mHUB ROBOT | Build & Bash
- Date
- 2026-06-20
- Location
- Located in one of the most bike-friendly areas of Chicago. The Green and Pink lines stop at Ashland and Lake just one block south of mHUB. The CTA 9 bus also has a stop right in front of mHUB. There is also free and paid street parking around the building on Fulton & Walnut., Chicago, IL, USA
- Host
- mHUB Events
About this event
If you like robots more when they move, collide, and reveal what they’re really made of, mHUB ROBOT | Build & Bash is your kind of Saturday. This is a hands-on, in-person gathering built around making, testing, and meeting other people who get excited about robotics, hardware, and the messy, fun part of building things that have to work in the real world. About the Event At its core, Build & Bash is a community robotics meetup with a practical, social format. It brings together people who want to build, tinker, compare ideas, and see robots in action rather than only talking about them from a distance. Expect an event that blends making with conversation. The name says a lot: there’s room here for construction, iteration, and some level of spirited testing or competition. Whether you’re actively building robots, curious about how others approach design, or mainly interested in the people and ideas around the robotics scene, the format gives you something to plug into. Because this is hosted at mHUB, the event naturally fits a maker-minded audience. It’s a good setting for people who care about prototyping, mechanical systems, electronics, controls, and the broader process of turning an idea into something physical and interactive. What to Expect You should come ready for a mix of hands-on activity, live robot energy, and casual networking. Rather than a passive sit-and-listen experience, this kind of meetup rewards curiosity: ask questions, look closely at how things are assembled, and talk through the tradeoffs behind different builds. A likely rhythm for the afternoon includes: Arrival and check-in Time to meet other attendees and get oriented Build-focused or demo-focused activity around robots Opportunities to watch robots in action and compare approaches Informal conversations with fellow builders, hobbyists, and community members The “bash” side of the event suggests there will be testing, playful competition, or some form of direct interaction that lets builds prove themselves. That matters because robotics gets more interesting once a machine has to deal with movement, contact, timing, and the unpredictability of a live environment. You can also expect plenty of useful side conversations. Events like this tend to generate real exchanges about components, sourcing, prototyping choices, software-control decisions, fabrication constraints, and all the little lessons that never make it into polished project photos. Why Attend This event is valuable because it compresses a lot of robotics learning into one afternoon. Seeing a robot up close, hearing why someone made specific design choices, and watching what happens when a mechanism succeeds or fails gives you insight that is hard to get from videos or forum posts alone. It’s also a strong place to find your people. If you’ve been looking for others in Chicago who care about robots, hardware, and creative technical problem-solving, this is a direct way to meet them in the same room. That can lead to future collaborations, better project feedback, and a stronger sense of connection to the local maker and robotics community. You might leave with: New ideas for your next robot or hardware project Practical lessons from seeing builds operate in person Useful connections with builders, tinkerers, and robotics enthusiasts A better understanding of how others approach design and iteration Momentum to keep making after the event ends Even if you’re still early in your robotics journey, attending can help you close the gap between interest and action. The combination of community, physical builds, and real-time testing makes the subject feel more accessible and more immediate. Practical Details mHUB ROBOT | Build & Bash takes place in person in Chicago on Saturday, June 20 at 1:00 PM CDT. Because this is an in-person event centered on robotics and community, plan to be present, attentive, and ready to move around the space, meet people, and engage directly with what’s happening. The venue is in one of the most bike-friendly areas of Chicago, which makes it easy to reach by bike if that’s your preferred way to get around. Public transit is also straightforward: the Green and Pink lines stop at Ashland and Lake, just one block south of mHUB, and the CTA 9 bus stops right in front of mHUB. If you’re driving, there is free and paid street parking around the building on Fulton and Walnut. That gives attendees several practical options for getting in and out without overcomplicating the trip. A few useful ways to prepare: Arrive a little early so you can settle in and start conversations before things get moving Wear something comfortable for an active, hands-on environment Bring your curiosity and be ready to ask specific questions If you’re part of the robotics community already, come prepared to talk about what you’re building and what challenges you’re working through If robotics is the kind of topic you’d rather experience than just discuss, this event offers a solid reason to show up.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want robotics to feel active, social, and real—not just theoretical. - **You build robots or hardware projects yourself** and want to swap ideas, compare approaches, and see how other people solve mechanical, electrical, or control challenges. - **You’re a robotics hobbyist or maker** who enjoys tinkering, prototyping, and learning by doing, especially in a room full of people who speak the same language. - **You’re robotics-curious** and want an approachable way to get closer to the community, see working builds in person, and better understand what goes into them. - **You like live demos, testing, and playful competition** more than passive lectures, and you want to watch robots prove themselves in real conditions. - **You’re looking to meet people in Chicago’s robotics and maker scene** for future conversations, collaborations, or simply a stronger local network. - **You work around engineering, fabrication, product development, or technical creativity** and want fresh inspiration from people building physical systems that move, react, and sometimes break in interesting ways.