The original hammer saw!
Stats
- Weight: 30 lbs (Featherweight)
- Weapon: 9″ overhead “hammer saw”, 2.5lbs, AR600 steel disk, 12k RPM
- Weapon Transmission: Custom hubmotor with axial clamp clutch
- Power: 2X 4s, 2600 mah lithium polymer batteries, series wiring
- Drive: Linatex-coated timing belts, custom brushless 22:1 gearmotors
- Materials: steel, aluminum, carbon fiber, TPU
Sometimes called the “triple option of combat robotics”, MegatRON has the tools to dominate any opponent. Long forks or a wedge for basic control and an articulated “hammer saw” to puncture top armor or dual purpose as a vertical spinner. MegatRON and SawBlaze exist in symbiosis; each competition for one informs upgrades in the other resulting in a faster iteration cycle.
Recent design goals for MegatRON have been serviceability and reliability of the weapon system. Version 4 featured sliding tensioners in the frame and arm to accommodate for manufacturing inconsistencies in the v belts. The most noteworthy addition is the mechanical detent clutch nestled between the arm which protects it from shock and over torque conditions.
Version 5 debut in late 2024 with the goal of performance in mind. A faster, lighter, and more agile drive made from custom gearboxes paired with a new treaded drive gave MegatRON unparalleled speed and control. Its hubmotor weapon system freed internal space and weight for a counter-gyro system made from a steel drum spinning at 70k RPMs. The blade was made thinner for slicing and its lightness was compensated by a higher blade speed to match kinetic energy performance!
The name comes from the very first robot I built to compete with, RON (that is another story altogether). RON was a beetleweight robot so naturally the larger version is “mega” sized. Add in an extra “t” for flavor and you have a well known Decepticon!
Career accomplishments
- 2nd, Motorama (2015)
- 1st, Motorama (2017)
- 1st, Motorama (2018)
- 1st, Motorama (2020)
- 1st, NHRL (Jan, 2021)
- 3rd, NHRL (Jul, 2021)
- 1st, NHRL Finals 2021)
- 2nd, NHRL (April 2022)
- 3rd, NHRL Finals 2022)
- 1st, NHRL (March, 2023)
- 2nd, NHRL Finals (2023)
- 3rd, NHRL (April, 2024)
- 1st, NHRL Finals (2024)
Selected media
Watermarked photos credit to Jon Bennett of JCRB Photography.
Posts Tagged/Categorized with “MegatRON”
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Since the 2023 loss to Emulsifier, I have had ambitious goals set for MegatRON which revolved around the idea of increased control/maneuverability and delivering deadly impacts at anytime in the arena. Testing in preparation for these changes were partially displayed in April where I applied a hubmotor weapon and treads to the MegatRON 4 design.…
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2024 had some big shoes to fill after the path laid in 2023. That resulted in an ambitious year of which only some of the work paid off as planned in the end. Since there was no BattleBots activities, all the effort went into small bots; they all had full rebuilds and new parts which…
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Friday evening Aaron and I drove down toe Norwalk, CT to meet teammate Liz for the NHRL competition held on April 20th. Much to my own surprise, I had three entries for this event: Silent X, Saiko!, and MegatRON. I was working on them up until the week of the competition and you can read…
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Literally in the lobby of the Hilton after the event, I registered for April 2024. I registered three robots, some part fueled by disappointment in Silent X’s early departure and another part fueled by uncertainty for NHRL’s new lottery system. Much to my surprise, all three were accepted. Now I had quite a challenge ahead;…
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First real post of the new website! Feels a bit strange that it is a annual summary, especially since there haven’t been any even reports yet. But don’t worry, I’ll get those in in good time. Look forward to at minimum a report on the NHRL championship and NHRL all-stars events in the next month!…
Jamison Go 