- Bridget Maasland: "It's very cute, but you do know you've got no chance with a robot like this."
- Jeroen Wolf: "We might get lucky. And our weapon revolves at great speed."
- — Bridget Maasland downplays El-Mower (Mech+ subtitles)
El-Mower was a competitor robot which exclusively appeared in the first series of Dutch Robot Wars. It won its first battle on a Judge's decision against Flextreme, but lost in the second round to eventual champion Slicer.
Design[]
- "It's basically an ordinary lawnmower, hooked up to a scooter engine. With 36 volts instead of 24 volts. So it's much more powerful."
- — Jeroen Wolf runs through the process of converting El-Mower (Mech+ subtitles)
El-Mower in the arena
El-Mower was a two-wheel drive machine featuring a rather unusual design, with an exposed frame based on a ride-on lawnmower, and a face-mounted spinning blade as its weapon. 'Sitting' directly behind the blade was a plush Elmo toy, which was intended to act as a 'distraction' to opponents. According to captain Jeroen Wolf, power was provided by 24V scooter motors running at 36V, although El-Mower's statistics referred to these as 'wheelchair motors'.
- "It is essentially an upright lawn mower. It has sharp blades. We hope to do a lot of damage with this, and to enjoy ourselves in Robot Wars."
- — Jeroen Wolf introduces El-Mower (Mech+ subtitles)
While aggressive, reliable, and very fast across the arena, El-Mower's weapon was rather ineffective, and its wheels remained exposed despite being placed at the back. The top-heavy design made El-Mower especially vulnerable to being flipped over, along with a lack of self-righting mechanism. The Elmo plush was also addressed as being flammable by Jeroen Wolf, though it managed to last both of the robot's battles relatively intact.
El-Mower in the second round
- "El-mower might look cute, but during a test drive in the garden, it mowed down several porcelain pots, and dredged a pond to smithereens."
- — Eric Corton (BNN broadcast, translated from Dutch)
Etymology[]
The name El-Mower is a play on the Sesame Street character Elmo, a stuffed toy of which sat on top of the robot during its appearances, alongside 'lawnmower', which the robot was constructed from.
Robot History[]
Dutch Series 1[]
- Bridget Maasland: "Is this just a distraction then? So they'll think they can take you?"
- Jeroen Wolf: "Yes. And if it catches on fire, which might happen, we'll patch him up with some band aids."
- — Jeroen Wolf confirms the purpose of the Elmo toy (Mech+ subtitles)
Competing in Heat D, El-Mower's first battle was against Flextreme.
- "A bit dull, all this. Sesame Street versus a greenhouse."
- — Eric Corton describes the match against Flextreme (translated from Dutch)
El-Mower pushes Flextreme
El-Mower receives surprise assistance from Shunt
El-Mower attacked Flextreme from the side, but could not damage Flextreme's top. It became side-locked with Flextreme, and tried to use its blade like a hammer, with no success. In the last few seconds of the fight, Flextreme pushed El-Mower from behind and attempted to grind it, with El-Mower becoming immobile in the closing stages. However, it made it to the end of the five-minute match, and the Judges awarded El-Mower with the victory, a decision that the Flextreme team notably protested against.
- Bridget Maasland: "It could get decapitated!"
- Team Slicer: "Well, I think the House Robots will do more evil than we will."
- Bridget Maasland: "What do you guys (El-Mower team) think?"
- El-Mower team: "We think the same! Frontal attack is the most dangerous thing that you could do against our robot."
- Bridget Maasland: "So do you think you have any chance whatsoever?"
- El-Mower team: "Well, the pit is going to have to help out a bit, and then maybe we have a small chance!"
- Bridget Maasland: "So that’s going to be your strategy, to go for the pit and push Slicer into it?"
- El-Mower team: "Yes, but it has strong motors and good caterpillar tracks and grip, so it’s going to be hard."
- Bridget Maasland: "So you’re kind of scared of it?"
- El-Mower team: "Yes."
- Bridget Maasland: "Well if I’m being honest, I am too!"
- — Interview with Bridget Maasland before the semi-final (translated from Dutch)
After a narrow escape to Round 2, El-Mower was drawn against the eventual champion Slicer. The team voiced their fears of Slicer to Bridget Maasland, outlining a pitting as their only hope of victory.
- "Well I hope she won’t start crying, that Bridget, because this could end very badly for the team of El-Mower! Ohhhh, look at that, doesn’t it look way too cute, that sympathetic lawnmower! And look at this team as well, that’s way too sympathetic looking, compared to Slicer with their determined faces."
- — Eric Corton on El-Mower and its team (translated from Dutch)
El-Mower is slammed by Slicer
Elmo is spiked by Shunt
At the start of the battle, El-Mower moved back, but then slowly came to a stop, and was buffeted by Slicer's drum and thrown across the arena. This single hit was already enough to immobilise El-Mower instantly, leaving it at the mercy of the House Robots, with Slicer delivering one more hit from behind before electing not to cause any further damage itself.
- "(As Elmo gets axed) This is not suitable for underage viewers! At least the team is able to laugh about it! Elmo on the barbecue! It’s not moving anymore, this roasting party is probably going to last a little longer. And Shunt is pushing it forward to what seems to be its final resting place. Anyone want an Elmo toastie?"
- — Eric Corton's running commentary (BNN broadcast, translated from Dutch)
El-Mower burns on the Flame Pit
El-Mower rests on its side after being thrown by the Floor Flipper
Shunt came in and axed the Elmo doll, before dragging the robot over the flame pit (which barely singed the doll, surprisingly). El-Mower was not moving, so it was counted out and then flipped by the floor flipper. Matilda finished it off by throwing it down the pit. El-Mower was eliminated at this stage at the hands of the eventual champion.
- "Elmo should’ve stayed in his line, mowing the grass!"
- — Eric Corton (BNN broadcast, translated from Dutch)
Results[]
| EL-MOWER - RESULTS | ||
| Series 1 | ||
| Dutch Championship Heat, Semi-Final | ||
| Heat D, Round 1 | vs. Flextreme | Won |
| Heat D, Semi-Final | vs. Slicer | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
El-Mower in the Robot Wars Magazine
| Dutch Series | El-Mower Series Record |
|---|---|
| Series 1 | Heat, Round 2 |
| Series 2 | Did not enter |
Trivia[]
- Despite the fact that El-Mower was put on the flame pit, the Elmo toy was barely singed- the only damage it took was a rip in its eye and a hole where Shunt axed it.
- The El-Mower team were the only team in Dutch Series 1 who were not interviewed on screen after their Round 1 victory. The reasons for this are not known.
External Links[]
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