Rusty

Rusty
Participation Information
Reboot Seasons	World Championship V World Championship VI World Championship VII (Alternate)
Other Events	BattleBots: Bounty Hunters BattleBots: Champions I (Withdrew)
Other Names	Rusty Mk.I (WC V-VI) Rusty Sr. (WC V-VI) Rusty Mk.II (WC VI-Present) Rusty Jr. (WC VI-Present)
Team Information
Team	Team Iron Force
Team Members	Dave Eaton (Captain)
From	Antioch, IL
Robot Statistics
Weight	250lbs
Weapons	Jackhammer Sledgehammer Lifter
Statistics correct as of its most recent appearance on the show, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Not to be confused with the Robot Wars competitor of the same name.

Rusty is a robot built by Dave Eaton of Team Iron Force, which competed in BattleBots World Championship V and VI, as well as being an alternate for World Championship VII.

Team Iron Force consists of just one member; Dave Eaton, a mechanical engineer from Antioch, Illinois.

"I'm here alone, one man band. I'm getting it done by myself, you know, doing what I need to do and I've kinda got it all planned out, and I've got to get up and going to get it done. A lot of great teams here and stuff that i'm trying to competing against. Things came together and I've got the robot and everything's ready to go and I'm ready to do it!"

— Dave Eaton during his first fight discussion

Rusty is designed to resemble a classic steampunk robot, covered mostly in authentic rusty metal with the exception of its domed head and curved top plate, as well as its plastic back cover. The bot runs on long rubber tracks, semi-protected by cage-styled tread guards. For weaponry, Rusty is armed with a swinging sledgehammer, but can swap this out for a pneumatic actuated spike which functions similar to a jackhammer. In a December 2020 Reddit AMA, David Eaton revealed that a flipper attachment was also planned but could not be completed in time for World Championship V.

Rusty during World Championship V hero shots.

Dave Eaton's bot exceeded many people's expectations and performed well in its debut year, racking up a KO win over fellow rookie Sporkinok and even defeating seasoned competitor Kraken in its BattleBots: Bounty Hunters bracket, only losing to established and more experienced competitors. Rusty was only knocked out once in the Fight Night episodes, but after losing to Beta and SawBlaze, missed out on the Top 32 with its 1-2 record. Dave Eaton and Rusty became fan favorites as one of the underdog stories of the season, and during the post-season awards, won the the inaugural Rookie of the Year.

"I expected people to like Rusty, I was a little shocked when people fell in love with Rusty. I love Rusty, and he does have a charm all his own. He kind of embodies the little engine that could, I guess."

— Dave Eaton expresses his surprise at how fans took to Rusty during its rookie season

The original Rusty during World Championship VI hero shots.

Rusty applied for World Championship VI with a brand new build. Larger than before, it utilized AR500 steel and titanium for armor and protection for its tracks instead of the mild steel armor from the previous season. Aluminum was also used in its construction, as well as 5160 sprint steel for its arms. Dave Eaton explained in a video with HEXBUG that the belts forming its tracks on this iteration weigh around 20lbs less than Rusty's original tracks. Despite its upgrades, Rusty retained its worn-down look and authentic rust, and kept the hammer as its primary weapon. However, Dave Eaton was forced to enter the World Championship V Rusty once again, as he was let down by suppliers and sponsors for machined parts and other vital components. Strangely, however, HEXBUG produced a remote control toy based on this rebuilt Rusty, which was announced alongside HyperShock in February 2022.

"We were running into a big marathon and having all kinds of parts and supplies issues, and we had a few criticial parts that weren't finished."

— Dave Eaton explains the decision to bring Rusty Mk. I out of retirement

Rusty during World Championship VII hero shots.

