Cunning Plan

Cunning Plan
Participation Information
UK Series	1
Team Information
Team	University of Reading
Team Members	Oliver Steeples
From	University of Reading
Robot Statistics
Weight	11.4kg
Dimensions	0.63m x 0.48m x 0.17m
Clearance	10mm
Top Speed	10mph
Power	2 x 12V electric drill motors
Weapons	Wedge
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"It's a basic wedge design. It's got an aluminium and steel body shell for overturning and ramming other robots."

— Oliver Steeples on Cunning Plan

Cunning Plan was a featherweight robot that exclusively fought in Series 1 of Robot Wars. Weighing at just under 12kg, it was the lightest robot ever to reach the Grand Final of any series of Robot Wars, which cost it in its Grand Final battle. Cunning Plan was sponsored by the University of Reading and displayed the university shield on the top of the robot.

Design

Oliver Steeples with Cunning Plan

Cunning Plan was a simple double wedge-shaped robot with an aluminium and steel shell; 1mm aluminium sheet for the sides and top, and 1mm steel for the front and back. The wedge served as the robot's weapon, with its key tactic being to charge into other robots and allow them to run up the wedge and be flipped over. This tactic helped Cunning Plan win its heat. The robot was quite fast, able to get to speeds of approximately 15mph according to the website, though the speed was listed on television as 10mph.

"The chassis is made of ¼" plywood which makes it strong and light. The front and back of the frame is made of 1mm steel, while the top and sides are made of 1mm aluminum to cut down in weight and help with radio transmission."

— Oliver Steeples' website

The robot itself was painted silver, with the University of Reading shield on its top panel. It had two wheel drive, with two castors on the front to give a zero turning circle. The chassis was made from plywood. The shell was attached to the chassis by 4 bolts, two on each side, however whilst competing, the shell kept coming loose.

"the main problem arose during Robot wars when any impact ripped the shell of the chassis. The problem was that the nuts on the chassis were held on by epoxy resin (due to time), and these were easily ripped off. You won't be able to see the corrective double sided tape on tele."

— Oliver Steeples' website

Etymology

The name Cunning Plan may have been derived from the BBC sitcom Blackadder, in which the character Baldrick would often declare that he had a "cunning plan" to resolve a problem in which he and the other characters faced.

Robot History

Series 1

"Out comes Cunning Plan - small, quick... with that zero turning circle that could prove so vital here."

— Jonathan Pearce at the start of Cunning Plan's Gauntlet run

Cunning Plan on the spikes

Cunning Plan started by reversing out of the turntable, towards the maze route. After spinning around, it reversed, but drove straight into a fence. It quickly turned away from the fence, and after pausing a moment to line up, it drove forwards and turned past the second fence. Despite hitting the fence as it turned, Cunning Plan kept going, driving along the fence, then turning past the third fence. However, as it tried to leave the maze, it drove along the final fence and became caught on the corner as it tried to turn round it. After a little reversing and adjusting of its position, Cunning Plan was able to drive forwards, but drove into an obstacle which blocked it.

"Basically, these smaller robots have to dodge anything. The House Robots could take them out, certainly the drills could. Matilda, out to splatter a small fry."

— Jonathan Pearce

Cunning Plan, having been dented by Matilda

Cunning Plan reversed, and tried to drive past the drills, but Matilda closed in. Cunning Plan waited behind the springs, and when it tentatively tried to move forwards, the drills came out, blocking it. Matilda rammed into Cunning Plan, and even when Matilda reversed, the drills were still out, blocking Cunning Plan's path. Matilda span, knocking Cunning Plan, but also knocking away the springs. Cunning Plan reversed into Matilda, and she span around, which actually knocked Cunning Plan down the course. Cunning Plan tried to charge to the end, but drove over the spikes, which raised, holding Cunning Plan up. Whilst Cunning Plan was stuck, Matilda chased after it, but drove one wheel over the grille, leaving her stuck. The spikes soon lowered, allowing Cunning Plan to speed to the end, nearly driving through the arena railings as it did so.

Jeremy Clarkson: "Appropriate name, Cunning Plan."

Oliver Steeples: "Maybe."

Jeremy Clarkson: "You were looking pretty pleased there."

Oliver Steeples: "The spikes were a bit tricky, but the robot didn't give me any problems."

Jeremy Clarkson: "What, the spikes are tricky, but Matilda isn't? Well I'm looking forward to you going head to head with that, should be a good laugh!"

Oliver Steeples: "Any time!"

