Behind the Bots

This week on the podcast, we kick off the Round of 32 with HiJinx captain Jen Herchenroeder. It’s been nearly exactly one year since we last had Jen on the show, back when HiJinx was still the best-kept secret in the BattleBots builder community. We heard some *WILD* rumors about the design, and were delighted when we finally got to see it—scary, short, wide, neon, and owl-inspired. We catch up with Jen to get her reflections on the 2020 season, and her plans for 2021.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

They’ve lost the Giant (stunt) Nut

Axolotl merch for sale: https://www.facebook.com/axolotlbattlebot/posts/175635590996349 

Bale Spear’s Project Deer Dash: https://youtu.be/Kp5RhQSP8EA 

Captain Shrederator’s new shop: https://www.facebook.com/spinwinning/posts/3599292100169670 

Hydra teases new bike rack: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4066753096670808  

MadCatter AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/lnp3yj/ 

P1 almost made it into the Top 32: https://www.facebook.com/AberrantRobotics/posts/909234269908928 

Perfect Phoenix’s Tyler Nguyen in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/11-year-old-is-youngest-ever-battlebots-team-captain/2021/02/19/b305836c-7220-11eb-85fa-e0ccb3660358_story.html 

Ribbot AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lpal4q/ama_with_team_ribbot_come_ask_us_all_your_frog/ 

SubZero AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lo9xka/feel_the_chill_subzero_ama_tonight_at_6pm_est/ 

Tracer behind-the-scenes: https://www.facebook.com/kymerabots/posts/225056952651464 

Witch Doctor’s live viewing party this week: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3374526289318848 

 

Also: https://spotsrampage.com/ 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Hydra vs. HyperShock: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4065933523419432 

Gigabyte vs. Malice: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/276520403876836 

Uppercut vs. HiJinx: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/295060942045618 (HiJinx) and https://www.facebook.com/UppercutBattlebot/posts/734533970589187 (Uppercut)

Valkyrie vs. SubZero: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/3786735914772893 

SawBlaze vs. Rusty: https://www.facebook.com/teamironforce/posts/218366863369262 

Tantrum vs. Gamma 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htJhNVHQR5A 

 

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This week on the podcast, we slash and burn with SawBlaze captain Jamison Go, getting his thoughts on his match last week against Rusty, the season so far, and his thoughts going into the Top 32. We also learn more about his smaller bots Silent Spring, Silent X and MegaTron, and his interests outside combat robotics.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

BattleBots 2020 Championship bracket and schedule: https://battlebots.com/bracket-2020/ 

Brent Von Kalamazoo’s fantasy league: https://www.fantasizr.com/sport/fantasy-battlebots-2020 

Bale Spear eBay auction: https://www.ebay.com/itm/294015096610 

Bloodsport feature on the Long Bar: https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/3954185867974216 

Copperhead baby snek DIY: https://www.facebook.com/CausticCreations/posts/3824390150954697 

HyperShock livestream with Chris Rose: https://www.facebook.com/HyperShockTV/posts/2799473603603838 

HyperShock AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lj4snw/hypershock_ama 

HyperShock’s top secret store: https://hypershock.tv/pages/boring-stuff-do-not-look-here-go-away 

HyperShock for sale for $70K: https://hypershock.tv/collections/secret_menu/products/a-real-hypershock

HyperShock neon for sale for $3K: https://hypershock.tv/collections/secret_menu/products/6ft-hypershock-neon-sign-full-size 

Malice Spring collection: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/273118750883668 

Mammoth + guns: https://www.facebook.com/MammothBattlebot/posts/2981043395457376 

P1 AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/liivzi/ask_p1_anything_7pm_et_friday_212/

SawBlaze

This week on the podcast, we catch up with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson for a midseason check-in. We talk BattleBots: Bounty Hunters, his thoughts on the main BattleBots season so far, and what he’s looking for next season (applications are now open!).

