The ring sits in the spotlight of a tense, packed auditorium and the jittery fighters await the bell at their red and blue corners.

　　Like any fight, there's always the danger of a punishing uppercut or left hook. But these boxers have even more worries - like battery failure and software bugs.

　　The contenders are robots fighting in a special kickboxing match that's held twice a year in Japan, a leading nation in the robotics world.

　　The all-for-fun event is evidence not only of an infatuation with robots here but also of the widely accepted view of robots as entertaining friends.

　　It's a contrast to other nations, where robotics are increasingly being used in warfare and robots are often considered creepy threats.

　　"For me, robots are for making people happy," said Yusuke Sugawara, a 32-year-old engineer whose robot wore a fluffy wig and blew bubbles from a fake snorkel when people clapped. "Japanese people all love robots. Inside our hearts, we all want to make robots that we grew up watching on TV cartoons."

　　Robo-One, begun four years ago to stimulate public interest in robots, is loosely based on K-1, a popular sport that combines elements of kickboxing, karate and taekwondo.

　　The Sixth Robo-One Contest during a recent weekend drew some 90 robots running on software developed by amateurs from across Japan and South Korea to a hall in Kawasaki.

　　Unlike human boxing matches, the corner crew in these contests struggles with battery changes and, in one case, vigorously flapped handheld paper fans to cool the motors lodged in the robot's joints in between rounds.

　　According to Robo-One rules, a robot that gets pulled, pushed or punched down must get up on its feet before the referee counts to 10 to avoid a knockout.

　　"It's exciting to see your own ideas take shape in an actual robot," said Toshinobu Koga, 24, one of the students behind the winning robot.

　　One of the most exciting moments of Robo-One is the Rumble, when eight robots enter the ring at once, all trying to knock everyone else off the ring.

　　The last machine standing is the winner.

　　When more than one is left after five minutes of chaotic whirring and clanging, the crowd decides by applause which gladiator robot wins.

　　(The Associated Press)