— The post Gauntlet interview with Jeremy Clarkson

The opening pile-up

Cunning Plan was through to the Trial stage, which in this heat was Stock Car. Having completed the Gauntlet in a longer time than SAT'arn, Cunning Plan started in second position on the grid. At the start, Cunning Plan charged forwards, but crashed into SAT'arn when SAT'arn drove into the bottom arena railing. The Demolisher also drove into the back of Cunning Plan, and as Cunning Plan reversed, it flipped Demolisher over, then rolled it back onto its wheels. Cunning Plan straightened up and drove on, but at the first corner slowed down, struggling to line itself up to drive in a straight line up the course, which left it in last place. It corrected its position and drove up the course, overtaking Bugs, but had a problem at the top turning. As it tried to correct its positioning, Demolisher bumped into it as it drove past, lapping Cunning Plan as it did so. Cunning Plan got lined up correctly and charged down the course to complete the first lap. The second lap went smoothly for Cunning Plan, apart from a brief moment where it bumped into a wall whist driving thorugh the centre of the course. As Cunning Plan easily steered through its third lap, it stopped to try and right The Demolisher, which had flipped itself over having taken a corner too tightly whilst in the lead. Cunning Plan pushed it forward, into a wall, but The Demolisher was stuck on the side. Cunning Plan left The Demolisher and finished the lap, and having completed three laps, the race was over and Cunning Plan finished in first place.

Cunning Plan gets underneath Bugs

For its first arena battle, Cunning Plan faced Bugs. After a hesitant start Cunning Plan managed to sweep under Bugs once. Bugs seemed to have some control difficulties and it drove onto a grille and became immobilised, and Cunning Plan still found time for a brief tease at Sergeant Bash.

Cunning Plan gets underneath Demolisher

Cunning Plan's next battle was the quickest battle in Series 1; Cunning Plan started slowly with The Demolisher reversing away, but Cunning Plan suddenly charged at its small opponent and The Demolisher was instantly flipped onto its back and immobilised.

The demise of Cunning Plan

T.R.A.C.I.E. and Cunning Plan remain stuck as the other finalists fight on

As the only remaining featherweight in the competition, Cunning Plan entered the Grand Final, where it faced Recyclopse, Roadblock, Robot the Bruce, T.R.A.C.I.E. and Bodyhammer in a six-way melee for the championship. In the opening moments, Cunning Plan did a full 360 degree spin, upon crashing into T.R.A.C.I.E., broadside on. Next, Cunning Plan's lightness was an immediate weakness as Bodyhammer easily shunted it around. Cunning Plan fought back gallantly as it charged and bounced off Robot the Bruce, and reversing into Roadblock. But T.R.A.C.I.E. then suddenly drove up Cunning Plan's wedge. Due to T.R.A.C.I.E.'s weight, Cunning Plan couldn't reverse away, but neither could T.R.A.C.I.E. as it was beached. Both robots were immobilised, and declared out of the running, and thus ended Cunning Plan's title hopes.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 1

NOTE: Cunning Plan's Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record

Cunning Plan without armour

Series	Cunning Plan Series Record
The First Wars	Joint Fifth
The Second Wars	Entered with Griffon
The Third Wars	Entered with Griffon
The Fourth Wars	Did not enter
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

Outside Robot Wars

Despite Cunning Plan being retired after Series 1, Oliver Steeples revealed in 2016 that he still owns the robot, and it is fully functional.

Trivia

• All of the screws, bolts, sheet metal and aluminium blocks used in the making of Cunning Plan were obtained from the University of Reading's stores.
• Cunning Plan is one of 23 robots to have completed The Gauntlet, and one of only 3 featherweights to do so (alongside Demolisher and SAT'arn).
• Cunning Plan is the one of the few robot without a moving weapon to reach a Grand Final, or indeed, win a battle. The other weaponless robots to make the Grand Final are Robot the Bruce and German competitor Tyke, which featured only static spikes. The former of the two fought in the same Grand Final as Cunning Plan.
• When Cunning Plan first entered the arena, Jonathan Pearce referred to the robot's builder as a "Star Wars fan". In 2015, Oliver Steeples would later build the R2-D2 model used in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• Cunning Plan never had a judges' decision during its career.
• Cunning Plan's burst of speed to finish the Gauntlet almost caused it to go Out of the Arena, which would have made it the first robot to do so.
• Cunning Plan broke the record for the shortest battle in its Heat Final battle against The Demolisher at 14 seconds. This remained as the shortest battle until Cerberus defeated Cunning Plan's successor Griffon within 10 seconds in the Third Wars.