TriceraBot 3.0 and Rosie the Riveter II will be on Robot Wars June 1 at 9PM (PDT). Repeats on Monday June 3rd at 7PM and just after midnight Monday night.
We will have a premier party for the Robot Wars US Championships Saturday, June 1, 2002. That's a week from this Saturday. It'll be the same place and time as the last party and we'll be cheering on TriceraBot 3.0 and Rosie the Riveter II in the Robot Wars US championship tournament!
WHAT: Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors 2 US Championship premier
WHEN: Saturday, June 1st, 8:00-10PM
WHERE: Corvallis Sports Park (upstairs lounge)
175 SW Twin Oaks Circle
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 757-0776
Map
At 9PM we'll watch the premier of Robot Wars US championships on TNN
We've been nominated for a cool robot site of the month poll. We were ahead for a long time, but now we're behind and we need YOUR help. Please visit http://www.aceuplink.com/aceuplink/cool/ and vote for your favorite robot site (and you know what the answer had better be! ;)
Thanks and hope to see you at the party!!
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
The TEAM:JuggerBot "TNN Robot Wars:Extreme Warriors 2" episodes are coming! And you know what that means: Premier party time!
We are almost certain that the May 4th episode will feature Rosie the Riveter II tearing up the arena with Tom and Gatt at the controls.
May 11th will feature the screeching tires of TriceraBot 3.0 dumping robot carcasses into the pit of oblivion.
Rosie party details are in the works.
The TriceraBot 3.0 premier party is already confirmed (Note it's moved from the last premier party locations):
WHAT: Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors 2, heat 6 Premier Party
WHEN: Saturday, May 11th, 8:00-10PM
WHERE: Corvallis Sports Park (upstairs lounge)
175 SW Twin Oaks Circle
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 757-0776
Map
TRADING CARDS
Yes, that's right, we have trading cards!
The first card is for JuggerBot 3.0- includes stats, pictures, and sponsors. Best part is the cost to get one- FREE!
If you would like one of the cards from the first run, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:
TEAM:JuggerBot #101
2397 N.W. Kings Blvd
Corvallis, OR 97330
(Note that it's #101, NOT Box 101)
There is a place for autographs so, if you actually want an autographed card, please specify in your request the autograph you want. You can choose from anyone on the "T"eam portion of the JuggerBot website.
Coming soon: Rosie the Riveter II and TriceraBot 3.0 cards!!
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
ROBOT WARS: EXTREME WARRIORS 2
We returned from England after a successful campaign on Robot Wars Extreme
Warriors 2. Gatt's crew took a new and improved Rosie the Riveter II and Nor,
Nicole, and I brought a new TriceraBot 3.0. I don't want to give away the
results yet, but I will say that you won't be disappointed. The destruction,
chaos, and general success of the TEAM:JuggerBot robots will make for an
exciting season!
THIS JUST IN!
Early recon indicates a good chance that Rosie the Riveter II
will be on the Saturday, May 4th episode and TriceraBot 3.0 will be on the May
11th episode. Final confirmation as well as premier party details will be sent
to this update list soon. Yes, there WILL be premier parties in the
Corvallis/Portland area, complete with robot appearances, prizes, and
behind-the-scenes tidbits!
ROBOTICA 3 UPDATE
As some of you may have figured out, Robotica 3 didn't premier on March 20th
afterall. My sources indicate that, after season two finished, the producers
decided to hold back season 3 and maybe tweak it a little. I have no
information on when it might air, other than a vague "early summer" comment.
More info as it comes.
LOGOSEYE SHOW
Our own Chris Gattman is having a CD release party this Friday March 29th at the
Mt. Tabor Pub in Portland. What does this have to do with robots? Everything!
LogosEye was the name of his team's entry on the yet-to-air Robotica 3. Band
members were part of the Rosie crew at Robot Wars, and two of the songs on the
debut CD are "JuggerBot" and "LogosEye." All of my own robot design work is done while
listening to LogosEye. It's quite an intricate web of technology, destruction,
and ROCK-N-ROLL!
Check 'em out at www.logoseye.com
DA VINCI DAYS
This year's da Vinci Days in Corvallis will have a bonus- COMBAT ROBOTS!
TEAM:JuggerBot is coordinating a series of combat robot demos throughout the
weekend. Scheduled robots include JuggerBot 3.0, Rosie the Riveter II, Killa
Gorilla/Silverback (from Robotica 2/Battlebots 4), The Gap (Mark Joerger's Robot
Wars 2 follow-on to Run Amok/Away), and many more. It's going to be the
biggest operational combat robot gathering in Oregon history and possibly the
Northwest! More details will be provided on this list, the website, and the
forum.
FORUM?
Just a refresher- TEAM:JuggerBot has their own Delphi forum!
Feel free to peruse, ask questions, or generally talk about anything JuggerBot.
forums.delphiforums.com/juggerbot/start
ANT WAR
Western Allied Robotics (WAR) is a consortium of semi-local robot builders that
was founded by TEAM:JuggerBot. It encompasses builders from California to BC
and east to Idaho. The first competition being conducted under the WAR umbrella
is an Antweight competition in Seattle on April 14th. What's an Antweight?
It's a new class of combat robots with a weight limit of 1 pound.
For more details on the competition or to enter, please visit
home.attbi.com/~antweights/
WAR has a forum too: forums.delphiforums.com/NWAR/start
JUGGERBOT 2.0 LIVES!
JuggerBot 2.0/TriceraBot 1.0 is going to be at Onset Computer Corporation's
booth (Booth # 3342) at the upcoming National Science Teachers Association
convention in San Diego March 27-March 30, 2002. Onset is the maker of HOBO data
loggers, the self-contained thermal recorders that we used at Robotica 1 and
Battlebots. JuggerBot 2.0 is coming out of retirement for the convention,
complete with HOBO data loggers installed and operational.
More info:
The convention: www.nsta.org/conventiondetail&Meeting_Code=2002SND
Onset: www.onsetcomp.com
HOBOs and JuggerBot: www.iscienceproject.com/stories/6417_battlebots.html
JUGGERBOT APPEARANCES
Always check the battle board to find out where you can catch your favorite
TEAM:JuggerBot robots:
www.juggerbot.com/index-battles.html
Mike
TEAM: JuggerBot
MISC: With all the @home.com mess, I've had to switch over some addresses. If you received this email update and are not interested in JuggerBot updates please let me know.
ROBOTICA 2,3:
I'm happy to report that JuggerBot 3.0 survived Robotica 3 completely intact.
The machine performed flawlessly and the show is going to be outstanding! We
did very well and will be hosting premier parties when Season 3 airs in March of
2002.
As you may have noticed from the commercials on TLC, Robotica Season 2 is
gearing up with a season premier this Weds the 12th. Season 2 was filmed right
before season 3, so the sets and challenges are virtually the same. So, watch
season 2 to get an idea of what we'll be up against, then stay tuned for details
on the JuggerBot premier parties!
ROBOT WARS:Extreme Warriors 1,2:
As some folks may have noticed, TNN is re-running Robot Wars Season 1 for the
FOURTH time! So, that means on any given Saturday night you might catch a
glimpse of Rosie the Riveter or TriceraBot strutting their stuff. This past
Saturday was the beginning of the "season" again with the famous House Robot
Rebellion. If you haven't seen it yet, it repeats Monday nights after
midnight. If they continue to show the re-runs in order (which is a big "if"
with the TNN program folks!!?) then we should be on again in a couple weeks on
the Tag Team Terror, War for Independence, and US Championships episodes.
The next taping of Robot Wars has been tentatively set for London in January.
We have applied and are waiting to hear back. JuggerBot 3.0 will be converted
to TriceraBot 3.0 with a fireproof body this time. Fire was fun and all, but
it's time to get down and dirty! NO MERCY, NO WEAKNESS!
