Black Widow (1997)

This article is about the Australian lightweight robot from the 1997 US competition. For other uses, see Black Widow.

Black Widow
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1997
Team Information
Team	Brandon Park Technical College
Team Members	Phillip Hoskins
From	Glen Waverley, Australia
Robot Statistics
Power	12V gel cell batteries
Weapons	Ramming wedge & side spikes
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Black Widow (also referred to as The Black Widow) was an Australian lightweight robot which took part in the 1997 US Robot Wars competition. Built and entered by then 16-year-old high school student Phillip Hoskins, it first entered the Lightweight Face-Off in the second round of the main bracket, only to be eliminated through consecutive losses against Mouser and Carnivore respectively. Black Widow also competed in the Lightweight Melee competition, but was eliminated in the first round after getting flipped over by eventual champion Defiant.

Design

A relatively 'simple' design, Black Widow was a two-wheel drive robot with a box wedge-shaped chassis. Both the chassis and main armor panels consisted of 'aluminum channel and sheet', the entire machine being painted black with a red spider to mirror its highly-venomous namesake. On each side, strips of a car tire were attached for extra defense, both on the chassis and pairs of side-facing steel spikes.

Black Widow's internals included 12V gel cell batteries, a relay-based controller setup and a belt transmission for its wheels and electric motors. In the absence of powered weapons, it would rely on ramming tactics with its wedge shape and side spikes. However, a lack of self-righting mechanism made Black Widow especially vulnerable against lifting and flipping weapons. The robot took Phillip Hoskins around a year to complete.

Robot History

1997 US Championship

Having been absent from the opening round, Black Widow joined the 1997 Lightweight Face-Off in the second round of the main bracket. Its first opponent was Mouser - the original incarnation of future BattleBots competitor Mouser Mecha-Catbot.

Black Widow dodged Mouser's initial charge, only to drive over the sloped shell of Fon Davis' entry during a head-to-head collision. Another similar exchange resulted in it being pinned off the arena floor by Mouser, then pushed into a moving wall bumper. Black Widow was released, but could not capitalize on Mouser's control issues before the two robots bumped each other again. Heading towards the lower wall, it found itself being pinned again, though Mouser also became high-centered as a direct result.

Black Widow causes clearance problems for Mouser (background)

The match was stopped by the Judges, and a separation carried out. On the restart, Black Widow drove its front wedge underneath Mouser following a few tentative moments. Both competitors were again stuck in a 'deadly embrace', prompting another manual separation from Robot Wars staff. Once the battle resumed again, Black Widow was unable to drive away from Mouser after the latter backed into its side, having once more breached the latter's ground clearance. Michael Meehan announced that the Judges would stop the match entirely, and make a decision on points, if neither robot could move apart on their own.

Mouser pressures Black Widow against the side wall

Through flicks and twitches from Mouser, Black Widow was able to turn away, allowing the fight to continue. Both robots rammed each other again. Black Widow took swipes from the lower-left flipper during the final minute, but succeeded in briefly pinning an approaching Mouser against it. Another 'embrace' was broken when a slowing Mouser twitched through firing its own flipper into thin air. Black Widow was rammed twice more, but both robots slowed down dramatically as their batteries ran out of charge. A Judges' decision was called at the end of the match, which ruled Black Widow to have lost.

Now consigned to the Loser's Bracket, Black Widow needed to win its next battle against Carnivore for a chance to remain in the competition.

In what would prove to be a very short match, it immediately darted towards and spun around in the center of the arena. Black Widow, however, suddenly stopped moving while facing the lower-left corner, and was immobilized for several seconds as Carnivore gave it a shove. Team Carnivore's Ilya Polyakov recollects that one of Black Widow's drive belts snapped during these moments, though it is unclear whether this was a result of its initial movements or its opponent's ram. The Judges first asked for signs of mobility from Black Widow, then Carnivore. Only Carnivore, which had parked close by, responded, effectively marking a second straight defeat for Phillip Hoskins' machine. Black Widow was therefore eliminated from the Lightweight Face-Off.

Black Widow was repaired for the Lightweight Melee, fighting Defiant, Penelope, Pretty Hate Machine, Webster and X7 in its preliminary round.

Almost immediately, it collided with Webster, and was flipped upwards by Defiant's arm. Black Widow's role in the battle would be short-lived, as Defiant proceeded to turn it completely over. Unable to self-right, Black Window was left stranded for several moments, until it was flipped back onto its wheels by James Underwood's machine. This did not help Black Widow, however, as it was left mostly stationary in the lower-left corner. Defiant and Pretty Hate Machine would emerge as the only two robots to qualify for the Lightweight Melee Final, with Black Widow being eliminated once again at this stage.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 3

Series Record

Events	Black Widow (1997) Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Did not enter
1997	Lightweight Face-Off, Round 2 Lightweight Melee, Round 1