The new version of Rusty was still present at filming and even had official photos taken. As such, the original Rusty came out of retirement for World Championship VI, though this was not acknowledged by the show in its losses to Blip and Witch Doctor. Dave Eaton was penciled in to have Rusty ready for BattleBots: Champions I, fighting in ROTATOR's Sin City Slugfest episode, but Rusty was ultimately replaced in the bracket by Retrograde.Dave Eaton reapplied with Rusty Jr. ahead of World Championship VII, and began showcasing new parts in September 2022. Eaton returned for the competition with Rusty Jr., having gotten it running properly in the off-season. It now featured a less rusted and more dull, worn metal look, but otherwise was functionally similar to its intended 2021 season appearance. Its front and sides were reinforced by plates of metal bolted in place and featured a new, deeper bowl for its helmet. Again, however, Rusty would not get any alternate fights throughout the World Championship season due to unspecified mechanical issues.

According to Jake Ewert, Rusty finally passed safety around 7pm on the final night of filming, and had time for a single, post-season battle against his Hydra. This was the final fight of the 2022 filming schedule. Rusty lost by knockout after being flipped around the BattleBox.

Rusty in June 2024.

Rusty in June 2024.

Rusty in The Pits during World Championship VII.

Inside Rusty Jr. during World Championship VI.

Rusty Mk.II a.k.a. Rusty Jr. in 2021.

Inside the original build of Rusty.

Rusty in The Pits during its rookie season.

Outside BattleBots

Rusty was on display at the Iola Car Show across the days of July 11-13, 2024.