WEBSITE:
Jonathan has begun updating the website- you can find early sneak peek pictures
from Robotica 3 in the gallery section. Also, the website has been getting some
interesting traffic and visitors lately, including a surge in visits from Mexico
and a few from "Vatican City State" (maybe the Pope is a JuggerBot fan??).
UPCOMING JUGGERBOT APPEARANCES:
1080AM KOTK 1PM 12/12/01
JuggerBot 3.0 and crew will be on the Rick Emerson talk show on KOTK 1080AM this
Wednesday the 12th sometime between 1PM and 3PM. We'll be smashing things up
and talking about developing JuggerBot and competing on the "big 3" robot combat
shows.
Corvallis HS 7PM 12/17/01
JuggerBot 3.0 will be at Corvallis High School Monday December 17th as part of a
promo for the local area FIRST high school robotica teams.
More information at
http://www.croakcity.com/roboticstemp/first_rally.htm
Stay tuned for updates on our application for Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors 2!
Mike
TEAM: JuggerBot
Greetings from the JuggerBot War Department!
It's been quite a summer, but that's no excuse for the lack of updates. So, stay tuned for a slew of messages, starting with the:
BATTLEBOTS POST-MORTEM
Yes, Comedy Central's showing of Battlebots Season 3.0 is winding down and it's clear that there won't be even a hint of JuggerBot on it. But, at least that frees me up to discuss the event.
Our first match was against a large 4-wheeled monster called "Neptune". This was basically a metal-reinforced slab of plywood with a small drivetrain and a disproportionately massive primary weapon: An array of six air cannons that fired tethered projectiles. Tethered projectiles are extremely rare in Battlebots, and we were excited to get the opportunity to go against such a beastie.
The Strategy:
We concluded that our best attack would be an immediate full-speed launch across
the box with an aimpoint near a corner of his front wheel assembly. A
full-impact would likely collapse the non-gussetted support rectangle around the
wheel, rendering him immobile and easy prey for subsequent spike piercing
(secondary target was his large air tank :). Any hits from the tethered
projectile missile battery would be taken head-on- damn the torpedoes! Worst
case we estimated a projectile would breach our titanium/aluminum laminate
armor, dent a forward motor can and shatter the magnets. Given that we had
triple redundancy, that was a chance we were willing to take.
The Match:
JuggerBot was powered up and the team exited the box. Neptune's team had
difficulty with their weapon control system and 2 of their single-use tethers
fired as they were arming the weapon. Thankfully, no humans were hurt! Mental
note: 2 shots down, only 4 to go... Finally, they signaled they were ready
and exited the battlebox. Both doors were locked, the light tree sank towards
green....and the match commenced. JuggerBot FLEW across the box at maximum
acceleration and plowed into Neptune's starboard front wheel, collapsing it and
sending pieces flying. A perfectly-aimed direct hit, courtesy of our driver
Tommy! JuggerBot backed up and proceeded to deliver another blow, then
another... the whistle sounded. The match was over after only 32 seconds.
KNOCKOUT- Neptune tapped out. "Tapping out" is the same as throwing in the
towel in boxing- the driver asks to end the fight, begging for mercy.
With that we collected our winner's disk and prepared for the next preliminary
match.
Firstblood occurred somewhere in
this vicinity.
For our second match, we drew the most feared new Super Heavy Weight at the event: Vladiator. Built by Gage Cauchois of "Vlad the Impaler" fame, this was his newest and most powerful 'bot. Horizontally symmetric with all-wheel drive and steep angles of approach and departure, this was basically very similar to JuggerBot- with one big difference: A pneumatic lifting lance sticking out the front. Gage and I compared notes and 'bots before the event. Our conclusion was that both 'bots were so stout that no knockout would be possible and the decision would go to the judges. Although we used the same wheels, he opted for solid rubber tires on Vladiator compared to our foam-core deep tread tires.
The Strategy:
We decided that our best strategy would be a full-frontal assault, maximum
speed, maximum attack. The sidewalls of Vladiator were made from bullet-proof
1/2" lexan. We had learned from testing that our titanium piercing spikes could
punch through such material, so we decided to try to crack or breach his
sidewalls, possibly hitting a wheel or sending lexan shrapnel bouncing around
internally.
The Match:
The light tree counted down to green and both bots launched across the floor,
crashing together. He was EXTREMELY fast (25-30mph by some estimates), but he
had major traction problems. Once we locked up with him solidly, we could shove
him across the arena and into the wall. But, as the match progressed, he
adapted to the squirrelly nature of his robot and started using his lifter
against us. First we would slam him into the wall, then he would slam us into
the spike strip. We managed to get a solid side hit in and sent our titanium
spikes through his lexan. Then he maneuvered around and lifted us, driving us
into the wall and flipping us over. No problem, JuggerBot runs just fine
inverted. Again we traded blows, and again he managed to get a lift or two in
on us. Finally, the match was over and it went to the judges. They scored in
Vladiator's favor (27-18), mainly due to his use of the lifter.
Since Battlebots is a single elimination tournament, we were eliminated.
With no more bouts, we decided to conduct some joint field testing with Neptune. They had managed to fix their fire control problem and we wanted to learn how strong (or not) our armor was. So, we set up a point-blank fire test in the robot testing bunker. They fired two projectiles into JuggerBot. One hit just inboard of a titanium panel, allowing easy puncturing of the aluminum before the projectile bounced out. The second projectile glanced harmlessly off the top armor. You can see the puncture in this picture, along with some yellow from the Spike Strip encounter during the bout with Vladiator.
We packed up the otherwise completely undamaged JuggerBot and headed home.
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
After Battlebots we modified the Battlebots JuggerBot (2.0) and revived the Robotica JuggerBot (1.0). They were crated and shipped to England to compete on Robot Wars:Extreme Warriors as TriceraBot and Rosie the Riveter, respectively.
As mentioned in a previous update, the teams were:
| Team:Thunderbolt | |
| Robot: | Rosie the Riveter Chris Gattman, Driver Sharon Gattman Kris Ender |
| TEAM:JuggerBot | |
| Robot: TriceraBot Mike Morrow, driver Nicole Morrow Ron Ender | |
At Robot Wars we made a "brilliant" (Britishism) showing, competing in the US championships, the US vs UK War for Independence, the Tag Team Terror (two JuggerBots on the same team!), and the suicidal House Robot Rebellion.
Well, it looks like the House Robot Rebellion will be the SEASON PREMIER of this new show! That means the first episode will feature two JuggerBots in action!! There will be a premier party Saturday, August 25th in Corvallis- details will follow very soon. In the meantime, look for Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors to start airing on TNN.
| What: | Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors |
| Where: | TNN (The National Network, previously The Nashville Network) |
| When: | Mondays and Saturdays starting Monday August 20. Check local listings for times. |
The August 20th show will be the House Robot Rebellion, so if you can't wait until the premier party that Saturday, checkout the show on its first day.
BACKGROUND: HOUSE ROBOT REBELLION
Robot Wars has a very distinctive feature: House Robots. These Housebots are large monstrosities that are not required to follow the rules of weight limits and weapons restrictions that the normal robots must conform to. The Housebots are the "ringers", the American Gladiators, the Stalkers (from The Running Man). They normally lurk in the shadows, watching the action in the arena. If things get too boring or if a robot is clearly disabled, they will roll in and unleash destruction for the home audience. The Housebots have a distinctive personality that makes them synonymous with Robot Wars. There are windup Housebots, Housebot keychains, housebot T-shirts, housebot radio control toys, housebot pins, housebot everything. Every child in Britain has a favorite housebot- and they can probably name all five: Matilda, Shunt, Dead Metal, Sgt. Bash, and the monstrous Sir Killalot.
Normally, a robot builder considers it a lucky match when he defeats his foe- or is defeated- and avoids a brush with the ever-present Housebots. But in the Rebellion, there's no "avoiding" the Housebots. THEY ARE the foe and they aren't going to sit in the shadows waiting for a victim. They know you're there for one reason, and they go on the offensive much more aggressively than in a normal match.
