Fighting robots have been around since the first gearhead figured out that it was really fun to smash thousands of dollars worth of metal and electronics together in the name of sport. This talk will cover the brief but intense history of combat robotics, how the technology has evolved, where it’s going, and where combat robots happen around the world. This presentation will include video, backstage photos, and insights from the organizers of the only large scale combat robot shows left in the United States: RoboGames and The ComBots Cup.