Robot History

World Championship V
Rusty vs. Sporkinok Rusty's first fight of the season was against fellow newcomer, Sporkinok. Sporkinok gets to the side of Rusty. The match started out with Sporkinok lifting Rusty on its side, but after a few seconds, Rusty managed to right itself. With Sporkinok's lifter breaking down and the bot moving around a lot slower than at the start, it became an awkward battle of both robots driving around the arena. Rusty drills Sporkinok's top panel. Eventually, Rusty managed to get a chance to use its hammer on the back of Sporkinok, which caused minimal damage to Sporkinok's wheels. When Rusty backed off, Sporkinok stopped moving after driving onto the small lip on the screw casing, high centering itself. Sporkinok was counted out and Rusty took the win by knockout.
Rusty vs. Beta With its 1-0 start, Rusty was next up against John Reid and Beta, who itself also began World Championship V with a highly controversial win over ROTATOR. Beta sinks its hammer into Rusty. Rusty started off poorly as it was immediately slammed into the arena barrier before being released. As Beta came around, Rusty missed with its drill and found itself outmatched. Rusty is immobilized and counted out. As Beta shoved Rusty towards the corner of the BattleBox, it flailed its weapon but had no mobility outside of that. Rusty took additional shots from its opponent's hammer before being mercifully counted out, giving Beta the win by KO and pushing Rusty to a 1-1 record.
Rusty vs. SawBlaze For its final Fight Night battle, Rusty was against Jamison Go and SawBlaze, who opted to use their cutting saw for the first time in the season, as opposed to their preferred hammer saw. "ARGHHH! SawBlaze laying into the junkyard bot straight away!" — Chris Rose as Rusty is immediately sliced by SawBlaze Sparks fly as SawBlaze cuts into Rusty. From the start, Rusty was scooped up from the side and SawBlaze was able to get its weapon into play. Due to SawBlaze's serrated front forks hooking onto Rusty's track protection, Dave Eaton's bot struggled to escape, and was then sliced between its head and right-side weapon support. SawBlaze slices into Rusty again. Rusty escaped momentarily, but then SawBlaze slid underneath it once more, this time threatening to cut through the track protection and disable Rusty's left-side drive. Throughout the match, Rusty was unable to mount any sort of attack and took shots from its opponent. Rusty was then upended near the screws and was righted by its opponent, but only to target their top armor once more with its saw blade. Halfway through the fight, SawBlaze introduced its flamethrower and rammed its opponent into the driver booth, and then the screws once more. SawBlaze hauls Rusty across the arena in the closing seconds. By now, its top armor was dented in several places and the left-side support for Rusty's drill weapon had come away. Rusty was again overturned and took a glancing shot from the pulverizer when righted, and continued to take abuse for the remainder of the fight. Even so, Rusty continued to move until the time elapsed, forcing a judges' decision. Unsurprisingly, they awarded SawBlaze a unanimous 3-0 win, ending any possibility of a Top 32 place for the rookie bot. Dave Eaton receiving the award. The award itself. Dave Eaton and Rusty later won the Rookie of the Year Award, becoming the first recipient of this since Season 1.0, where a 'Best Newcomer' was announced. Unlike other best in show winners, a Giant Bolt was not presented, with Dave Eaton instead given a makeshift award of two nuts welded to a metal plate.
BattleBots: Bounty Hunters
Rusty vs. Kraken For the first round of the Son of Whyachi Bounty Hunters tournament, Rusty was up against Kraken. Rusty's side gets clamped and roasted by Kraken. Rusty began poorly, as Kraken was able to outdrive it and attacked from the sides. Kraken then pushed Rusty towards the corner, but Rusty retaliated, landing a powerful shot to Krakens head. Rusty drills Kraken's top. This attack managed to visibly damage Kraken's top armor causing the air bag to fall out and drag across the BattleBox as both robots were moving at the end of the fight. The judges awarded Rusty a 3-0 judges' decision, allowing it to proceed in the bracket.
Rusty vs. Copperhead Now in the semi-finals, Rusty faced Copperhead. Rusty manages to jam Copperhead's weapon momentarily. Rusty started slow as Copperhead landed a few shots and was able to make Rusty fall and tip to its side. Rusty was able to self right and get back up, then manages to get a good shot with its weapon right at Copperhead's drum spinner weapon, slowing it down and jamming it. Rusty then removes its weapon out of Copperheads drum spinner but Copperhead's primary weapon gets back up to speed. It then lands more shots on Rusty, who finds itself in the corner of the BattleBox on its side. Rusty finds itself stuck against the arena barrier. Struggling to right itself due to being propped against the side barrier, Copperhead hangs back. Rusty was eventually able to use his weapon to get unstuck and land right side up, but it became clear that Copperhead had torn one of Rusty's the tracks with an earlier assault. Rusty was no longer moving, so was counted out, allowing Copperhead to advance in the bracket.
World Championship VI
Rusty vs. Blip Rusty returned for World Championship VI, and was first drawn against newcomer Blip. Despite its redesign, Dave Eaton entered the 2020 season bot into this battle, fitted with its sledgehammer weapon. Blip launches Rusty across the BattleBox. The fight began with Blip darting towards Rusty as it slide underneath its side. Blip pushed Rusty a few inches before launching it across the BattleBox, causing it to land on its back. Rusty righted itself and trundled back to Blip, who nudged it towards the side of the Upper Deck. Blip slid under Rusty again and threw it into the railing, before trying to flip Dave Eaton's bot onto the new BattleBox hazard but instead throwing it behind Blip onto its side again. Rusty is penned in the corner by Blip. Blip repositioned and tossed Rusty against their team's pulverizer, activating it as Rusty landed and peeling the metal armor away from the top, which Blip flipped into the air as Rusty was no longer mobile. Rusty fired its sledgehammer several more times as it was counted out, and ultimately lost by KO.
Rusty vs. Witch Doctor Rusty's second and final fight of the season came against the 1-1 Witch Doctor, a fight Dave Eaton himself requested. For this battle, Rusty ditched its track protection and hammer weaponry in favor of a lifting scoop, which was actually Lock-Jaw's rear plow welded to the bot and connected to the main chassis with chains. "We love you, Rusty!" — Andrea Gellatly in the pre-fight build-up Rusty's new look for facing Witch Doctor. Rusty scuttled around as Witch Doctor circled it in the opening moments. "Looks like Rusty's trying to get Witch Doctor to play with him..." — Kenny Florian Witch Doctor leaves Rusty to be counted out. Witch Doctor then delivered an uppercut to the front of Rusty, knocking it upside-down, but it was able to self-right. Witch Doctor approached Rusty again and split the loaned steel plow through the middle, before attacking the vulnerable tracks and knocking Rusty on its side. This time, it was stuck and a count began on Rusty, who fell to 0-2 for the competition as its severed tread lay on the BattleBox floor.
World Championship VII
Rusty vs. Doomba (Forfeit) Rusty was originally set to face Doomba in its first fight of World Championship VII, but had to back out due to mechanical issues. Rusty was instead replaced by Double Tap for this battle.
Rusty vs. Hydra (Exhibition) Following two weeks of trying to get it running, Rusty Jr. is known to have participated in a single battle during filming - an exhibition battle against Team Whyachi's hydraulic flipper, Hydra. Rusty was equipped with a blue chainsaw and sword for this fight. Hydra flips Rusty early on, dislodging its chainsaw. To start off the match, Hydra performed a slow box-rush while Rusty was trying to move out of its starting square. Hydra cornered Rusty and landed a flip, causing the former Rookie of the Year's chainsaw to fly off and for the robot to land on its side. Looking for a longer fight, Hydra flipped Rusty again but Rusty was stuck on its side again. This time, Hydra missed its flip but managed to help right Rusty before launching it for a fourth time. Rusty recovered but was immediately chased by Hydra until it was cornered at the red starting square. Hydra launches Rusty in the corner of the arena. Hydra slid underneath Rusty and launched the fan favorite over a meter and a half through the air, causing it to land in one of the short corners beside the Upper Deck. Rusty was flipped several more times in the pocket of the arena - the biggest of which measured 2.1 metres in height. Hydra throws Rusty into the camera. At the two minute mark, Hydra launched vertically, striking one of the BattleBox cameras and hitting the pulverizer on its way back down and landing upright. Hydra's final flip on Rusty. Hydra continued its assault, scooping Dave Eaton's robot up and driving it across the BattleBox before launching Rusty at the drivers' booths. Rusty landed upside-down and was now immobilized. A count began on Rusty, and Hydra was victorious by knockout.

