Last month, US robotics firm Megabots challenged its Japanese rival Suidobashi Heavy Industry to a duel between their giant robots. When Suidobashi accepted on the condition that the bots must engage in melee combat, Megabots realized it needed a little financial help.
The firm has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds so it can upgrade its mighty Mark II robot and increase its armor, speed and hand-to-hand fighting abilities.
The team has set a starting goal of $500,000 to cover these enhancements, which will help it engage Howe & Howe Technologies to make the Mark II twice as fast as Suidobashi’s Kuratas bot.
A stretch goal of $1,000,000 will allow Megabots to work with the award-winning team at IHMC Robotics to develop a balance control system that will help keep the Mark II upright through a gruelling fight.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
If it can raise $1,250,000, Megabots will be able to rope in NASA to help build safety systems for the cockpit, where a human operator will sit, control the Mark II and hopefully survive the duel.
Backers will receive rewards like Mark II-themed stickers, posters, a custom character in the free-to-play cross-platform game Robocraft, t-shirts and even a 3D-printed model bot.
Larger sums of cash will score you a chance to ride Mark II on an obstacle course, test its weapons on a car and join the pit crew during its epic battle with Kuratas.
➤ Support Team USA in the Giant Robot Duel! [Kickstarter]
Read next: Giant American and Japanese battle robots are going to fight…for real
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.