From Lightning to Thunder: How We Named a Robot

A robot is special. It is more than a complex connection of steel, chips, and wires mingled with a burst of art. For us Sciborgs, our robot is our child. We nurture him, we care for him, we support him in every way we can. As with every proud parent, we bless our child with name, a name that will transcend time and space and encourage him to push forward beyond any difficulty. His name: Blitzkrieg.

“Blitzkrieg” is a German term that means ‘lightning war.’ It is a tactic formulated during World War 2 that involves combined arms forces of infantry, armour, and air units breaking through defensive lines at lightning speed and destroying the enemy from within. Used by the German army, it was effective against the Allied Army in Europe, and has since been adopted by several militaries. The name is perfect for our robot. ‘Blitzkrieg’ symbolises courage, dedication, and strength, as well as the tenacity to grab victory as fast as lightning.

All names have a history, and we did not just pick the name from a bunch of sudden suggestion because it was cool. No, our robot’s name has a story behind it.

One stormy afternoon, the Sciborgs were inside a classroom, fixing our robot, whipping up the codes, and wrecking stuff. Just as we were about to put the ‘finishing touches,’ lightning struck. As if the heavens itself gave a sign, light flashed from outside the windows and thunder roared through the sky. Suddenly, the lights went out, and the school was blanketed in darkness. Unable to see, we attempted to go outside. Unknowingly, we bumped into the robot, rolling it out the room to the hallway. The robot was nothing more than a skeleton with wheels, and yet it was able to cruise out onto the open, no-roof passage. We went outside to get it, but something unexpected, something unimaginable, happened. As if Zeus himself brought upon his wrath, a lightning bolt struck the robotic frame, bringing light to the skies and sending a message to the Sciborgs. Thunder roared, and a thought flashed through our minds: one word – Blitz. In time, Blitz evolved to the word we know today as Blitzkrieg. In honour of that day, we bestowed upon our robot the name: Blitzkrieg.

Now you know the story of the ‘Blitzkrieg.’ Now you’re probably asking: is this all true? – of course not.