Results

Competitive Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 5

Exhibition Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 1

Total Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 6

* Rusty's withdrawal against Doomba does not contribute to its win/loss record.

Competition	Wins	Losses
World Championship V	Sporkinok (Undercard Match)	Beta (Undercard Match) SawBlaze (Undercard Match)
BattleBots: Bounty Hunters	Kraken	Copperhead
World Championship VI	None	Blip (Undercard Match) Witch Doctor (Undercard Match)
World Championship VII	None	Hydra (Exhibition Match)

Faruq Tauheed Introductions

"From Antioch, Illinois, it puts the die in oxidize. Don't worry, it happens to lots of guys. It's RUSTY!"

"From Antioch, Illinois, another one bites the rust! All thanks to... RUSTY!"

"This show is about brilliant engineers with mechanical degrees. Bots using complex machinery to kill you with ease. A combination of science and violence being used to tear hearts. And then this guy, slapped together from spare parts. But don't take that as a diss, that's all part of his charm. Introducing the blue-collar robot straight out of the farm, it's RUSTY!"

"Experts doubted this bot last year, they called him a junker. Now he’s a star and all the hot single bots are asking for his number. TMZ keeps hounding him with questions ‘cause they’re curious. Like “hey, over here, over here, is it true that you’re replacing Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious?” Signing autographs and taking selfies is the embodiment of greatness, and everyone back on the farm is like 'don't forget us when you’re famous!'. Give it up for RUSTY!”

"Sometimes here in Vegas, people drink too much. It isn't a secret but you don't end up with a hangover if you face this bot. You better believe it. But it's not a pina colada or strawberry daiquiri that's killing you either. Just a potent punch of Rusty's trusty screwdriver. Give it up for RUSTY!"

Merchandise

Any appearances by Rusty in merchandise are listed below:

• Rusty/HEXBUG

Trivia

• The rust on Rusty is all authentic.
• Rusty's domed head in its debut year was made from a kitchen bowl.
• The robot's power switch, which is an essential safety feature of all competing robots, is made from a nut welded onto a bolt which powers Rusty on when twisted.
• Rusty also utilized a titanium panel from Gamma 9 to support its fuel tank.
• Dave Eaton used a cut street sign to make Rusty's battery tray for World Championship V.
• Rusty was the only tracked robot to compete in World Championship V and VI.
• Rusty was entirely self-funded in its rookie season, with Dave Eaton even listing his sponsors as "Hope, Prayers, and Whatever is Available" on the BattleBots website.
• For its World Championship VII hero shots, Rusty was missing its weapon arms.