Gary Gin Inspires the Next Generation
In the world of robotic combat, few names are as enduring as Gary Gin. Best known for piloting the flame-throwing robot Free Shipping on the hit television series BattleBots, Gin has spent more than two decades building and battling machines.
But while sparks fly in the arena, Gin’s most impactful work might be what happens outside of it — in classrooms, workshops, and makerspaces, where he’s shaping the next generation of innovators.
A lifelong tinkerer who lives in unincorporated Alameda County, Gin’s love for electronics began early, encouraged by a father who worked as an electronics technician. From radio-controlled (RC) car racing in the 1980s to building his first combat robot for BattleBots in 2001, Gin’s hands-on experience with mechanics and fabrication gave him a unique edge. His debut robot reached the finals in its weight class, and he’s been a fixture in the combat robotics scene ever since.
“I do most of the work, but the team is mainly based in the East Bay,” Gin told the Forum. “I have a teammate, Jim Yeh, and his son Forrest, who ran a robot called the Ragin Scotsman. Their big claim to fame was this ginormous flame thrower, and so that's why Free Shipping has a big flame thrower on it.”
After the original BattleBots series was cancelled, Gin remained active in the robotics community through local events like RoboGames. In 2018, he returned to the national stage with Free Shipping as part of the BattleBots reboot on Discovery Channel, joining forces with fellow competitors to design and build one of the show's most memorable robots. Today, the BattleBots arena in Las Vegas hosts exhibition matches multiple times a week, keeping the spirit of competition alive as the team awaits a new broadcast deal.
But Gin’s contributions extend far beyond competition. As a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Master of Design (MDes) program, he teaches students how to bring ideas to life through electronics, fabrication, and robotics. He emphasizes project-based learning, where students tackle real design challenges using CAD tools, hand tools, and digital fabrication equipment.
Since 2007, Gin has also mentored high school students through the FIRST Robotics Competition. Working primarily with a team from California Crosspoint Academy in Hayward, he guides students in building and programming full-sized robots for regional competitions. This year, the team reached the finals for the first time in its 19-year history — a milestone Gin considers a highlight of his mentorship.
“The best motivation is having a real goal,” he says. “When students have something they want to build, they’re not just learning for school — they’re learning for themselves.”
As for the East Bay being a hub for robotics, Gin says there are many metal suppliers, manufacturers, and machine shops around. He adds that most metropolitan areas are also hubs for robot battle contests, which some engineers point out are more entertainment than science.
“They’ll tell you those aren't real robots; they're just glorified RC cars on steroids or something like that,” Gin jokes.
Whether he's lighting up the arena or helping students find their spark, Gary Gin continues to champion the power of hands-on learning through robotics.