Elvis

Elvis
Elvis from Series 2, in his "Vegas years"
Participation Information
UK Series	1-2
Team Information
Team	Team Orange Peel
Team Members	Neil Lambeth John Ebdon
Robot Statistics
Weight	83.0kg
Dimensions	140cm x 145cm x 80cm
Clearance	10-140mm
Top Speed	10mph
Power	2x12v batteries
Weapons	50 kg lifter & 12' circular saw
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Elvis was a heavyweight robot that competed in Series 1 and 2 of Robot Wars. It had a mixed run of success, being eliminated in the Gauntlet stage in Series 1, but reaching the Arena Semi-Final stage in Series 2, where it lost to Behemoth. The robot was named after the famous musician Elvis Presley.

Design

"For Neil Lambeth and John Ebdon, the most important apsect of their robot Elvis was fun. ... They struck on the idea of a UFO motif, which originally was to have had an alien driver in the cockpit. However, Neil and John were still not convinced. They eventually had the brilliant notion of having Elvis Presley as the UFO pilot. (You may be aware of the theory that Elvis did not die, but went to live on another planet.)"

— The Robot Wars Technical Manual

Elvis from Series 1

Elvis was a cone-shaped robot armed with a lifting ramp that could lift 50kg, and a 12-inch circular saw on the back. In all of its appearances, it featured a toy head of its namesake, Elvis Presley, on its top, which was enlargened for Series 2. In Series 1, it had a sparkling black shell (which represented the outfit Elvis himself wore during his early years as a musician) and was armed with a pneumatically-driven rivet ram, with a spiked tip. For Series 2, a new paint scheme was adopted, predominantly white and black and decorated to resemble the jacket worn during Elvis' 'Vegas stage, as the team and Craig Charles described it.

In both series, Elvis' body could be raised and lowered to give it an adjustable ground clearance, although it was made considerably lower for Series 2.

"Apart from presenting a splendidly bizarre sight, the comical design of Elvis has a practical application which is worth bearing in mind: not only is a curved surface hard to grab and hold, it also deflects blows very nicely.)"

— The Robot Wars Technical Manual

Robot History

Series 1

"...and the pretty paintwork is wrecked!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Elvis is cut into by Sergeant Bash

Elvis becomes stuck on the ramp

In its Gauntlet run Elvis attempted to go over the ramp, but its low ground clearance resulted in it getting stuck. Being stuck on the ramp, it was unable to move as its shell and paintwork was then ruined by Sergeant Bash's circular saw which then shattered, being made from hardened steel.

"...he's going to need some Blue Suede Shoes to get out of there! Oh you hounddog, Sergeant! Leave him alone!"

— Jonathan Pearce as time ran out on Elvis' gauntlet run, and Sergeant Bash's saw breaks

Its distance of 2.75m placed it sixth overall in its heat, resulting in it being eliminated.

"Good Heavens, its Jacques Villeneuve, except he's World Champion and you're not."

— Jeremy Clarkson to Neil Lambeth after their bad performance in the Gauntlet

Series 2

Elvis tries to knock down the bricks

Elvis returned for Series 2, entering Heat D. It started its Gauntlet run by raising its lifter and lowering its body, driving towards and trying to knock down the wall of bricks with its lifter. However, Elvis did not have the power to break through the wall entirely, although it still managed to travel further than Bodyhammer, allowing it to qualify for the Soccer Trial.

Here, Elvis started slowly, as Sergeant Bash set it on fire and Razer scored the first goal.

"Ooh! Hot stuff for Elvis, from the Sergeant... Elvis is on fire!"

— Jonathan Pearce, clearly delighted at the scene.

Elvis tackles Milly-Ann Bug

It lifted Milly-Ann Bug in the second round, allowing Behemoth to possess the ball and score the second goal as Milly-Ann Bug had its hair set alight by Sergeant Bash. Inquisitor scored next, then both Dead Metal and Sergeant Bash decided to attack an immobilised Milly-Ann Bug. This House Robot intervention allowed Elvis to steer the ball away and towards the goal, and nudge it over the line despite both Sergeant Bash and Dead Metal trying to stop it.

"Elvis is smokin'!"

— Pearce

Elvis is attacked during the fight with Behemoth

Elvis smolders in defeat

This allowed Elvis to reach the Arena stage, where it fought Behemoth in its Semi-Final. It was slow getting into action, but used its lifter to deflect Behemoth's attack and its saw to cause sparks to fly from its opponent's scoop. Eventually, Behemoth lifted Elvis, and pushed it into the PPZ where it was set upon by the House Robots. Following damage from Matilda, Shunt and Dead Metal Elvis was immobilised, and again had its body and head burnt by Sergeant Bash's flamethrower.

"Well, he did like his burgers 'flame-grilled'..."

— Jonathan Pearce, on Elvis being attacked by Sergeant Bash

However despite being eliminated, Elvis' head still remained in one piece. Needless to say, it was eliminated.

At the end of Series 2, Elvis was nominated for the Best Design Award. However, it lost out to Razer.

Results

Wins/Losses

The original Elvis without its shell

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 1

NOTE: Elvis's Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record

• Series 1: Heat, Gauntlet
• Series 2: Heat, Arena Semi-Final
• Series 3-7: Did not enter
• 2016-17 Series: Did not enter

Trivia

Elvis (along with Matilda) makes a cameo in "The Sopranos"

• Elvis was the first machine to redeem itself in the Gauntlet, succeeding in passing the stage in Series 2, having failed in Series 1. However, its run of 3.7m was one of the worst in Series 2 and it placed fifth.
• When the team took Elvis to the intial checks for Series 2, they discovered Elvis was slightly over the weight limit, which led them to rebuild the entire chassis, a job they only finished the day before filming started.
• Elvis is one of two competitor robots who appear in The Sopranos episode Mergers and Acquisitions; the other is ORAC, who appeared in the next heat of Series 2. The viewers can also catch a glimpse of Sergeant Bash and Matilda.

Honours

Nominations

• Best Design Award - Robot Wars: The Second Wars