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Alakran was a middleweight robot built by Jesús Sánchez Vázquez and students from the Mayagüez University Campus known as Team RumbleBots which competed in three BattleBots IQ tournaments between 2004 and 2007.
It was a yellow robot with a wedge on the back and clamping arms on the front that could be converted into a lifter, bearing a passing resemblance to Complete Control. It performed to a great deal of success, winning the whole event in 2004. Despite this, Alakran was redesigned from the ground up for the 2005 competition and finished runner-up. After a year away, Alakran achieved a third place finish in 2007.
The v1 and v2 models of Alakran together at a BattleBots IQ tournament
After the 2007 tournament, all of the team's members graduated from their university and went on to take various engineering related jobs. Dionel, Dario, Elan, and Jesus in particular got their start working for Boeing.
Jesús Sánchez Vázquez tragically passed away along with five other victims after succumbing to injuries sustained from an arson attack enacted by his uncle on New Year's Day 2011 aged just 28. In his honor, the Jesús Sánchez Vázquez Engineering Excellence Scholarship was established in U.P.R.M, courtesy of Boeing.[2][3]
Robot History[]
BattleBots IQ 2004[]
Alakran vs. Gamera
Alakran carries Gamera over to the pulverizer
Alakran topples over Gamera.
Alakran's first match was against Gamera. For this match, Alakran used its lifter configuration. When the match began, Alakran rushed out of its square and right to Gamera. After a little bump, Alakran managed to get underneath from behind and lift it. The MUC robot soon carried the green octangular bot over to the pulverizer, leaving some dents on the top of Gamera before letting go. Sometime later, Alakran went straight at a spinning Gamera and toppled it over. With Gamera unable to self-right, Alakran won by KO, advancing it onto the next round.
Alakran vs. Heshwound II
Alakran clamps and lifts Heshwound II.
Alakran brings Heshwound II over to the pulverizer.
Next up for Alakran was Heshwound II. Alakran used its two-bar upper clamp configuration for this battle. The match began with Alakran attempting to reverse into Heshwound II, but they whizzed past each other instead. A few moments later, Alakran managed to get under and clamp down on the sit-and-spin bot, lifting it in the air. Alakran eventually let go of Heshwound II under the pulverizer, where Heshwound II took numerous shots while trying to sit-and-spin. After a bit of maneuvering, Alakran found Heshwound II in its grasp and took the chance, clamping down and lifting it. The match eventually made it to the judges, who ruled in favor of Alakran, advancing it to the quarter-finals.
Alakran vs. Whitey
Alakran pushes Whitey back into the pulverizer.
Alakran tips Whitey over.
Here, it took on Whitey. For this match, Alakran switched out its two-bar upper clamp for a thin, beak-like designed arm. When the match began, Alakran met Whitey on the side of the arena, where it turned around and used its rear wedge to prepare for Whitey's sit-and-spin tactic. After taking a few hits from Whitey's thwacking spikes, Alakran bumped Whitey into the path of the pulverizer, which delivered a couple of shots before Whitey spun out of the way. Shortly after, Alakran pushed Whitey back under the pulverizer with its rear end, where it took several more shots while trying to sit-and-spin out of the way before getting lifted by Alakran briefly. Afterwards, Alakran found Whitey running into its grasp, so it tried to clamp down and lift it, but only managed to flip it over. Alakran performed another topple on Whitey before the time eventually ran out. Alakran won by judges' decision and moved to the semi finals.
Alakran vs. Goliath
Alakran takes a hit as Goliath destabilizes.
Alakran flips Goliath onto its back.