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

Captain Shrederator AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/lel8wh/captain_shrederator_team_logicom_ama_7pm_est_today/ 

Deadlift video with Gecko Robotics: https://youtu.be/v5y46CIQkFQ

Gamma 9’s behind-the-scenes photos: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2511569622486325&id=1802165200093441

Kraken’s special armor configuration: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/890030071773208 

Matt Maxham’s flamethrowing minibot: https://youtu.be/dinjo2ApmIQ 

SawBlaze’s flamethrower construction: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3839148472839121 

Valkyrie face masks: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWZNHnQO3o4-9sxYU4bugzp-WQVtJU9xALJpQyM2mWlXGPPg/viewform 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Axolotl vs. Ribbot: https://www.facebook.com/axolotlbattlebot/posts/165044672055441 

Gigabyte vs. Claw Viper: https://www.facebook.com/RoboticDeathCompany/posts/1719177555138942 Chomp vs. HiJinx: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/285784752973237 

Extinguisher vs. Gruff: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/816406432274540 

Copperhead vs. Black Dragon: https://youtu.be/1H5WgkIsZQo 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Bloodsport Captain Justin Marple! He talks about his fast and furious run on BattleBots season 5 so far, the major lessons he learned after competing with Bloodsport 1.0 last year, his start with Vex Robotics, and how it feels to knock out some of the top-rated bots in the competition. 

 

Plus! We recap the 8th episode of BattleBots Season 5 and make our predictions for episode 9.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

Axolotl merch! https://www.facebook.com/axolotlbattlebot/posts/161389849087590

Bale Spear AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/l5d1x1/bale_spear_ama_7pm_est_all_things_farmagedon/ 

BETA jumping: https://www.facebook.com/Betarobot/posts/3848857941804049

Extinguisher’s vertical spinner: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/812660365982480 

New Whyachi merch: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/4012222382123880 

 

Post-fight recaps:

Bloodsport vs. Chronos: https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/3926194127440057 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with the builder behind the biggest BattleBot to ever grace the BattleBox—Mammoth captain Ricky Willems!

 

Ricky is a tinkerer at heart, and spent his childhood taking apart basically anything he could get his hands on. That eventually translated into his career as an electrical engineer, and his hobby, building unconventional combat robots. We learn more about the 2020 build of Mammoth, and his season so far, following a massive win over HUGE and a fiery loss to HyperShock.

 

This week’s combat robotics news:

Bale Spear AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/l5d1x1/bale_spear_ama_7pm_est_all_things_farmagedon/ 

Bloodsport trying out new blade designs: https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/3889630117763125 

Congratulations from all of us on Chomp’s newest team member: https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1596244407238000 

Deadlift’s custom wheels: https://www.facebook.com/robogymrobotics/posts/4071773656208781 

Gruff’s hybrid drive: https://www.facebook.com/gruffrobot/posts/760976524516220

Hotkoin sets BattleBots internet on fire: https://www.instagram.com/hotkoin/ 

HiJinx vs. Tracer unaired fight: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/276892847195761 

HUGE pins: https://www.facebook.com/BattleBotsHuge/posts/762667514339124 

Mammoth merch: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/team-mammoth-merch#/ 

New JackPot stickers: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/196739102149122 

Kraken on display: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/878922286217320 

P1 vs. Chronos unaired fight: https://www.facebook.com/AberrantRobotics/posts/891635251668830 

Sporkinok AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/l3v4jc/hiya_rbattlebots_team_pride_and_sporkinok_here/ 

Tracer AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/l2y1ku/battlebot_tracer_ama_4pm_pst_today/

Witch Doctor is looking for a social media manager: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3304940842944060 

 

Post-fight recaps:

BETA vs. Rusty: https://www.facebook.com/Betarobot/posts/3836723159684194 (BETA)

Tracer vs. Bale Spear: https://www.facebook.com/BALESPEAR/posts/945601055971118 (Bale Spear)

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Sharko captain and returning guest Ed Robinson, undoubtedly the most colorful competitor on BattleBots. He’s joining us after his match last week against Slap Box.

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with Hydra captain Jake Ewert, whose unconventional strategy against HUGE garnered a fair amount of controversy this week among BattleBots fans. We learn more about his 2020 build, how his weapon works and how the team planned for HUGE in the preseason. Plus! We recap episode 5 of the show, and look ahead to an explosive main event next week.

