INRTU’s team “Baikal beasts” reaches the Final Stage of the International “Battle of Robots 2026” Championship
INRTU’s team “Baikal beasts” has successfully passed the qualifying selection for the International “Battle of Robots 2026” Championship. Polytech team will represent Irkutsk region in the final stage on October 30, that will take place in Kazan.
The qualifying stages of the International “Battle of Robots” Championship have concluded in Moscow. The battles took place on October 6-10 at the MosKino Factory venue as part of the “Digital Solutions” IT Forum. As the Russian Ministry of Digital Development coordinators inform – 144 teams fought to the victory at the beginning of competition in 2026, a record number of participants in the entire history of the event. Teams fr om Russia and 10 other countries entered the “Battle of Robots-2026” ring. Based on the qualification results, 30 Russian and 6 foreign teams will meet in the final stage.
At the large-scale competitions the INRTU team “Baikal Beasts” included senior lecturers Maksim Popov, Fedor Deryugin, and Vladislav Byankin, as well as student Arseniy Gorshkov and master's student Evgeny Boyarkin. Note that in 2024–2025, the INRTU representatives have already participated in the “Battle of Robots” in categories up to 1.5 kg and up to 110 kg.
This year at the “Battle of Robots”, the INRTU team is competing with the robot “Babr Monster” in the up to 110 kg category. In terms of characteristics, the smart machine is a six-wheeled device equipped with a 26 kg steel drum spinner spinning up to 6,500 rpm. The robot's frame is made of aluminum, with 110 mm thick ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene used as armor. The speed of the “Babr Monster” is 35 km/h. Having analyzed last year's mistakes, our competitors designed new structural assemblies and manufactured them in the INRTU Technopark. Thanks to the support of En+ Hydro, the “Baikal Beasts” team was able to further improve the robot's electronics, install more powerful batteries, and replace the engine of the running gear.
According to team captain and senior lecturer at the School of Information Technology and Data Science Maksim Popov, the qualifying stage went well:
“The first two days we spent on robot’s tests. There was a test ring on the site wh ere it was safe to ride.
The tests did not go without problems. We timely identified a malfunction in one of the batteries, managed to fix everything quickly, and approached the matches in full combat readiness.
This year robot has been behaving better. Electronic changes helped to unlock greater potential. The design modifications were also pleasing. Now the robot's components have become even more reliable”.
During the “Battle of Robots” qualifies INRTU representatives played two matches.
“The first match pitted us against the ‘Rusty Samurai’ team from St. Petersburg. The battle was quite fast, one of the first strikes stripped the St. Petersburg team of their armor. The second fight was with the ‘Oskol Robotics’ team from Stary Oskol. The opponents demonstrated an interestingly designed walking robot. We managed to put it out of action.
Overall, the fights went well, our robot did not sustain major damage. We are preparing for the final stage. There is little time left before the trip to Kazan, but we will manage to add some improvements and prepare spare parts,”
noted Maxim Popov.
INRTU team captain thanked En+ Hydro for its contribution to the development of engineering and robotics in Baikal region:
“Thanks to sponsorship support in this season we were able to implement ideas, upgrade our robot, update the team’s uniform and ensure the reliable delivery of the robot to the competitions”.
Reference:
“Battle of Robots” unites experienced and novice engineering robotics enthusiasts from different countries. Participants design and create machines and then test them in combat. The project helps popularize robotics and engineering professions. The championship is held by decision of the Russian government with the support of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development. Partners include leading Russian companies from various economic sectors.
En+ Hydro is a major Russian energy company engaged in the production and sale of electric power. “En+ Hydro” unites hydroelectric power plants located in Siberia and the Russian Far East. The company provides reliable and uninterrupted energy supply to consumers, as well as promotes the development of young talents and the economy of the regions of presence.
