Behind the Bots

This week on the podcast, we dive into the history (and future!) of Norwalk Havoc, the world’s top beetleweight combat robotics league, with Norwalk founder Austin McChord. If you want to check out this weekend’s Norwalk Havoc, check out the YouTube livestream at https://youtu.be/5elaqlzA60k 

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

 

BETA’s new manifold: https://www.facebook.com/Betarobot/posts/158201279642522 

Deep Six’s latest terrifying weapons test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tohyYUox374 

End Game’s parts sale: https://www.facebook.com/oyesrobotics/photos/a.507889816075385/1599421500255539/ 

HiJinx’s art contest: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/342362683982110 

HiJinx giving away its weapon bar to a fan: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/347370830147962 

HiJinx’s armor auction: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/346246500260395 

Malice hosting ‘Battle of David’: https://www.facebook.com/events/254915879747625 

Minotaur raising funds for S6: https://gofund.me/e4ddbc93 

Petunia’s piercing fire: https://www.facebook.com/TeamPCPnl/posts/230230452105427 

Tantrum’s mystery piece: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1440467402960397 

Tombstone sneak peek: https://youtu.be/NkcWKx0qU3g 

Valkyrie’s functional fan cake: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/416735646242807 

WAR Hawk’s latest weapons test: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/n5oeek/war_hawk_4weapon_motor_test/

 

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From October 2019!

 

On this episode of Behind the Bots, we catch up with Minotaur captain Marco Antonio Meggiolaro, who tells us more about what it’s like building bots and competing in Brazil, what makes Daniel Freitas tick, and his advice to new builders.

From February 2020!

 

We sit down with Blacksmith captain Al Kindle, and explore his long history in the sport, the design thinking behind Blacksmith, and what it was like seeing his bot turned into a Hexbug. Plus: we get into Al's secret love of Menudo.

 

Stay tuned for next week's blast from the past.

This week on the podcast, we go deep with Caulk builders Joe, Brandon, Tommy and Izzie, who (with the help of Pain Train captain Evan Arias) went against all odds last month to win the 12-pound division at Norwalk Havoc, with four championship 3-pounders: Smee, Starchild, Droopy and Shreddit Bro.Now, Joe, Brandon, Tommy and Izzie are back, and have applied to the 2021 season of BattleBots with the most exciting multibot in the show’s history. They’re coming on this week to make their case to the fans—and the Selection Committee—for Caulk.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

 

SlamMow vs. WAR? EZ! Basement Fight is out for BattleBots supporters

BattleBots is shopping new venues: https://www.facebook.com/battlebots/posts/10157815789891406 

The team behind Bloodsport is back, with a second robot application: https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/4124100167649451 

Deadlift 2020 redesign: https://www.facebook.com/robogymrobotics/posts/4300357493350395 

HiJinx art competition: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/328445802040465 

JackPot auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/247238947099137 

Malice is selling bolts (and awesome stands) soon: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/308635483998661 

Rusty v. Kraken fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/teamironforce/posts/133948025403524 

SlamMow’s new name and logo: https://www.facebook.com/teamdanby/posts/10158184974678284 

Tantrum in slow-mo: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1419352838405187 

Tracer appears on Robot Rumble 2.0: https://www.facebook.com/kymerabots/posts/257955152694977 

New Valkyrie contest: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/396190998297272 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Skorpios co-captains Zach Lytle and Diana Tarlson—exactly one year (to the day!) from the last time they were on the show. In early April 2020, the world had just gone into lockdown, and it was unclear how long COVID would last. Zach and Diana run a small business in the San Francisco Bay Area where they host in-person combat robot parties, after-school programs and educational summer camps. During the pandemic, they were forced to temporarily close their business.

 

2020 was simultaneously Zach and Diana’s worst year, and their best year, they said. Skorpios went 2-1 in their qualifying matches (including an incredibly destructive loss to Bloodsport, and a satisfying and decisive win over Tombstone), before their championship run was cut short by Witch Doctor. They ended up winning the Icewave bounty, and taking home the 2020 Founders Award.We talk about all that, and more, in this episode.

This week on the podcast, we catch up with the captain of everyone’s favorite nautical monster-themed BattleBot, Kraken captain Matt Spurk! We talk toughness and reliability, judging, and what’s ahead for the bot and the team.

 

PLUS! Behind the Bots listeners get 5% off the Kraken merch store using code "behindthebots".....for real!

