Railside Rumble will feature two brackets comprising approximately 32 robots in total.

The Purdue University Railside Robotics Club is gearing up to host its first-ever public BattleBots tournament, called Railside Rumble, marking an exciting milestone for robotics enthusiasts at Purdue and across the Midwest. The event is set for April 19, 2025, beginning at 9am in the Purdue Armory.

"We've had tournaments in the past that we've hosted on campus, but those were only for Purdue students, primarily our club members," said Manan Singh, a sophomore majoring in robotics engineering technology and a chemical lead for the club. "This is the first public BattleBots tournament to occur at Purdue University, and we’re almost done building an 8-foot-wide, 8-foot-long, 4-foot-tall combat robotics arena. It's bigger than any of our arenas before."

Railside Rumble will feature two brackets comprising approximately 32 robots in total. One bracket will include sixteen 1-pound robots, featuring competitors from Purdue’s Railside Robotics and other institutions, such as Rose-Hulman and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The second bracket will showcase sixteen 3-pound "beetleweight" robots, with three entries prepared by Railside Robotics and the rest from regional competitors.

"Having people from other universities come compete in combat robotics specifically is really huge for the BattleBots community in general, especially in the Midwest,” said Amber Hitchins, a sophomore in environmental science who serves ad the Club’s Head of Relations. “Our mission is to not only build new BattleBot builders at Purdue, but also expand combat robotics in the Midwest and across the nation. Hosting this tournament is a huge step toward fulfilling that mission."

Dylan Manning is a junior in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is the Code Lead for the organization. She joined Railside Robotics because she thought a BattleBots club sounded fun.

“I am interested in robotics as a career and thought this would be a great opportunity to learn more in a hands-on environment than classes have been able to offer so far,” said Manning . “It's given me a great excuse to explore more of the resources that ECE provides, such as the materials in the ECE shop, and feel more confident in my major and interests.”

Materials for building the robots are sourced partly through Purdue's Bechtel Innovation Design Center and partly through funding from sponsors, including Purdue ECE.

Railside Robotics has grown steadily, now boasting approximately 52 active members from various majors. Newcomers don't need prior experience to join the club. Members go through an intensive, hands-on onboarding process where they design, build, and compete with their first robot within their initial semester.

Materials for building the robots are sourced partly through Purdue's Bechtel Innovation Design Center and partly through funding from sponsors, including Purdue ECE. Students use advanced manufacturing methods, including 3D printing and machining, to prepare their robots for battle.

"Building robots that are meant to be destroyed teaches you things you'd never learn otherwise," says Singh. "We push materials and electronics to their limits, making the learning process incredibly engaging and fun."

Railside Robotics aims not only to strengthen Purdue’s community of robot builders but also to expand the presence and popularity of combat robotics throughout the Midwest and nationwide. This public tournament is a significant step toward achieving that vision.