BattleBots – RoboJackets

RoboJacket’s teams Anxietii, Chonkiv, and Tsunamii compete at the 2024 NHRL April tournament.

Everyone has seen the hit T.V. show BattleBots, which pits two robots against each other in a gladiator style arena. However, many people don’t know the process behind building one. RoboJackets’ Battlebots team strives to build competitive robots which are strong enough to deal and take damage in battle while also instilling engineering knowledge into its members. The task is simple: build a robot to fight one-on-one with another robot of the same weight class. To accomplish this task, we manufacture most parts in shop and heavily focus on the mechanical components of the robot alongside the internal electrical components and controls. We are constantly pursuing improvement of our line up to make them more robust and dangerous than ever before.

Currently, three teams are designing hobbyweight (12lb) robots equipped with destructive weapons, durable chassis, and creative designs to compete in national competitions and championships. Simultaneously, students are preparing their three featherweight (30lb) robots for the 2024 NHRL World Championships in December. To improve our modeling and manufacturing capabilities, a research division focuses on testing novel ideas for robot controls, electrical schemas, and material composites. The 3-lb program prepares students to compete on larger featherweight robot teams by providing BattleBot design experience while teaching fundamental design and analysis principles.

The Competitions

National Havoc Robot League (NHRL)
NHRL attracts teams worldwide to compete in 30lb, 12lb, and 3lb combat robotics divisions in Norwalk, Connecticut. Each year, they host several competitions to qualify for the year’s World Championships. In 2024, all three of our featherweight teams placed and qualified for the World Championship. Additionally, our 12lb teams this year are expected to compete in 2-3 competitions during the 2025 year to qualify for the 2025 World Championships.

RoboJackets 25th Anniversary Competition
RoboJackets is hosting a 25th-anniversary competition on September 15, 2024, and the competition will feature a 3lb combat robot competition. Teams from all over the nation will be invited to compete in this event at Georgia Tech.

Georgia Spring Smash
The Georgia Spring Smash is a small competition in Athens, Georgia. Our 3lb program, consisting of 5 robots attended this exciting and challenging robot combat event. Our 3lb program this upcoming year will compete in a similar tournament this upcoming year.