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Not to be confused with the heavyweight robot of the same name, which debuted in World Championship IV.

Copperhead (later known as Copperhead 2, Copperhead III, Copperhead π and in official documentation as Copperhead 3.141592654) was a middleweight robot built by Pine View High School in Florida which competed in several BattleBots IQ events, as well as the BattleBots High School Championship in 2009.

Each iteration of Copperhead was a two-wheel drive, invertible robot armed with a copper-colored drum spinner. Originally designed by team member Stefan Stephenson-Mow in 2005, Copperhead's spinning drum could hit speeds of 4900rpm. The robot itself was armored in Grade 5 titanium donated to the Pine View High School team by local company SMT. In keeping with its name, Copperhead sported a black, silver and copper color scheme. It is largely unknown how well the original Copperhead did in its debut BattleBots IQ competition, but it did not achieve a podium finish. Returning for the 2007 competition and now known as Copperhead 2, it suffered various technical issues[1] and again failed to reach the Top 4 in the High School division.

These issues seemed to be behind the team as they returned for BattleBots IQ 2008, as Copperhead III received heavy praise from Nola Garcia and fellow competitors during the event. Copperhead III won the 120lb High School division outright, defeating ODDBOTT 3.5 in the final.

"There was a pretty good crowd watching our safety check. The director of BotsIQ, Nola Garcia, came over as we were preparing to take Copperhead out of the safety box, and asked us to spin up the drum again because she had missed it. We did, and her comment was that it was a very good, well-engineered bot. That comment proved prophetic, as we ended up winning the competition."
— Dan Curhan on Copperhead III's positive reception[4]

Now known as Copperhead π, the team endured a difficult run during the partially-lost BattleBots High School Championship a year later. This began with a first-round knockout loss to Mr. Plow IIX. Despite a quick victory in the loser's bracket against Dr. Faustes, Copperhead π was eliminated following a second defeat against the full-body spinner PanDEMONium. However, BattleBots records suggest that it would redeem itself in a head-to-head exhibition match against Das Bot, winning by knockout.[5][6]

Students of Pine View High School were also responsible for the robot The Dethinator.

Robot History[]

BattleBots IQ 2005[]

Copperhead vs. ?

The original build of Copperhead first competed in the 2005 BattleBots IQ event. It is largely unknown how well it performed, though it did not achieve a Top 4 finish.

Due to the double elimination format of the competition, Copperhead is known to have lost twice.

BattleBots IQ 2007[]

Blue Flame fight
Please note that the order of the following fights is unknown, as documentation on the event itself is either limited or non-existent.
This is typically true of untelevised events such as BattleBots IQ and those sanctioned by the BattleBots name.

Copperhead 2 vs. Roflcopter

Copperhead 2 vs Roflcopter BBIQ 2007

Copperhead 2 stops moving in the corner.

Copperhead returned under the name Copperhead 2. At some stage in the competition, it is known to have fought and lost to Roflcopter by knockout.[7]

Copperhead 2 vs. ?

The remainder of Copperhead 2's fights are unknown, however, it again failed to get a podium finish so is known to have lost a second time.

BattleBots IQ 2008[]

Copperhead III vs. Fairy Princess

Copperhead III vs Fairy Princess BBIQ 2008

Fairy Princess gets in underneath Copperhead III.

Returning for the 2008 event, Copperhead III took on Fairy Princess. It won this fight and moved on.

Copperhead III vs. Trent

Trent vs Copperhead III BBIQ 2008

Copperhead III gyros next to Trent.

Copperhead III vs Trent BBIQ 08

Copperhead III rides up the front of Trent.

Copperhead III vs Trent flip BBIQ 08

Copperhead III flips Trent.

Copperhead III also took on Trent. Copperhead III was able to tear up Trent's side skirts and even flipped it over at one stage in the fight, picking up another win by judges' decision.

Copperhead III vs. Matador

Copperhead 3 vs Matador BBIQ 2008

Copperhead III looks to attack Matador.

Copperhead III faced Matador, where it won to advance in the tournament.|-

Copperhead III vs. Knightrous

Copperhead Knightrous weapon damage BBIQ 2008

Damage to Knightrous' thresher post-fight, courtesy of Copperhead III.

Copperhead III fought Knightrous. It won this fight after tearing away Knightrous' hardened S7 tool steel thresher and advanced to the final.

Copperhead III vs. ODDBOTT 3.5

Copperhead vs ODDBOTT 3

Copperhead III flings ODDBOTT 3.5 into the air.

Copperhead III then faced ODDBOTT 3.5, but lost at this stage by judges' decision.

Copperhead III vs. ODDBOTT 3.5

Copperhead vs ODDBOTT 3

Copperhead III throws its opponent into the wall.

Copperhead vs ODDBOTT 3

Both robots in the closing seconds.

Due to the double elimination format, Copperhead III was still in the competition and fought an immediate rematch against ODDBOTT 3.5 in the title decider. It won this fight by judges' decision and claimed the 2008 BattleBots IQ High School division championship.

2009 High School Championship[]

Copperhead π vs. Mr. Plow IIX

Copperhead began its title defence in the partially-aired High School Championship in 2009 under the name Copperhead π. It first took on Mr. Plow IIX, but lost by knockout.

Copperhead π vs. Dr. Faustes

Copperhead π fell into the loser's bracket, where it faced Dr. Faustes. Both robots survived the duration of the fight, where Copperhead π was deemed the winner.

Copperhead π vs. PanDEMONium

In the second round of the loser's bracket, Copperhead π fought PanDEMONium. It lost this battle too, and was eliminated from the tournament.

Copperhead π vs. Das Bot

Copperhead π returned for an exhibition match against Das Bot, which it won by knockout.

Competitive Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 7 (Minimum)
  • Losses: 7

Exhibition Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 0

Competitive Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 8 (Minimum)
  • Losses: 7
Competition Wins Losses
BattleBots IQ 2005 ? ?
?
BattleBots IQ 2007 ? Roflcopter
?
BattleBots IQ 2008 Fairy Princess
TrentMatadorManta
Knightrous
ODDBOTT 3.5
ODDBOTT 3.5
High School Championship 2009 Dr. Faustes
Das Bot (Exhibition)
Mr. Plow IIX
PanDEMONium

Honors[]

COPPERHEAD
BattleBots IQ 2007
Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
'
BattleBots IQ 2008
120lb High School Champion
'

See Also[]

References[]

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