Now in the semi-finals, Alakran fought Goliath. For this match, Alakran converted into its lifting configuration and added forks to the rear wedge, in addition to an extension to the front lifting forks. When the match began, Alakran performed a box rush to try and stop the blade before it got up to speed. However, Goliath simply advanced forward to the left to avoid it and get its bar up to speed. Alakran moved back to the center of the arena and slowly reversed into Goliath with the forks keeping distance from the blade, before taking a minor graze to the right rear. Afterwards, Alakran turned to face a maneuvering Goliath and took a slightly bigger hit. Alakran was unfazed by that hit, but Goliath started becoming unstable. Soon after, Goliath's blade tore into its own engine, causing it to kinetically self-destruct. Goliath shook violently, its blade flew out from its weapon shaft, and its internal combustion engine shot up to 8 feet in the air. Amazingly, Goliath was still moving, even after taking a couple shots from the pulverizer. Eventually, a pushing match ensued. Goliath attempted to push from the side, but Alakran wouldn't budge, instead turning around and attempting to get under with its lifter. After a bit of maneuvering, Alakran started playing around with the engine housing that came off, flicking it three times with its lifter. Goliath tried to stay in the rear of Alakran, but Alakran soon turned around, lined up its lifter, and flipped Goliath onto its back. With Goliath unable to self-right, Alakran won by KO and moved on to the finals.
Alakran vs. Class Act I
Alakran clamps and lifts First Class I
Alakran gets another lift on First Class I
In the final, Alakran took on Class Act I and reverted back to its two-bar upper clamp configuration. When the match began, the two bots met at the center of the arena, and Alakran immediately got a clamp on Class Act I, lifting it and slamming it down repeatedly before letting it go. After a bit of maneuvering, Alakran got in a pushing match with Class Act I from the front before immediately clamping down on the side and lifting it, repeating the process of the first clamp and letting it go. After a bit of maneuvering, Alakran was rammed on the side by Class Act I. It swung around to put Class Act I in its grasp and getting another lift as Class Act I moved past. After another head-to-head pushing match in which Alakran got another lift in, the match made the distance. Alakran won by judges' decision and was crowned as the 2004 champion.
BattleBots IQ 2005[]
Alarkan vs. Manta Raya
Alakran lifts Manta Raya
Alakran grabs a hold of Manta Raya before upending it.
Alakran nearly gets lifted by Manta.
Alakran topples Manta Raya over.
Alakran was completely rebuilt, with upgrades including the ability to raise its catapult up to 90 degrees. Its first match was against fellow Mayagüez University robot, Manta Raya. For this match, Alakran used a tall 2 bar upper clamp for additional self-righting support. When the match began, the two bots tried to maneuver into position as they met in the middle of the box, but Alakran managed to get under from the front and tried to lift it in a pirouette-like maneuver. However, the exceptionally long upper clamp could not get a grip on Manta Raya, so Manta Raya landed on its wheels. The battle for position went on for several moments until Alakran got under from the left side and lifted it briefly. After giving chase, Alakran ran head-to-head with Manta Raya, but due to the angle, Manta Raya managed to get under from the side of the forks and nearly get a lift of its own. Fortunately, Alakran slid off before it could. After turning around and backing away, Alakran went after its opponent and managed to get under a spinning Manta Raya from the side and lift it again. After Manta Raya backed away to the wall to reset, both bots met at the center of the arena. Alakran ran over the wedge of Manta Raya and nearly got lifted, but it slipped off once again. After Manta Raya drove past Alakran's forks and to a corner, Alakran managed to get under from the side as Manta Raya turned to the right to face it before successfully overturning its fellow Puerto Rican representative over. With Manta Raya unable to self-right, as well as Alakran hampering its efforts by backing into it, Alakran won by KO and moved on.
Alakran vs. Spider Blade
Alakran props Spider Blade against the wall.
Alakran now took on Spider Blade. For this match, a black quarter-inch thick piece of steel with 2 forks was added to Alakran's rear wedge to deflect the blows that Spider Blade might dish out, in addition to changing to its lifter configuration. Very little footage is shown of the fight, but what is known is that Alakran charged with its rear end into Spider Blade's square, where it managed to pin Spider Blade into the wall and stop it from spinning. From there, Alakran turned around and used its lifting arm to lift Spider Blade against arena wall. Unable to escape, Alakran won by KO and advanced into the quarter-finals.
Alakran vs. The Revenant
Alakran tries to flip The Revenant late on.
Alakran's next opponent was The Revenant. Much like the previous fight, very little footage was shown. What is known, however, is that Alakran took several blows to the rear forks from The Revenant, even managing to get a lift in as the time ran down. Alakran won by judges' decision and moved on to the next round.
