When @TeamStormUK, Robot Wars and Battlebots veterans got in touch with us about running our Rugged Circuits controllers in the battle arena we jumped at the chance to showcase our technology in the very harshest environments – inside #Storm2
Here’s what Team Storm had to say after completing their first VERY SUCCESSFUL competition with a record setting ZERO BROWNOUTS and ZERO GLITCHES. The Ruggeduino MINI SMALLs “didn’t miss a beat!”
After a dominant run in Robot Wars in the 2000’s and competing around the globe from BattleBots to RoboGames and Robots Live—Team Storm is getting back in the arena once more
As we gear up for the return of Storm 2, we’re not just looking to get her back to her historic best—we’re engineering her to be better than ever. The next evolution of Storm 2 will be faster, smarter, and more resilient, thanks to cutting-edge technology and just a little bit of innovation.
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned from past battles is that even the smallest vulnerability can cost you a fight. So we’re focused on re-engineering every element of Storm 2, and at the heart of that transformation is a changing our approach to control systems. In the world of competitive robotics, autonomics, automation, and real-time systems are untapped opportunities. Few teams venture into this space, but we believe it’s just one area of incremental gains where we can add to our competitive edge.
To do this, we needed a controller that could withstand the extreme conditions of battle—think brutal impacts, massive g-forces, relentless vibration, fire, flames, electrical noise, and more. Off-the-shelf controllers just weren’t built for the punishment a combat robot endures. That’s why, after exhaustive research, we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Rugged Circuits, a company that has consistently delivered products capable of standing up to the toughest environments.
Together, we’re taking their battle-proven hardware into the arena. For us, it’s about "driver offload in hardware"—getting the control system to take on some of the mental load, making Storm 2 easier to drive, more reliable, and even able to make simple, real-time decisions based on sensor inputs. Every pulse of data from the driver that is sent to Storm 2’s speed controllers, weapons systems will be entrusted to Rugged Circuits.
Team Captian Ed Hoppitt said "... the moment I opened the packaging and took at look at the Rugged Circuits Ardunio I knew that I had something different in my hands. The fit and finish is above anything I've seen from any other manufacturer - it's clear there is attention to detail just from the physical design - rugged is definitely in the mindset here'
As we prepare to unleash the next-generation Storm 2, we’re confident that with Rugged Circuits at the helm of our control systems, we’ll be taking #Storm2 to a whole new level, and as we look to re-fit Photon Storm whose short run on Battlebots was cut off by the incredible Minatour, we can't wait to them them in there too.
Keep an eye out for how we progress and how the new combo of software and hardware performs in the arena.