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Hardware & system integration

Duke Combat Robotics

1 lb battlebot · 2026 Duke Tournament Champion · 3–0 undefeated

The Build

Built a 1 lb combat robot with an AR500 steel horizontal spinner, two-wheel drive, and layered armor. The robot was designed to withstand repeated high-energy impacts and won the 2026 Duke Combat Robotics Tournament with an undefeated 3–0 record.

Role

Mechanical Team Lead
January 2026 – Present

Organization

Duke Combat Robotics
Durham, North Carolina

Result

2026 Duke Tournament Champion
3–0 undefeated

Technical Overview

Weight Class
1 lb antweight
Weapon
AR500 steel horizontal spinner
Drive Configuration
Two-wheel drive
Protection
Layered armor

My Engineering Work

I led the mechanical work on the robot and contributed to CAD modeling, 3D printing, soldering, and assembly. The build brought the spinner, drivetrain, armor, and electronics together in a working antweight robot.

Testing, Troubleshooting & Iteration

Competition made the design process immediate: I diagnosed failures and iterated on the robot between matches. The work continued through the tournament, where the robot finished undefeated and won all three matches.

Skills Applied

Mechanical design · CAD · 3D printing · Soldering · Mechanical and electrical integration · Failure diagnosis · Iterative testing · Team leadership

Project Details & Media

CAD · ELECTRONICS · 3D PRINTING · SYSTEM INTEGRATION

Duke Combat Robotics

The competition footage shows the 1 lb robot in the arena. Testing footage below provides another view of the build in operation.

Competition result: Won the 2026 Duke Combat Robotics Tournament, finishing 3–0 undefeated.

Watch testing & explore the build +

Integrated mechanical and electrical components into a working combat robot.

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