We’ve got some big news to share.
The Havok Crew will officially be entering a heavyweight robot into the upcoming BattleBots season, which is set to begin filming later this month. This marks our debut at the highest level of combat robotics and a major step forward for everything we’ve been building toward behind the scenes.
Our robot, Angle Grinder, is centered around a concept we’ve been developing and refining for quite some time: a diagonal spinner. Rather than committing to a traditional vertical or horizontal weapon system, Angle Grinder combines elements of both into a single off-axis configuration designed to deliver force from unconventional angles.
In practice, that means the weapon doesn’t rely on standard engagement geometry. Whether the robot is squared up, glancing off an opponent, or forced into an awkward position, Angle Grinder is designed to remain dangerous and capable of delivering meaningful hits. The intent behind the design is to create constant threat pressure, eliminating the typical reset windows that many spinner-based designs depend on.
The weapon itself is constructed from AR500 steel and is supported by a fully omni-directional drive system. This allows for precise movement, rapid repositioning, and the ability to stay engaged regardless of orientation. Combined, these systems are designed to keep the robot active in the fight at all times—always moving, always threatening, and always looking for the next point of contact.
From a design philosophy standpoint, Angle Grinder represents our approach to solving a problem we’ve seen across countless fights: the gap between hits. Too often, fights are decided not just by impact power, but by how quickly a robot can recover, re-engage, and apply pressure again. This build is focused on minimizing that gap as much as possible.
This opportunity came together quickly. We were approached directly by BattleBots to fill a spot in the field after a veteran heavyweight team was no longer able to compete in the upcoming season. While we’re not able to share any additional details on that situation, we were in a position where we could say yes—and we didn’t hesitate.
Stepping into a field at this level on short notice is not something we take lightly. The current BattleBots roster represents some of the most experienced teams and most destructive machines in the world. At the same time, we believe bringing a new design philosophy into that environment is exactly the kind of challenge we’ve been preparing for.
Angle Grinder will compete as a standard 250-pound heavyweight and is currently in the final stages of preparation ahead of filming. Assembly, system checks, and final tuning are all underway as we work to ensure the robot is ready for the demands of the BattleBox.
For us, this is more than just entering a competition. It’s an opportunity to take everything we’ve learned from covering the sport, analyzing fights, and working within the community—and put it into practice on the biggest stage possible.
We know what this field is capable of. We know the level of competition we’re stepping into. And we’re ready to see how Angle Grinder holds up when it counts.
We’ll be sharing more updates soon, including build progress, testing insights, and a closer look at the design as we get closer to filming.
Stay tuned.