This week on the podcast, we sit down with longtime combat robotics builder (and now, BattleBots judge) Lisa Winter! We talk about her childhood as a competitor on Robot Wars and BattleBots, her design ethos and her perspective on the show as a judge.

Out of an abundance of caution, we’re temporarily pausing the combat robotics event calendar during coronavirus.

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week on the podcast, we sit down with the captain of this year’s weirdest (possibly) and longest (definitely) BattleBot, SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! New Yorker Joe Fabiani has competed in China with his big-wheeled bot Button Lee, and across the Northeast on the insectweight circuit with his beetleweight version of SMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Plus, all things coronavirus.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Saturday, March 21

Las Vegas, NV

Robot Domination: Fight Night

Antweights

Organized by Vegas Combat Robotics

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/520

Sunday, March 22

Sherburn in Elmet, UK

RoboDojo Feathers Full Combat + Sportsman

Featherweights

Organized by RoboDojo

https://www.facebook.com/events/444590862872307/

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week on the podcast, we sit down with Monsoon captain Tom Brewster, a mechanical engineer, video game designer, and the captain of the UK’s hardest-hitting vertical spinner. Bonus Surprise: we've also got the rest of the crew with Sarah Asplin, Rory Mangles, and the Tim Rackers! We have a fun and rowdy conversation that you'll want to batten down the hatches for. 

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Saturday, March 14

Norwalk, CT

Norwalk Havoc

Beetleweights

Organized by 50 Day Street

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/489

Saturday, March 14

Grand Prairie, TX

Robot Rebellion 4.1

Fairyweights, antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Texas Robot Combat

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/518

Sunday, March 15

Wolverton, UK

Antweight World Series 61

Antweights

Organized by Team Siberian Warlords

http://antlog.garya.org.uk/event/25

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week, we sit down with HiJinx captain Jen Herchenroeder, who applied to the 2020 season of BattleBots with a very mysterious entry. We talk about her experience as a maker, welder, artist, BattleBots competitor, electric go-kart racer, and more.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Saturday, March 7

Tupelo, MS

Tupelo Con: Combat Exhibition

Antweights, plastic antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Angry Rooster Robotics 

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/511

Saturday, March 7

Corvallis, OR

Oregon State Brawl

Antweights

Organized by Oregon State Combat Robotics

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/482

Saturday, March 7

Longmont, CO

Rocky Mountain STEAMfest

Antweights, plastic antweights, and beetleweights

Organized by Colorado Combat Robotics

https://www.robotcombatevents.com/events/487

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week, 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.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Feb. 28 to March 1

Santa Rita do Sapucaí, Brazil

Iron Cup 2020

Fairyweights and beetleweights

Organized by Robocore

robotcombatevents.com/events/478

Feb. 29

Columbus, OH

MakerX Columbus Combat 2020

Antweights and beetleweights

Organized by the National Robotics Challenge

buildersdb.com/eventdetail.asp?eventid=616

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

On this episode, we sit down with BattleBots co-creator Greg Munson to get an early, early, very early preview of Season 5 of the show (filming live April 3-15 in Southern California; tickets still available on www.battlebots.com/tickets).

We learn about new bots, returning bots, and bots that won't be returning - plus, the effect of the coronavirus, new rule changes, floor updates, and a whole lot more.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Feb. 22

Tempe, AZ

Sun Devil Smackdown

Beetleweights

Organized by the ASU Sun Devil Robotics Club

robotcombatevents.com/events/495

Feb. 22

Sherburn in Elmet, UK

Sportsman Beetleweights, Full Combat Ants & Bodgebots!

Antweights, beetleweights and bodgebots

Organized by RoboDojo

facebook.com/events/444590862872307

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week on the podcast, Team MowBot captain Craig Danby! We talk about his very long history in combat robotics, what it’s like competing on Robot Wars versus BattleBots, and his plans for the now confirmed 2020 season of the show.

