DTK

DTK
Participation Information
UK Series	7
Team Information
Team	Team Dantomkia
Team Members	Steven Gadsby Ian Gadsby Michael Lambert (Round 1 only) Daniel Lambert (Final only)
From	Chertsey, Surrey
Robot Statistics
Weight	12kg
Power	19.2v
Weapons	Flipper
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"DTK, son of Dantomkia."

— Jonathan Pearce in the Featherweight Final

DTK was a featherweight robot that competed in the Featherweight Championship of the seventh series of Robot Wars. It was built and entered by Team Dantomkia, who also entered Series 6, 7 and Extreme 2 with the heavyweight Dantomkia, and won the Featherweight Championship outright in its first and only attempt.

Design

The insides of DTK

DTK was essentially a miniature version of Dantomkia, sporting the same boxy bi-wedged shape and a similar yellow and black paint scheme, although the black lines were less pronounced compared to Dantomkia's. Just like Dantomkia, DTK possessed a rear castor to prevent it from rearing, as well as a narrow pneumatic flipper, which the team claimed was capable of lifting 75kg.

Etymology

The name DTK was a derivative of the heavyweight Dantomkia. Michael Lambert initially named Dantomkia after three of his children, Daniel, Thomas and Kiara. The name was then shortened to DTK for the featherweight machine, while still standing for the same three names.

The Team

Main article: Team Dantomkia

DTK was entered by the Surrey-based Team Dantomkia, traditionally captained by Michael Lambert, also featuring his son Daniel Lambert, and friend Steven Gadsby. However for the featherweight DTK, Steven Gadsby was the lead builder, and captained the team in featherweight competitions, also driving the robot to victory in the Seventh Wars. He was accompanied by his son Ian, who was uncredited because the featherweight competitors did not have their own statistic boards. For Round 1, Mike Lambert was part of the team, but due to him being busy fixing Dantomkia, Daniel Lambert took his place for the final.

Robot History

Series 7

DTK almost tips Mammoth over

In its first round melee, DTK faced off against previous finalists Bernard and Cutlet, Staglet, Alienator, Typhoon Cadet and the walker Mammoth. DTK was in the thick of the action from activate, immediately targeting Bernard and flipping over the invertible machine. It then attacked Alien 8R, but couldn't get its flipper under it far enough to overturn it, and received a hit from Alien 8R's spinner in response.

"Little DTK is doing good work there."

— Jonathan Pearce

DTK flicks over Typhoon Cadet

DTK held back for a brief period, before moving in to attack Bernard again, this time missing its flip. After barely lifting Mammoth off the floor with its next attack, DTK retreated and missed another flip on Alien 8R, before attacking Mammoth once more, this time nearly tipping the walker over completely. DTK turned its attention to Staglet, flicking it over completely, then chased after Cutlet for a brief period.

DTK flips Mammoth onto its side

After missing a flip on Cutlet, DTK flipped Staglet over again, before DTK flipped Cutlet onto its back. As the overturned Cutlet was edged towards the pit by Mammoth, DTK bumped into Refbot, before flipping Typhoon Cadet over and engaging with Staglet and Bernard. With DTK pressuring it, Staglet drove itself into the pit soon after Cutlet was pitted, and DTK finally flipped Mammoth onto its side, the walker unable to self-right without a srimech.

"Oh, you're never gonna lift Mammoth, surely! Look at that for guts and determination out there!"

— Jonathan Pearce as DTK flips Mammoth onto its side

DTK gets a final flick on Alien 8R

Meanwhile, Alien 8R suddenly came back to life after nearly being counted out, and DTK shoved it across the arena floor, only able to push its opponent forwards with the front of its flipper. Bernard then slid up DTK's flipper soon after, but it was unable to register a flip before Bernard slipped off again. With Mammoth smashed by the drop zone, Typhoon Cadet pitted and Bernard trying to push Sir Killalot, DTK focused on Alien 8R for the final few seconds, flicking it away and getting one last shove across the arena floor before time expired, and the judges' decided to send DTK through along with Bernard, eliminating Alien 8R.