To robot builders (roboteers as Robot Wars calls them), housebots are dreaded more than the pit, the flipper, and the flame pit in the arena. You avoid them at all costs and fear them like no other. These bloated indestructible sentries make their living patrolling the edges of the battle arena, touting weapons such as flame throwers, gas-powered cutoff saws, and hydraulic crushing jaws. The weak cry foul at such unfair odds in the arena. The fearless step to the front to take on such paper dragons. Step to the front we did.
BOTH JuggerBot teams volunteered to join the Housebot Rebellion event. We were the ONLY two teams entering the fray with our own robots- all other teams were using loaner 'bots provided by Robot Wars producers (usually because their own robot had not survived the previous combats). Most teams shook their heads in mourning, knowing we were volunteering for the ultimate David and Goliath encounter. British builders, much more experienced with Housebots in the ring, criticized us for our apparent suicide mission.
The event starts with 4 pairs of robots. Each pair battles it out one-on-one in the arena. The 4 winners then take on 2 of the 5 Housebots with a 3rd Housebot lurking behind the scenes. I won't give away the outcome, but I can offer some tidbits:
The two housebots in the final are Matilda and Shunt, with Sir Killalot on deck in case of trouble.
Usually, when the British roboteers take on the housebots, they all do their best to get in hits on the housebots before they are all dispatched with impunity. At the end of the match, audience cheering is used to see which of the roboteers' robots has performed the best (ie been destroyed the least) and they are considered the "winner".
Something happens in this event that has never happened before.
I will post the premier party details in the next day or so for those in the area who wish to join in.
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
Two Juggerbots went out...
I don't have photos developed yet, but soon some dramatic shots will be available at www.juggerbot.com.
London itself was too much of an adventure to stuff into one letter, so we'll have to save it for anecdotes. As for Robot Wars, the competition was a nice blend of Battlebots and Robotica. Fewer robots meant less insanity and better treatment for the competitors. A big budget, HUGE, popular following and a vast arena gave it all of the flash and glitter of Bbots, plus some wicked superveterans from the US and the UK. The crowd could walk by the spacious pits to look from behind a barricade, which was a mixed blessing. We had to take shifts signing autographs to countless hundreds or thousands of kids dressed like Angus Young begging for autographs and "spare bits." After awhile, you felt like a jerk because you had to ignore them. To offer a broken part or sign an autograph was to invite a thousand other screaming, insistent little foul-mouthed schoolboys to demand the same.
Both Juggerbots did well, but shipping and combat introduced gremlins into the bots that plagued both of them. Rosie the Riveter (Juggerbot from Robotica) suffered a twitchy speed controller that would lock the front brakes up, making the robot fight itself to move, which would invariable blow a motor. Had to disassemble and rebuild the electric motor I think four times out of seven battles. What sucked is that none of the crippling problems were battle related. While Rosie got its share of unholy damage and jaw-dropping damage after the fights, the only thing that really held it back was a twitchy, phantom electrical problem that appeared at random. Our solution was to remove the front brakes so at worst-case we still had 50% power. We don't need no stinkin' brakes!
Sometimes, it would just sit in the arena and get hammered. We looked like real wusses the first two days and quickly lost the attention and respect of the RW staff. It only took one fully-functional fight--which happened to be an epic tagteam featuring both Juggerbots--to get the attention of RW and TNN.
Suddenly Rosie became a celebrity.
Which is unfortunate, sort of, because Tricerabot had the better equipment and it was a better robot overall, having been built upon the experience we gained with the older J1 frame (now Rosie). Tricerabot performed much more reliably but had the peculiar habit of bursting into flame whenever Mike ran it through the fire pit or when a flamethrower got a shot at it. Mostly what you can expect to see of Tricerabot on Robot Wars US what looks like a flaming, pissed-off marshmallow thundering across the arena and kicking everybody's ass.
Meanwhile, Rosie the Riveter proved to be a winning robot...we won't give up the suspense, but we can say both robots finished with winning records. The TNN people liked the imagery Rosie the Riveter conveyed; while they interviewed me in the foreground, both of the girls, dressed as WWII riveters, could be seen in the background prepping the robot for the next round.
Apparently, the robot itself looked good on TV as well, either in pristine condition or with shattered wings, a scorched tail, and smashed cockpit. On the flipside, Rosie hit the side wall so hard that the rear titanium bayonet pierced the lexan. In another fight, the bayonet (now in back) hit the opponent so hard that it 1) killed them and 2) twisted our 3/16" iron ram 90 degrees such that the bayonet carved a zorro-like gouge into the floor wherever I drove.
The host for the show is Mick Foley from WWF. Bad decision, in my opinion, but the interesting thing about Foley is he's a nice guy who is an absolute history buff. When he found out the Rosie team was serious about its name and image, and after we commended him on an obscure reference to the Battle of the Wilderness (crippled adversaries catching on fire, etc), he started laying 'em out during each interview and even I had to stay on my toes to catch them.
The final feather in the team cap was the fight against the dreaded house bots. These things weighed twice a regular robot on average and featured weapons such as jaws of life and flamethrowers. Lost count of how many robots were destroyed by them. Mike (T-bot) flipped one during a tag-team fight in which both Jugs were picked up and carried around and chewed on by two of the housebots. Rosie has some wicked scars from these fights...
Early on it looked like we'd get to fight the house robot challenge because everybody else was afraid. Then we WOULDN'T get to fight because we hadn't done so well, and everybody else wanted to fight them. By late in the week, most of those robots including the spares built by the RW people were killed... mostly by the housebots. Tables had turned for the Juggerbots--the producers liked our fighting style again--and by the end, Rosie and T-bot were the ONLY TWO AMERICAN ROBOTS available to fight them. Two other teams had to use house loaner robots just to compete.
So, there were four competitor robots including Rosie, who had two flat tires and a blown motor and twitchy Vantec, Tricerabot who looked like an Iraqi tank, and two hokey loaner bots. We fought Shunt, Matilda and Sir Killalot.
Can't tell you the outcome... but the twin Juggerbots made a name for themselves in the fight.
As for London... it was hot, muggy, smoggy, crowded, cramped and dirty. Loved it... the Thames, the ancient Camelot-like Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, the old architecture, FABULOUS beer and extremely entertaining, pleasant and cordial people. London is exactly as its portrayed everywhere except the people are very courteous. I could never live there because it's so crowded and compact (and expensive) and I doubt there's a bit of quiet anywhere in the region. The historical and imperial stuff that London is all about is just awesome.
(Shroom and I saw something wholly remarkable at the Hampton Court Palace but photography is prohibited and its one of those X-Files sort of things people think you're crazy for talking about. More on that another time.)
Gatt
Pit Crew Chief
TEAM:JuggerBot
Well, my apologies for the lack of updates lately. Things have been EXTREMELY busy at the JuggerBot War Department.
We returned from Battlebots with relatively little damage!
Battlebots was awesome and we were in the same pit table area as well known 'bots like Jay Leno's Chinkilla, Nightmare, Voltronic, The Judge, and Backlash.
We cannot legally discuss specific outcomes of the event until the show airs, but I can offer a few tidbits:
We know what a match winner's disk looks like. ;)
We may or may not appear on Battlebots Season 3.0. The new season airs July 10th. If and when we are going to appear in an episode, I will try to send around an announcement.
New shirts are in, so let me know if you want to purchase any!!
Stay tuned for two more announcements.
UPDATE - June 23rd, 2001
Time to revisit the debut of JuggerBot into the robotic competition world!
Robotica will re-air the last week of June as part of TLC's Techno Week.
More specifically, JuggerBot will be on episode 5 (Friday, June 30th) and the Championships (Sunday, July 1).
Check local listings for times- in most cases the episode airs at 10PM and again at 1AM.
