It was a tracked robot which had evolved from a heavyweight build, Gigan II, intended for the 1997 Robot Wars event in San Francisco. The original Gigan was a similarly-designed featherweight which fought at Robot Wars 1996. Ronin had a modular weapon system, inspired by The Master, the bot of Team Sinister's Mark Setrakian. The original primary weapon was an electrically actuated lifting blade, but it was ineffective. In Season 1.0, it used a spike layering consisting of several rods on the sides, dubbed as the "Pin Cushion" by its builder, for added defense. Due to weight concerns, however, they were dropped for the other seasons. From Seasons 1.0 to 3.0, Ronin's weapon was a 20" diameter, carbide tipped sawblade mounted vertically, but it lacked sufficient torque to cut through any armor. From Season 4.0 onward, it was replaced by a horizontalflywheel that was slightly better but still not enough to advance it beyond the Round of 16. Ronin's best result was in Season 1.0, where it advanced to the semi-finals and lost against DooAll.
In Japanese history, rōnin is the word given to describe a samurai who has no lord or master. Ronin still resides with builder Pete Abrahamson but is now being displayed as a sculpture.
Pete Abrahamson returned for the reboot era of BattleBots, with a behind-the-scenes role which involved assisting with matchups and liaising with teams in The Pits ahead of fights. He held this role until World Championship V, where he debuted in front of camera as a pre-fight analyst, officially titled 'The Bot Whisperer'. As a former competitor, he was able to offer a unique insight on fights and how they may play out. Due to his experience and friendly nature with a handful of teams, several competitors affectionately call him 'Botdad'.
Ronin was one of several BattleBots competitors to feature on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, in the episode titled 'Precious Metal'.
The base of Ronin also served as the drive system for the humanoid robot C.H.E.E.S.E., which featured on Friends.
Ronin, Tazbot, and Dreadnought on the set of CSI.
C.H.E.E.S.E. from the TV show Friends.
Robot History[]
Long Beach 1999[]
Ronin vs. Kill-O-Amp
Ronin was scheduled to fight Kill-O-Amp, but Ronin had technical issues and was forced to forfeit. As such, Kill-O-Amp won by default.
Ronin vs. Agrippa
Ronin next took on Agrippa. The match was a declared a draw and both robots advanced to the next round.
Ronin vs. GoldDigger
Ronin's next match was against GoldDigger. Ronin won by KO and moved on again.
Ronin vs. Vlad the Impaler
Next up for Ronin was Gage Cauchois and Vlad the Impaler. Vlad the Impaler won by knockout and Ronin was now in the loser's bracket.
Ronin vs. Punjar
In the loser's bracket, Ronin took on Punjar. Punjar won on a judges' decision and Ronin was eliminated from the tournament.
Ronin vs. Ginsu vs. Agrippa (Exhibition)
Ronin and Agrippa fighting Ginsu.
Ronin fought in an exhibition fight against Agrippa and Ginsu, but lost overall to Ginsu.
Ronin vs. Mechadon (Exhibition)
Ronin tangles with Mechadon.
Ronin also took on Mechadon in a second grudge match. No winner was declared in this battle.
Las Vegas 1999[]
Ronin vs. Mjollnir
Ronin was scheduled to fight Mjollnir, but Mjollnir had technical issues and was forced to forfeit. Ronin won by default and advanced to the Round of 16.
Ronin vs. Rhino
Ronin lifts Rhino.
Rhino slams Ronin into the spikestrip.
In the Round of 16, Ronin faced Rhino. For most of the match, Rhino kept hitting Ronin with its pneumatic spike. Ronin was able to lift Rhino at one point, but was pushed against the spikestrip by Rhino. The time ran out soon after and Rhino won on an 8-1 judges' decision. This meant that Ronin was eliminated again.
Heavyweight Royal Rumble
Ronin also participated the Heavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament, which was won by BioHazard.
Season 1.0[]
Ronin vs. Odin
Ronin starts to lift Odin around the ramrods.
Ronin's first match was against Odin. Odin was moving around the ramrods and Ronin started lifting Odin with its rear lifting arm. The time ran out soon after and Ronin won on a close 6-3 judges' decision.
Ronin vs. Ginsu
Ronin attacking Ginsu's behind.
This win put Ronin to the quarter-finals, where it faced Ginsu. Before the match began, Team Sinister added static spikes on both sides of Ronin. In the beginning, Ginsu drove over the hellraisers and Ronin slowly moved out of its starting square. Both robots collided into each other and Ginsu almost drove over Ronin. Ginsu escapes and immediately attacjed the side of Ronin again. Ginsu backed up and charged into the front of Ronin, but Ginsu got its front right saw stuck on top of Ronin's weapon. Both robots were separated and Ginsu's drive chain suffered damage. Both robots were moving around the BattleBox and Ginsu became caught on the killsaws, which ripped one of the front saws from Ginsu. Ronin started attacking Ginsu with its sawblade and pushes it against the spikestrip. Ginsu was moving very slowly and Ronin took it to the entrance ramp. Ginsu got itself stuck between the entrance ramp and the spikestrip. Ronin kept on attacking Ginsu until the time ran out. Ronin won on a 7-2 judges' decision.
Ronin vs. DooAll
Both robots collide into each other.
Ronin was now in the semi-finals, where it faced DooAll. Both robots were moving out of their starting squares and collided into each other. DooAll backs up and Ronin stopped moving for a second due to radio interference. DooAll charged into the front of Ronin and backed up again. DooAll kept on doing this multiple times until it pushed Ronin to the killsaws. Ronin started moving again and DooAll went straight at Ronin again. As this was happening, Ronin's static spikes were getting damaged by the killsaws. DooAll charged at Ronin again and retreated. Ronin stopped moving again and DooAll raised its CO2 powered ram and rear wedge. Ronin slightly moved forward as it was being counted out. DooAll charged into Ronin again and the Team Sinister bot was officially counted out. Ronin moved forward again, but it was a second too late, and DooAll won by KO at 1:46. This meant that Ronin was eliminated from the tournament.
