Knuckles

Knuckles was a robot that failed to qualify for multiple series of Robot Wars. It was a box shaped chassis running on three wheels and armed with a set of rotating spikes.

During the Series 3 auditions, Knuckles was near impossible for the team to drive effectively- the robot used two Vauxhall starter motors controlled by two Car starter solenoids, meaning that there was no control over the speed or direction of the machine. As a result, Knuckles constantly span around and smashed into every obstacle in its path. The Judges were not impressed, and rejected Knuckles from the main competition.

For Series 4, the team installed custom made water cooled motors and speed controllers into Knuckles, while still using the Vauxhall starter motors. This made the robot much easier to control. In the qualifiers, Knuckles faced Fat Boy Tin, and started the battle well by putting a few holes in the bodywork of its opponent. However, both speed controllers burned out inside Knuckles and it lost the battle, leaving Fat Boy Tin to advance to the main competition, while Knuckles failed to qualify once again.

After this, Knuckles was upgraded again, being made invertible and used a 24 volt two speed motor instead of the starter motors. It took part in the qualifiers for Series 5 and 6, and competed in the annual Robot Rumble at Debenham in Suffolk. During this time, Knuckles fought robots such as Vader and X-terminator, and while it failed to qualify for Series 5 or 6, it was finally invited to fight in a televised competition, the New Blood Tournament in Extreme 2. However, daughter Katy Smith of team captain David Smith had joined the team replacing his friend Peter Watt, and filming of the New Blood took place during term time for her school, so the team declined the offer and Knuckles never appeared in a televised Robot Wars competition.

Series Record

 * Series 1-2: Did not enter
 * Series 3-6: Failed to Qualify
 * Series 7: Did not enter