29–28 30–27 144–136 Winner Crash Crash Steampunk Steampunk Crash Crash
See also Real Steel – a science fiction sports drama film, starring Hugh Jackman, where in the year 2020 human boxers have been replaced by robot boxers Robot Jox – a science fiction sports drama film about giant mechanical machines, that fight international battles in a dystopian post-apocalyptic world, piloted by "Robot Jockeys" who represent their respective nations Robot Wars BattleBots Robot Fighting League RoboGames Combots Robo One Robot competition Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots
References