sciencetech-blog

comments

You may have played ball games or swapped stickers in the playground, but soon children could be battling mechanical monsters using their phones.

Computer scientists claim to have come up with the 'world's first gaming robots' that fire 'lasers' and stomp to battle each, commanded by an app.

Called Mecha Monsters, the machines can be programmed to perform new tricks and are intended to be educational, as well as fun.

Scroll down for video 

Computer scientists claim to have come up with the 'world's first gaming robots' that fire 'lasers' and stomp, all commanded by an app. There are two robotic quadrupeds with thick legs, tank-like Brute (pictured left) and the more nimble Berserker (right), which is designed to move quickly

'Mecha Monsters make the gaming experience more fun and engaging. All the battles take place right in front of you,' according to the Bristol-based start-up.

There are two robotic quadrupeds with thick legs - a tank-like one named Brute, and the more nimble Berserker, which is designed to move quickly.

'The two of them can battle each other. The more you play with them the more they level up,' Sila Adekunle, founder and boss of Reach Robotics explained.

The robots are still in development and use micro servos, small motors that give them three degrees of freedom per leg, enabling the machines to jump, swivel and stomp.

Called Mecha Monsters, the machines can be programmed to perform new tricks and are intended to be educational, as well as fun. This concept art shows how children might play with the bots in the playground

The robots are still in development and use Micro Servos, which are small motors, to give them three degrees of freedom per leg, enabling the machines to jump, swivel and stomp. Here, two do battle

Mecha Monsters are designed to be customised by changing their looks and adding shields and boosters, so they suit users' battle styles.

And that are controlled via Bluetooth, using and Android and iOS app.

In the app, players can select a robot and choose their methods of attack, as well as the level of agility, for example.

Chris Beck, Lead Robotcs Engineer, explained that by winning battles, users will be able to unlock shields and new items.

There are three types of damage that the machines can sustain: physical, digital and energy.

'You can customise your robot by selecting different shields to handle this damage,' he said. 

'For example, a physical move could be kicking and stomping towards your opponent or firing awesome lasers form your side cannons.' 

Reach Robotics is developing the world's first gaming robot

Mecha Monsters are designed to be customised by changing their looks and adding shields and boosters so they suit users' battle styles. This image shows what the app may look like

Chris Beck, Lead Robotcs Engineer, explained that by winning battles, users will be able to unlock shields and new items. There are three types of damage that the machines can sustain: physical, digital and energy. A shield on the leg of Brute is pictured

The machines can also hide behind walls and under tables.

They use systems to determine damage using phone-to-phone and phone-to-robot communications. 

Mr Adekunle said: 'The more you play and the more battles you win, the more skills you will unlock for your robot, allowing you to further explore the skill tree and upgrade using items that exist in the Mecha Monster Universe, physically and virtually.'

Players will have to watch out for heat, which builds up as they use items and set moves. At 100 per cent heat, the robot will shut down, disabling it temporarily.

'The battle ends when you or your opponent have 0 health points,' he continued.

Players will have to watch out for heat which builds up as they use items and set moves. At 100 per cent heat, the robot will shut down, disabling it temporarily (illustrated above)

The start-up told MailOnline it has plans to raise money to put the robots into production via a 'crowd funding campaign in the future' and envisions they could cost around £100, although the price could change. The specifications of the robots are shown above

While 'physical' damage is sustained, overheating and other problems in the game will not break the toy in the long-term. 

Players can take part in training tasks and complete in-app mini games to earn extra capabilities for their bots, or code their own new moves.

Motions and different walking patterns will be able to be created using developer's software.

'Mecha Monsters are much more than entertainment. There's an education element to it as well,' Mr Adekunle said.

'Although they're fun to play with, it's an easy and accessible way into learning about robotics.

'When you're done playing with your robots you can then use our developer software to start creating custom motions and animations.

'It's a very simple way to try out coding and it paying out in real life.'

Mr Adekunle told MailOnline there are plans to raise money to put the robots into production via a 'crowd funding campaign in the future' and he envisions they could each cost around £100 - although the price could change.

There are also plans to add augmented reality and machine vision, in future.  

Players can take part in training tasks and complete in-app mini games to earn extra capabilities for their bots, or code their own new moves, as well nas doing battle (shown in this conceptual image)