Behind the Bots

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!

This week on the podcast, we catch up with Bugglebots co-producer and pit reporter Sarah Malyan to talk all things Bugglebots, changes to Nelly the Ellybot and life in the BattleBots offseason.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar:

Jan. 18

Norwalk, CT

Norwalk Havoc

Beetleweights (with cash prizes!)

Organized by 50DayStreet

robotcombatevents.com/events/488

Jan. 18

Loughborough, UK

Loughborough Robot Riot

Beetleweights

Organized by the Loughborough Fighting Robots Society

facebook.com/lbororobots

Jan. 18

Brisbane, Australia

Australian Robowars Ant and Beetleweight Nationals 2020

Antweights and beetleweights

Organized by Julie Pitts

robotcombatevents.com/events/471

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 of Behind the Bots, we learn what it takes to build an indie, heavyweight combat robotics competition from the ground up, with someone who’s doing that right now! Robot Ruckus organizer Lilith Specht.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar:

Nov. 30

Blackstone QLD, Australia

Beetle Buster

Beetleweights

Organized by Ipswich Robotics Sports Group

robotcombatevents.com/events/460

Dec. 1

Corvallis, OR

Battle at Oregon State University

Fairyweight and antweights

Organized by Oregon State Combat Robotics

osubattlebots.org

Dec. 1

Sherburn in Elmet, UK

Robodojo Featherweight Championship Round 6

Featherweights

Organized by Robodojo

Dec. 1

Clayton VIC, Australia

MCR Antweights at the Monash Mini Maker Faire

Organized by Melbourne Combat Robotics

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 of Behind the Bots, our panel discussion on Veterans of BattleBots recorded live at Maker Faire Orlando, with Victor Soto (RotatoR), Charles Guan (Overhaul), Brian Nave (Captain Shrederator), Jason Brown (Bombsell), and Logan Davis (SubZero). 

Live Audio Warning: Maker Faire was a loud and dynamic environment, so please be aware that there may be some peaks and static/distortion in the recording.

This week’s must-watch video: youtube.com/watch?v=D-CpDYqgRgY

This week’s combat robotics event calendar:

Nov. 23

Norwalk, CT

Norwalk Havoc

Beetleweights, 12-pounders

Organized by 50 Day Street

robotcombatevents.com/events/469

Nov. 23

Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Gobble Squabble

Fairyweights, plastic antweights

Organized by Colorado Combat Robotics Club

robotcombatevents.com/events/463

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 of Behind the Bots, our panel discussion on unconventional BattleBots designs, recorded live at Maker Faire Orlando, with Kurt Durjan (Axe Backwards), Earl Pancoast III (Bale Spear), Craig Danby (Foxtrot), Jonathan Schultz (HUGE), Adam Wrigley (Shatter) and Dustin Esswein (Deep Six).

Live Audio Warning: Maker Faire was a loud and dynamic environment, so please be aware that there may be some peaks and static/distortion in the recording.

This week’s combat robotics event calendar:

Nov. 16

Sacramento, CA

Hornet Combat Robot Tourney

Antweights

Organized by Competitive Robotics at CSUS

facebook.com/events/431278150831102

Nov. 16

Edinburgh, UK

The Battle in 'Burgh'

Organized by Techno Events

robotcombatevents.com/events/406

Nov. 16

Williamsport, PA

PCT Sword 2019

Antweight, beetleweight, 12-pound sumo

buildersdb.com/eventdetail.asp?eventid=595

Nov. 16 and 17

Dublin, Ireland

Organized by RoboRiots

facebook.com/events/387175385339013

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!