Attiller (the Hun)

For the UK Series heavyweight with a similar name, see Attila the Drum.

Attiller (the Hun)
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1996
Team Information
Team	Robot Action League
Team Members	Jim Sellers
From	Oregon, Wisconsin
Other Entries	Red-Green (1997, featherweight)
Robot Statistics
Weapons	Front spinning/lifting blades
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Attiller (the Hun) was a lightweight robot built by Jim Sellers for the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. In its only event, it became that year's Lightweight Face-Off Champion, relying on an unusual but effective 'soil tiller' weapon to achieve most of its victories.

Attiller (the Hun) was among the competing robots to feature in the American Robot Wars 1996 VHS, with three of its battles (including an appearance in the Lightweight Melee tournament) being highlighted.

Design

Attiller (the Hun) in the arena

Attiller (the Hun) was a two-wheel drive robot with a machined aluminum construction and individual gearmotors for each of the front-mounted drive wheels. The robot's internal layout placed much of its center of mass towards the back, making Attiller (the Hun) agile, but often 'unstable' and 'unpredictable' to control.

At the front, Attiller (the Hun) was armed with a set of quadruple spinning blades, referred to as a 'soil tiller' by Andrew Lindsey. Rather than causing damage, the blades, powered by an internal combustion engine, were intended primarily to deflect, lift and potentially turn opponents over, using four teeth facing inwards or outwards. In essence, they served to function more as rotary lifters. Combined with the robot's speed and handling characteristics, the blades proved essential to Attiller (the Hun)'s success in the Lightweight Face-Off, though not without a tendency to stall or get snagged upon making contact.

Attiller (the Hun) mostly had an unpainted aluminum finish for the main body, with the front weapon motor cover being painted yellow with red and orange 'splatter' patterns. Two googly bloodshot eyes were attached to the top using small springs, with the 'soil tiller' blades also receiving similar patterns and paint colors as the motor cover.

Etymology

Attiller (the Hun)'s name was a play on Attila the Hun, barbarian ruler of the Huns between 434 and 453. The spelling of "Attiller" likely alludes to the 'soil tiller' design of its spinning weapon.

Robot History

1996 US Championship

Attiller (the Hun) began its 1996 Robot Wars run in the Lightweight Face-Off championship, facing Gator in the opening round. Jim Sellers' machine entered the battle with an instant advantage, as a drive malfunction left its opponent without any reverse drive.

In the early moments, Attiller (the Hun) caught itself under the lower mousetrap, the side of which Gator also rammed. After a few seconds, the mousetrap retracted, and Attiller (the Hun) was next scooped up by the wedge-shaped machine. It escaped before Gator could use its lifter, with the two competitors proceeding to engage in a subsequent a back-and-forth exchange. Attiller (the Hun) then began attacking the sloping sides of Gator with its 'roto-tiller', while taking hits from a flipper paddle.

Both robots separated, with Attiller (the Hun) continuing to inflict light hits to Gator while the latter struggled to breach its ground clearance again. Attiller (the Hun) was knocked aside by a head-to-head collision, occurring between the lower-right flipper and lower mousetrap. In response, it flicked Gator upwards from the right-hand side, pinning it in place against the flipper. One of Attiller (the Hun)'s blades hooked under Gator's shell, allowing the latter to be dragged back momentarily. Attiller (the Hun) completed this pin for the full thirty seconds, winning its debut fight in this fashion.

In the second round, Attiller (the Hun) faced The Enforcer, itself armed with a 'lifting hook' in place of its original front sawblade.

Attiller (the Hun) smashes The Enforcer into the side wall

Before the fight had started, it got its rotary weapon spinning, though Attiller (the Hun) itself did not move immediately upon 'Action' being called. Attiller (the Hun) then shot forwards at and rammed The Enforcer while Al Kindle's machine headed left. It proceeded to buffet The Enforcer around from its left-hand side and front end, building up an aggressive start, though The Enforcer dodged its attacks for some time. Attiller (the Hun) was then rammed again, taking the opportunity to jostle The Enforcer around again with its quadruple blades.

On the next duel between both competitors, Attiller (the Hun) was rammed again opposite a nearby mousetrap. Dodging the descending hazard, it lifted and jostled The Enforcer around onto two wheels. Attempting to push The Enforcer backwards across the arena center, Attiller (the Hun) inadvertently caught itself under the other mousetrap, as the former swerved clear. Attiller (the Hun)'s blades were temporarily stopped, but spun up again as it headed to the opposite arena corner. Another tentative phase ended with Attiller (the Hun) approaching The Enforcer, itself now caught on an arena flipper, then attempting to ram and buffet it around further with varying degrees of success.

A successful blow to The Enforcer's front-left wheel allowed Attiller (the Hun) to flick it behind the upper-left flipper - the released American Robot Wars 1996 highlights began from this point on. However, Attiller (the Hun) also drove into the flipper and was forced backwards by the paddle. Attiller (the Hun) flicked The Enforcer upwards several more times, as the latter kept bumping into the arena wall and flipper. However, it would also have its ground clearance exploited by The Enforcer, which pushed Attiller (the Hun) back with its lifter. Attiller (the Hun) kept exchanging rams with The Enforcer, while also lifting and catching its front-right wheel. The latter contact allowed it to completely flip the latter over.

