The Weirdest Fighting Robots We’ve Seen at NHRL

Jet engine ✈️

It’s not as much a fighting robot as it is a sensory overload robot. It sure looks cool, though, and sometimes that’s all you need.

@nationalhavoc This is Hotshot. A 30lb fighting robot based around a jet engine. You might remember the first version of this robot: Flameout. It’s had a huge upgrade, now has armor and a full drive system. It’s designed to blast other robots away whilst doing lots of heat damage to their internals. It still needs further upgrades but it’s an assault on all the senses in real life combat. #nhrl #jetengine #fyp ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

3D printer with knives 🔪

You may have seen Emily the Engineer’s wacky build videos on YouTube, and this one is no less insane. She strapped knives on a 3D printer. It’s sort of “Big Hero 6” meets “Halloween.”

@nationalhavoc Call that a knife? This is a knife #nhrl #robot #3dprinterpen ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Airbag 🚗

If William Osman is involved, you know something weird and dangerous is going to happen.

@nationalhavoc William Osman & The Backyard Scientist convert a car airbag into a combat robot 🤖💨 #nhrl ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Nail gun 🛠️

“I’m a pretty good shot with a nail gun, but one day my boss, Mr. Larson…got in the way.”

@nationalhavoc We get asked all the time, can I put a nailgun on my robot? The answer is YES 👍 We allow projectiles as long as they fire under 150mph like Odin, God of Nailgun combat robot #nhrl #powertools #ryobi ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Hot dog machine 🌭

Once again, a William Osman bot. Anybody want ketchup?

@nationalhavoc Raw Dog, the 4lb All-American Beef hot dog robot 🌭 Head over to the NHRL YouTube channel to see what Michael Reeves, William Osman, & The Backyard Scientist cook up 👨‍🍳 #nhrl #hotdog #robot ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Rocket engine 🚀

It’s a weaponized rocket engine called “Flaming Fart.” What more could you want?

@nationalhavocThis is what happens when you make a robot weapon from a rocket engine. A huge explosion and a LOT of smoke. Luckily we have a negative air pressure system which sucks out all the smoke safely.♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Drone 🤖

At first glance, this bot seems untouchable (quite literally), but remember you’re dealing with engineers. If there’s a will, there’s a way.

@nationalhavoc How do you beat a flying robot you can’t reach? You use a very clever solution. Highly technical and creative. (Glue a big stick to the top of your robot and swat it out of the air). #nhrl #engineering #battlebots #drone #droneracing #robotfight #fightingrobot ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Microwave and a lawnmower blade 🍿

Cook some popcorn, mow your lawn, and visit the ER (probably).

@nationalhavoc A hilarious robot made from an old microwave, Walmart toys and random junk, put together in a few hours to compete. Meet Spare Parts, kind of like if Adam Savage from Myth Busters built a scrapyard version of Johnnie 5 from Short Circuit. It became an instant hit at NHRL 2023 January event. #terminator #nhrl #adamsavage #junkyard ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Fireworks and glitter 🌟

Hamburgers, cows, fireworks, and glitter. Are we in a Mad Lib?

@nationalhavoc A hilarious robot made from an old microwave, Walmart toys and random junk, put together in a few hours to compete. Meet Spare Parts, kind of like if Adam Savage from Myth Busters built a scrapyard version of Johnnie 5 from Short Circuit. It became an instant hit at NHRL 2023 January event. #terminator #nhrl #adamsavage #junkyard ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League

Flamethrower 🔥

Our mixtape just dropped.

@nationalhavoc Penguin gets destroyed by a combat robot with a flamethrower #nhrl #robotcombat #combatrobots #combatrobotics ♬ original sound – NHRL – Robot Combat League