Robotics club’s balloon battle bursts with creativity

Two robots adorned with balloons stand on the edges of the battlefield. On one side is XB-70’s build, armed with a spear and ready pop while on the other side is the Republic of Bob’s newest stride in balloon destruction, equipped with a rotating stick taped with pins. The start is called and the robots race to face each other, determined to best the other in the ring of the balloon battle.

Three weeks of designing, building, and coding for Robotics Club members have all been leading to the Monday of Sep. 30, 2025, where the Robotics Club Balloon Battle would take place after school in Room 407b after school at 4 p.m.

Since the second club meeting on Aug. 25, club members have been hard at work creating the best balloon popping robot they could design using VEX Robotics parts provided in the engineering classroom.

“We think it’s something fun that new members of robotics can do just so that they can start getting accustomed to how the club more or less operates and what’s expected of them,” said Robotics Club Marketing and Outreach lead Enrique Guerrero De Dios.

Throughout the meetings leading up to the competition, members not only demonstrated their ability to construct a weapon of mass popping, but also an understanding of the club’s core principles such as time management, problem solving, and most importantly—communication.

The battle was also designed to be a simplified example of what a FIRST Robotics Competition(FRC) would look like as stated by Robotics Club President Jordan Tran. Considering it is currently the pre-competition season, it’s best for newbies to get an idea of what the big ultimate test for the club will look like so they can prepare.

As for the fun aspect, it certainly was a great time with each meeting filled with the organized chaos of robot construction. Freshman and new recruit Desmond Poon commented, “The building of the robots was really fun and every week I look forward to coming back.”

The end result was a mechanical fleet that highlights the variety of approaches members have taken to solving the balloon overpopulation crisis, with robots ranging from small four-wheeled rollers with spears to bulky tanks with saws.

But by the end of two intense free-for-all elimination rounds and a brief juggernaut intermission boss fight, amongst the fallen nuts, bolts, and shredded pieces of scraps of rubber only two robots were left standing—XB-70, and Bob.

With nothing else holding them back the two clashing against each other at full speed, facing off head to head. But then one pop, then another, and as XB-70 attempted to rotate itself to face Bob they weren’t quick enough. And with a final arching descent from Bob’s saw of thumbtacks, XB-70’s final balloon was popped. 

Amongst the sea of conquered robots and popped dreams, the Republic of Bob stands alone as the sole victor. And for their efforts, a reward fit for champions descends from the president himself—an IOU for a free pizza.