Attiller (the Hun) snags and pins The Enforcer

More rams and lifts from Attiller (the Hun) followed, while both machines narrowly dodged encounters with the flipper and mousetrap hazards. By the halfway point, Attiller (the Hun) was subjected to another attempted sideways push by The Enforcer. Moments later, it caught The Enforcer with its blades, lifting it upwards and holding Al Kindle's machine in place for an attempted pin. Both weapons became interlocked as a result; The Enforcer's lifter lodged in Attiller (the Hun)'s blade assembly. Attiller (the Hun) pushed and dragged The Enforcer back and forth, and was declared the winner through initiating the pin.

"These two were very evenly matched and were heading for a draw, in which case the audience would've voted for the winner. But just as the five minute time was up, Attiller snagged The Enforcer and pinned him."

— Paul Vallis summarizes Attiller (the Hun)'s victory over The Enforcer

Through to the Face-Off Semi-Final, Attiller (the Hun) next fought 1995 class champion Test Toaster One for a chance to secure a place in the overall final.

At some point during the battle, Test Toaster One caught its thwacking arm under one of the flipper paddles. Attiller (the Hun) rushed in to push its opponent by the arm, lifting Test Toaster One up on one wheel in the process. As it reversed, however, Jim Sellers' machine could not break free, the force of its ram having allowed Test Toaster One's weapon to become lodged in its own weapon cover. Attiller (the Hun) proceeded to drag and push Test Toaster One across the arena, until both teams accepted the organizers' offer to have them separated. Attiller (the Hun) and Test Toaster One kept shuffling in unison until they reached the center, at which point the match was stopped. Such was the way in which both robots were stuck to each other, that a separation did not occur until after both had been transported back to the pits together. In the meantime, an audience vote was cast, ruling Attiller (the Hun) victorious once again.

In the Lightweight Face-Off Final, Attiller (the Hun) faced SPS3, which had automatically secured its place through receiving a bye from the second round. Alongside its array of entanglement devices, SPS3 was equipped with an extra fishing net and 'carrot' to snag the rotating blades of Jim Sellers' machine.

Attiller (the Hun) rams the immobile SPS3

"Yes, that was a carrot to tempt Attiller into the net... but it didn't work."

— Paul Vallis

Both competitors met in the center, with Attiller (the Hun) being subject to an early side-on attack from SPS3. While dodging and reversing across the arena, it got itself caught by the upper mousetrap, and was rammed from the left-hand side by its opponent. The impact, however, caused SPS3 to lose mobility altogether. Attiller (the Hun) capitalized by ramming and eventually backing SPS3 into the corner, after it was declared the winner by 'by default'. In turn, Attiller (the Hun) emerged as the 1996 Robot Wars Lightweight Face-Off champion.

Still fresh from its title victory, Attiller (the Hun) also competed in the Lightweight Melee tournament. In its preliminary bout, it fought both SPS3 and The Enforcer again, alongside Cyclo-Kluge (erroneously referred to in American Robot Wars 1996 as "Bite Me"), Happy Fun Bot, Speed Bump (carrying the doll previously attached to Lorena) and Flipper.

"Attiller (the Hun) got off to a bad start. He got locked into Bite Me [sic]"

— Paul Vallis on Attiller (the Hun)'s ill-fated attack on Cyclo-Kluge

Attiller (the Hun) is pinned off the floor following an attack on Cyclo-Kluge

Aggressive as ever, Attiller (the Hun) initially made a dash for Speed Bump, before ramming Cyclo-Kluge, itself suffering from drive issues and lingering near the wall. The force of the collision was enough to tip it forwards, just as it caught its rotating blades underneath Cyclo-Kluge's larger horizontal disc. Both robots became pinned together at once; with its front wheels completely off the floor, Attiller (the Hun) was eliminated alongside Cyclo-Kluge, with Speed Bump and Flipper ultimately progressing to the Lightweight Melee Final. This proved to be the robot's last appearance at a Robot Wars event, with Jim Sellers opting to enter the featherweight Red-Green for the 1997 competition.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 4
• Losses: 1

Series Record

Events	Attiller (the Hun) Event Record
1994	Entered with The X-1
1995	Entered with The X-1
1996	Lightweight Champion (Face-Off) Lightweight Melee, Round 1 Entered with The X-2
1997	Entered with Red-Green

The above record reflects that of builder Jim Sellers.

Outside Robot Wars

Along with featherweight The X-2, Attiller (the Hun) was featured in a 1996 episode of the talk show Crook & Chase, as part of a Robot Wars segment also featuring creator Marc Thorpe. Driven by Lorianne Crook, it is claimed to have fought 'a fairly good battle' against Mike Winter's machine, driven by co-host Charlie Chase. In spite of its weight advantage, Attiller (the Hun) lost upon getting flipped over by The X-2. An allegedly 'disgusted' Jim Sellers requested a rematch, without success.

Following its Robot Wars run, Attiller (the Hun) was initially retired, but later converted into early versions of Jim Sellers' BattleBots lightweight Afterthought. Equipped with a near-horizontal spinning disc, and featuring a revised weapon placement, Afterthought competed in the first, second and fourth seasons of the televised Comedy Central run. Its best result was a quarter-final finish in Season 2.0 as Afterthought 2.0, following a knockout loss against shell spinner Ziggo. A brand-new build of Afterthought, featuring four-wheel drive and an 18-inch, 10lb steel flywheel, debuted in Season 4.0. This version reached the Round of 16, before losing to Slap 'Em Silly on an unanimous judges' decision.

The original Afterthought

Afterthought in Season 2.0

Afterthought in Season 4.0

Sadly, Jim Sellers passed away in 2016.

External Links

• Attiller (the Hun) on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)