Defender

Defender
Participation Information
Reboot Seasons	World Championship VI
Other Events	BattleBots: Champions I
Team Information
Team	Team Fast Electric Robots
Team Members	Jason Vasquez (Captain) Matt Vasquez Jeff Vasquez Debbie Vasquez Rob Masek Daisy Gonzalez
From	Thousand Oaks, CA
Other Entries	Whiplash, Splatter, Deb Bot, Matts Bammer, Think Tank
Associated Robots	Bite Force, Lucky, Scrap Metal, FrostBite (Rob Masek)
Robot Statistics
Weight	250lbs
Drive	4x Magmotors
Weapons	Lifter/Grappler Flamethrower
Statistics correct as of its most recent appearance on the show, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Defender is a heavyweight robot built by Team Fast Electric Robots which competed in BattleBots World Championship VI.

Designed, built and driven by Jason Vasquez of Whiplash fame, the team opted to run two robots throughout the season, with Jason captaining this new build. He was joined by Rob Masek, who himself had plentiful experience within BattleBots.

Unlike Whiplash, Defender does not feature any spinning weaponry. It instead sports a grabbing top arm, which has a built-in flamethrower to roast its opponents, similar to Complete Control from the ABC seasons. Unlike many lifting robots which feature an arm which raises from the AR500 steel chassis, such as Slammo, Defender's whole body lifts up in response to a stabilizing leg pushing against the ground, in a similar manner to Hypothermia. This means Defender's grabbing, lifting and flamethrowing capabilities are totally separate, all controlled by Jason Vasquez, who was just 19 years old for Defender's debut. The bot is loosely based on Jason's fleaweight robot Crabby.

Defender during World Championship VI hero shots.

Thanks to the position of its rear wheels, Defender is still able to drive with robots in its grasp and control them around the BattleBox. This will also aid it in self-righting when inverted. However, Defender had little opportunity to showcase this in its first fight against Ribbot, where its forks was quickly deformed and Defender lost by knockout. Ahead of its second Fight Night battle against Riptide, the team opted to connect their remaining forks together to reinforce the weapon and prevent it from deforming once again. This proved to be successful as Defender tanked hits from Riptide's weapon and won by unanimous judges' decision. Defender backed up its win with a second by judges' decision over Aaron Lucas and Retrograde, finishing Fight Night with a positive 2-1 record. However, Defender were snubbed of a guaranteed spot in Top 32 bracket as they were one of four robots who fought in a play-off match to decide the No.31 seed. Jason Vasquez fought Jake Ewert and Hydra, but lost by knockout after being stranded on the Upper Deck.

On August 1, 2022, Defender was confirmed to compete in the first Sin City Slugfest bracket of BattleBots: Champions I. After getting the better of Claw Viper in the opening moments, the tables turned after Defender lost a wheel and it fell at the first hurdle.

While not publicly announced by either the team or BattleBots, Defender ultimately did not return for World Championship VII partially due to the Vasquez family deciding to focus solely on Whiplash for the season and partially due to Jason's school commitments.

Jason Vasquez confirmed in a 2023 Reddit AMA that he plans to compete with Defender again on a future BattleBots season but not necessarily World Championship VIII. He also confirmed that when it does happen, Defender would be rebranded as King Crab.

The team adding new forks to Defender during the season.

The Vasquez family and Robert Masek during World Championship VI.

Defender and Crabby.

CAD of Defender, circa July 2021.

Outside BattleBots

Defender's return was confirmed as Jason Vasquez signed up for RoboGames with King Crab. - essentially a renamed version of his BattleBots machine. It lost its first fight against Ziggy Jr., a revised version of Lucky, before beating Crash n' Burn in the loser's bracket by an 18-15 judges' decision and then getting the better of Puck. However, it then suffered defeat to Terrortops and was eliminated from the competition.

King Crab was among the BattleBots competitors displayed at Open Sauce in San Francisco in July 2023.

