Max Weetzel, organizer of Lucid's very first Robo Wars, can look back on a “super cool” event, for which the teams were allowed to bring along their own construction materials, but could also plunder a rich mountain of waste material deposited by Lucid in the Laplace building for the occasion.

For the first challenge, eight hours after the start, participants had to use their robots, many of which were still rather clumsy, to make a copy of a famous painting. And that was no easy matter, reports Weetzel. “Of course, nothing looked like the artworks the teams had chosen - but it was all hilarious to watch.” Even reproducing an apparently simple, abstract Mondriaan proved difficult.

For the second challenge all the robots were equipped with two balloons and two thumbtacks, and given the logical assignment: pop as many of your opponent's balloons as you can. It proved an instructive test for the last challenge of the afternoon: the concluding battles. All the teams turned out for it with a robot in good working order, despite the necessary technical hitches during the previous challenge. “Even a group of first-years, whose mastery of the basics was still shaky, managed to produce something that was very cool to watch.”

‘Masters and K.O.’ eventually walked away with the highest honor; this team of Industrial Design students accumulated the highest total score over the three challenges. But the final ranking was actually a secondary consideration. “It wasn't a battle for awards, having fun was what really mattered," said Weetzel. "And fortunately that's how the teams felt about it too.” Fifteen teams took part in Robo Wars, mainly from TU/e, but also from Fontys.

Parts of the event, albeit it with some hiccups, could be viewed via the live stream. The videos can be watched on Facebook.