Pteradominator

Pteradominator
Participation Information
Live	BattleBots Proving Ground
Team Information
Team	Team Pterodactyl
Team Members	Bob Niemeyer Robert Niemeyer Will Bill
From	Tigard, OR
Other Entries	The Loach
Associated Robots	Speed Bump XL, Speed Bump, Speedy, Tenderizer (Bob Niemeyer, Robert Niemeyer)
Robot Statistics
Weight	190lbs
Top Speed	20mph
Power	2x 36V battery packs
Weapons	Flipper Vertical spinner
Statistics correct as of its most recent appearance on the show, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Pteradominator is a heavyweight robot built by Team Pterodactyl which competed at BattleBots Proving Ground as part of the BattleBots: Destruct-A-Thon live shows.

It is a two-wheel drive, wedge-shaped robot whose entire sloped front acts as a large flipper. According to Niemeyer, it is capable of flipping 250lbs upwards of five feet into the air. At the rear of the robot is a drum spinner made of AR600 steel and spinning at 8000rpm. The drum is made from multiple disks aligned in a row to form a weapon akin to a drum spinner. Pteradominator's wheels protrude from the top flipper panel, meaning the robot is also invertible. Its name is a portmanteau of 'pteranodon' and the word 'dominator', with the robot's shape giving it the appearance of a pterodactyl from the side. Work on Pteradominator began several years ago, with progress on its build being shared as early as 2019. However, it is not known to have been entered into any BattleBots World Championships. Pteradominator was confirmed to be fighting Disarray on the weekend of May 6-7, 2023, during their Proving Ground segment. However, Pteradominator lost both fights by knockout and ended the weekend winless.

Builder Bob Niemeyer previously competed as part of Team Pterodactyl in the 2009 BattleBots Pro Championship with The Loach - a robot with twin horizontal spinners somewhat reminiscent of early ROTATOR builds. He also formed part of Team X-Bots in 2001.

Pteradominator in the BattleBox.

Pteradominator and its team inside the BattleBox.

Pteradominator and Bob Niemeyer in 2021.

Pteradominator CAD from the front.

The back of Pteradominator's CAD, showing its spinner.

Outside BattleBots

As well as being a self-employed engineer, which saw him found his own engineering business in 1988, Bob Niemeyer is also a politician. He has been a political candidate within the Oregon region as a Republican representative.

Robot History

BattleBots Proving Ground
Pteradominator vs. Disarray (5/7/2023) Pteradominator with its row of discs. Pteradominator's first ever BattleBots fight came in BattleBots Proving Ground, where it took on a World Championship VIII applicant in Disarray. Pteradominator is immediately overturned As Pteradominator dashed forward, the more nimble Disarray manoeuvred around and pointed its weapon at its opponent. Disarray then slammed into Pteradominator, turning it over in the first seven seconds and tearing into the relatively thin metal armor of Bob Niemeyer's bot. "OHHH, big hit from Disarray there!" — Bil Dwyer as Pteradominator is tossed over by Disarray Parts fly away from Pteradominator Disarray then lined up a large hit onto the side of Pteradominator, causing several batteries to be ejected from the bot and severely crippling its movement. "Oh my gosh... what's this? There's something flying around the arena there" — Steve Judkins as Pteradominator's internal components begin shorting Damage to Pteradominator post-fight. The countdown started on Pteradominator, but with four seconds remaining, it was able to show slight movement from one side so the fight was allowed to continue. Disarray came in one last time and bumped into Pteradominator without its weapon moving. This move fully incapacitated Pteradominator, and a fresh count began. Pteradominator was knocked out in 1:03, marking its debut with a loss.
Pteradominator vs. Disarray (5/8/2023) The following day, Pteradominator faced Disarray for a second time. On this occasion, it opted to lead with its spinning weaponry rather than its flipper. Both bots go weapon-to-weapon. Both robots began the fight in the blue square, where Pteradominator's flipper was slightly ajar and its spinner got up to speed. The same could not be said for Disarray, however, whose weapon struggled to power up. Both bots went weapon-to-weapon and sparks flew, but Disarray quickly asserted its superior drive power and rammed Pteradominator into the housing for the screws. Pteradominator escaped from danger, but Disarray gave chase and shoved it into the opposite screws, buckling the front of Pteradominator. Though Disarray's weapon was no longer spinning, it still proved capable of damaging its opponent, who could now only drive in arcs on the edge of the red square with its weapon also disabled. "Disarray... having its way." — Bil Dwyer as Disarray asserts its dominance Pteradominator is counted out. Though parts began to come off Disarray, these were purely cosmetic and the Arizona team continued their assault on Pteradominator. But with a minute to go, Pteradominator appeared high-centered as its wheels spun but the robot could no longer move. A count began and Bob Niemeyer's Pteradominator was condemned to a second loss by knockout on his return to the BattleBox.

Results

Exhibition Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 2

Competition	Wins	Losses
BattleBots Proving Ground	None	Disarray Disarray