A very similar version of Defender was built for the art competitions which formed part of RoboGames 2024. The robot, called H.A.N.D., featured four articulating fingers with the overhead grabbing arm typically seen on Defender and King Crab acting as an opposable thumb.

A render of H.A.N.D., built by Jason Vasquez.

King Crab taking on Banana Runt at RoboGames 2023.

Defender redesigned as King Crab for RoboGames 2023.

Robot History

World Championship VI
Defender vs. Ribbot Defender runs Ribbot into the Upper Deck early in the fight. Defender becomes stuck on the barrier as Ribbot watches on. Defender's BattleBots debut came against the returning Ribbot, who was equipped with its vertical spinner and hinged forks for this fight. Jason Vasquez began on top as Defender initially won the ground game and shoved Ribbot into the barrier separating the Upper Deck's sets of screws. Ribbot could only grind against the front of Defender, sending sparks flying in its direction. Defender attempted to get its grappling arm into play, but opted instead to release Ribbot. This proved to be a mistake as Ribbot was able to damage the forks of Defender, sending parts flying and bending the middle fork upwards. Ribbot continued its assault, overturning Defender before sending it into the corner of the BattleBox, where it became stuck and unable to free itself. Defender was counted out, giving Ribbot the win by KO.
Defender vs. Riptide Defender tries to get to grips with its opponent. Defender's second fight was against fellow newcomer Ethan Kurtz and Riptide. As both robots evaded each other to begin with, Riptide landed a shot on Defender's reinforced forks. This impact sent Riptide bouncing into the corner of the BattleBox as Defender was upended. Defender took a moment to right itself and as Riptide drove into the barrier in an attempt to do the same, found itself beached on its side. In a showing of good sportsmanship, Jason Vasquez righted Riptide to allow the fight to continue. It then backed Riptide further into the corner with its flamethrower active. Still upside down, Riptide threw itself into the side of the Upper Deck to try and right itself, and in doing so, launched itself several meters into the air and onto the Upper Deck itself. Keen to escape before a count started, Riptide drove off the opposite side but Defender was able to smother Riptide and prevent it from spinning back up. However, when given the time and space to do so, it became clear Riptide's weapon had been hurt in its attempts to self-right earlier in the fight. It had also lost a tire during the fight, as was noticeable when Defender pressed Riptide into the corner late on. Riptide was unable to escape the corner in the closing moments, and the fight went the distance. A unanimous decision was made in favor of Defender, putting it to 1-1 for the season.
Defender vs. Retrograde Defender and Retrograde meet in the BattleBox. Defender grasps Retrograde, but is unable to lift it. Defender's final Fight Night opponent was a fellow 1-1 bot in Retrograde. In the first few seconds, Defender was able to get to the back of Retrograde and clamp down with its top arm. Though it was unable to lift, Defender instead opted to send Retrograde to the screws. Retrograde was unable to drive away, but the screws reversed and handed it back to Jason Vasquez's bot. Retrograde was again gripped by Defender and this time, driven to the arena barrier in front of both teams. Again, however, it was unable to lift its opponent and eventually released. It was now Retrograde's turn to show aggression as it drove and got its forks underneath the side of Defender, but did not have the leverage to throw it over. It then shoved Defender into the arena barrier and back in the center of the BattleBox. The two bots drove around one another as it became evident Retrogtade's rear undercutter was not working. Retrograde found itself stuck in the killsaw slot momentarily, but Defender used its primary weapon to pull them out and drive them to the screws of the Upper Deck. Retrograde escaped and exchanged shoves with Defender in the short corner, but was again rammed into the Upper Deck's screws for a second time. However, Retrograde was able to slide its forks under the front of Defender and forced it into the wall and then over the now-active killsaws. Neither robot was able to incapacitate the other and as Retrograde began smoking in the closing seconds, the judges awarded the fight in favor of Defender, putting it to 2-1.
Defender vs. Hydra Defender and Hydra face off. Hydra sends Defender flying. With the announcement of the Top 32 bracket, Defender faced off against Hydra in a play in match to determine the No.31 seed for the tournament. The winner of whom would advance and take on No.2 seed Ribbot. Defender immediately drove over the top of Hydra, snapping one of its long yellow forks and landing upside down. Defender righted itself and did the same again, as Hydra misfired before successfully throwing Defender over. Jason Vasquez's bot landed upright but could not get underneath Hydra's low profile design as it was flipped again. Upon driving into the corner of the BattleBox, Hydra slid underneath Defender again and threw it considerably higher, landing on the arm of the pulverizer and detaching one of the arena signs. The next few times Defender was flipped, it landed directly on its grabbing arm before almost being thrown out of the arena. The latest attacks appeared to break Defender's arm upon landing, and one final throw onto the Upper Deck beached Defender upside-down. Defender was counted out, and was eliminated from the competition.
BattleBots: Champions I
Defender vs. Claw Viper Claw Viper topples Defender. Returning for BattleBots: Champions I, Defender fought Claw Viper in the first round of the bracket. Jason Vasquez was reunited with the rest of the Vasquez family for this competition and Defender had been repaired after its play-in loss to Hydra. Both bots charged at one another from the off and Defender won the immediate fight for low ground. It managed to lift Claw Viper from the side and topple it over, pressing it against the Upper Deck and then trying to put it on the screws. Claw Viper used its agility to escape, though Defender slid its forks under the side of it again, this time to no true benefit. Both robots circled one another in an attempt to gain an advantage, but Claw Viper found itself snagged on Defender's fork. After ramming it into the housing for the screws, Claw Viper was free and now Defender was stuck and needed freeing. Claw Viper was able to use its new four-bar grappling mechanism to hoist Defender momentarily, dropping it against one of the paddles of the BattleBox. Claw Viper got to the rear of Defender again, but struggled to get a meaningful grab with its new weapon setup. Defender gave chase, though as Claw Viper maneuvered it into the wall, Defender's right wheel fell off, severely hampering their mobility. Claw Viper was then able to assert itself for the remainder of the fight. It grabbed Defender and delivered it to the screws, right in front of the judges. Claw Viper took Defender to the short corner and then to the screws again, all before attempting to finish with a lift on Jason Vasquez's bot. The fight went the distance and Claw Viper won by a unanimous judges' decision, eliminating Defender from the bracket.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 3