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

 

BattleBots Basement Fight: HiJinx vs. Tracer

BuildersDB is down for the foreseeable future

Axolotl plushies are shipping: https://www.facebook.com/axolotlbattlebot/posts/194634832429758 

How to Build a Duck: https://www.facebook.com/BlackandBlueRobotics/posts/124111263062477 

Meet the Giant Nut (in New Zealand): https://www.facebook.com/oyesrobotics/posts/1571115769752779 

Extinguisher on the front page of their local paper: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/841622459752937 

Gamma 9 internals: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2540178406292113&id=1802165200093441 

BattleBots referee John Remar as James Bond: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2969397193292553 

HiJinx’s shop space: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/319244546293924 

HyperShock

This week on the podcast, we talk BattleBots, BattleBots: Bounty Hunters, apple sausages, and Norwalk Havoc. Plus! The return of The Bot Whisperer himself, Pete Abrahamson!

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

Happy birthday Greg Munson: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2963206237244982 

WAR? EZ! vs. Axolotl Basement Fight is out for BattleBots Supporters on Facebook

Apple sausage

Bale Spear launches new merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/crazzyearl/shop

Deadlift AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/m765dd/deadlift_ama_with_robogym_robotics_6pm_central/

Extinguisher is applying to 2021 BattleBots: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/833252087256641

New Fusion hats? https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4144430482236402 

Gigabyte AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/m8mb6q/gigabyte_robotic_death_company_ama/

HyperShock memorabilia on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/HyperShockTV/posts/2822461517971713 

JackPot is already building for 2021: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/234131375076561 

Malice testing out new ESCs: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/295461438649399 

Rotator post-Bounty Hunters recap: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=128841265913105&id=100063616960932

SawBlaze auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/123721429761280 

Shatter begins shipping to the UK: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3875381462547928&id=1599971273422303 

The Skorpios gang buys a bar: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=125481239587840&set=p.125481239587840 

Tantrum auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1406484496358688 

Tombstone auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/TombstoneBot/posts/5707699529243839 

Uppercut auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=748062225903028&id=305197523522836 

Valkyrie auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/381010623148643 

 

Also: It’s time to rename the Turf Tank in Grand Rapids: https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Turf-Tank-Naming-Contest 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with 2020 Giant Nut winners Jack Barker and Nick Mabey from End Game! This is our second time having Nick and Jack on the show this season—we interviewed them back in December, after their unexpected win over Tombstone in the first episode of the 2020 season. Little did we know, they had already taken home the Giant Nut. Wow, talk about restraint!

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

BattleBots memorial to Gayle Roski: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2958389574393315 

BattleBots 2020 Replica Pack drops for Robot Rumble 2.0: https://youtu.be/0Ou4405LzhM 

The Big Dill appears in The Seattle Times: https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/tv/microsoft-designer-by-day-robot-builder-by-night-greenwoods-emmanuel-carrillo-to-compete-on-battlebots-bounty-hunters/ 

Chronos electrifies a pickle: https://www.facebook.com/ChronosRobot/posts/808157446453478 

End Game AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/m43j6d/end_game_from_battlebots_ask_us_anything/ 

Hexbugs official giveaway: https://sdqk.me/UQW9uebM/battlebots-giveaway 

Hydra sale on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/whyachi 

Hydra sells left arm of bike rack for $305: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184696022052

...and the right arm for $335: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184696024367 

HUGE celebrates ‘Leggy’: https://www.facebook.com/BattleBotsHuge/posts/786121208660421 

HyperShock neon is shipping in a month: https://www.facebook.com/HyperShockTV/posts/2816789271872271 

JackPot auction going up: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/229475948875437 

JackPot’s build budget: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/226389965850702 

Malice CAD session for sale: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/288987665963443 

Son of Whyachi on BattleBots: Bounty Hunters this week: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4135254409820676 

Tantrum auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1402071483466656 

Tombstone auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/TombstoneBot/posts/5680321398648319 

SawBlaze auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3935799256507375 

Skorpios auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/SkorpiosBattleBot/photos/a.1575847686059314/2747648662212538/ 

Skorpios wins the Founders Award: https://youtu.be/5pK3aCuzryk 

Valkyrie wins Most Destructive Robot: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/374756367107402 

New Whiplash merch: https://www.facebook.com/FastElectricRobots/posts/1023689088368860 

Witch Doctor auction on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3431779516926858 

Witch Doctor launches a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/teamwitchdoctor 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Hydra vs. Gigabyte: https://www.facebook.com/RoboticDeathCompany/posts/1739912509732113 

Hydra vs. Whiplash: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4127953000550817 

SawBlaze vs. Tantrum: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3930885166998784 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Mike and Andrea Gellatly from Team Witch Doctor, to reflect on the 2020 season, their sprint in the middle of the season to build new weapon discs, and what’s next for the bot, and the team. The 2020 season comes to a close this Thursday, as BattleBots crowns a new winner of the Giant Nut!

