The New Mexico Tech Robotic Combat program is a favorite outreach activity of the university's Department of Mechanical Engineering. This program promotes interest in STEM fields by hosting tournaments and design/build workshops where students can create and test their very own battle bots. Dr. Curtis O'Malley, the lead professor on this project, will introduce students to battle bots by showing videos of past robotic combat tournaments and test-driving some of the newest designs in the New Mexico Tech Robotic Combat Laboratory. Students will learn about the engineering design process that goes into creating an award-winning combat robot through this demonstration.

In addition to an introduction to the Robotic Combat program, this demonstration will explore the physics behind various long-range combat systems that could be added to a battle bot design. Physics Department graduate student Thomas Gaudin will present the demonstration of the bowling ball pendulum to approximate a wrecking ball, in which we explore how high a bowling ball can return after being released from just in front of our graduate student. Students will learn about the conservation of energy and that objects cannot use more energy than is initially given to them while in motion. In addition to the bowling ball demonstration, Thomas will present footage of the most recent test-firing of the two projectile-launching systems operated by the Physics department: a giant trebuchet and giant air cannon.

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