- "Backstabber just goes to show what you can do in after school hours - at school, using school electricity and knackered school teachers!"
- — Philippa Forrester introduces Backstabber
Backstabber was a robot that competed in Series 3 of Robot Wars. It lost in the first round to well-known all-star machine, Razer.
Design[]
Backstabber in the arena
Backstabber was a long, high wedge robot coloured black and orange, featuring a rear axe that stabbed backwards. The pole was tipped with a chisel capable of punching through sheet steel, and the main body had various devices to neutralise cutting/stabbing weaponry of other robots. Backstabber's wheels were exposed, but its high body managed to protect it from severe harm from crushers.
Etymology[]
Backstabber's name is a play-on the word 'backstabber' while also referencing the robot's rear stabbing axe.
The Team[]
The team with Backstabber
Backstabber was entered by a team comprising of engineering members from Dixons City Technology College. The team captain was Howard Sanford, who was a teacher at the college and he was joined by students Luke Perkin and Sanjay Patel, who controlled the robot.
Qualification[]
Backstabber qualified for The Third Ward after completing the auditions.
The team are also known to have tried to enter Backstabber into Series 4, but failed to qualify.
Robot History[]
Series 3[]
- Stuart McDonald: "From Bradford, Backstabber."
- Jonathan Pearce: "But don't try to stab this robot. It's got various devices to neutralise stabbing weapons. Its own ramming spike and thrusting arm can wreck havoc though. At one metre high, it's the tallest in the heat."
- — Backstabber's introduction before its battle
Backstabber's shell is scratched by Razer
Backstabber gets pitted by Razer
Backstabber had very little to show for in its only battle in Robot Wars, where it fought Razer. Backstabber was fairly sluggish at the beginning of the fight, though it slowly drove forward to start and quickly turned round to use its stabbing arm on Razer. However, it was seemingly immobilised immediately after Razer attempted to crush it, but the wedge shape was difficult for the claw to get a hold on and it could only scratch down the side. Instead, Razer made a run-up and managed to plough Backstabber into the pit, just as Backstabber's weapon came crashing down onto Razer, nearly dragging it onto its side. This caused no damage, though and the school robot was beaten after just twenty seconds of fighting.
- "Backstabber, stabbed in the back!"
- — Craig Charles summarises the battle
Results[]
| BACKSTABBER - RESULTS | ||
| Series 3 | ||
| The Third Wars - UK Championship Heat, Round 1 | ||
| Heat C, Round 1 | vs. Razer | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
| Series | Backstabber Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Did not enter |
| The Third Wars | Heat, Round 1 |
| The Fourth Wars | Failed to qualify |
| The Fifth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Sixth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Seventh Wars | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Did not enter |
| Series 9 | Did not enter |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
Trivia[]
A holographic sticker of Backstabber going into the pit
- Backstabber was the first robot to lose a combat battle to Razer.
- Backstabber was featured on a holographic sticker included with Issue 2 of the Robot Wars Magazine.
- Backstabber competed in a heat that featured another robot from a teacher and student team, Spike.