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"No "Incy Wincy" Spidey, this!"
— Jonathan Pearce as Araknia enters the arena

Araknia was a robot that competed in Series 7 of Robot Wars, built by the team who created Riptilion. It lost its first round battle after having its armour destroyed by Hellbent, and did not appear again.

Design[]

"Axes will go through that [the armour] with ease, but it does have a "spinner-ripper" with rare earth magnets and a disc shaped ripper, 2 750 watt motors for the wheels, too."
Jonathan Pearce sums up Araknia
Araknia

Side view of Araknia

Araknia was an invertible, heptagonal-shaped robot with a paint scheme depicting a spider, which captain Geoff Graham chose over a rat as the only theme he could paint on and 'make look sensible'. Its armour consisted of carbon-fibre and fibreglass, which Graham joked "might as well be cardboard".

"This is a cardboard robot! You are putting a cardboard robot in the arena with some of the fiercest fighting machines I've seen in my lifetime!"
— Jayne Middlemiss

It was armed with a spinning bar blade with rare earth magnets attached to its ends. This weapon, however, was ineffective, and the carbon-fibre armour proved fragile and flammable in its only appearance.

Etymology[]

The name Araknia is derived from arachnid, the general term for spiders, which the robot visually represents. It could also be a shortened version of arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.

The Team[]

ArakniaTeam

The Terror-Dactyls in the pits with Araknia

Araknia was built by the Terror-Dactyls, a team based in Preston, Lancashire. However, the team also had roots in New Zealand, and represented this country in the Third World Championship qualifiers with Riptilion, a robot which the Terror-Dactyls also entered into Series 6 and the second series of Extreme. The team captain Geoff Graham was the driver of the robot, and Phil Marsden was his teammate, alongside an unidentified third team member. (It is possible said team member was Robert Read, credited as the third team member when the team appeared with Riptilion in the same series.)

Qualification[]

In the Series 7 qualifiers, Araknia was found to be 5 centimetres over the width limit, forcing the Terror-Dactyls to cut part of it off with a hacksaw. It fought Big Nipper, Ewe 2 and eventual champion Typhoon 2 in its qualifier battle. Araknia became immobilised during the fight, but received a discretionary place in the main competition.

Robot History[]

Series 7[]

Araknia's first and only battle saw them fight three newcomers; Hellbent, Mean Streak and German entry I Bot One Beta.

Hellbent attacks Araknia

Hellbent axes Araknia

As Hellbent attacked Mean Streak, Araknia struck Hellbent's side twice with its spinning bar, causing no visible damage. Hellbent then immediately attacked Araknia, easily putting its axe through its armour. Araknia moved away to spin up its bar again before coming in to attack Mean Streak, where an impact with Mean Streak's discs caused part of Araknia's bar to break off, although it remained functional. Hellbent repeatedly axed Araknia's top panel, penetrating the carbon-fibre armour, then hurled Araknia over.

"Araknia, the cardboard machine. Cardboard, in the warzone, don't they ever learn? Light and flipped by Hellbent, and now you can see the weakness of the Araknia armament, not cardboard but as you heard from the team, Geoff Graham said "it might as well be"!"
— Jonathan Pearce
Hellbent Araknia 1

Araknia loses its top armour

It was left on its back, where it seemed unable to move freely. Araknia spun round in circles, and its top armour plate and several other pieces came off.

"I think the spider is about to be dragged into a lair of Hellbent's making!"
— Jonathan Pearce

Araknia was harassed by Hellbent once more before being dragged aside and having its electronics set on fire over the flame pit. Araknia was counted out by the Refbot and eliminated along with I Bot One Beta.

Results[]

ARAKNIA - RESULTS
Series 7
The Seventh Wars - UK Championship
Heat, Round 1
Heat G, Round 1 vs. Hellbent, I Bot One Beta, Mean Streak Eliminated

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 0
  • Losses: 1

Series Record[]

Araknia S7

Official Series 7 photo

Main Series Araknia Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Did not enter
The Third Wars Did not enter
The Fourth Wars Did not enter
The Fifth Wars Did not enter
The Sixth Wars Entered with Riptilion
The Seventh Wars Heat, Round 1
World Championship Qualifiers with Riptilion
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme Appearances
Series 1 Did not enter
Series 2 Entered with Riptilion

Trivia[]

  • At 77kg, Araknia was the lightest robot to enter the main competition of the Seventh Wars.
    • However, this means that out of all the robots to be the lightest within their respective series, Araknia was the heaviest until the 85kg Frostbite entered Series 9.
  • The Terror-Dactyls are the only New Zealander team to enter Robot Wars.

Navigation[]

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