Alakran vs. Talus Morsus
Alakran fighting Talus Morsus.
Now in the semi-finals, Alakran took on Talus Morsus. When the match began, Alakran charged into Talus Morsus' drum, but Talus Morsus moved over to the left side to avoid getting caught in the box rush. Afterwards, Alakran took several more shots from Talus Morsus' drum, none of which causing any noticeable damage. After a bit of maneuvering, Alakran started taking a couple of rams into the right rear from Talus Morsus. After the last one, however, Talus Morsus was suddenly incapacitated due to the positive battery cable inside disconnecting. Immediately, Alakran took the chance, getting under and toppling Talus Morsus over with its lifter. Alakran continued to toy with the dead Talus Morsus until it was counted out, giving Alakran the win by KO and advancing it to the finals.
Alakran vs. Icewave
Alakran and Icewave square off.
Icewave takes on Alakran.
For the final, Alakran fought a rematch against Goliath, now known as Icewave. A long extension was added to Alakran's lifter, sheets of steel armor with jagged lined pieces were added to the armor that was already present, and a half-circle extension was added to the rear to try and stop Icewave on its tracks. The match started with Alakran charging with its rear end and collided with Icewave's bar, sending both into opposite directions and mangling the rear extension. The defending champion then turned around and caught Icewave on its lifter. However, Icewave started pushing it as Alakran encountered radio issues. Eventually, it managed to lift Icewave off the ground, causing Icewave to strike a tube on the extension and destabilize, sending it 5 feet into the air. This caused Icewave's weapon shaft to bend, breaking the pulley and disabling the weapon completely. After a standstill, Alakran turned and lifted Icewave. Unfortunately, the radio issues recurred. Alakran suddenly stopped moving for several seconds before eventually turning around and lifting Icewave nearly over a couple more times. Afterwards, Alakran got pushed under the pulverizer by Icewave, where it got hit twice on the top. After some maneuvering, Alakran nearly got pushed under a second pulverizer, but it soon escaped by getting another lift in. After getting pushed a few more times by Icewave , it suddenly stopped moving next to the wall. Right when Icewave moved back to its square, however, Alakran started moving again. Alas, after a few more clashes with Icewave, Alakran's radio issues struck again, and it stopped moving for the final time. With just three seconds left on the clock, Alakran was counted out, giving Icewave the win by KO and finishing as the 2005 BattleBots IQ runner up.
BattleBots IQ 2007[]
Alakran vs. Pharaoh
Alakran lifts itself in trying to attack Pharaoh.
The first of Alakran's fights in the 2007 event was against Pharaoh. After being able to pick Pharaoh up and carry it around the arena, it eventually released, positioning Pharaoh against the spiked barrier with its wheels off the floor. It won this fight by knockout and continued on.
Alakran vs. Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina approaches Alakran.
Alakran flips Hurricane Katrina over.
Alakran's next opponent was the shell spinner of Hurricane Katrina. Leading with its back end in order to protect its weapon system, Alakran tanked numerous hits from its opponent before Hurricane Katrina suddenly stopped working. Alakran flipped it over and win by knockout, advancing in the winner's bracket.
Alakran vs. Bambi
Third in the winner's bracket for Alakran was Bambi. Alakran picked up another win and continued on.
Alakran vs. Nefarious
Alakran is counted out.
Next up was Nefarious. Keen to avoid damage from its opponent's drum, Alakran again led with its back end. However, this proved problematic as Nefarious managed to flip Alakran over with the first hit of the match. Alakran could not self-right from this position and lost the battle by knockout, falling into the loser's bracket as a result.
Alakran vs. The Revenant
The Revenant stares down Alakran.
One loss away from elimination, Alakran took on another shell spinner - The Revenant - in a rematch from 2005. The Revenant was able to land a flurry of shots with its spinning shell, but found itself bouncing off the walls of the arena. However, it persisted and eventually sent Alakran flying through the air. The Revenant took the win by judges' decision, confirming a third place finish for Alakrak in the College division.
