PinchPoint

PinchPoint
Participation Information
Live	BattleBots Proving Ground
Team Information
Team	Team PinchPoint
Team Members	Tony Falcetano Theresa Falcetano Josh May Tonya Falcetano-May Hailey May Mckenzie May
From	Huntsville, AL
Robot Statistics
Drive	2x NPC brushed motors
Weapons	Horizontal spinning disks Flamethrower
Statistics correct as of its most recent appearance on the show, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Not to be confused with the Season 5.0 superheavyweight entry of the same name.

PinchPoint is a heavyweight robot which competed in BattleBots Proving Ground as part of the live show, BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon.

It is a two-wheel drive, invertible robot armed with twin, counter-rotating horizontal spinning disks at the front. Each disk is made from AR500 steel with three teeth around the circumference, and is independently powered. PinchPoint also had two large hinged wedgelets at the back to defend against attacks from behind on its titanium frame. Another unique aspect of PinchPoint's design are its custom thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) wheels. The team posted updates to PinchPoint's frame being built in January 2023, stating that it would feature titanium armor and that they would aim to have PinchPoint built by April 2023. Updates on PinchPoint's build progress continued to be posted in the lead-up to its July battles.

"Frame is finished for the most part. Titanium armor being added! Be finished by April, but sooner if possible! Not vaporware!"

— The team behind PinchPoint on Facebook

PinchPoint fought Mudhole Bullfrog on the weekend of July 22-23, 2023 as part of BattleBots Proving Ground, winning the first fight but losing the second. The team are currently planning a rebuild of PinchPoint with improved armor, thicker weapon disks and all brushless motors. The team posted a CAD of the next version of PinchPoint in August 2023. This new version featured a taller chassis, partially-exposed wheels and a new tri-blade design, similar to Bloodsport, for their dual spinners. Due to its taller chassis, the custom TPU wheels would not be able to be used, and the team were forced to switch to more traditional rubber wheels. The team also switched to brushless drive and weapon power.

In November 2023, it was revealed that the new PinchPoint design intended for future Proving Ground dates sported a flamethrower. However, following new information casting uncertainty over the future of BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon in August 2024, Tony Falcetano listed both PinchPoint builds for sale.

"With all the uncertainly surrounding BattleBots, after much thought, we have decided to pursue other interests and make room in the shop, so Pinchpoint 2024 is for sale. We’ll include the shipping crate, all spares, CAD files, remotes, batteries/chargers, motors, speed controllers, minibot, and two 2024 robots…. and two different style weapon disks. All they lack is wiring and testing."

— Team PinchPoint on Facebook

Both PinchPoint v2 builds in August 2024.

PinchPoint's redesign intended for Proving Ground battles in 2024.

PinchPoint's August 2023 CAD.

PinchPoint at BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon in July 2023.

PinchPoint under construction in 2023.

PinchPoint's frame, circa January 2023.

Outside BattleBots

An earlier iteration of PinchPoint competed as a 220lb heavyweight in several untelevised competitions across 2003-2004 under Madison Robotix, referencing the team's then hometown of Madison, Alabama. It first fought in NC Robot StreetFight in June 2003, before entering Robot Assault in September that same year.

PinchPoint's last event came in May 2004's Rocket City Robot Assault. It is unknown how well it did in all three competitions.

The team also built a middleweight shell spinner named Purpleheze, which never competed and was scrapped.

PinchPoint circa 2003

PinchPoint in 2003 being carted off after a match

Purpleheze, the team's middleweight shell spinner design

Robot History

BattleBots Proving Ground
PinchPoint vs. Mudhole Bullfrog (7/22/2023) PointPoint vs. Mudhole Bullfrog, as confirmed on the BattleBots website. PinchPoint's BattleBots debut is scheduled to come against the returning 2009 Pro Championship competitor, Mudhole Bullfrog. PinchPoint was accompanied by a two-wheel drive minibot for these fights. Mudhole Bullfrog gets the first hit in. In the first of its two fights, Mudhole Bullfrog charged at PinchPoint, who spun to show its wedgelets to the vertical spinner. Despite its best effort, Mudhole Bullfrog landed an early hit and warped PinchPoint's blades before pinning it against the screws. PinchPoint gets under the front of Mudhole Bullfrog. This attack appeared to disable Mudhole Bullfrog's disk, and the chain driving the lower of PinchPoint's twin blades also hung loose from the bot. PinchPoint used its rear wedgelets to get underneath Mudhole Bullfrog and drive it across the BattleBox and leaving it against the paddle. Mudhole Bullfrog is counted out. Mudhole Bullfrog was no longer moving less than a minute into the fight, PinchPoint took the win by knockout.
PinchPoint vs. Mudhole Bullfrog (7/23/2023) PinchPoint fought Mudhole Bullfrog for a second time in BattleBots Proving Ground the following night. Mudhole Bullfrog immediately hunts PinchPoint down. When the match began, PinchPoint reversed to the center of the arena and turned to face Mudhole Bullfrog with its wedgelets. In doing so, PinchPoint oversteered to the right, allowing Mudhole Bullfrog to capitalize by landing a direct shot to the right wheelguard and kicking it up on its side, disabling the right wheel. As Mudhole Bullfrog tried to follow up, PinchPoint squared up its wedgelets and kept the disk spinner at bay, before swinging around and nicking the left side of its plow in the process. PinchPoint spun back to defend with its wedgelets, but Mudhole Bullfrog was quick to exploit the opening, rushing in and scoring another hit to PinchPoint's right wheelguard, kicking it towards the Upper Deck's screws. Mudhole Bullfrog lands a critical hit. PinchPoint swiftly backed out and blocked a potential follow-up attack with its wedgelets. After Mudhole Bullfrog spun right around to separate, PinchPoint exploited the opening and landed a hit with its disks to the right wheel from the back. PinchPoint swung to the right to spin its disks back up, but as it did so, Mudhole Bullfrog maneuvered towards the disks and clashed weapon to weapon. This resulted in two minor hits followed by a third hit that kicked PinchPoint into the air and towards the screws, warping the dual disks and breaking apart the weapon chain in the process. Mudhole Bullfrog allows PinchPoint to be counted out. Before PinchPoint could react, Mudhole Bullfrog immediately followed up by dishing out another big hit to the right wheelguard, flipping PinchPoint onto its back on top of the deck screws. After sliding off, the inverted PinchPoint tried to reverse swing against the screws, but Mudhole Bullfrog moved in and inflicted two more major shots to the same wheelguard, immobilizing PinchPoint completely. With PinchPoint down for the count, Mudhole Bullfrog won the fight by KO. "We sustained heavy damage to the weapon disks and Bullfrog tore off some armor and jammed a wheel. We managed to nip off a piece of their S7 blade before our weapon went belly up. Cracked their frame and got a wheel. Overall, the counter rotating disks have potential, just must beef up a few things." — Tony Falcetano's evaluation of PinchPoint's performances in the two bouts After the fight, this iteration of PinchPoint was formally retired.

Results

Exhibition Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1

Competition	Wins	Losses
BattleBots Proving Ground	Mudhole Bullfrog	Mudhole Bullfrog

See Also

• PinchPoint on Facebook
• Madison Robotix website (archived)
• Original PinchPoint on BuildersDB