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Bubba was a competitor robot which fought exclusively in the 1997 US Robot Wars competition. Initially entered as a heavyweight, it lost its first battle to The Mauler in the Heavyweight Face-Off tournament.[3][4] Following a rebuild partway through the event, Bubba was re-entered into the Middleweight Face-Off, joining the championship in the Loser's Bracket. The now-weaponless machine enjoyed similarly little success, as it would lose to and be eliminated by The Bishop.[5][6]

Design[]

Bubba

The main chassis of Bubba following its rebuild

In its original iteration, Bubba was a compact box-shaped robot with a dome-shaped aluminum top cover. The two-wheel drive machine was armed with a 'spinning hammer arm', consisting of a steel beam angled downwards and operated in a similar manner to an overhead spinner. While intended to strike and damage opponents with this beam, Bubba's weapon proved 'ineffective' in combat, compounded by the robot's generally 'unfinished' state.[2]

Following damage sustained in the Heavyweight Face-Off, Bubba's weapon and top cover were removed, and the main steel 'drive box' rebuilt for a run in the middleweight category. Modifications carried out included extra armor, though the robot was left without any replacement weaponry as a result of the 'redesign'. The wheels were also left fully exposed, making Bubba even more vulnerable against opponents armed with spinning weapons.[2]

Robot History[]

1997 US Championship[]

Starting its 1997 campaign in the Heavyweight Face-Off, Bubba was drawn against returning veteran The Mauler in the first round.

Mauler vs bubba

Mauler smashes into Bubba

From the outset, it struggled to move due to intermittent issues with its 'homemade control system'. Bubba could not get its hammer arm working either as it spun around close to the upper-right flipper, while The Mauler began closing in. A direct hit to the weapon assembly was inflicted by The Mauler's own 'tuna can' spinner, before Bubba retreated to the bottom-right corner. Bubba drifted towards the nearby flipper and moving wall section, only to crash into The Mauler and take further damage.[3][4]

While the collision halted The Mauler's weapon for several seconds, Bubba was still moving erratically as both robots maneuvered into the center. It was unable to avoid a third series of attacks from the Tilfords' entry, taking further damage to its shell and arms, and ultimately became immobilized. Not content with this, The Mauler bent one of Bubba's arms further with an additional blow. Bubba was deemed to have lost by knockout soon after.[3][4]

Due to the damage sustained, Bubba's shell and weaponry were discarded, and the 'drive box' rebuilt to function as a weaponless robot. Unusually, it would be transferred into the concurrently-run Middleweight Face-Off, beginning its run from the Loser's Bracket.[2]

There, the rebuilt Bubba faced The Bishop.

Thebishop vs bubba

The Bishop tears into the side of Bubba

Despite Alex Ramirez's efforts, it still encountered major control issues from the start, not moving far from its initial position in the opening moments. Bubba was thus vulnerable to a side-on charge from a smoking Bishop; sparks and dust flew as the latter repeatedly attacked with its abrasive cutter. These collisions, however, would benefit Bubba, as the cutter disc would end up shattering and becoming largely nullified.[5][6]

Even with this, Bubba was still pushed multiple times by The Bishop, while continuing to lurch, turn and spin around jerkily. Through the use of sit-and-spin tactics, it was able to deflect Stephen Gaudio's machine away a few times, as both robots continued to bump each other for the rest of the battle. Ultimately, both survived to a Judges' decision, which was given to The Bishop on control and aggression. Bubba was thus eliminated from the Middleweight Face-Off, marking the end of its unusual and troubled 1997 run.[5][6]

Results[]

BUBBA - RESULTS
1997 US Championship
Heavyweight Face-Off
Round 1
Round 1 vs. The Mauler Lost
Middleweight Face-Off
Eliminated in Loser's Bracket, Round 1
Loser's Bracket, Round 1 vs. The Bishop Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins (Heavyweight): 0
  • Losses (Heavyweight): 1
  • Wins (Middleweight): 0
  • Losses (Middleweight): 1
  • Total Wins: 0
  • Total Losses: 2

Series Record[]

Events Bubba Event Record
1994 Did not enter
1995 Did not enter
1996 Did not enter
1997 Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 1
Middleweight Face-Off, Loser's Bracket, Round 1

References[]

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