Craig Charles: "I like the Featherweights and the little ones, cos it just seems like harder work, really."

Daniel Lambert: "Yeah, it is, but it's more fiddly than the big one."

— Post-battle interview

DTK flips Prince of Awe early on

In the final, DTK faced Bernard again, alongside Prince of Awe, Rampage 2, Rip and Whipper. DTK began with a missed flip on Rip, followed by similarly unsuccessful attacks on Whipper and Prince of Awe. As Bernard activated the pit, DTK flipped Prince of Awe over, who self-righted quickly, before flipping Whipper too. Whipper replied quickly, flicking over DTK with an attack of its own, but DTK righted itself immediately.

"Whipper gets rid of DTK - no it doesn't - DTK self-rights!"

— Jonathan Pearce

DTK is flicked by Whipper after self-righting

After flipping Bernard, DTK was lifted slightly from behind by Prince of Awe, before deciding to shove Rampage 2 from the side. DTK was then completely flipped over by Prince of Awe, but it self-righted quickly once again. It engaged again with Whipper, but both machines missed their respective flips; DTK turned to face Rampage 2, who appeared to be only driving on one wheel, flipping it up and over Bernard. Although Bernard chased DTK briefly, DTK escaped when Prince of Awe attacked Bernard. DTK then appeared to turn and face Rip, but the green machine drove itself into the pit, and DTK turned back to face the rest of the action. It then beached Bernard on its wedge while its flipper was raised, and this allowed DTK to guide Bernard into the pit.

DTK, about to pit Bernard

"Bernard edged towards the pit by DTK; three remain..."

— Jonathan Pearce as Bernard is pitted

DTK shifted its attention to Prince of Awe, flicking it away from Whipper's flipper. After overturning Whipper, DTK was able to get behind Prince of Awe, and pushed it across the length of the arena and down into the pit.

DTK flips Prince of Awe away from Whipper

"There, you can see DTK pushing Prince of Awe across the arena floor, and continuing to do so towards the pit! And Prince of Awe has gone! And then, there were two!"

— Jonathan Pearce

With seconds remaining, Rampage 2 was launched out of the arena by the Floor Flipper, and cease was called, with only DTK and Whipper surviving to the judges' decision. The judges awarded the battle to DTK due to its aggression, and it became the new Featherweight Champion.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 0

Series Record

Main Series	DTK Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Failed to qualify with Dantomkia
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
The Sixth Wars	Entered with Dantomkia
The Seventh Wars	Featherweight Champion Entered with Dantomkia
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Entered with Dantomkia

Although Dantomkia appeared in Series 8, it was not under ownership of Team Dantomkia, builders of DTK

Outside Robot Wars

DTK at the Dutch Robot Games in 2003

DTK with Dantomkia at the Dutch Robot Games

Front view of DTK on display in June 2025

DTK next to the Extreme Robots replica of Matilda

Before making its televised debut in the Seventh Wars, DTK first competed at the Dutch Robot Games in 2003. All three of its fights were rumbles against Katrip, RC 2, Peagal, and in the latter two, Inexistence. DTK won the initial four-way rumble, but otherwise lost the two five-way rumbles to Katrip.

DTK made an appearance at Extreme Robots in Guildford in June 2025, still under the ownership of Steven Gadsby. It did not compete, instead being a static display piece alongside Team Roaming Robots' replica of House Robot Matilda.

Trivia

• DTK was the last robot to win a non-heavyweight tournament during the TV show's run.
• DTK was the only featherweight robot to push multiple opponents into the pit during a single fight, although Argh! notably pitted Katnip and beached Bernard on the edge of the pit in the Extreme 2 Featherweight Final.
• With DTK, Team Dantomkia were the only team to directly defeat Team Typhoon in a non-heavyweight competition, after flipping Typhoon Cadet over in its first round battle.