 

This week’s combat robotics news stories:

> New petition: Bring BattleBots to the UK: https://www.change.org/p/battlebots-bring-robot-combat-back-to-uk-television 

> Belated Bloodsport vs. End Game recap: https://youtu.be/tmFLhYH3-jU

> Deadlift vs. Ghost Raptor on BattleBots: Bounty Hunters: https://www.facebook.com/robogymrobotics/posts/4034553773264103 

> Gamma 9 fan art: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2493947017581919&id=1802165200093441 

> Ghost Raptor AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/ksx7u7/battlebots_ama_ghost_raptor/ 

> HUGE sticker giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/BattleBotsHuge/posts/752087552063787 

> More limited edition JackPot merch: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/186233266533039 

> Kraken AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/ku1uu5/a_kraken_good_ama_today_at_7_pm_est/ 

> Follow-up to Malice’s $87,000 build: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/250097276519149 

> Belated MadCatter vs. Ribbot recap: https://www.facebook.com/teamribbot/posts/726817721584335 

> Team Whyachi AMA on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kufbbs/ama_with_team_whyachi_robotics_hydra_fusion_110/ 

> William Osman responds to the haters: https://youtu.be/3fLApNso5L4 

 

S5E5 fight recaps:

> JackPot vs. Ghost Raptor: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2910683845830555

> Hydra vs. HUGE recap: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3954111667934952 

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with ourselves—sadly, no guest this week due to the holidays. However! We recap S5E4 of BattleBots, plus the launch of the new series BattleBots: Bounty Hunters on Discovery+

 

This week’s combat robotics news stories:

 

> BattleBots: Bounty Hunters launched on the new streaming service Discovery+: https://www.facebook.com/battlebots/posts/10157598030396406 

> Bloodsport’s new Thicc bar: https://youtu.be/hunc-eLEg3o 

> Chomp fanart: https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1587930658069375 

> Chomp’s lidar challenges: https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1586489444880163 

> Chomp’s 2020 feature set: https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1585641248298316 

> Deadlift’s surprise flamethrower: https://www.facebook.com/robogymrobotics/posts/3998809370171877 

> Gruff fanart: https://www.facebook.com/gruffrobot/posts/749198295694043 

> Hydra’s anti-Tombstone wedge: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3944086835604102 

> Hydra’s horizontal bar armor: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3942256725787113 

> Hydra’s ground-scraping wedgelets: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3931592496853536 

> Hydra fanart: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3929401437072642 

> JackPot fanart: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/177319827424383 

> Malice cost $87,689 to build: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/photos/a.101854611343417/245149700347240/ 

> Shatter AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kp0w3r/battlebots_ama_shatter_bots_fc/ 

> Skorpios AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kppdtt/ama_with_team_skorpios_at_4pm_pst_ask_us_anything/ 

> Skorpios GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/6b6652ce 

> Slap Box AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kkklu8/team_already_broke_slap_box_ama_6pm_cst_saturday/ 

> Tale of the Tape S5E4: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3251498368288308 

 

S5E4 fight recaps:

> Tombstone vs. Slap Box fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/BattleBotsSlapBox/posts/190661369424473 (Slap Box)

> Skorpios vs. Perfect Phoenix fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/SkorpiosBattleBot/posts/2693568104287261 (Skorpios)

> Chomp vs. Gamma 9 fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1584293705099737 (Chomp), https://www.facebook.com/ChompTheBattleBot/posts/1584798015049306 (Chomp)  and https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2486766991633255 (Gamma 9) 

> Shatter vs. Malice fight recap: https://youtu.be/koQ2dhkHzgI (Shatter) 

> Bloodsport vs. End Game fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/3838318062894331 (Bloodsport), https://www.facebook.com/bnsrobotics/posts/3835763236483147 (Bloodsport), https://www.facebook.com/oyesrobotics/photos/a.507889816075385/1509226285941728 (End Game) and https://www.facebook.com/oyesrobotics/posts/1509228122608211 (End Game)

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with longtime BattleBots competitor Victor Soto, captain of the tanky golden horizontal disc spinner Rotator. We get his take on the BETA-Rotator match, which generated almost no online controversy this past week, and learn how he got into the sport and became one of the core members of the Florida Bot Mafia.

