Buzzcut

Buzzcut
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1997
Team Information
Team	Team Coolrobots
Team Members	Christian Carlberg
From	North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Other Entries	Pretty Hate Machine (1997, lightweight)
Robot Statistics
Weight	~50lbs
Power	2x 14.4V Makita drill batteries
Drive	2x Makita cordless power drills
Weapons	8x gas-powered sawblades
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"It all started the summer of 1995. I had just quit my aerospace job at Lockheed-Martin and moved from Massachusetts to California. My friend Phil Putman invited me up to San Francisco to watch Robot Wars. Sure, why not? I loved the show and promised myself to build an entree [sic] for next year. I vowed to make a walking machine, either 50 lbs or 100lbs.
Well, a year came and went, and I didn't make it in time for the '96 event. First-time builder syndrome.
However, the next year I got right to it and designed the basic building element. I wanted a walking machine that I could adjust the size and shape of."

— Christian Carlberg on the inspiration and long build time for Buzzcut

Buzzcut was a featherweight walking robot built by Christian Carlberg for the 1997 US Robot Wars competition. Competing alongside its lightweight counterpart Pretty Hate Machine, it is generally considered to be the first robot of its kind to have won a battle in a main Robot Wars tournament, against Thwonkis Mobilis in that year's Featherweight Face-Off. This result allowed Buzzcut to progress to the second round, where it was eliminated by Sabotage. Buzzcut also fought a head-to-head 'Grudge Match' against 1995 Super Lightweight champion KMM, as later publicized in Wired magazine, but would also lose this on a Judges' decision.

Design

"The reason why I built a walking robot this year is 'cause of the weight advantage I get. Because I have a 50lb robot that walks, that's going to compete against 25lb rolling robots. I think that huge weight difference is going to give me a big advantage. At least, that's what I'm gambling on."

— Christian Carlberg explains his reasoning to develop Buzzcut

Sharing the same modular design concept as Pretty Hate Machine, Buzzcut was an eight-legged walking robot constructed mostly with steel rods and custom CNC-machined aluminum linkages. Alongside its smaller size, it was distinguished by having a blue finish for the CNC components instead of Pretty Hate Machine's bright purple. Each bank of four legs was capable of operating independently, enabling tank-like steering and forward/reverse movements through 'split tapped' crankshafts, chains and clamps. The individual spring-loaded legs were fitted with aluminum 'cups' and small blue racquet balls, maximizing traction and shock absorption across the arena floor. Both sets of legs were powered by a Makita power drill, which also provided Buzzcut with its supply of 14.4V batteries. The high power and torque outputs provided often gave Buzzcut a tendency to bounce around as it moved.

The front and back ends of Buzzcut were each armed with a set of four cutting saws, powered by a 1.5hp weedeater motor (green) of the same type used by Pretty Hate Machine. Weight restrictions meant that Buzzcut could only use one of these motors, instead of Pretty Hate Machine's two, which would operate both sets of saws through timing belts. Alongside the Makita drill batteries, all of the robot's systems would utilize a then-newly introduced Vantec RDFR22 speed controller.

Robot History

1997 US Championship

In the first round of the featherweight face off, Buzzcut faced Thwonkis Mobilis in a duel match with Red 2 and KMM. Problems affected Buzzcut immediately as the drive on its right-hand side malfunctioned. The smoking walker tried to keep shuffling towards Thwonkis Mobilis, which, after a few tentative moments, rammed it from the side. Contact was made between Thwonkis Mobilis' foam shell and Buzzcut's rear saws, allowing the former to drive underneath Buzzcut. Buzzcut kept moving on its remaining legs, but Thwonkis Mobilis could not escape. A decision to pause both 'Dual Matches' was made after over one minute and 30 seconds, to allow both robots to be separated from their 'deadly embrace'.

Though Buzzcut was still partially mobile, its weight proved too much for Thwonkis Mobilis, whose remote control car internals had malfunctioned while being pinned under it. This was discovered by builder Chris Ervine while inspecting his machine. Buzzcut was declared the winner once the event organizers became aware of Thwonkis Mobilis' problem.

In the Winner’s bracket second round, Buzzcut faced Sabotage. The quicker Sabotage first met Buzzcut in the right-most perimeter, circling around the walkerbot in an attempt to line up an attack. Matt Sabatino's machine charged in, causing the closest half of Buzzcut's weaponry to stall. From that point, Sabotage began ramming and pushing Buzzcut, though not without driving into the wall on one occasion. Eventually, it pushed Christian Carlberg's entry within reach of the upper-right arena flipper; the flipper whacked Buzzcut several times before catching two of its legs with Sabotage's assistance.

Though Sabotage found itself driving into wall again, the flipper trapped Buzzcut against the wall as it retracted. A period of inactivity prompted the crowd to start booing; Sabotage's front ramming blade had become lodged under the bumper directly beside the flipper. Neither robot was able to break free, resulting in the Judges calling for the battle to be paused. Both were separated from the flipper and wall respectively, and the match resumed.

However, while Sabotage darted across the arena, Buzzcut was left immobilized following a suspected drive malfunction. Sabotage brushed and bumped Buzzcut a few more times, then performed a victory spin seconds before the outcome of the battle was confirmed.

Buzzcut also battled KMM in an exhibition “grudge” match during the competition. KMM started the faster machine, driving around and into Buzzcut a few times as Christian Carlberg's featherweight walker scrambled around in circles. A head-to-head exchange resulted in Buzzcut losing one of its racquet ball 'feet', and KMM attempting to use both of its weapons against it, with limited success at first. Buzzcut was cornered and pushed into the left-most wall by KMM, which managed to hold Buzzcut up on one side as it tried to escape. Both competitors found themselves near the upper-left flipper; KMM axed and pushed Buzzcut back while sustaining a few hits from the paddle.

Within seconds, KMM began grasping and hammering Buzzcut even more, while steering it into the flipper. More racquet balls became detached from Buzzcut's legs, compromising its traction as the 1995 champion forced it against the flipper paddle behind. Taking another axe blow, Buzzcut was eventually hooked onto the flipper by one of its saws, and struggled to hop away before it could take further swipes. KMM rammed and resumed its axe attacks on Buzzcut, grasping and steering it towards the upper spike trap. The trap speared through one end of Buzzcut, which remained mobile, but now weaponless as the saws stopped turning.

KMM again grabbed, axed and forced Buzzcut under the spike trap, only to fall foul of the spike itself at one point. One side of Buzzcut's walking mechanism began to malfunction, preventing it from being able to avoid further strikes from the spike trap. KMM took advantage by again grabbing and hammering through Buzzcut's exposed internals. As it retreated, KMM's axe had malfunctioned, being left in the fired position by the time it next rammed Buzzcut against the spike trap wall. Buzzcut, now fully immobilized on one side, sustained more rams until time ran out. The match ended with KMM being declared the winner on a Judges' decision.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 2

Series Record

Events	Buzzcut Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Did not enter
1997	Featherweight Face-Off, Round 2 Entered with Pretty Hate Machine

Outside Robot Wars

To see more information about TeamCoolrobots see here.