More info at:
UPDATE - June 23rd, 2001
Yes, that's right, the JuggerBots have taken the fight overseas!!
Let me back up a few steps.
Robotwars US will air on TNN in the late summer- stay tuned for more details.
Other robots fighting at Robotwars include Run Away (formerly known as Run Amok), $6M Mouse (HandsOff!), General Chompsalot (Jawbreaker), Manta (Kritical Mass), and Panzer. So, we're hoping to settle a few old scores and maybe a few new ones!!
Not to worry, JuggerBot is not gone. The robots were renamed for Robotwars only. Future versions of JuggerBot will continue to compete at Battlebots and other events. JuggerBot 3.0 is already in development, with more power and speed than EVER before.
The JuggerBot arsenal should be back in the states by mid-July in time for some local demos.
Jonathan Taggart will post updates on our progress abroad if we are able to get word back to him during the busy week of combat.
Check www.juggerbot.com for the latest images and information!
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
WHEW!
It's been awhile since I posted an update. We've been extremely busy these last few weeks preparing a new and improved JuggerBot for Battlebots.
Robotica was awesome and I hope everyone got a chance to see the exciting finale. There's a great synopsis posted on the website under "Updates." The ending was great and couldn't have been scripted better.
But, that's yesterday.
Tomorrow (Tuesday, May 15th), JuggerBot will appear with the other Oregon finalist Run Amok on Channel 2's AM Northwest show LIVE! We'll be doing a small demo inside the studio (bang, crash, crash, *scream*) for the home audience. We'll be talking about the Robotica experience and where we're headed next. The audience has space available, so if you're in Portland Tuesday, stop by (wearing your JuggerBot shirts, of course!) and watch the fun sometime between 8:30 and 10 AM.
JuggerBot will also be conducting a classified demo Monday night in Salem.
JuggerBot is officially accepted and confirmed as a Battlebots Super Heavy Weight entry, commencing battle in San Francisco NEXT WEEK. There is no stopping the JuggerBot juggernaut now... More updates on the Battlebots campaign and JuggerBot upgrades as time draws nearer and the tactical information lockdown lifts.
Until then, check out the JuggerBot classified gallery for the latest!!
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Those of you who missed the championship episode missed two hours of white-knuckle, gloves-off, no-holds-barred, brutalicious robotic rock 'n' roll.
JuggerBot took on the formidable VIPER in the race to the championship. In classic form for both robots, the opening Figure 8 race proved to be a low scoring event as both robots locked it up in the course, banging each other around for almost the entire two minutes of the race. JuggerBot emerged victorious on points alone, having barely eked out one lap over Viper.
We'll be the first to tell you that Viper put up one of the toughest fights JuggerBot has encountered, and JuggerBot's victory was due to points and luck alone. What a great fight. Cheers to Team Viper for excellent driving, sportsmanship and a WICKED first round!
On, then, to the Maze. This event turned out to be a lot more difficult for JuggerBot than the first day's run. If you don't think that those obstacles are a challenge, check the rear end of JuggerBot. What you didn't see on TV is that both Viper and JuggerBot got hung up in the maze. As JuggerBot slammed through the second spiked paddle, the paddle came around, whacked JuggerBot and sent it sailing right into the guardrail. Remember how we got stuck in the Figure 8 the first day because our bumper ram fit so tightly between the guardrails?
Well, we'd made a field modification out of some scrap aluminum to prevent getting wedged in there again. When the paddles threw the bot into the guardrail. However, the aluminum "feeler" snapped in two like a candy cane and it took two of us to extract the Jug from the guardrail. In the meantime, filming had stopped and they moved both robots back to the previously-competed obstacle. JuggerBot had no problem after that and tore up through the waterfall as Viper began its ascent. For a moment we expected the two robots to smash head-on at the finish line... announcer Ahmet Zappa's head would have exploded in the ensuing excitement, so we're rather glad that it ended peacefully.
Next, onto the Gauntlet. On the first day, we took it easy to avoid high-centering on piled up debris, a fate that proved to be a show stopper for many of the robots there.
Fortunately, we only had to complete the first part of the race to win a spot in the finals, and we knew that Viper was going to give us a serious run to the finish line one way or the other. Even though we couldn't lose a spot in the final round, teams Viper and JuggerBot shook hands beforehand and decided to make this one a race. Viper is no slacker, and we all knew this was going to be fun. So for this race we decided to hammer the throttle and let JuggerBot take its chances at full power. If we did less, Viper might beat us. If we high-centered, Viper would surely beat us. So, there really was no alternative.
JuggerBot, bless its cold, steel heart, tore through the Gauntlet like a Jeep in a flower garden. 50 feet, through all the obstacles, in FOUR SECONDS! Folks... we get chills playing it back on TV. JuggerBot broke through the brick wall before the preceding wall of cans had even hit the ground! JuggerBot simply never stopped accelerating, and when the buzzer sounded and JuggerBot stopped, he'd hit the safe so hard that it slid over a foot on its own momentum. AW YEAAAAH BABY!
Team Viper once again proved their extreme sportsmanship in a touching compliment to our boys and our bot, wishing us well and cheering us on into the finals. Should Viper compete again, they can definitely count us as friends and fans.
Meanwhile, our friends in Jawbreaker pulled off a stunning victory against Ram Force in the Gauntlet to the extreme thrill of the crowd, but Ram Force had them easily on points overall. The battle between Kritical Mass and Run Amok proved to be a dead tie all the way to the finish. Since the scores were tied, Run Amok advanced because it had won two of the three events. Both robots and teams turned out great performances.
So, at long last, the final championship Fight to the Finish. 16 square feet and three large robots: Ram Force, Run Amok, and JuggerBot. ROBOTS READY!...
JuggerBot and Ram Force IMMEDIATELY locked it up, trading blows and pushing each other back and forth in an unprecedented clash of the Robotica titans! Run Amok laid low, waiting for the perfect moment and then attacking, taking shots at both of the other robots. JuggerBot would frequently let off the power to cool the motors that had been overvoltaged for this event. Ram Force would push Jug against the wall, then visa versa. Suddenly, JuggerBot got turned sideways in the melee and found itself high-centered on Ram Force perilously close to the edge. Ram Force couldn't move, however, because Run Amok had gotten behind it. If Force moved to push JuggerBot over, Run Amok could easily slam on the power until all three robots went over, and Run Amok would score an easy win since it went over last.
Then JuggerBot broke free. At full combat power, JuggerBot tore out like lightning so fast that driver Tom had no time to reverse the power or prevent a skid, and the robot launched right off the side of the ring, into the spikes, and out of the race.
Run Amok, meanwhile, wasted absolutely no time and, seconds later, shoved Ram Force over resulting in an explosion of cheering and applause from viewers and competitors alike. The underdog, out of nowhere, triumphed over the titans!
So the final results: a third-place victory for the rookie robot JuggerBot for our friends and fellow Oregonians Mark and Aaron Joeger and Run Amok!
After the event, as corks flew and Team Oregon celebrated an awesome weekend in the JuggerBot pit area, the show's producer told us that Hollywood couldn't have scripted a better outcome. We agree.
Lastly, we can't forget to mention the epic brawl between JuggerBot and Ram Force in the parking lot after the final battle. Both robots sustained no damage from the fall off the ring and they were as ready as ever to rumble. As witnesses surrounded and cheered like fans at a hockey fight, the two robots endured murderous battle in a pouring rain, putting nearby cars and structures in serious peril. Finally, the batteries died for both robots at nearly the same time, resulting in an exhausted stalemate. What a great fight!
Post-fight observation showed that JuggerBot had inflicted catastrophic damage to Ram Force's wedge-catching "secret weapon," cracking each of its vertical supports. Meanwhile, Ram Force slammed one of JuggerBot's drive cradles into permanent retirement. We kinda like the idea that fans will have to wait until Battlebots to determine the outcome of JuggerBot versus Team Force, and we have no doubt that the competition will be as ferocious as ever. Team Force promises a brutal and deadly new robot and we're confident they will deliver.