Marc Thorpe’s GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/marc-thorpe039s-fight-against-parkinson039s

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Feb. 14-16

Harrisburg, PA

Motorama

Fairyweights to 30-pound sportsmen bots, with bonus Roomba combat

Organized by the Northeast Robotics Club

buildersdb.com/eventdetail.asp?eventid=609

Feb. 15

Lakeland, FL

Firefights: NRL Southeastern Regional Championship

15-pounders

Organized by the National Robotics League

robotcombatevents.com/events/464

Feb. 15 and 16

Stuart, FL

SBoMD: Fair Fights IV

Fairyweights, antweights, beetleweights and 15-pound dogeweights

Organized by KurTrox and Treasure Coast Makerspace

buildersdb.com/eventdetail.asp?eventid=618

Feb. 16

Bristol, UK

Bristol Bot Builders Beetle Champs 2020

Beetleweights

Organized by Bristol Bot Builders

facebook.com/events/2742904665754199

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

The Biggest Story Ever Told: Our Interview with MegaBots Cofounder Matt Oehrlein

This week on the podcast, we go big - literally - with a story so crazy it’s almost hard to believe. Cofounder Matt Oehrlein and his team made headlines in 2015, when they challenged Japan’s Suidobashi Heavy Industry to the world’s first international mech robot duel. The duel garnered 8.5 million views on YouTube...and 8.5 million different opinions on the outcome. Late last year, MegaBots declared bankruptcy and sold off its assets. We go deep on the history of the company, his experience building and fighting Eagle Prime, and what the future of giant fighting robots might possibly hold.

Link to the Eagle Prime vs. Kuratas Giant Robot Duel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-ouLX8Q9UM

Link to Team OuiOui’s GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/help-build-this-250lb-glasscannon-battle-robot 

This week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Feb. 8

Severn, MD

Pre-St. Valentine’s Day Bot Massacre

Plastic antweights

Organized by Maryland Area Combat Robotics Organization

robotcombatevents.com/events/499

Feb. 8

Richmond, CA

Bay Area Bot Battles

Fairyweights, antweights and plastic antweights

Organized by Bay Area Robotic Combat

facebook.com/Bay-Area-Robotic-Combat-BARC-341570389979396

Feb. 8

Rocklin, CA

NRL Sacramento: California Clash

12-pounders and 15-pounders

Organized by the National Robotics League

robotcombatevents.com/events/467

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week on the podcast, we catch up with FingerTech Robotics founder (and Behind the Bots sponsor) Kurtis Wanner to talk about how to build your first combat robot. Kurtis is a longtime builder, and most recently competed on BattleBots in 2018 as the driver of the pneumatic launcher Lucky.

Just one event on this week’s combat robotics event calendar!

Saturday, Feb. 1

Hinckley, UK

Ant Freeze 7

Antweights

Organized by @AntFreeze

robotwars101.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2935

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!

This week on the podcast, we sit down with surprise guest John Flaacke, the 17-year-old captain of Extinguisher, the fire engine-themed modular heavyweight that made its debut on the 2019 season of BattleBots. John talks about his high school capstone project (an autonomous firefighting robot), why he decided to build a heavyweight first, and how he chopped 35 pounds off his robot’s emergency siren.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar:

Jan. 25

Las Vegas, NV

Desert Dust Up

Fairyweights, antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Vegas Combat Robotics

robotcombatevents.com/events/451

Jan. 25

Miami, FL

Robot Riot at RoboSLAM 2020

Fairyweights, antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Robot Riot

buildersdb.com/eventdetail.asp?eventid=605

Jan. 25

Fullerton, CA

Sparklecon Smash VII

Fairyweights, antweights, plastic antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Bad Kitty

facebook.com/events/2418538445075996

Jan. 25 and 26

Monroe, WA

WAR Hobby Expo 2020

Fairyweights, antweights, plastic antweights, beetleweights, 12-pound hobbyweight and 30-pound sportsman

Organized by Western Allied Robotics

robotcombatevents.com/events/472

Jan. 26

Sherburn in Elmet, UK

RoboDojo Feathers Full Combat and Sportsman

Featherweights

Organized by RoboDojo

facebook.com/events/1220535418334975

Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots

Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts

Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!