Black Sheep 2

Black Sheep 2
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1995 (lightweight) 1996 (featherweight)
Other Names	Black Sheep Black Sheep II
Team Information
Team Members	Benjamin Chapman
From	California
Other Entries	Stuffie (1997)
Robot Statistics
Drive	RC car base
Weapons	None
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Black Sheep was a robot entered by Benjamin Chapman into the 1995 and 1996 US Robot Wars competitions.

Originally, it fought in the 1995 Lightweight Face-Off, but was eliminated in the first round by Sonic. Black Sheep also made recurring appearances in the Lightweight Melee tournament, successfully qualifying for the championship-deciding second Melee in the process.

For 1996, the robot was reclassified as a featherweight, alternatively referred to in the official entry list as Black Sheep II, or by audience videos as Black Sheep 2. In the Featherweight Face-Off, it won its first-round battle against Nezumi, but was eliminated by Bite Me shortly after. Black Sheep 2 would also compete in the Featherweight Melee, but did not progress beyond the opening round.

Design

A relatively simple machine, Black Sheep's design remained virtually identical for both of its competition appearances. Based on a remote-controlled car, it was a weaponless robot protected by a box wedge-shaped shell made out of plywood. Though Black Sheep appeared to lack a top panel in official photos - making it especially vulnerable against overhead weapons - the front panel was much taller than the rest of the machine, shaped and decorated to resemble a ram's head and horns.

Robot History

1995 US Championship

Black Sheep's run in the 1995 competition began in the Lightweight Face-Off, fighting fellow newcomer Sonic in the opening round.

Both robots rammed each other in the opening seconds; Black Sheep crept backwards, but was unable to evade a follow-up push from Sonic. Black Sheep shuttled back and forth, encountering intermittent losses of mobility while Sonic kept nudging and pushing it. Eventually, it became fully immobilized, and was pushed into the arena flippers while being counted out. Black Sheep was eliminated from the Lightweight Face-Off as a result.

Black Sheep faced Sonic again in the Lightweight Melee tournament. Both robots were drawn into the same first-round qualifier, where they also faced Kitty Puff Puff and Test Toaster One; the eventual Face-Off runner-up and champion.

Immediately, Black Sheep was rammed by Test Toaster One. As in the Face-Off, it struggled to maintain consistent mobility, being left stationary for several moments near its initial position. Kitty Puff Puff turned Black Sheep around with a sideways push. Black Sheep crept back and forth, only to be rammed against the arena flippers and wall by Sonic. After this, it kept driving in a straight line across its corner, but otherwise played little part in the action for some time.

Around three minutes into the Melee, Black Sheep was repositioned again, and careered into the swinging Ball of Doom. From there, it drove into the wall on the opposite side; upon backing out, it again lost mobility and received a cursory nudge from Kitty Puff Puff. Several more seconds passed, before Black Sheep reversed into Test Toaster One and again headed into the flippers. Black Sheep played no further part in the match; despite its frequent mobility issues, it would qualify for the overall Final alongside its opponents.

For the 1995 Lightweight Melee title, Black Sheep and its opponents would fight |S.P.S. #1.

In a mirror of its Face-Off fight, it rammed Sonic in the opening seconds, while Brian Foote's machine was being pushed into its path by S.P.S. #1. An exchange with Test Toaster One followed, where Black Sheep was thwacked by the arm of Jeff Bowden's machine. Black Sheep began pushing Test Toaster One back, while S.P.S. #1 and Kitty Puff Puff took turns at ramming the duo. Black Sheep broke away from this embrace, only to career directly under one of the mousetraps. The trap net descended three times, but without snagging or breaking the top of its scoop panel.

Black Sheep reversed, turned, and rammed Test Toaster One from the front-right corner. As it backed out and started another ram, it collected Sonic, and was in turn collected by S.P.S. #1 and Kitty Puff Puff. All robots separated, with Black Sheep finding itself facing the wall after a shove by S.P.S. #1. It would, however, still be pressured by Test Toaster One and Sonic, getting turned around by another of the latter's shoves. Black Sheep sustained another thwack to the front from Test Toaster One's arm, and kept struggling to maintain consistent movement as Kitty Puff Puff rammed it into the wall.

Eventually, Black Sheep escaped, attempting to push Sonic and Test Toaster One once again. Another ram from Spike lead to another bout of immobility, before Black Sheep again tried to push, then got whacked by Test Toaster One's arm. It and S.P.S. #1 briefly pinned Test Toaster One from either side. While both opponents proceeded to trap and immobilize themselves against an arena flipper, Black Sheep also stood still by the side of the arena. Ultimately, it would lose the battle and the Lightweight Melee championship to Kitty Puff Puff.

1996 US Championship

Upon its return for 1996, Black Sheep 2 fought in the Featherweight Face-Off and Melee tournaments. In the Face-Off, it initially faced Nezumi, in a 'Dual Match' occurring at the same time as Bite Me vs Arsenic.

Both competitors entered a tentative pushing match, where Black Sheep 2 nudged and forced Nezumi into a stalemate. With Nezumi suffering mobility issues in the center of the arena, it eventually rammed Robert Orr's machine a few times, but only as the match entered its final minute. In response, Nezumi forced Black Sheep 2 to drive alongside an arena flipper, in a bid to get it trapped behind the hazard. While Black Sheep 2 was rammed again by Nezumi, a series of hits by the paddle were enough to immobilize the latter. Black Sheep 2 backed away to safety, and was ultimately declared the winner by knockout.

In the second round, Black Sheep 2 faced Bite Me, the other victorious robot from its 'Dual Match' quartet.

Black Sheep 2 started by attempting to dodge the faster Bite Me, which rammed and pushed along its sides. Retreating to the lower-left corner, it continued to be rammed by Brian Foote's machine, which chased and pinned Black Sheep 2 under the upper mousetrap for several seconds. Black Sheep 2 was released, only to be pinned behind the lower-right flipper. There, it was held in place as the flipper paddle whacked and ultimately immobilized it. Black Sheep 2 thus lost the battle by knockout, and was eliminated from the Featherweight Face-Off.

Black Sheep 2's run in the Featherweight Melee saw it encounter two of the most recent Face-Off champions in the first round - KMM and Wedge of Doom. Other competitors in this match-up included Melvin, My Little Pony, Spike, The X-2 and the British WYSIWYG.

All eight robots scrambled towards the center in the opening moments. From the outset, Black Sheep 2 was pressured by Wedge of Doom, which pushed it into the upper-right corner. A second push delivered it into KMM and the right-most wall. Though Black Sheep 2 received a break, when Wedge of Doom switched to pushing KMM, it was next approached, lifted and pinned off the arena floor by Spike. This pin was sustained for several moments; upon being freed, Black Sheep 2 attempted to rejoin the fight by driving across the right-most wall. Once the full five minutes expired, however, it was not chosen to qualify for the final alongside The X-2 and Wedge of Doom.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 4

Series Record

Events	Black Sheep 2 Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Lightweight Face-Off, Round 1 as Black Sheep Lightweight Melee, Round 2 as Black Sheep
1996	Featherweight Face-Off, Round 2 Featherweight Melee, Round 1 Withdrew with Black Widow
1997	Entered with Stuffie

External Links

• Black Sheep 2 ("Black Sheep") on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)