As for JuggerBot...HMMMMMMMM....you'll just have to wait and see!
Stay tuned...
Gatt
Pit Chief
TEAM:JuggerBot
I won't go into too much detail right now about the first episode- if you didn't see it, we'll have checkout tapes available soon.
As many of you know, JuggerBot dominated the preliminaries. I think my exact words were "Tommy, you have clearance to fire" when Tommy drove JuggerBot into our opponent (Noll) in the last lap of the figure 8 track. Unfortunately, Noll never moved again. ;)
After Noll dropped out due to mechanical difficulties, JuggerBot pretty much had clear sailing to the Fight to the Finish. We blasted the Gauntlet in 7 seconds with a camera on board for fun. We tore up the maze while receiving a few punctures in the process.
For the final battle, we were pitted against a powerful robot half our weight- Hamerschlag. I won't ruin it for you- if you saw it, you know what I mean! Even knowing the outcome, it's some of the best TV I've seen in a while! You've GOT to watch it.
After winning the final battle, we secured a position in the Robotica finals on Wednesday, April 25th. We'll be going against Viper, a strong, 6-wheeled robot who's a serious contender.
So, be sure to watch this Wednesday from 9-11 as the 6 finalists duke it out for the ultimate Robo Title. We'll be packing up the Jug (with some Battlebots improvements already installed and in testing) and hitting the road. We'll watch the finals with fellow finalist and Oregonians Team Run Amok in Salem.
| What: | Robotica Finals Party |
| Where: | Mimi's Golf Garden Pizzeria 1145 Commercial SE |
| When: | Be there before 9PM. |
| Who: | JuggerBot AND Run Amok robots and crews will be there. |
Finally, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to all the friends, family, fans, sponsors, shareholders, and suppliers who helped make this happen. Without your tireless support and help, this would not have been possible. This has been an incredible experience and we're glad you could share it with us!
Next stop: Battlebots. You're not gonna believe the improvements we've made.....
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Just a reminder, JuggerBot will be on the Weds, April 18th episode of Robotica. Time is 9PM Eastern and Pacific.
If you're in the neighborhood, you're invited to a premier party blowout:
| WHERE: | O'Callahan's in Corvallis, Oregon 1550 NW Ninth Street (541)753-9151 |
| WHEN: | Weds April 18th, 2001 Party starts around 8:30, show is at 9PM |
| WHAT: | JuggerBot premier party! Meet the crew and the robot! See robot demos! Door prizes- JuggerBot shirts and jacket to be given away! No-host bar and appetizer menu available. All ages welcome! |
Hope to see you there
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Robotica is coming!
If you've watched The Learning Channel (or the Discovery channel or the NCAA championships or read Newsweek, etc.) then you've probably seen ads for the upcoming Robotica shows!
JuggerBot is in most of the ads - he's the large blue thing shoving obstacles out of his way with impunity. Also visible in many of the ads is an audience shot with Nicole, Scott (factory rep from our telemetry sponsor onsetcomp.com), and my aunt Jane. :)
We're certainly looking forward to the show's premier Weds April 4th! Many of the team will be joining TEAM Run Amok to watch his 'bot strut its stuff on the first episode at 9PM at the Ram in Salem.
JuggerBot's premier will be April 18th and we will be hosting a large premier party at O'Callahan's Restaurant in Corvallis (inside the Ramada Inn) 1550 NW 9th Street. I will be sending around a formal announcement and details soon. It will be open to the public, all ages.
In other news, Jonathan has moved the website hosting to our new hosting sponsors, Starship Networks and IWM. Thanks! The site is fast, and these guys are really helping us out. Daily hits on the JuggerBot site have ranged from 3,000 to 12,000! WOW!
Also, Jonathan has stepped forward to help our motor sponsor setup a special robot builders site where they can sell their surplus motors directly to robot builders. Thanks, Jonathan!
Also, I've secured our first shipment of titanium and I'm currently in the process of finding welders and machinists who can help us work with the material.
JuggerBot is being overhauled for Battlebots - you can expect to see titanium components, newly-designed custom gearboxes, custom wound electric motors (courtesy of our motor sponsor wcmsmotors.com), and a new expanded chassis. Before teardown, there's still a few more promo visits - JuggerBot will probably be at the ASME Region VIII Student Conference this weekend at OSU and will be appearing at McNary High School in Keizer Monday the 9th. And JuggerBot will be running around at the premier party April 18th! As for Battlebots, JuggerBot is in the "pending/received" status for the next event. That means we're basically in! Battlebots registration is now closed, and they received an unprecedented 650 robot entries! This event will dwarf all previous Battlebot events (largest registration was ~200 before). So, they're expanding the event to cover many days and they'll be doubling up the lighter weight classes in a special "double battlebox." Since JuggerBot is a SuperHeavyWeight, we will be in the least populated class, giving us a better chance of competing later in the week and also a better chance of getting on TV (they'll only televise 1 or 2 days out of 7). But after Robotica, we don't need more TV coverage - we need more combat! We're looking forward to the event and I have commitment from a full crew:
| Team lead, pit crew: | Mike Morrow |
| Driver, pit crew: | Tom Vaeretti |
| Crew Chief: | Chris Gattman |
| Weapons & fabrication expert: | Ron Ender |
| Telemetry systems and pit crew: | Jonathan Taggart |
Jonathan and myself will also serve as backup drivers.
I will post a message as soon as I know about audience tickets (sure to sellout instantly) going on sale. For even quicker notification, I suggest you monitor www.battlebots.com.
More as it happens.
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Well, it's been a while since I posted a major update, so there are a few items to cover.
First, if you haven't seen, the teasers have started on The Learning Channel! One includes a shot of JuggerBot launching towards the maze ramp. Another one includes a very brief shot of me drilling with a hand-drill in a simple drillpress. We figured out tonight that it was some of the early footage that Tommy took. Way to go Tom!
The website has been updated with images from Robotica. You won't see any spoilers, but expect major updates after each show airs. We have some SPECTACULAR images from the events and combats. Thanks to all the photographers! Additional updates to the site include some sample telemetry from our data collection systems and video from the early JuggerBot testing days.
Welcome to our newest shareholder, Greg. Glad to have you aboard, Greg!
For those who ordered and paid for shirts, the last of them should ship out this week. Sorry for the delay. I'll be submitting a new shirt order before Battlebots, so let me know...
JuggerBot made a cameo appearance last night at a Logos Eye concert in Eugene. For those who don't know, the Logos Eye front man is none other than our own pit boss Chris Gattman. He dedicated their single "JuggerBot" to the team and the 'Bot. JuggerBot sat on top of one of the speakers bathed in red light and looking badass. Thanks for a great show, Gatt!
Before the show I did a parking lot exhibition and Q&A session with some Eugene kids who are interested in building their own Battlebot. Their mom had contacted me through my work and was thrilled to hear that we were going to be in their town with the actual robot. The kids had some pretty good ideas and ambitions for a group of 11-somethings and they were stoked to see an actual combat veteran robot. Sometimes this job is way too fun!
Today the majority of the team met to discuss the strategy for Battlebots. We collected some important tactical data from Robotica, and we have a good strong path forward for improving JuggerBot. Expect to see some major upgrades in the areas of speed, power, and robustness. We might have a few surprises up our sleeve...
This week I will refine the results of our meeting so we can begin work on individual projects. I have arranged a meeting with a Battlebots fan who happens to be in charge of scrap Titanium disposal at one of the nation's biggest Ti producers (which happens to be 15 miles away). Through him we may be able to secure titanium tube and plate at 10-20% of wholesale prices! Barring a major infusion of cash from a sponsor, this will be the only way we can upgrade to exotic materials.
