Q. Why are you called The Fighting Milkmen?

A. When we started the team, we couldn’t decide on one name so we went online to a random team name generator. After going through over a hundred names, Fighting Milkman came up. We considered it and kept going through names but nothing could compare to being called The Fighting Milkmen! Therefore, we became The Fighting Milkmen Combat Robotics Team.

Q. How do you design a combat robot?

A. We watched many combat matches on YouTube and determined what we thought was the best strategy and type of weapon we should use. The design is based on how you want to harm the other robots, whether its flipping them in the air, piercing their armor, or using a weapon to annihilate them. You also need to make sure your robot is properly armored to protect your robot from the different types of weapons your opponents may have.

Q. Do you make all the parts on your robot?

A. We make most of the robot parts by ourselves, which is done at our machine shop at Tiger Enterprises. We have many machining capabilities on-site, including wire EDM and CNC machines. When we need to make parts beyond our capabilities, we will send them out to other facilities which can do the work.

Q. Does your robot need to be a certain size or weight?

A. Every competition accepts different weight classes of combat robots, but there are standard weights. They range from 150 grams up to 340 lbs. There is no size limit but usually the weight limits the size of the robot.

Q. Is combat robotics only for a certain groups of people or schools?

A. No, anyone can build a robot and enter a competition! Individuals from every line of profession and all ages are involved in combat robotics. Even middle school, high school, and college teams compete!

Q. Is this like the Battlebots TV show?

A. Yes, it is exactly like Battlebots, except without all the arena hazards. Battlebots is no longer televised, but the competition still happens anually. Check out http://www.battlebots.com for more information.

Q. Does it cost a lot of money to make a combat robot?

A. Our robots are expensive, but you can build a robot from parts lying around the house. We pay for all of the parts and the transportation to the competitions from our own pockets, so it gets pretty expensive very quickly. Some of the materials are donated and most of the labor is done by team members, so that helps cut some of the costs. Also, when the robot breaks, we have to pay to rebuild it. However, we distribute the final costs of the robot to all our members, so it’s not all that bad in the end.

Q. Are there any restrictions for the weapon your robot can have?

A. There aren’t very many restrictions. You just can't have any projectiles, EMP’s, EMF’s, explosives, weapons that require cleanup such as liquids or powders, light, smoke, or sound weapons, and a few other restrictions. However, most types of weapons are allowed, including fire.

Q. Where do they hold combat robot competitions?

A. There are combat robotics competitions all over the country throughout the year and you can definitely attend them. There is always space for spectators to watch. It is incredibly entertaining watching two robots destroy each other. Occasionally some robots get completely destroyed or catch on fire, which is when everyone has fun. The competitions are always very friendly environments for both the spectators and the competitors. Some competitions require a small fee to watch, but it is well worth it! Many competitions are posted on BuildersDB, but there are other competitions that aren't posted there. Visit http://www.buildersdb.com/events.asp for more information.

Q. What competitions do you compete in?

A. Our biggest competition is Robogames, which takes place in San Mateo, California in April. There are many different types of robot events there including combat, hockey, sumo, and many others. We also attended the NERC Franklin Institute competition this last October where there are smaller combat robots. We hope to attend more competitions in the future.

Q. How do you get the robots to the competitions?

A. If the competition is close we will drive there, but if its far away we put the robot in a Pelican case and check it when we go on the plane. We have to pay overweight charges but it is better than shipping it and waiting! It's also fun watching TSA inspect the robot, including all of our tools and lubricants, which also accompany us on the plane.

Q. Can I purchase one of your team T-Shirts?

A. Our team T-Shirts and other Fighting Milkmen products will be up for sale soon.

Q. How do I become a Fighting Milkman??

A. In order for the team to function as a well-oiled machine, positions need to be filled by milkmen with specific skills. Milkmen are added to the team on an as-needed basis. If we are searching for a position to be filled, there will be information posted here http://www.thefightingmilkmen.com/volunteer.php, but starting your own team is very easy. You just get together with a few friends, look up a competition and the rules and restrictions for that specific competition and start building!