Superheavyweight Royal Rumble
Ronin being pushed by Gray Matter.
Ronin attempts to drive over Rhino.
Ronin and Rhino being pushed by Minion.
Ronin participated in the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. In the beginning, Ronin started attacking Prompt Critical and was bumped by S.L.A.M. shortly after. Ronin was then caught by Minion and was pushed against the corner of the BattleBox. Ronin was moving slowly out of the corner, but was pushed right back to the corner courtesy of Gray Matter. Ronin tries to escape again, but it was caught between Diesector and Rhino. Ronin was fighting Rhino for a moment and attempts to drive over the flat chassis of Rhino. Ronin backed away and started attacking Odin with its saw blade from the side. Ronin backs away and Ronin's saw blade made contact with one of Diesector's hammers. Ronin was moving around and Minion pushes Ronin front first against the spikestrip. Ronin escaped and it was being pushed by Minion again and Minion drives right under Ronin. Ronin then was being pushed by Gray Matter and Ronin started using its saw to damage Gray Matter's static spike. Ronin starts moving around the BattleBox and lost one of its static spikes at one point. Ronin was later pushed against the corner of the BattleBox by Minion and lost the other side of static spikes. Ronin slowly escapes the corner of the BattleBox and it was being pushing around by Rhino. Both robots were then caught by Minion and pushed on the entrance ramp. While Rhino was stuck on the entrance ramp, Ronin was able to escape and starts attacking the immobilized Diesector. Minion pushes Ronin right out of the way and Ronin was moving around the BattleBox. Ronin bumps into Odin and Minion pushes Ronin into the immobilized Prompt Critical. Ronin runs away and manages to get its saw onto both Odin and Minion before the time ran out. It was one of four robots still moving in the end, but lost overall to Minion.
Season 2.0[]
Ronin vs. S.L.A.M. (Forfeit)
After receiving a bye, Ronin was scheduled to fight S.L.A.M., but S.L.A.M. had technical issues and was forced to forfeit. Ronin won by default and advanced to the quarter-finals.
Ronin vs. Revision Z
Ronin strikes Revision Z with its saw, which in turn disables it.
Ronin catches fire.
Here, Ronin took on Revision Z. In the match, Revision Z pushed Ronin against the arena wall and the right motor controller for the tread failed. Revision Z lined up a shot at Ronin but got its lifting arm stuck on the killsaw hole in the BattleBox floor. Revision Z pushes Ronin on the killsaws and Ronin, who can only drive in a circle, couldn't escape. Revision Z pushes Ronin under the pulverizer for a couple solid hits. Revision Z then pushes Ronin against the wall, where Ronin's left motor controller overloaded and burst into flames momentarily. The time ran out and Revision Z won on a unanimous 45-0 judges' decision. This meant that Ronin was eliminated again.
Season 3.0[]
Ronin vs. Electric Lunch
Ronin is flipped by Electric Lunch.
Due to its seeding, Ronin was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 3.0, where it eventually faced Electric Lunch. In the beginning, both robots went straight at each other and Ronin was flipped by Electric Lunch's front scoop. Ronin was counted out and Electric Lunch won by knockout, ending Ronin's Giant Nut run at the first hurdle.
Season 4.0[]
Ronin vs. CUAD the Crusher
Ronin gets lifted by CUAD the Crusher.
Due to its seeding, Ronin was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 4.0, where it eventually faced CUAD the Crusher. Ronin won on a 25-20 judges' decision and advanced to the Round of 16.
Ronin vs. Diesector
Diesector gets underneath Ronin.
In the Round of 16, Ronin fought Diesector. The two robots charged each other and Diesector easily gained the upper hand, grabbing onto one of Ronin's tracks with its jaws while flailing away with its hammers. Ronin tried to bring its disk into play, but Diesector drove Ronin into the spikestrip and let go of it. Diesector opened its jaws again and it collided with Ronin's disk, so Diesector then drove around to the side of Ronin and tried to clamp it. Ronin escaped and so Diesector used its jaws as a wedge to maneuver Ronin into the killsaws. Diesector drove off to open the jaws again as Ronin moved around. Diesector drove into Ronin again, this time clamping one of Ronin's tracks and launching a blow from one of its hammers. Diesector tried to reverse with Ronin still in the jaws, but this did not work. Diesector let go of Ronin, which was then only moving in circles. Diesector grabbed Ronin once more and pushed it toward a pulverizer, but ended up in the spikestrip. Time ran out as Ronin was pinned on the spikestrip and Diesector did his famous victory dance in celebration. Diesector won on a 34-11 judges' decision and Ronin was eliminated again.
Superheavyweight Royal Rumble
Ronin during the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble.
Ronin also fought in the Superheavyweight Royal Rumble at the end of the tournament. It is unknown how well it performed, but Ronin lost overall to The Judge.
Season 5.0[]
Ronin vs. IceBerg
Due to it's seeding, Ronin was allowed to skip the preliminary rounds of Season 5.0, where it eventually faced IceBerg. However, IceBerg won on a 36-9 judges' decision and Ronin fell in the first televised round. This proved to be Ronin's final fight in BattleBots.
The day of the 2018 season premiere, it was revealed via Twitter that the shell, busted electronics, and weapon of Ronin still exist. As the robot looked combat ready from the outside Pete Abrahamson himself revealed via Reddit, and Twitter shortly thereafter that following its retirement Ronin was turned into a sculpture, and put on display.[2][3]
