Ben Heck's Hackbot Wars Part 1: Assembly

In this episode of The Ben Heck Show Karen, Felix and Ben engage in heated competition. Each competitor must build a robot that will have 3 balloons attached to it. The goal will be to pop the opposing robots balloons using weapons that are either built within the competition time frame or created from scrap found at a local thrift store. Only one robot's balloons will survive!

[codexnecro]

I like listening to Felix for some reason, he's always so calm and collected.

[donovanpl]

One of the best episodes ever. Apart from the great technical aspects and challenge, it shows the chemistry between all.

[azyfloof]

Ok, so no one's gonna pick up on the fact that a guy called _Felix_ called his robot _Kitten_? :P

[Meoiswa]

This episode was great, I loved the equal air time from all three of them, and everyone helping each another with their abilities. Great teamwork, despite not even being teammates!

[LasseHuhtala]

Karen's really growing on me. I think i'm slowly getting over the trauma of Alyson leaving the show. :-)

[beaseac]

Awesome. I would love to see build sheets with the completed projects!

[gekesulen]

That karen face :P Shit just got real XD

[BrightSpark]

Sounds like Robot Wars, just without death and only minimal amounts of destruction.

[john-paulhopman]

I really like this idea. Half wondering if it would work as a weekend competition for conventions. Announce a chassis a week before the event so people can prepare their plans. They get the robot Friday night, can build, 3D print parts, and so on through Saturday, then you have a design judging contest on Saturday before starting the battles.

[PepijndeWitte]

A de-esser for Karens voice wouldn't be unusefull!

[RealDids]

This was an awesome episode. Wish they were all like this!

[abuzarzafar]

That's the episode I wanted from you guys please do more on robotics

[nmsumartin]

I like Felix's enthusiasm in this episode. Felix, you've come a long way, buddy.

[borgquads]

They make brushed speed controllers in the RC hobby (more so for RC cars). So you could use the PWM signal to control those motors. I don't know if that DXe can do the channel mixing though.

[JRWperformance]

use a long peice of threaded rod on the bottom axles to span the chassis. Then use some aluminum or carbon fiber tube over the threaded rod to stiffen the chassis.

[joesmoe]

Karen = the Kari Byron of the Ben Heck show!

[Mr.Donahue]

I'm liking the more equal air time from all three of them.

[GOML_Redd]

ok, so this is the first time I have ever given a thumbs up to a tech video for a Star Trek reference. lol What will your robot be fueled by? Quadrotriticale ? ;)

[jakeabel]

I LOLed so hard when Felix said "the same micro controller that is on the... Arduino" 22:02.

[Lrnreason]

Hey Ben, next time you guys do this, you should measure your bolts that you used for the axles of your 'wheels' and then put threaded rods that run the width of your robot. This would provide your 'sturdiness' that you were looking for and could even provide some more safety to the electronics.