MegaBots Kickstarter
This is what the Mk.II could look like if the MegaBots Kickstarter is successful. MegaBots

Important update on the giant robot duel: America's MegaBots has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to battle Japan's Suidobashi Heavy Industry, and it has lined up a stellar support team, including NASA, X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis, IHMC Robotics and Howe & Howe Technologies.

It's an old story. Two companies build giant robots and realize they are not alone in the world. Rather than find love, the robot manufacturers know what they must do next: Set up an epic battle. MegaBots issued a challenge to Suidobashi Heavy Industry and the latter accepted. The pressure was on to make this dream a reality and MegaBots has taken the next step by launching a Kickstarter project to upgrade the Mk.II robot.

"Sports unite humanity behind the ideals of fun, sportsmanship, camaraderie, competition, excellence, grace and glory," Brinkley Warren, co-founder of MegaBots, said in a statement. "I hope MegaBots will add innovation and STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] education to these ideals. If a kid grows up believing that engineering is just as cool as playing football or basketball – that’s a huge win for the future of humanity. MegaBots will accelerate robotics innovation, no doubt."

The Mk.II is currently built for long-range paintball battles, which means it needs to get bigger, faster and stronger before its duel with Suidobashi Heavy Industry's robot, named KURATAS. Japan accepted the giant robot challenge on the condition that it would be hand-to-hand combat. To make that happen, the Mk.II needs to be faster -- with the help of Howe & Howe Technologies, which develops track bases and power units -- and stay upright -- IMHC Robotics will develop the balance control system.

NASA's Telerobotics Technology Development Program, led by David Lavery, will evaluate the robot for future use in safety technology. MegaBots also has recruited plenty of advisers to help throughout the duel. "MythBusters" host Grant Imahara is a robot builder and will help design the Mk.II. BattleBots co-founders Greg Munson and Trey Roski will assist with the finer aspects of melee combat.

Diamandis is optimistic the robot duel can raise awareness in robotics and STEM education. "By supporting this competition, not only are you helping America win this challenge, but you’re going to be moving the entire field of robotics forward," he said in a statement. "This is not only great for STEM education, it’s great for robots, it’s great for America and I can’t imagine [anything] more fun! I believe in innovation and I believe in competitions driven by innovation, and that’s why I started the X-Prize."

The Kickstarter pledges start at $5, but the real fun starts at $1,000. At that price, you can pilot the Mk.II through an obstacle course. If you have money to burn, a $2,500 pledge lets you blow things up with the Mk.II's guns and a $5,000 pledge lets you train like a robot Rocky. Instead of punching slabs of meat, you'll be punching cars. For those who wanted to be a part of the pit crew and had $10,000 to spare: sorry, but all those packages are gone.

MegaBots hopes to raise $500,000 to build the weapon systems, upgrade its armor and add the new track base. At $750,000, the company will add new weapons to the robot. MegaBots has plans for any additional money it raises through Kickstarter. The balancing system from IHMC Robotics kicks in at $1 million and firsthand experience with NASA's life safety systems -- think of astronauts withstanding rocket launches -- kicks in at $1.25 million. If MegaBots raises $1.5 million, the Mk.II will get a sci-fi paint job worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Suidobashi Heavy Industry has yet to respond to MegaBots' Kickstarter campaign.