Five robots to watch

Roughly 19 bots have entered this September’s inaugural brawl. Here are five frontrunners hoping to cinch the tournament trophy and live to fight another round. Grand River Express Team: Genesis Class: 150-pound Clever Class

Weapon: Two pneumatic lifters capable of lifting 250 pounds each. Mounting on the front and back of the robot so G.R.E. can attack from any direction.

Special Ability: Two pneumatic shifting gearboxes provide high speed to get around opponents, but low speed to push them around for total sumo domination.

Special Move: Top secret The Pusher Team: Robot Mafia Class: 150-pound Clever Class

Weapon: Steel Jaws with 1,000pound crushing force Special Ability: Pushing power stabilized by 4,130 chromoly steel tube frames and 12-inch solid foam tires.

Special Move: Grab and Drag Lug Tread Team: Masscare Robotics Class: 30-pound Hobby Class

Weapons: Curved hardened steel wedges that allow Lug Tread to cram itself underneath its opponent to toss them out of the arena.

Special Ability: Agility. This bot’s small chassis coupled with a 2horsepower drive makes it extremely fast and agile.

Special Move: “The Flip.” Utilizing both power and speed, Lug Tread can wedge itself underneath its opponent to toss it out of the arena. Gigarange Team: Robot Mafia Class: 30-pound Hobby Class Weapon: Electric four-bar lifting arm

Special Ability: Gigarange is able to drive while upside-down.

Special Move: Ram Roach Team: All Black Robotics Class: 150-pound Clever Class Weapon: Powerful 270-degree arm

Special Ability: Self-righting mechanism if flipped over.

Special Move: “Body Slam”