Competition	Wins	Losses
World Championship VI	Riptide (Undercard Match) Retrograde (Untelevised Undercard Match)	Ribbot (Undercard Match) Hydra
BattleBots: Champions I	None	Claw Viper

Faruq Tauheed Introductions

"From Thousand Oaks, California, the bot from T.O. that'll deliver a KO. It's DEFENDER!"

"He's all plugged in and turned up to eleven. Here to make his opponents take the stairway to heaven, like a hot guitar solo on your face, he'll be wailin'. Tear you up like a master. Call him Shreddie Van Halen. Crank it up for DEFENDER!"

"I look at this bot's name and I'm like, 'I see what you did there'. Most bots called themselves something aggressive as a tactic to scare. he could've went with 'Doomsday' or 'Grim Reaper', but this name makes sense because after he kills you, he can claim self-defense.' Give it up for DEFENDER!"

"From Thousand Oaks, California, when this bot gives you a lift, he'll have you seeing five stars. It's DEFENDER!"

Trivia

• Team Fast Electric Robots were one of only five teams to be running multiple heavyweight robots during World Championship VI. The others were Seems Reasonable Robotics with Tantrum and Blip, Bots 'n' Stuff Robotics with Bloodsport and Retrograde, Team Whyachi with Hydra and Fusion and Robotic Death Company with Gigabyte and Cobalt.
• Defender had one of the most complex control systems. The bot itself has 6 different elements to control, including driving, steering, the flamethrower, the clamp, the lifting forks and the blue lifter on the bottom of the bot.
• Defender was the only bot to defeat Riptide outside of the Round of 32, and the only one to do it within Team Break32's first two seasons.
• If it returns for a future BattleBots season, Defender would be the first robot to compete in two seasons under two different names as Jason Vasquez intends to rebrand it as King Crab.