Team Ribbot Partners With
SAVE THE FROGS!
SAVE THE FROGS! is pleased to announce a partnership with Team Ribbot, a collection of students and alumni from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with degrees in Mechanical, Robotics, Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Ribbot is a heavyweight robot that has competed in every BattleBots season since World Championship IV. BattleBots airs on Discovery Channel and Discovery+, netting over a million viewers weekly!
Viewers tune in to watch competitors from around the world clash their machines in a fight to the death.
These robots store so much energy and excitement that they can only be contained by a bullet-proof box!
Ribbot is a modular robot with a fearsome vertical spinner and undercutter.
It presents a unique challenge for its opponents, as it is the only robot that is capable of running two completely different weapon types.
BattleBots has an impressive online presence, with around 2.5 million followers on social media. In addition to the TV broadcast, fans are also able to experience the event live, with thousands of attendees at the live tapings.
Ribbot debuted in its rookie season in 2019, and has competed in BattleBots Season 4, 5, and 6.
Outside of Battle Bots, the team competes locally in New England throughout the year. So far, Ribbot has had over 20 televised fights, averaging 8 minutes per appearance.
Order Your SAVE THE FROGS! Ribbot Shirts
In 2022, SAVE THE FROGS! sponsored Team Ribbot to help cover the cost of robotics parts, research and development and tournament travel.
Donation From NHRL
Thanks to the generosity of the Norwalk Havoc Robotics League (NHRL) and the skills of Team Ribbot members Christian Cooper, Nicholas Sorenson and David Jin, as well as frog enthusiast Brendan Steele, who qualified at the 2022 World Championships, SAVE THE FROGS! was awarded a $20,000 donation to support our worldwide amphibian conservation efforts.
A Message From Kelly Biderman, CEO of Havoc Robotics
“Several of our builders are members of Team Ribbot, and they have been big champions to our wider community about the importance of the work you do – and for good reason! The work you’re doing to support the environment through saving amphibians of all kinds is so incredibly important.
I know I speak on behalf of all of these qualifiers and the NHRL team when I say we are thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to your efforts in this way. We believe the work you are doing is helping create a brighter future for us all, and we are committed to doing our part to help make that happen. We look forward to following along with you to see the impact this contribution has on your work.”
Team Ribbot Captain, David Jin
Team Ribbot’s Match Schedule
Check out Team Ribbot’s match schedule for upcoming BattleBots appearances and watch them compete in qualifying matches airing on February 2nd, March 2nd and April 13th, 2023. Hopefully they will also be in the tournament, which airs from May 4th to 25th.
We look forward sharing news with you about Team Ribbot’s successes!
A Brief History Of Team Ribbot
Team Ribbot was founded in 2019 by a group of students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, after discussing the dream of building a “real” BattleBot for years. They had revived the Combat Robotics club after it had laid dormant for years following the graduation of Paul Ventimiglia, building robots weighing from 1 to 120lb and competing at tournaments nationwide. The team, led by David Jin, made an attempt at fielding a 120lb robot to fight at Robogames 2018 in California, as a way of testing the waters in heavier weight classes. At that point, the team had only made 30lb or lighter bots. After the trip ended abruptly in flames during the first match, Team Ribbot resolved to design the most versatile, robust combat heavyweight to date.
After applying and getting accepted into the 2019 BattleBots season, David was able to negotiate an arrangement with WPI that allowed the team to drop out of school for six weeks to build Ribbot. They split into a night shift and day shift to manufacture parts as efficiently as possible, and meet the looming deadline. Ribbot was completely custom from tongue to toes. Material was flown in from overseas, cutting tools from neighboring states, and after six short weeks the truck showed up to pick up the crate as it was hastily being packed with parts still hot from welding. Team Ribbot had created a modular fighting robot frog.
Since then, Team Ribbot has gone on to compete in every new season of BattleBots. After a somewhat lackluster showing in 2019, where the team missed out on the tournament bracket, Ribbot came back better than ever. With a longer build season due to the global pandemic, Team Ribbot showed up to the 2020 BattleBots season ready to perform. Not only did Ribbot manage to fight its way into the tournament bracket, but the team pushed through and ended the season in the round of 8.
In the following season, Ribbot was unfortunately knocked out of the tournament in the round of 32, after receiving the overall 2nd seed. What would have been a disappointing season was quickly turned around in the Sin City Slugfest Road to the Golden Bolt, where Ribbot managed to win its mini bracket and earn its spots in the Golden Bolt Tournament.
As of January 2023, World Championship VII is airing on Discovery Channel and Discovery Plus. Tune in to see if Team Ribbot can hop over the competition!
Ribbot vs Quantum (2023)
Ribbot vs Black Dragon (2023)
Ribbot vs Endgame (2019)
“I was watching BattleBots for the first time in a long time and I saw STF all over Ribbot! I got really excited about that, almost couldn’t believe I was seeing it on TV!”
– SAVE THE FROGS! Graphic Design Volunteer Mike Hill