Speaking of sponsors, I just wanted to take a moment to offer my sincere thanks to all the sponsors, shareholders, team members, friends, family, and supporters. Without your help, I guarantee you NONE of this would have happened. You gave us the means to accomplish this, we merely focused that means into what became JuggerBot. When you see the promos and teasers, when you watch the episodes, when you hear of school demos, just remember - YOU helped make this happen. It's only going to get better from here on out - and you were a part of the beginning.
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Just a quick note to let you know that JuggerBot will be on the April 18th Robotica (early show, probably 9PM on the west coast).
We'll also be on the season finale April 25th. ;)
Robotica will be back-to-back 1 hour episodes each weds in April leading up to the finale. I guess they want to do heavy saturation.
We'll be watching episode 1 and the finale in Salem with our friends from Team Run Amok. Likely location will be the Ram Pub/bar/whatever and all are invited! Episode 5 (the JuggerBot episode) might be viewed at a Corvallis area watering hole TBD. Again, all friend, family, fans, and devotees are invited!
For those who were there and saw other robots compete, here's the show schedule for the "season":
|
Show 1: Mini Inferno Killer B Run Amok Spring Breaker
Show 2: |
Show 3: Ram Force HandsOFF! Pandora Solar Flare
Show 4: |
Show 5: Noll Juggerbot Hamerschlag Krypler
Show 6: |
|
APRIL 25: Two-hour finale! |
||
More info as it comes in.....
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
Well, there's much to say, but after 2 days of driving, I'm going to be brief so I can get some sleep.
The last 6 days were some of the best times I've had EVER. I had more fun and less sleep than any time in recent memory.
TEAM JuggerBot performed beyond my wildest expectations. The pit work was like clockwork, and our ability to totally tear down our 'Bot in 3 minutes flat completely amazed all bystanders and TLC personnel. Pit Crew Chief Gatt said it best so I will copy his message below.
JuggerBot himself was awesome and certainly ranked near the top in terms of speed and power. At one point we were in a battle so spectacular that the producers are seriously considering using it for their premier episode. Put it this way - JuggerBot executed a maneuver that will never again be repeated.
Sunday we continued to blaze our way through events, setting a record of 4 seconds in the gauntlet - a record that will stand for some time I'm sure. The most epic battle pitted 3 of us in the ring, duking it out in a battle to the death. I don't want to give it away, but it was the perfect Hollywood ending. Let's call it The Good, The Bad, and The Underdog.
The entire audience was rooting for JuggerBot by the end, and we were their undeniable favorite. There's no doubt, JuggerBot will return to future Robotica shows. The one comment I was told by a production staff member: "You guys MADE this show."
What's next for JuggerBot?
Well, there's several guest visits already on the books for JuggerBot, including schools and concerts. HP is finalizing an article about JuggerBot for their worldwide company magazine "Invent." Given that 2 of the strongest Robotica competitors were from Oregon, I'm sure other Oregon media will soon be taking notice of TEAM JuggerBot and their comrades, Team Run Amok.
JuggerBot will be on one of the 1 hour Robotica episodes, plus the 2-hour season finale. The first Robotica episode is supposed to air April 3rd. No confirmation on which shows JuggerBot will be featured on.
BATTLEBOTS.
Battlebots is May 22nd-28th in San Francisco. JuggerBot will be going as a SuperHeavyWeight. Some modifications will be made to address minor issues experienced during the combat portions of Robotica.
That's all for now.
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
FROM GATT:
It was an absolute honor and privelage to serve in the pit crew on TEAM JuggerBot. The rest of the Robotica crew can tell you that the pit is where the REAL action happened and I can honestly say I'll remember it for the rest of my life as a PERFECT experience.The rest of the team deserves to understand... dudes, we kicked ass. The cameras will show the teamwork, efficiency and esprit de corps we had in the pit but they cannot possibly do justice to what we accomplished as a team. 20 hour workdays with outstanding morale and no bickering, no arguing, no bullshit, no egos or hurt feelings. When I overheard the producer of the show talking to Tanya and Zappa as they toured the pit... he said "these guys are a real team. Their morale is always high, they're great sportsmen, they work together and they're always smiling and joking with themselves and with the other builders." Man, that was a moment. I get chills.
We went from complete but damaged and tweaked robot to armor gone, batteries gone, data box gone, wheels, gearboxes, motors and drive cradles gone, in about five minutes leaving nothing but a frame, some wires and a stunned production crew and competition. Fixed it, refined it, IMPROVED IT, fabricated NEW armor, reassembled it, tested it, added new artwork and then had chow and joked with the competition in an easy 45 minutes. Beyond smooth, it was rhythmic. And not just once, but EVERY TIME we took the ol' beast back to the pit. The old spirit in its highest and purest form.
The rest... well, you guys knew as well as I did that barring something really unforeseen, Tommy and JuggerBot were going to gracefully and humbly smash the competition and then shake their hand and smile for the camera. That was expected. But, who could have predicted such teamwork in the pit? Man, that was just too cool.
You can build a great robot with common sense, a lot of money and some book learnin', but none of it is worth a damn if you don't have a unified team doing the robot justice. As chief pit monkey I'm beyond proud to say that TEAM JuggerBot's pit performance was quick, efficient and absolutely perfect.
Meanwhile, we didn't get a chance to say thank you to the builders, supporters, team members and the families that helped us out and got the robot to the battle arena. When we all stood in front of the victory microphone after each and every event, I promise you we thought of you and wanted to say thanks. Things were somewhat scripted and happened so fast and we were so generally overwhelmed that we didn't get a chance, so here it is: Boys and girls, you're part of an unstoppable and absolutely honorable team and we thank you.
Mike, Tom and Ron: Again, I'm very proud and profoundly honored to have been there. Battlebots 2001? Lemmehearyasay HELL YEAH, BROTHAHS! If you guys will have me I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Thanks,
Gatt
PIT CHIEF
TEAM:JuggerBot
This is the last update before TLC Robotica in LA. If I am curt, it's because time is a factor and I apologize (movie reference).
JuggerBot is ready and fully operational. TLC was out here again yesterday doing one final taping session in Corvallis. We installed the newly-arrived larger speed controllers into a beefed-up electrical system.
Last week I took JB on a tour of local sponsors, including Les Schwab and Coyote Steel. Thanks to Coyote Steel, JuggerBot has a new set of armor plates. Thanks to ToddH, those plates are powder coated a nice JuggerBot Blue.
Welcome to Dean and Monica Beckette, our newest shareholders. All shareholders will get full financial breakdowns, including final equity stake, after TLC Robotica.
Sorry, but I won't be able to ship any more shirts out until early March. If you have paid, made email arrangements, or are a shareholder then you have shirts guaranteed.
That is all.
Mike
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
FIELD TESTING
Things have been pretty busy around the JuggerBot testing grounds.
Sunday TLC spent most of the day filming background material in Corvallis for the show. They'll take the various clips and edit them down to three 45 second packages and a 2 minute segment. Unfortunately, they spent more time on my work/hobbies than on the robot, but I guess they'll get plenty of gratuitous footage of the 'Bot when we roll up in 2 weeks.
While Ron E. and myself were at HP posing as engineers for TLC, the rest of the crew ran JuggerBot through his paces (and 6 batteries). They tore up simulated arena hazards, gave rides, and recorded tons of on-board color video (and audio!). The local paper, the Corvallis Gazette Times, stopped by and took pictures and did interviews, putting JuggerBot on the FRONT PAGE for February 12th, 2001!
Checkout the article and pictures here.
One thing we found out from TLC is that we're the first team out of all 24 to have a fully operational robot. Excellent....
HOTEL CHANGE With the change to ABC studios for the filming, they've also selected a new hotel:
(From TLC producer)
Days Inn Extended Stay
600 N Pacific
Glendale, CA 91203
Marcella is our contact there. Contestants, your hotel will be handled by the show. However, if you have relatives or friends who will be coming into town, this is who they should contact. If you have any questions, please let me know!
