# Inspiring Young Engineers with BattleBots and SOLIDWORKS The captains of top BattleBots fighting robot teams—BiteForce, HyperShock, Witch Doctor, and SawBlaze—have two things in common: They each got started in robotics design and engineering, and building competitive combat robots, at an early age; and they all choose to use SOLIDWORKS solutions for designing, engineering, and manufacturing each season’s robots. ![Inspiring Young Engineers with BattleBots and SOLIDWORKS](/sites/default/filesd10/styles/webp/public/migration/2022-02/sw-battlebots-case-study-hero_0.jpg.webp) - [Watch Video 68 minutes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry9nW7PqqAI&t=2117s) - [Download Case Study](/sites/default/files/solidworks-battlebots-case-study-02072022.pdf) ### Challenge Quickly develop fighting robots—typically in just one month—to compete on the reboot of the popular “BattleBots” competition and television show. ### Solution Use SOLIDWORKS design, simulation, visualization, product data management (PDM), and PCB design solutions. ### Results - Used SOLIDWORKS solutions within all top teams - Mentored young robotics designers more easily with easy-to-learn SOLIDWORKS - Tapped variety of SOLIDWORKS specialized design and engineering tools - Added personality and color to robot designs using SOLIDWORKS 3D design Many top BattleBots fighting robot teams use SOLIDWORKS such as BiteForce, HyperShock, Witch Doctor, and SawBlaze. All of these team leaders became interested at an early age in engineering, robotics design, and building competitive combat robots. They are also alike in their preference for the ease of use and range of design and engineering tools of SOLIDWORKS® for developing robots for BattleBots and inspiring young people to get involved in engineering through competitive robotics. However, the team leaders use - [SOLIDWORKS](https://www.solidworks.com/) in different ways. ![Inspiring Young Engineers with BattleBots and SOLIDWORKS](/sites/default/files/inline-images/solidworks-Battlebots-casestudy-001.jpg) ### Related Resources ### A Great Way to Mentor Paul Ventimiglia, captain of four-time BattleBots champion Team BiteForce, became interested in robotics because he wanted to build animatronics for movie special effects like those in “Jurassic Park,” “Star Wars,” and “The Terminator.” These days Ventimiglia helps inspire young robotics designers and engineers through volunteer work as a mentor to - [FIRST® Robotics](https://www.firstinspires.org/) teams. “It’s a great program in terms of competition, robotics, and using engineering in a competitive way. I think it’s a great way to learn a lot really quickly and teach a really broad spectrum of skills in terms of design and brainstorming, initially doing detailed work, in SOLIDWORKS, for example ... and then actually getting those parts made by yourself, and by external shops all within days, and not months, and then testing out your ideas,” Ventimiglia says. ![A Great Way to Mentor](/sites/default/files/inline-images/solidworks-Battlebots-casestudy-002.jpg) ### Designing a Unique Fighting Robot in a Month The BattleBots schedule allows teams roughly a month to complete design work for production deadlines. The members of Team HyperShock are thousands of miles apart, and their concurrent and collaborative design work happens in the evenings and on weekends. SOLIDWORKS enables them to quickly conduct numerous design iterations to complete their robot in a compressed time frame. Team HyperShock Captain Will Bales explains, “We can push our production deadlines out and literally iterate right up to the very last minute, which definitely gives us an edge.” In addition, because SOLIDWORKS is an industry-standard data format, the team minimizes delays in production and assembly. Bales also emphasizes that - [SOLIDWORKS Visualize](https://www.solidworks.com/product/solidworks-visualize) rendering capabilities allow them to improve their robot’s unique appearance, an important feature for the team. ![Solidworks Battlebots Case Study](/sites/default/files/inline-images/solidworks-Battlebots-casestudy-003.jpg) ### Balancing Strength, Stiffness, and Weight with Topology Simulation Studies In addition to SOLIDWORKS design tools, BattleBots teams leverage a range of integrated simulation, visualization, and product data management (PDM) solutions. For example, Team Witch Doctor uses SOLIDWORKS topology optimization to better balance the relationships between its robot’s weight, strength, and stiffness. “If we don’t make it under the 250-pound weight limit, we can’t compete,” says Michael Gellatly, lead designer and driver for Team Witch Doctor. - [Download Case Study](/sites/default/files/solidworks-battlebots-case-study-02072022.pdf) “Last season, we were overweight by four pounds and had to cut away sacrificial pieces to make weight. With SOLIDWORKS topology optimization tools, we learn where we can cut material and weight that not only doesn’t sacrifice strength and stiffness but actually improves both. We’ve cut five pounds from our current design while strengthening the robot in key areas.” Michael Gellatly Lead Designer/Driver ### Learn More about SOLIDWORKS