October 2010 saw Robo Challenge help Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury take on a Kung Fu master by creating the ultimate fighting robot. From the initial design right through to build and software programming team Robo Challenge utilised their vast expertise to deliver a completely unique pneumatic Kung Fu training simulator.
The robot has 5 attacking limbs powered by pneumatic rams which were programmed by Robo Challenge to fire in sequence or random and at different speeds. The power of the punch can also be increased by raising the air pressure to the cylinders for the ultimate fighting experience.
Each limb is lined with a super hi-tech (and expensive!!) material which is sensitive to impacts and can detect not only when the robot has been hit but exactly how hard! Software was then programmed to process this information so the robot strikes back with a series of appropriately high power blows!
It is fair to say that to beat this merciless machine you need Jedi speed reactions coupled with fists of steel.
It took the Robo Challenge engineers 3 weeks to produce and it was featured on channel FIVE's the Gadget Show on 1/11/10. The producers specifically didn’t want a 'toy' and came straight to Robo Challenge with their spec for a serious training device to help Jason develop his skills.
The robot was no push over and after 8 weeks solid training, the robot had dished out some damage. Jason’s hands were cut, it had given him a swollen ankle and knocked out one of his teeth! This was a real mean machine that prepared Jason for his Gadget Show challenge, take on a Kung Fu Master! You can see some of the testing footage below. This is on it minimum setting! Also watch the episode online here.
Should you want to find our any further information about Robo Challenge's capabilities, the Kung Fu Robot or any other Robo Challenge projects (including media enquiries) please email info@robochallenge.co.uk . Alternatively you can visit http://www.robochallenge.co.uk/