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

BattleBots: Bounty Hunters with Witch Doctor will drop on March 11

BattleBots: Bounty Hunters with Son of Whyachi will drop on March 18

Hydra is selling its infamous bike rack: https://www.ebay.com/usr/whyachi

HiJinx jackets for sale: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/305147817703597 

HyperShock parts on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/HyperShockTV/posts/2812957078922157 

JackPot’s self-righter: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/224292129393819 

Kraken’s merch store: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/905537610222454 

Malice Mystery Boxes: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/286776162851260 

Malice applies for 2021: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/285596479635895 

SawBlaze AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/m0jm60/slash_and_burn_with_team_sawblaze_we_deal_in 

SawBlaze parts on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3916172091803425 

Sharko banner for sale: https://www.facebook.com/Sharkoprion/posts/902596483908034 

Shatter sports kit for sale: https://www.facebook.com/BotsFC/posts/3835447476541327 

Skorpios parts on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/SkorpiosBattleBot/photos/a.1575847686059314/2742680992709305/ 

Tantrum parts on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1397776860562785 

The Bot Whisperer AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/m02zjn/the_bot_whisperer_ama/ 

Tombstone AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lyptp2/tombstone_ama_ask_me_anything/ 

Tracer is gearing up for 2021: https://www.facebook.com/kymerabots/photos/a.103193381504489/235366611620498/ 

Whiplash AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lzb9c0/whiplash_ama_ask_us_anything/ 

Witch Doctor’s Andrea Gellatly on International Women’s Day: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3416441708460639 

Witch Doctor’s personalized video messages: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3409951772442966 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Hydra vs. Gigabyte: https://www.facebook.com/RoboticDeathCompany/posts/1739912509732113 

End Game vs. Rotator: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3794126243967939&id=1044827785564479 

SawBlaze vs. Witch Doctor: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3912645285489439 

Ribbot vs. Uppercut: https://www.facebook.com/UppercutBattlebot/posts/741748769867707 

Whiplash vs. Valkyrie: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/3830485817064569 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Copperhead captain Zach Goff, to learn more about his history in the sport, his 2016 debut on BattleBots with the drum spinner Poison Arrow, and his return to the competition in 2019 and 2020 with the drum spinner Copperhead. Plus! What happened in that match with Mammoth.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

Deep dive on Bloodsport’s tribar: https://youtu.be/o0QrhjoAI9o 

Copperhead AMA on Reddit: https://www.facebook.com/CausticCreations/posts/3874980452562333 

Extinguisher Hexbug: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/827018257880024 

Gruff AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lt6788/too_hot_to_handle_team_gruff_ama_7pm 

Hydra promises anti-Gigabyte attachment: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4076038519075599 

HyperShock on eBay: https://www.facebook.com/HyperShockTV/posts/2805656679652197

Kraken applying to S6: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/901881580588057  

Malice paddle sells for $377: https://www.ebay.com/itm/174650114017 

Malice jackets on sale: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/280525320143011 

Mammoth Ranch episode 1: https://www.facebook.com/MammothBattlebot/videos/3731494526888105 

Whiplash merch game strong: https://www.facebook.com/FastElectricRobots/posts/1013873259350443 

Witch Doctor on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/teamwitchdoctor 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Shatter vs. Lock-Jaw: https://youtu.be/GbeNZPIsBXo 

Tantrum vs Fusion: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4090642954281822 

Rotator vs. JackPot: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/219617236527975 (JackPot) https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3776470309066866 (Rotator)

SawBlaze vs. Kraken: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/900932954016253 (Kraken) https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3894809953939639 (SawBlaze)

Witch Doctor vs. Skorpios: https://www.facebook.com/SkorpiosBattleBot/posts/2736807879963283 

P1 vs. Sme: https://www.facebook.com/AberrantRobotics/posts/912964072869281 

Tantrum vs. Gamma 9: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2523372727972681

 

 

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