We are Team Terrortops, a brand new team in the running for the 2022 season of BattleBots.
Our team is quite small, consisting of five members, all of whom are very passionate about combat robotics. Our history competing in VEX Robotics brought us together, now sharing the same passion for robotics once more. With our collective VEX experience, winning multiple tournaments and world championships, we have the necessary skills to win. Not to mention that some of our members have also been on BattleBots before!
We always strive to bring not only something new and unique to the table, but something that succeeds. That's why this year, we've built a triceratops-themed robot consisting of both a lifter and a vertical spinner. Unlike similar robots, these are two separate mechanisms and the spinner cannot hit while the lifter is down. A design flaw? No! This is a strategic design that not only allows us to control the pace of the fight and push robots around like Whiplash, but when the time comes, we can tilt the opponent up and hit their underside with comparable power to Witch Doctor!
Meet the Team
Ben
Burton
Team Role: Co-Captain
Ben controls the lifter during matches, and keeps us all on track. He is the primary contact for sponsorships and materials acquisition, and helps the team stay focused before a match. Outside of Battlebots, Ben is a college student studying Video Game Design.
Sophia
Musk-Burton
Team Role: Co-Captain
Sophia is the main driver during matches and is the trouble-shooter that keeps us functioning! She knows everything about the robot and is not afraid to tell the rest of us what to do. When she isn’t finetuning the robot, Sophia works for SpaceX as an Avionics Systems Engineer for Starship.
Victoria Tomozei
Team Role: Organizer and Scouter
Tori is an asset to the team by ensuring we stay organized as we prepare for a fight! She also assists with making connections with other teams and designing the Terrortops merch. In her free time, she is a college student and works for a robotics camp program.
Ramon Morales
Team Role: Lead Mechanical Engineer
Ramon is our mechanical engineer who is able to diagnose and problem-solve any problem that arises. When he is not plotting robotic destruction, he is a USC Master’s student in biomedical engineering and mentors VEX robotics for middle schoolers.
Sophia
Perry
Team Role: Manufacturing Lead/Marketing Manager
Sophia does a little bit of everything! She assists with mechanical trouble-shooting, sponsor outreach, and marketing. When she is not focused on the bot, she works as a Marketing Associate for a nonprofit.
Note: Unfortunately, Sophia Musk-Burton was unable to be in this group photo.