Valkyrie - BattleBot

We got a weird shaped package in the mail this week. We have NO IDEA what it could be! Any guesses? 🤔

Did you catch a glimpse of Valkyrie teammate Bam in the latest Mark Rober vs. Dude Perfect robot battle video?

🧠🤖 Bam was the brains behind Mark's sneaky drone defense plan, which she designed and built in less than 3 days!

When Bam isn't fighting robots for fun (or for work, apparently), she is a product designer at CrunchLabs, where she works with Mark Rober to design some of the amazing Build Box toys that teach kids about science and engineering through play!

Check out the original video in the comments ⬇️

You heard that right, we’re competing in BattleBots Fall Faceoffs in what is the most destructive group out there! And look who's returning as Captain!

🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩🔩
Did you know that between the 4 of us, there are 5 Giant Bolts and 1 Giant Nut?

We’re going into prep mode to try our luck against the legendary Tombstone - BattleBots , take on HyperShock for the third time, and face off against Orbitron, a new bot built by the amazing folks at The Hacksmith (Known for building functional versions of movie props)!

To add on to that, former team captain Leanne Cushing will be picking back up the reins to lead Team Valkyrie for Fall Faceoffs this year. Refreshed from some time off, we’re excited to have her back with some new ideas and strategies for the team!

That’s Doctor Du to you!

We are BEYOND proud that Team Captain Lucy Du defended her PhD thesis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) last week. She has spent the last six years developing the Cycloidal Ankle (CyAn), a new robotic prosthetic ankle that is smaller and more responsive than anything on the market. For those engineering nerds out there, it’s powered by a brushless motor and a cycloidal drive gearbox.

Dr. Lucy Du will be taking a step back from BattleBots after she wraps up her PhD and sets her sights on new adventures this fall. We can’t thank her enough for all the amazing contributions she has made to Team Valkyrie, including:

🧠 Bringing new energy and fresh ideas to Team Valkyrie
⚙️ Designing Valkyrie’s new weapon module, making it more reliable than ever
🎮 Stepping up as one of the few women drivers on BattleBots last season
🤖 Trying out new concepts in smaller weight classes to test where Valkyrie might go next
👩‍🔧Continuing to inspire girls and women in STEM through countless local events

We are grateful for her hard work throughout her time leading the team, and with her luck on her new endeavors! But you may have heard we’re back for Fall Faceoffs…so who will be taking charge? Hmmm….

THANK YOU LUCY!

MassDestruction - Massachusetts Combat Robotics, the local 1lb and 3lb robot fighting event, is 3 days away!

Get your bots in gear and learn about some of the things being planned in the latest episode of the Outside of the Box Podcast, where some of the MassD organizing team chatted with Christine about the upcoming event this Saturday!

Mass Destruction Preview on Outside of the Box Join me for a chat with builders and organizers Brandon Zalinsky, Tony D'Ambrosio, David Jin & Lucy Du to talk about the return of Mass Destruction coming up...

Robot fighting is coming back to MA in just 2 weeks with MassDestruction - Massachusetts Combat Robotics!

Stop by the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation on Saturday, August 24th to watch some amazing robots battle it out - all built by local builders!

Bring all your families and friends to come see:
⚔️ Beetleweight and plastic antweight robots fighting from 11AM-6PM
‍👩‍🔧Some awesome engineers with crazy robotic creations
🏛 An amazing museum rich with the history of American industry!

Team Valkyrie is back in the antweight (1lb) game! Alex will be competing today in the Oregon State University Combat Robotics Spring Skirmish with his brand new antweight, Blueberry Tango!

Will it be as dangerous as it is cute? We shall see!

Stream link in the comments - fights will run from 12-5PM Pacific Time.

Congrats to Valkyrie teammate Bam for taking home 1st with her beetleweight Nightlight at the Spartan Bell Slugfest this past weekend!

She put on some great fights against some amazing builders and drivers and went undefeated!!! Go Bam!!!!