Track-tion

Not to be confused with Fatal Traction

Track-tion was a heavyweight robot which competed in Series 10 of Robot Wars. It was designed and built by 12-13 year old students of Collingwood School, mentored throughout by their teacher, Will Thomas of Team Shock, who assisted the team at filming.

Design
"This school team from Surrey is the youngest in the competition. They created Track-Tion at their ‘Robot Wars Club’, and are mentored by their technology teacher and Aftershock Team Captain Will Thomas. Track-Tion’s design is inspired by Sir Killalots tracks, is made out of recycled parts from their school cupboards, and has a crusher that can exert 600kg of force."

- The Robot Wars website

Track-tion was the only robot in the rebooted series to run on tracks, using 2x CIM motors, offering the robot high traction at the expense of speed, hence the name. Track-tion's primary weapon was a small crusher at the front which exerted 600kg of force and allowed Track-tion to grip other robots and push them easily. The robot's top armour consisted of polycarbonate, with mild steel used elsewhere, although the front end of the robot is protected by its fork wedges. Comically, a household chopping board is also used for armour. Track-tion can run inverted, although its tracks were heavily exposed to the weapons of opponents. Overall, Track-tion shares many similarities with Series 5's Suicidal Tendencies.

"The unique tracked design means Track-Tion can run both ways and is so powerful it can pull the school minibus with the whole team sitting inside!"

- The Robot Wars website

Series 10
Track-tion competed in Heat 3. In its first round battle, Track-tion fought Rapid and fellow newcomers Bucky the Robot. On activate, Track-tion began slowly, turning towards Bucky the Robot, but Bucky the Robot dodged round it. As Rapid released the Fog of War, Track-tion trundled along, avoiding the other competitors. As the fog dispersed, Track-tion drove over the floor spikes, which fired, flipping Track-tion over, leaving it with a huge ground clearance. "Who will be befuddled? Well, Track-tion seem to be going the wrong way. That's dangerous territory, they're caught on the spikes! That was because of the Fog of War. Now they've been ejected by Rapid - ooh they're flung out of the arena!"

- Jonathan Pearce

Rapid capitalised, and quickly pushed Track-tion towards the arena wall, before Track-tion was flipped clean out of the arena by the powerful flipper. "Well played. They've had three weeks' experience, the Track-tion team, against one of the world's most accomplished team of engineers in Rapid."

- Jonathan Pearce

Rapid would eventually win the battle over Bucky the Robot on a Judges' decision, so Track-tion went through to the Robot Redemption Round with them, where it faced the runner-up of the second Group Battle of the heat, Apex. Before the fight, Track-tion was lended a wedge by Team Immersion in order to combat the massive spinner of Apex. Both robots began tentatively, with Apex allowing its bar to spin up to speed, while Track-tion lingered, barely moving off its starting position. Track-tion absorbed a small hit from Apex, with sparks flying off its wedge. "Will that bar weapon of Apex be vulnerable to the new wedge at the front of Track-tion? Oh, a bit tentative here, you know."

- Jonathan Pearce It then received a second hit, with minimal damage taken, destabilising its opponent and causing Apex's spinner to hit its own chassis. This sheared off Apex's weapon completely, and sent Apex itself flying across the arena in the opposite direction, while Track-tion watched on, making enough movement to prove its mobility. 'Cease' was called and Apex was pitted by Sir Killalot, while Track-tion progressed to the next round. "No wonder they're elated, that team of schoolchildren has just beaten the biggest bar in Robot Wars history!"

- Jonathan Pearce

Track-tion opted to keep Vulture's wedge for its next fight, where they faced Rapid again. However, Track-tion did not last long against Rapid, as Rapid immediately drove under Track-tion's wedge and flipped it straight out of the arena in under 6 seconds, in what is currently the shortest battle in Robot Wars history. "Very mean! The young aims and dreams crushed. You rotters, Rapid."

- Jonathan Pearce

This meant that Track-tion had to beat Vulture to qualify for the 10 Robot Rumble, after it was beaten by Terrorhurtz. Track-tion's team returned the borrowed wedge to Vulture before battle was due to commence. However, Vulture pulled out before the battle began after discovering pinched wires which were found inside the robot. Vulture could not be repaired in time, so Track-tion automatically qualified for the 10 Robot Rumble.

There, Track-tion faced Apollo, Big Nipper, Eruption, Sabretooth, Terrorhurtz, and four other robots, all vying for a place in the Grand Final.

Results

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Wins/Losses

 * Wins: 1
 * Losses: 2

The third place play-off fight, where Vulture forfeited, is omitted from the Wins tally.

Series Record
NOTE: The students' teacher Will Thomas competed in Series 8 with Shockwave, and Series 9-10 with Aftershock

Trivia

 * Track-tion is the only robot in the reboot to run on tracks, and was the first UK robot to use this locomotion since Series 7's Trax.
 * Various sources such as Robot Wars: The Official Handbook and The Pits have erroneously spelt the robot’s name as Tracktion and Traction, with the official website using the incorrect capitalisation Track-Tion; the team claim to use various spellings, with Track-tion being the leading choice.