After competing at the National Havoc Robot League World Championships in Connecticut, the University of Florida’s Gator Robotics team returned with their robots, Steggy and Termigator. On December 6, 2025, the team faced approximately 80 other college and non-academic teams across three weight classes. Steggy, a 12-pound robot equipped with blades and a drum, reached the semi-finals before losing to Slam Plan from Team HUGE, according to UF News. The 30-pound Termigator advanced to the Top 16 before being defeated by Colossal Avian.
Each robot reflects careful engineering and includes offensive mechanisms. Gator Robotics Vice President John Flaacke, a first-year master’s student and Steggy’s operator, has been recognized for his contributions to the team. Brooks Silber, a master’s student in the Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and fellow team member, explained that the team’s drums are made from S7 steel, which is harder than most weapons used by competitors, allowing their bots to inflict more damage. According to Silber, matches often result in significant robot damage, with teams aiming to immobilize opponents, secure a surrender, or win by judges’ decision.
Participation in these competitions provides team members with hands-on experience in CAD design, simulation, mechanical engineering, machining, and electrical work. The 25-member Gator Robotics team, led by president Nieed Guillaume, gains valuable engineering experience while competing against other universities, including MIT and Georgia Tech.
Adam Smith, a 2025 mechanical engineering graduate now working at Northrop Grumman, attributes his involvement with Gator Robotics to influencing his career path. Gator Robotics alumnus Jack Sopotnick applies skills gained from the team’s competitions to his current role as a robotics engineer on Lockheed Martin’s Manufacturing Technology team.
