A team of engineers from Krasnoyarsk has unveiled a new combat robot named Murabey, set to take part in the international robot combat championship in 2024. This information was shared with socialbites.ca by the Battle of Robots competition’s press service, underscoring the event’s growing profile on the global stage.
At the heart of Murabey lies a pneumatic shooter housed within a chassis designed to resemble the head of an ant. In battle, the robot channels air pressure through its nose to deliver powerful, controlled strikes against opponents. The design emphasizes both compact footprint and reliability, enabling Murabey to deliver rapid, repeatable maneuvers during intense matches.
Ekaterina Kokorina, president of the Battle of Robots championship, highlighted the value of these events beyond the arena. Competitions like this bring together engineers, designers, and programmers from diverse disciplines, creating a space for shared learning and public engagement. The sport of robot warfare has become a dynamic driver of innovation within the robotics community, sparking new ideas and accelerating practical advancements in control systems, sensing, and actuation.
The 2024 international championship is expected to draw more than 90 teams to compete in two distinct classes: battles for robots up to 110 kilograms and mini battles for smaller machines, up to 1.5 kilograms for participants weighing 10 to 110 kilograms. The event structure typically features regional qualifiers followed by a main event where the strongest teams advance through a series of elimination rounds. The first qualifying phase is scheduled for late summer, marking the start of an intense period of preparation for many alike-minded builders and pilots.
Among the recent developments in the competition, 142 applications were submitted for the 110-kg category, with 64 teams from 9 countries earning a place to compete. The roster includes teams from Russia, Belarus, Brazil, India, Iran, China, the United States, Turkey, and Ecuador, illustrating the global reach of the Battle of Robots and its appeal to a broad range of tackling nations and cultures. The diverse field promises a variety of tactics, from high-velocity projectile systems to resilient, armor-heavy configurations that emphasize strategic positioning and obstacle negotiation.
The larger class emphasizes endurance, precision, and heavy-lift capabilities, while the mini class highlights agility and rapid response times. Enthusiasts and observers are drawn by the chance to see creative engineering choices translated into competitive performance, as teams push the boundaries of what compact, automated systems can achieve in a controlled arena. The event also serves as a proving ground for new control algorithms, sensor fusion techniques, and lightweight materials designed to maximize power-to-weight ratios without compromising reliability in the heat of combat.
Murabey’s team looks to leverage its unique head-shaped chassis and pneumatic propulsion to deliver consistent results during the bouts. Engineers emphasize that the success of a combat robot rests on a balanced combination of mechanical design, control software, and rapid, reliable actuation. The team’s approach combines sturdy fabrication with a compact, modular architecture, enabling quick adjustments between rounds and straightforward maintenance during the tournament schedule. This philosophy reflects a broader trend in robot combat where rapid iteration and field feedback drive ongoing improvements across teams.
Beyond the thrill of the matches, the Battle of Robots event serves as a catalyst for public interest in STEM disciplines. As Kokorina notes, such competitions inspire young people to explore engineering, coding, signal processing, and mechatronics. The visibility of these projects helps demystify robotics and demonstrates how theoretical concepts translate into tangible machines that can perform in real-world scenarios under pressure. For participating nations, the event offers a platform to showcase national talent, industry partnerships, and research institutions that contribute to a healthy, global robotics ecosystem.
In the lead-up to the 2024 championship, teams engage in rigorous testing, simulations, and mock battles to refine their designs. The preparation spans weeks and often months, involving iterative cycles of build, test, and analyze. Judges typically evaluate robots on criteria such as reliability, safety, control accuracy, speed, maneuverability, and the strategic use of the arena environment. Crowd engagement also plays a role, with commentators highlighting key moments and explaining the tactical decisions behind each maneuver to a broad audience.
As the competition progresses, Murabey and its peers will be watched for how well they adapt to evolving matchups and rule interpretations. The dynamic nature of robot combat rewards teams that can anticipate opponents’ strategies while maintaining robust performance under duress. The 2024 edition promises to be a landmark, reflecting both the technical maturation of the sport and its expanding international footprint. In Krasnoyarsk and other hub cities, engineers celebrate the opportunity to contribute to a field that blends artistry with engineering discipline, turning ambitious ideas into machines that captivate audiences worldwide.