Team Make Robotics

"Evolution by design"

- Team Motto

Team Make Robotics (also shortened to Make Robotics and referred to as The Behemoth Boys or Team Behemoth on TV) are a long-standing team who have entered every series of Robot Wars except Series 1, as well as both series of Robot Wars Extreme. They have competed with the heavyweight Behemoth (Series 2-10, Extreme 1-2), and antweight Anty B (Extreme 1-2), both distinguished by their large lifting scoops and yellow and black colour schemes. Having competed in nine main series, Team Make Robotics are the longest-competing team in the show's history, and reached the Grand Final in their most recent appearance.

The Team
"After watching a few shows we decided to send off for the application form and it all went from there."

- The team on joining Robot Wars

Team Make Robotics initially consisted of Anthony and Michael Pritchard, their father Edward and friend Kane Aston, who built their heavyweight Behemoth for their debut in Series 2. Edward Pritchard did not compete with the team following Series 2, with Kane Aston taking his place for Series 3 and all of Behemoth's subsequent appearances except for the Extreme 2 Iron Maidens tournament. Anthony also fought as a single roboteer in the Extreme 1-2 Antweight Championships with Anty B, essentially an antweight replica of Behemoth. In Series 9, the team roles included Anthony Pritchard as captain and driver, Kane Aston in charge of pneumatics, Michael Pritchard running electronics, and Kevin Cleasby as the team mechanic.

For the Iron Maidens competition in Extreme Series 2, Anthony's mother Liz Pritchard, who had long since been coming along to Robot Wars in support, operated Behemoth's axe weapon, with Michael's girlfriend Claire Gray driving the robot itself. Team Make Robotics also represented the University of Hertfordshire when they entered Behemoth into the Extreme 2 University Challenge.

Despite their experience and longevity, the team's successes in Robot Wars had been mixed. In its earlier appearances, Behemoth reached the Semi-Finals of Series 2 and finished runner-up in The First World Championship, but was unable to win its Heat in any of its subsequent main series appearances. Its remaining performances saw it reach the Heat Final in Series 3-4 and 8, and eliminated from the second round in Series 5-7 and 9. Behemoth turned this around in Series 10 by reaching the Grand Final. Behemoth also competed in various side competitions held throughout the main series and in Robot Wars Extreme, notably winning the Series 7 House Robot Rebellion along with teammate Gravity.

Meanwhile, Team Make Robotics enjoyed more success with Anty B, which despite losing the Antweight Melee in the first series of Extreme after falling underneath the Floor Flipper, won the Antweight Championship in the second series of Extreme; the team's only Robot Wars accolade to date. Behemoth and Anty B's track records ensure that the team currently holds the records for entering the most competitions and losing the most battles out of any competing team.

Team Make Robotics also built BBC 2 Ident, a 2-shaped lightweight robot commissioned as an official ident for BBC Two, the original and current UK broadcaster of Robot Wars.

Etymology
Team Make Robotics used the name Team Behemoth for Robot Wars, but the Make Robotics name was used on Techno Games, and it is also currently the name of the team's website. The name Make Robotics comes from the team members initials; Michael, Anthony, Kane and Edward.

Controversy
The team notably fell out with each other following Behemoth's loss to Cherub in Series 9, as Behemoth entered its Head-to-Head battle against the latter with an untested weapon. The weapon - a pair of grabbing arms - proved ineffective in battle and contributed to its loss via the subsequent Judges' decision. Anthony Pritchard had vehemently opposed the use of the weapon - insisting that the scoop would have guaranteed Behemoth victory - and walked away from the control room after the decision was announced, in a move which attracted unfavourable coverage from the press. Pritchard did not remain present with his Make Robotics teammates for Behemoth's following whiteboard matches against Gabriel and TR2. Although Pritchard was criticised by the press, who assumed that he walked out because of Behemoth losing to Cherub's team of children, he clarified that the age of his opponents was not a consideration, and he felt the blame was purely with his team for using the experimental gripper weapon. He also clarified that after the cameras had stopped rolling, he had apologised to Angela Scanlon and Team Cherub.

The controversy was addressed in Series 10, introducing the entire series, to portray Anthony Pritchard's actions in a more relatable manner, and Anthony Pritchard promised to never repeat his actions.

Wins/Losses

 * Wins: 30
 * Losses: 19

''NOTE: Behemoth's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs, whiteboard matches, and exhibition match with TR2 are not included. Behemoth's withdrawal from the Southern Annihilator is considered a loss.''

Outside Robot Wars
In Techno Games, Make Robotics fielded two robots, dressed in fur reminiscent of Killerkat, and named Technomoth and Tigermoth. These were two versions of Behemoth used in the previous wars. Technomoth entered Techno Games 2002 without fur in the Assault Course, coming 4th overall, the same year that Technomoth worked with a robot called Ravioli in the Football. However, Ravioli hardly moved so the pair lost their first match. Technomoth return to the Assault Course, this time covered in fur, in 2003 but lost to Rash (whose team had built Ravioli the year before) in round 1. Technomoth and Tigermoth got to the semi finals of the Football at least after beating the Skeleton Crew 2-0 in the quarterfinal. They also represented the University of Hertfordshire when they entered other Techno Games events, including the Relay race that they won in 2001 and 2002 as Team KAM. KAM came from the initials of the three team members that entered the Relay race: Kane, Anthony and Michael.

Both Anty B and Behemoth have achieved various successes at live events since Robot Wars entered its hiatus, with Make Robotics being named Winter Tour Champions in 2006 with Behemoth, after defeating favourites Iron-Awe. Behemoth also notably finished 3rd in the UK Championships in 2005 and 2nd in 2013. Behemoth still fights in the live robotic events, including Robot Wars, now in its eight incarnation, with a new bucket scoop and without the axe.

Alongside Behemoth, Team Make Robotics also compete on the live event circuit with a featherweight version called Minimoth. Boasting a similar weapon and design to its heavyweight counterpart, Minimoth was a regular competitor at the FRA International Championships; in 2015, it won an 18-robot 'Gladiator' battle held as part of that year's championship.

Team Make Robotics are also the current owners of Mortis and its unfinished successor, Rigormortis, and reused the latter's weapons pod for their ABC BattleBots entry, Radioactive (see below).

In 2015, Team Make Robotics competed in the revived series of BattleBots with a new heavyweight robot called Radioactive. Radioactive won its first battle, beating Sweet Revenge on a Judges' decision, despite moving sluggishly and finishing the battle immobile. In the Round of 16, Radioactive was given the lowest seeding possible, and was drawn up against the No. 1 seed, Tombstone. Radioactive was knocked out and eliminated from the tournament.

Trivia

 * Just like the other three teams in Series 9 to debut in Series 2 (Team Hurtz, Team Supernova and Team 13), Team Make Robotics finished third in their heat during Series 9.
 * Kane Aston's favourite Robot Wars battle is Behemoth's defeat of Diotoir during The First World Championship.
 * The only other team to match Team Make Robotics' record of competing in nine main series is Team Hurtz - however, Team Hurtz did not compete in the first series of Extreme, and they were also disqualified from Series 7, making Team Make Robotics the most experienced team in the history of the show.