By the way, if you'd like to check the place out, follow this link.
Phone: 818-956-0202
Unfortunately, I think that's about 5 miles away from the studio.
SHIRTS
For those who ordered shirts but haven't paid or sent me an email about payment, there is a standby list forming. Please make arrangements with me ASAP, otherwise shirts will go to the next people on the list starting next week.
BATTLEBOTS
The next Battlebots has been announced!!
Well, they've overhauled the site and expanded the competition to FIVE DAYS! It will be nearly 3 months after TLC Robotica.
From http://www.battlebots.com/
WHEN IS THE NEXT COMPETITION?
The next BattleBots Competition will take place May 24 - 28, 2001 (Memorial Day
Weekend). The tournament will be video taped for the third series of "Comedy
Central Sports Presents BattleBots".
This weekend is pretty much our last chance to really crank on JuggerBot. Next weekend we'll be packing things up. So, the updates may become scarce for the next couple weeks. We'll be back in town after Robotica, probably by the week of March 5th.
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
Thanks to the hard work of many folks and support personnel, JuggerBot is MOBILE!!
First step was setting the tracking without motors. The easiest (OK, funnest) way to do this was to ride JuggerBot down a long hill while holding on for dear life. Flintstone-style braking was adequate to prevent plowing through the forest or neighbor's mailbox. We discovered and corrected a slight pull to the left.
Next, the motors were mounted and a preliminary electrical system was rigged, complete with the fully redundant radio, motor controller, and fuse systems. With the exception of a few switches and plugs, this is basically the TLC combat configuration.
Next, a high-tech rubbermaid tub lid was duct-taped across the electrical system since it was starting to rain.
Once operational, we drove around, field testing various parameters and learning the unique controls (skid steer vs. conventional steering).
Overall, the Jug is rather intimidating, with rapid acceleration and decent speed for a 200 pound mini go-kart. It's the sort of thing you watch while standing on a nice pile of concrete blocks.
Specs:
TLC will be out here taping us testing and tweaking next weekend.
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
The end is in sight! All bearings, couplers, backup speed controllers, etc are all in-house and ready for final install.
TLC will be in Corvallis filming Sunday, February 11.
Data collection units are collecting data as we speak. I am testing out the system and the upload/download interface.
Hotel info is now available for anyone traveling to the show: (From TLC producer)
We have made a deal with the Holiday Inn, Van Nuys. If you have friends or
relatives that will be coming in for the show, please have them contact:
Maria Naranjo 818-989-5010 and let her know you are calling regarding Nash
Entertainment and "Robotica."
The address of the hotel is
8244 Orion Ave.
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Also found this recently:
Seems the biggest toy show in the world is going to highlight a special Battlebots event with 6 top-ranked battlebots duking it out for a tradeshow audience only. Public is not allowed, unless you win the grand prize in their contest. You could win an all-expense-paid 3-day trip to New York in 2 weeks to watch the event. Entry deadline is FEB 2 which is THIS FRIDAY, so get busy! If anyone wins, I'll give you a JuggerBot T-shirt to wear to the event in exchange for tactical information you collect.
To enter:
http://www.tigertoys.com/battlebotscontest.htm
Not to worry if you don't win the grand prize, you could win promos as first prize:
"BATTLEBOTS Kit including a Micro Battler Playset, Battling Bots set, BATTLEBOTS Handheld Game, BATTLEBOTS Keychains and a BattleBot Walkie Talkie set."
Yes that's right, Battlebots merchandising is hitting the mainstream. Not really sure about the walkie talkies though.....
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
JuggerBot is in the final stages of main assembly.
Over the weekend we had a work fest and cut/welded/ground the last of the major components. Drive cradles are almost done- only need the motor mounts and side armor supports. Main combat chassis is complete except for the cradle bolts. At one point there were so many grinders, chop saws, and welders showering sparks and metal that it looked like a WWII shipyard in 1942. Thanks to Gatt, Sharon, Tom, Ron, and Nicole for their hard work!
The couplers arrived yesterday and the long-awaited speed controllers arrived today. A high-end 3-channel radio is on order, ETA this Friday. Bearings are still dangerously overdue, so I submitted a competing order with another vendor yesterday. One way or another, we should have all components by this time next week.
I was able to test a drive module assembly last night using the actual setups and batteries that JuggerBot will have. I must say, a single drive unit at full power is pretty formidable on a workbench. Four of them on JuggerBot should prove quite powerful!
The telemetry systems are being assembled into the Fight Data Recorders and should be ready in a few days.
ROBOTICA
TLC will probably be here filming on the week of February 12th, so we hope to have some drive time under our belt by then.
For those wishing to attend the LA festivities, tickets are available for each of the 8 shows. You can order them at http://www.tvtickets.com/. The show is "TLC Robotica."
I have reserved a block of 6 tickets for all 8 shows, but those are on a first-come, first served basis. Email me if you are interested. If you decide to order your own from the website and they are sold out, let me know. Friends and family of the teams will have priority. The tvtickets website can be a little unstable, so reload often if you get error messages.
SPONSORS
Onset, the supplier of our data recorders, has decided to fly out a factory rep from the East Coast for the competition- the company is pretty excited about the new application of their technology!
Welcome our newest shareholders, Beckie Wisby and Butch Dunlap! Thanks to all our shareholders and the level of commitment and confidence they are showing in the JuggerBot war effort. It is for sure that none of this would be happening without the contributions of everyone.
WEBSITE
The website has been updated to include recent construction activities. www.juggerbot.com Don't be afraid to click on the letters in the logo! :)
For those wishing to see the secret stuff, we have setup a classified gallery: http://www.juggerbot.com/index-secure.html
login: robot
password: *****
JUGGEAR
If you ordered T-shirts, you'll be receiving an itemized synopsis of what you're getting and how much you owe. If you want to get in on the next round of T-shirts, let me know. Pictures of the shirts will be on the "Gear" section as soon as we have shirts in-hand. Shirts should be shipping out the week of February 5th.
Don't forget to watch Battlebots tonight on Comedy Central! Among the matches will be Rammstein, a similar external design to JuggerBot.
Mike
TEAM:JuggerBot
Lots of things to report this week, so I'll try to be brief to get through it all without writing a book.
TLC ROBOTICA
TLC has officially announced the name of the Robot Challenge. The show will be called TLC Robotica.
We are discussing dates for them to come to Oregon to film- sounds like they want to tape some of our field testing which will be commencing the first or second week of February.
They have also released preliminary blueprints of the event courses. No big surprises and nothing that worries TEAM:JuggerBot. We have confirmation now of their intent to use flames, pyro, and walls of water on the course. We've added those items to our list of combat tests. The water one should be easiest- the rainy season has finally set in.
SPONSORS
We have a new corporate sponsor!! Onset Computer Corporation (www.onsetcomp.com) has accepted my proposal to provide JuggerBot with the components to make two 10 channel data recorders! They declined my offer to share some of the cost, opting to provide a large amount of micro telemetry electronics FREE for the cause. The units will be integrated into a "Fight Data Recorder" much like the black box on airliners. It will monitor critical motor and electronics temperatures during combat. We'll then be able to download the telemetry and assess system performance and trouble areas like failing motors and combat damage.
We also have new individual sponsors- Kent and Tammy Watson have secured nearly a 20% stake in JuggerBot. A sincere thanks to the Watsons and all the other shareholders!
JUGGERBOT
Last weekend we tack welded the frame together and finished cutting the last of the major weight reduction holes. This week we'll tack weld the drive cradles and motor mounts, then final weld everything together this weekend.
Motor controllers should be here within a week, although they're running behind schedule (BattleBots demand has overwhelmed the small company that makes them) Bearings and couplers are also late, but at least a partial order is due this week.
