Maker Faire Preview: Robots Invade Austin

Robots and all things robotic will play a big role at this year's Maker Faire. The first ever RoboGames Texas Cup will be at the center of the robot related revelry. This fighting robot competition will feature contestants from the US and Canada battling to win a Texas Cup in five different weight divisions. Over twenty five fights per day will take place on the RoboGames battlefield, a 1600 square foot bulletproof arena. Contestants will be equipped with flame throwers, spinning blades, pneumatic flippers, and many other frightening implements of robotic destruction. Among the battling-bots will be Austin-based "The Judge" and "Ziggy", a 340lb Canadian crowd favorite. Also hailing from Canada, in the lightweight category, "Texas Heat" will try to live up to its name by breathing fire on the competition.

Further Maker Faire robot offerings include the local Austin Robot Group, whose multiple projects will patrol the fairgrounds. The LASA Robotics team will show and demonstrate retired competition robots of all sizes. The North Texas Battle Group, a ComBot model warship club will display their radio-controlled WWII era model warships, complete with CO2 powered cannons that sink the competition. FIRST Robotics, a non-profit whose mission is to inspire young people in the fields of science and technology, will be at the event to showcase their work and talk about their organization. Participants in the Capital BEST Robotics design contest will test their machines. Makers and handlers will be on site to sign autographs and answer questions about their robots.

Maker Faire, a celebration of all things do-it-yourself, is taking place in Austin on Saturday, October 18th and Sunday, October 19th at the Travis County Expo Center. Discount tickets are available now through October 17th at the Austin Children's Museum and at Whole Foods on Lamar.