Summer Series Ep4: Building Bots Down Under with Ben Hayton

In this episode of the Havoc Rundown, we head to Australia as part of our “Around the World” summer series to spotlight one of the most creative forces in the southern hemisphere: Ben Hayton of Team Panic Robotics.

Ben shares the evolution of Australia’s combat robotics scene—from grassroots antweight events in backyard sheds to national featherweight championships—and what makes the Aussie bot community so unique. We explore differences in design philosophy, resource challenges, the joys of putting on a show, and why MDF arena floors change everything.

We also dive into Ben’s prolific catalog of bots (including the squeaky hammer-bot “Squeak” and the toaster-themed “Breakfast”), how he balances building and content creation, and his dream of building a robot on-the-fly with only what he can find at a local store.

Whether you’re a longtime viewer of Team Panic or curious about how combat robotics looks outside the US, this episode offers insight, laughs, and plenty of robot inspiration.

Guest
Ben Hayton – Founder of Team Panic Robotics

Team Panic Links
Team Panic Wiki: https://ultimate-robot-archive.fandom.com/wiki/Team_Panic
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TeamPanicRobotics

Background Music
"Street Life" by Johnny Gorillas – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/street-life/135338
"Raindrops" by Ariel Shalom – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/raindrops-instrumental-version/134999
"Evening Elegance" by Avni Vibes – https://artlist.io/royalty-free-music/song/evening-elegance/131780

Havoc Rundown Links
All our links and socials: https://linktr.ee/havocrundown