I think this is a grand idea. It should be easy to enter and use existing robotics parts without too much mechanical engineering skill.
Though I am a bit concerned about something Gary brought up.

Quote Originally Posted by typhoon_driver
There's no point in making a new weight class which is going to end up exactly the same as the featherweights, ie you either build a box or a bot with an incredibly powerful weapon to get rid of boxes.
Now, putting asides my opinion that the 'incredibly powerful weapon' develops box culture for a second, would it be worthwhile making damage a secondary objective here? I mean a basis of damage ruling supreme creates a highly engineered predator bot capable of destroying its prey, or a prey bot intent on surviving its predators for 5 minutes. This makes for terrible showmanship IMO. Prehaps a rule for all decisions to go through an audience might make a difference?