T-SHIRTS
T-shirts are designed and ordered. I can probably sneak in a few more before they go to press later this week- email me ASAP! The upper back will have the primary logo (main image at website- see below) and corporate sponsor logos at the bottom. Front will have a smaller pocket logo. Images of the shirts and ordering info will be posted in the weeks to come.
WEBSITE
The website is UP! Thanks to Jonathan, our web guru, for all of his hard work. Keep checking back- it'll be updated as time goes on. For now, the only content you can access has been "sanitized" for public consumption. No detailed specs or revealing pictures. This is a tactical maneuver- we don't want to lose the element of surprise before our first combat!
The address?
www.juggerbot.com
What'd you expect? :)
Don't forget to watch BattleBots on Comedy Central Tuesdays at 10PM and again on the weekend (11AM and 5PM??).
Mike Morrow
Team Lead
TEAM:JuggerBot
Work is continuing at a feverish pace on JuggerBot.
PROGRESS:
Wheels arrived last week, as did the last of the tire components. The 3-day weekend buildfest ground to a halt after the MIG welder ran out of wire right before the first tack weld! Fortunately, we were able to finish a great deal of non-welding work:
SPONSORS:
Ron Ender has stepped forward to "adopt" the wheels and tires for JuggerBot. Dave continues to increase his equity stake in JuggerBot- all the way from Colorado. Thanks, guys!
LOGO/MERCHANDISE:
We are nearing a final logo design. We have fused an old logo design with the one Gatt sent around. I expect to freeze the design by the end of this week so that the first round of shirts can be ordered. We'd like to have shirts for the first TLC Corvallis filming (anticipated to be within 2 weeks). The first shirt run will be limited quantity, so let me know ASAP if you want to be on the list (I'll need to know qty and size). The shirts will be black with a large 3-color logo on the back and a smaller design on the front. Price will be whatever it costs to make- probably in the $12-16 range each. Nobody is obligated to purchase until they've actually seen the final logo, but you can still get a placeholder on the first-run shirt list.
TLC ROBOT CHALLENGE
As mentioned last week, we have been selected to be part of the TLC Robot Challenge! Tomorrow I will be doing a background phone interview with TLC show producers. The rules and competition specifics are starting to take shape- the weight limit has been upped to 210 lbs, which is great news for us! Also, the purse has been announced: the winner of each show will receive $2000, runnerup will get $500. Grand champion will get $10,000. WOW! Maybe being a sponsor/investor will pay off afterall.... ;)
Also, I have requested a small number of audience tickets from TLC. If you are interested, let me know. You'll be responsible for your own transportation to LA, but the tickets are free. Again, dates are March 1-4, 2001.
Don't forget to watch BattleBots tonight (Tuesday). Defending world champ Vlad will take on veteran Tazbot, and the improved Nightmare will take on legendary Biohazard. Should be some good, gratuitous matches.
Mike TEAM:JuggerBot
Well, the updates may start becoming more frequent than once a week as things heat up.
Today we picked up the last of the steel and aluminum armor plate from our newest sponsor, Coyote Steel in Eugene.
We also picked up the rest of the tires at a slight discount from our "unofficial" tire sponsor Les Schwab Tires. Friday they'll be delivering the tire tubes and a racing banner for the pit/garage area.
Several bearing sets should be arriving any day, as well as more go-cart mag wheels.
Work has picked up since the TLC announcement- we had an emergency design review last night to figure out how to turn a 320 pound combat platform into a lean 200 pound all-purpose machine. We've developed some weight saving changes that, if they prove stout enough, will give us a great deal of extra weapons payload when we go back to the Super Heavyweight class for BattleBots! And just in case the changes don't work, we bought enough steel to build it both ways. You can never have too much steel!
Major combat chassis and drive module fabrication will happen over the upcoming 3 day weekend, meaning we should be wheels-down by this time next week!
Don't forget to watch BattleBots tonight on Comedy Central at 10PM. It also repeats on the weekend at 11AM and 5PM I think. It's still the battles from last November, but it'll give you an idea of what we're up against.
No mercy. No fear. No weakness.
I am happy to announce that TEAM:JuggerBot has been selected for a new show called TLC Robot Challenge on The Learning Channel.
It will be a 1 hour weekly show to air on the same night as Junkyard Wars. Each show will detail two teams going through the process of designing and constructing a robot. The show will culminate in a series of contests between the teams' robots. Unlike JYW, TLCRC will follow the robot development of the teams over the course of several months (condensed into one show, of course) at their homes.
The competition events are as distinct as they are deadly:
Figure 8 track racing in opposing directions with a jump. A maze with waterfalls, flamethrowers, and pile drivers. A destructathon against a model city.
Semi-finalists will combat to the death in a Flash Gordonesque sumo ring- loser gets pushed off the edge into a pit of flames and spikes 6 feet down.
Finalists will duke it out BattleBots style.
JuggerBot, thanks to prophetic design modularity and flexibility, was MADE for this. We will need to make some immediate design changes and re-manufacturing to enable the 200 pound (yikes!) weight limit plus minor fire and water resistance mods. Other than that, I think we're good to go.
TIMEFRAME: TLCRC competition taping is March 1-4 in LA, CA. TLC camera crews will be travelling to Corvallis several times between now and then to document the story behind the 'Bot. That leaves 4-6 weeks after the TLCRC to retool JuggerBot for BattleBots in April. No sweat. The TLC show will air starting in April or May.
This is a great opportunity- both to be part of the launch of a new show and to gain pre-BattleBots experience.
Semper Destructis
Mike Morrow
TEAM LEAD
TEAM:JuggerBot
No mercy. No fear. No weakness.
Greetings.
Yes, it's your friendly money-grubbin' JuggerBot team leader here. We've specified, purchased, and tested samples of the majority of the commercial products we'll be using in JuggerBot. So, the next week or so I will be finalizing quotations and purchase agreements with NW vendors to acquire those items.
Here's your chance to be a part of TEAM:JuggerBot! Instead of simply funneling money blindly to unknown locales, you can actually sponsor specific items on JuggerBot.
Some of you have already started sponsoring items (ie some batteries) while others have sent money (would you like to have that directed to a certain item in need?). For the rest of you, I thought I would offer the chance to put some reality to your sponsorship. You can even buy the items directly from the supplier if you wish to have that level of involvement.
What's the benefit of non-corporate sponsorship?
Greetings.
I will periodically post JuggerBot updates to the list as relevant news occurs.
STATUS:
Core design is almost complete. Combat chassis, drive cradles, and motor mount design is done. Secondary weapon design and integration is scheduled for January.
We have determined the appropriate motors, gearboxes, batteries, tires, wheels, and speed controllers for the 'Bot. We have 2 motors and 2 tires for evaluation. Everything else is on order or nearing that stage.
Motor testing is complete. JuggerBot will have a no-slip thrust-to-weight ratio that exceeds the Space Shuttle! Granted, we'll never get all that power locked up in traction, but it'll make for some decent sumo factor. Top speed will be approx 10-15 mph - perfect for ramming.
Full scale wood frame mockup is complete. No major changes came from the mockup, but it's nice to get s sense of the size of the beasty. Steel will be ordered this week and much of the frame cutting and welding will occur in the next 2 weeks.
Some innovations on JuggerBot:
The wheels are mounted in "drive cradles" which allow the ENTIRE wheel/tire/motor/gearbox assembly to be pulled out of the 'Bot in one piece without removing any main armor. This is revolutionary as far as field maintenance goes.
To avoid excess weight and structurally superfluous frame, the drive cradles provide part of the torsional stiffness when installed. This makes the main internal combat chassis design very simple and lightweight.
Drive system will have extreme redundancy - even if we blow an entire speed controller (that's what usually causes the smoke you see pouring out of disabled 'Bots) we'll still have a no-slip thrust-to-weight ratio of >1.
Next up: Frame and drive cradle construction, wheel purchase, bearing and axle selection and purchase.
More as it happens.
