About Us
Crimson Combat Robotics is a student organization at The University of Alabama focused on the design, creation, and competition of a 30 lb combat robot to compete in the National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) in Connecticut. The first team of its kind in the SEC, Crimson Combat aspires to raise up its members through the application of real-world skills while also inspiring kids in the Tuscaloosa community. It is also our goal to increase participation and eventually host competitions for other builders and universities in the Southeast.
History of Combat Robotics
Combat robotics first started with a show called Robot Wars in the 1990's. Now, there are competitions nationwide, with the most synonymous being the TV show Battle Bots. Battle Bots consists of teams across the nation building 250 lb robots to compete. The weapon system can consist of vertical and horizontal rotational weapons, hydraulic and pneumatic flippers, and even flamethrowers. The possibilities are truly only limited by the imagination.
The show has since inspired dozens of smaller competitions centered around 12, 30, and 60 lb robots. Currently, there is no standardized organization for competition at a Collegiate or High School level. However, the NHRL is where a large majority of Universities compete.
The Competition
The National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) is a national competition hosted in Norwalk, Connecticut. They host 3, 12, and 30 lb robot competitions with competitors from all over the country. While it is not a college competition, teams from Georgia Tech, MIT, and others regularly attend. NHRL has made combat robotics more accessible for many and continues to be a keystone competition in the country. It is our goal to build a robot that can compete with the best, and NHRL is the place to do it.