Dropping the Hammer with Shatter! Builder Adam Wrigley

Adam Wrigley is the builder for Shatter!, a hammer/axe Battlebot. He is on team Bots FC with Eric Wrigley, Matt Bores, Mary Chimenti, Paul Gancitano, and Adrian “Bunny” Sauriol.  He has been competing for eleven years. His favorite tool is the sledge hammer and he call Brooklyn, New York home. He took some time out of his busy robot building schedule to chat with TMS Titanium.

When did you start making the move to more titanium in your Battlebots?

“We've actually been using titanium in our robots since 2007. We took a hiatus from 2009 - 2015, and when we starting competing again in 2016 we went right back to titanium again. We're big fans.”

Which was a bigger factor weight reduction or strength with regards to the move?

“Weight reduction is always key in Battlebots. Every robot is fighting with a 250 lbs weight limit, and how you use every ounce matters. In addition to pure weight reduction, our robots have a strong reliance on compliant structures. What this means is that we design our robots to flex in order to absorb impacts. We love how resilient and springy titanium can be, especially when used in our hammer arm.”

Cost is always a factor so how does your relationship with TMS help on that front or other sponsors as well?

“Titanium can be extremely pricey, but even before our official partnership with TMS we found them to have the best prices around. Without the great prices we can get from TMS, we wouldn't be using nearly as much titanium as we do today.”

When you send your Battlebot into action how high is your heart rate?

“I'm not sure I'd like to know what my heart rate actually gets up to before a match! Before and after a fight, my heart is racing and my hands are shaking. During a match I am calm, focused, and my hands are steady as a rock. “

How do you come up with the designs for your Battlebots? Where do you get your inspiration?

“My teammates and I have been thinking about Battlebot designs since we were children, there's no shortage of ideas to go around! Shatter! was originally a combination of several of our favorite aspects of robots we were fans of years ago, as well as a few things we always wanted to see on TV but no one had yet to try. After every fight, we look at what worked and what didn't, and slowly improve the robot one part at a time. The current Shatter! is the result of 4 years of iterations.”

What is your favorite thing about using Titanium ?

“Titanium has endless practical benefits: low weight, high strength, flexibility, corrosion resistance... but in Battlebots my favorite aspect might just be all the white sparks that shoot off during impacts. It looks awesome!”

If you could build anything out of Titanium what would it be?

“A Titanium Tesla Cybertruck”