Robotics from the ground up

Flatline Robotics, an events and education company that caters to people interested in technology and STEM crafts, is opening at 3450 Williams Road, Suite B, Benbrook.

At just 14 years old, Joshua Masseo, Willow Park native and owner of Flatline Robotics, began working in the tech industry. Masseo is a tech-savvy person with experience ranging from providing support to developing products.

But, it wasn’t until 2021 when he was invited to join a BattleBots team that he knew “I found my people…they are all roboticists, satellite engineers, rocket scientists, computer programmers, and various engineers of different shades,” said Masseo. 

As Masseo’s love for robotics grew, he and teammate Matthew Hudson put their heads together to bring Flatline Robotics to life, with the purpose of running combat robotics events. 

But he was not done there. “Every time I do an event, invariably I get asked, ‘How can my kid learn how to build stuff like this?’” said Masseo. “So that was the pedestal for starting a space where people could learn about technology.”

Flatline Robotics will host events to provide hands-on learning experiences in Benbrook, while also providing a mobile event option. “I wanted to create an outlet for people to be able to learn about technology, learn about robotics, and get their hands dirty,” said Masseo. There are a variety of event formats for attendees to choose from, such as Robot Rumbles, Build + Battle, and Design + Build + Battle. 

Masseo emphasized that a robot may not always be a machine with arms or a drone, but that there are so many different types of automations and industries with a demand for engineers.  

Being in a world filled with technological advancements, “It’s important for people to know that these things are just machines, and this is how the machines work,” explained Masseo. “It’s going to make you more comfortable with them when we’re surrounded by them.”

He hopes to give back to the community by providing a space for people of all ages and skill levels with access to high-quality workshops, tools, and expertise to achieve his goal of fostering new makers and engineers. 

Flatline Robotics soft opening began July 7 for the shop’s Summer Build workshops, My First Robot and Intro to 3D Printing, running through August 8.