 

This week’s combat robotics news stories:

 

> BattleBots is taking NYE off, and will return on Jan. 7

> Meanwhile, BattleBots: Bounty Hunters begins streaming Jan. 4

> ATOM 94 fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/teamAVRobotics/posts/1299192020452043 

> BattleBots builders unbox HEXBUGS: https://youtu.be/geUjmEhlWUE 

> Black Dragon fight recap: https://www.instagram.com/p/CI6yHgclqAt/

> Copperhead fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/CausticCreations/posts/3693510457376001 

> Gigabyte fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/RoboticDeathCompany/posts/1681664102223621 

> JackPot AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kg5pot/ama_hit_jackpot_with_your_questions_4pm_pst/

> JackPot busted weapon shirts: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/172023587954007 

> Kraken fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/KrakenBattleBot/posts/858327314943484 

> Mammoth vs. HUGE painting: https://www.facebook.com/MammothBattlebot/posts/2935849223310127 

> Red Devil goes viral: https://youtu.be/DHHF2q6Sz94 

> Ribbot v. Clean Cut: https://www.facebook.com/kymerabots/posts/180971817059978 

> SawBlaze fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/SawBlazeBattlebots/posts/3715366008550702 

> SubZero fight recap: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kfu93n/what_happened_to_subzero_spoiler_details_in/ 

> Tantrum fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1341196586220813 

> Uppercut’s physics breakdown: https://www.facebook.com/Discovery/posts/10159097292728586

> Valkyrie fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/3619171134862706 

> Witch Doctor’s Shaman giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3220262548078557

 

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This week on the podcast, we catch up with the youngest BattleBots driver in the field, 11-year-old Tyler Nguyen! Tyler enters the competition this year with an impressive resume, with first-place finishes in insectweight competitions across the U.S., and a dominant showing in the UK at BuggleBots. We ask him about how he came to own Perfect Phoenix (originally built by Bite Force captain Paul Ventimiglia), how BattleBots compares to the other competitions he’s been to, and what it was like driving in his very short match against Extinguisher.

 

This week’s combat robotics news stories:

 

> New BattleBots merch: 

> Claw Viper’s big wedge: https://www.facebook.com/clawviperbb/posts/212838453640649

> Deadlift’s motor sensors: https://www.facebook.com/robogymrobotics/posts/3961921953860619

> End Game’s giveaway: https://www.instagram.com/p/CIrU-dpLstE/

> Extinguisher’s ornaments: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/785962281985622

> Extinguisher fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinguisherBattlebot/posts/784637598784757

> Hydra’s fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/Whyachi/posts/3892039920808794

> Ghost Raptor’s fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/realghostraptor/posts/2888147524750854

> HiJinx AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kbz7dq/hijinx_battlebots_ama_dec_12_4pm_pst/ 

> HiJinx fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/HiJinx.BattleBot/posts/248516360033410

> HyperShock jackets 50% off: https://hypershock.tv/products/hypershock-team-jacket

> JackPot build log: https://www.facebook.com/JackPotBattleBots/posts/169666694856363

> Malice ornaments: https://www.facebook.com/malicebattlebot/posts/233114591550751 

> Norwalk Havoc Finals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddtRem_CRYs 

> Mammoth AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kbbd1n/team_mammoth_ama_7pm_friday_december_11_ask_us/ 

> Mammoth jackets: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/team-mammoth-merch#/

> Perfect Phoenix AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/kcls80/perfect_phoenix_ama_starts_7_pm/ 

> Shatter fight recap: https://youtu.be/6Axa8BpVC2w

> Tantrum and HiJinx: https://www.facebook.com/tantrum.battlebot/posts/1338795369794268 

> Tracer’s minibot: https://www.facebook.com/kymerabots/posts/176608127496347

> Uppercut spin-up: https://www.facebook.com/UppercutBattlebot/posts/697394617636456

> Valkyrie upgrades: https://www.facebook.com/valkyriebattlebot/posts/3601097923336694

> Witch Doctor fight recap: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3207586539346158 

> Witch Doctor stickers: https://www.facebook.com/witchdrshaman/posts/3206002246171254

 

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