Track-tion

Not to be confused with Fatal Traction.

Track-tion
Participation Information
UK Series	10
Team Information
Team	Collingwood Carnage
Team Members	Dan Marcus Anna Ben
From	Camberley, Surrey
Robot Statistics
Weight	95kg
Top Speed	9mph
Power	2x 5000mAh, 7s Turnigy LiPo
Drive	2 x CIM motors
Weapons	Crusher
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"This school team from Surrey is the youngest in the competition. They created Track-tion at their ‘Robot Wars Club’, and are mentored by their technology teacher and Aftershock Team Captain Will Thomas."

— The Robot Wars website

Track-tion was a heavyweight robot which competed in Series 10 of Robot Wars. It was designed and built by 12 and 13-year-old students from Collingwood College, mentored throughout by their teacher Will Thomas of Team Shock, who assisted the team at filming. After famously resisting the dangerous spinner of Apex, Track-tion finished third in its Heat, thereby qualifying for the 10 Robot Rumble.

Design

"Track-tion’s design is inspired by Sir Killalot's tracks, is made out of recycled parts from their school cupboards, and has a crusher that can exert 600kg of force."

— The Robot Wars website

Track-tion in the arena

Track-tion was the only robot in the Revival Series to run on tracks, using 2x CIM motors, offering the robot high traction at the expense of speed, hence the name. Its main weapon was a small crusher at the front sourced from Saw Point, an original series competitor which had been bought by Will Thomas prior to its construction. Exerting 600kg of force, the crusher was intended to allow Track-tion to grip and push other robots across the arena with ease. The robot's top armour consisted of polycarbonate, with mild steel used elsewhere, although the front end of the robot is protected by its fork wedges. Comically, a household chopping board is also used for armour, possibly as the baseplate. Track-tion could run inverted, although its tracks were heavily exposed to the weapons of opponents. Overall, Track-tion shares many similarities with the Series 5 incarnation of Suicidal Tendencies.

"The unique tracked design means Track-tion can run both ways and is so powerful it can pull the school minibus with the whole team sitting inside!"

— The Robot Wars website

Track-tion with Vulture's wedge, and its top armour removed

Track-tion in the arena with Vulture's wedge

Although it was not a planned feature of Track-tion's design, the robot fought two of its battles using a lifting scoop. Ahead of fighting the powerful spinner of Apex, an anti-spinner wedge designed for Vulture was loaned to the team by Team Immersion, and replaced Track-tion's claw. This was powered by the claw's actuator, allowing the wedge to push forwards and satisfy the active weapon rule enforced for the series. Rather than lifting opponents, the main purpose of the improvised scoop weapon was to protect Track-tion from spinners, and inflict recoil damage to them in return.

"Track-tion's crushing arm exerts 600kg of force and its armour includes novel use of a chopping board."

— Robot Wars: Build Your Own Robot

The Securotrack unit which became Track-tion

Track-tion's chassis was originally that of a Securotrack high propulsion unit, with an element of autonomy, built and designed for the University of Reading by John and Fiona Ryland for the 2008 MOD Grand Challenge. After being used for reconnaissance duties, the unit (and a a duplicate) was donated to Collingwood College by a former student who worked for Thales and was modified in just under three weeks, including the addition of the crusher. Footage of Track-tion as a Securotrack unit was used in a promotional trailer for Series 10.

Etymology

The name Track-tion is a pun derived from the word 'traction', while deliberately referencing the robot's tracks. The name has been written in different forms, with the Robot Wars website and official publications favouring Track-Tion, although project leader Will Thomas confirmed his preference of Track-tion.

The Team

The Track-tion team at Robot Wars

Collingwood Carnage and Will Thomas with Track-tion

Track-tion was entered by Collingwood Carnage, a team of schoolchildren between the ages of 12 and 13, from Collingwood College. The team captain was Dan and he was the lead speaker on television, also accompanied on-screen by Anna, Marcus and Ben. Dan and Anna were 13 years old, whilst Marcus and Ben were aged 12. Off-screen, the team were led by their teacher Will Thomas of Team Shock, who was the lead builder of the robot, as part of the 'Robot Wars club' he ran at the school. Will Thomas also present in the Track-tion team's official team photo. Whilst Will Thomas was competing in the same series with Aftershock, the Collingwood Carnage team would instead be supervised by their teacher Mr Winter.

Robot History

Series 10

Angela Scanlon: "Some of the teams have got twenty years of experience here. Do you think you have the edge?"

Dan: "We have three weeks' experience, so... I think we can take them on."

— Dan reveals Track-tion's lack of battle experience

Track-tion is flipped over by the Floor Spikes

Track-tion competed in Heat C, fighting Rapid and fellow newcomer Bucky the Robot in its Group Battle. On activate, Track-tion began slowly, turning towards Bucky the Robot, but Bucky the Robot dodged round it. As Rapid released the Fog of War, Track-tion trundled along, avoiding the other competitors. As the fog dispersed, Track-tion drove over the floor spikes, which fired, flipping Track-tion over, leaving it with a huge ground clearance.

"Who will be befuddled? Well, Track-tion seem to be going the wrong way. That's dangerous territory, they're caught on the spikes! That was because of the Fog of War. Now they've been ejected by Rapid - ooh they're flung out of the arena!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Track-tion is flipped out of the arena by Rapid

Rapid capitalised, and quickly pushed Track-tion towards the arena wall, before Track-tion was flipped clean out of the arena by the powerful flipper.

"Well played. They've had three weeks' experience, the Track-tion team, against one of the world's most accomplished team of engineers in Rapid."

— Jonathan Pearce

Rapid would eventually win the battle over Bucky the Robot on a Judges' decision, so Track-tion went through to the Robot Redemption Round with them, where it faced the runner-up of the second Group Battle of the heat, Apex. Before the fight, Track-tion was lent a wedge by Team Immersion in order to combat the massive spinner of Apex; the wedge was connected to the crusher's actuator, and used to replace the crusher itself.

"Will that bar weapon of Apex be vulnerable to the new wedge at the front of Track-tion? Oh, a bit tentative here, you know."

— Jonathan Pearce

Track-tion watches on as Apex destroys itself

Both robots began tentatively, with Apex allowing its bar to spin up to speed, while Track-tion lingered, barely moving off its starting position. Track-tion absorbed a small hit from Apex, with sparks flying off its wedge. It then received a second hit, with minimal damage taken, destabilising its opponent and causing Apex's spinner to hit its own pulley system. This sheared off Apex's weapon completely, and sent Apex itself flying across the arena in the opposite direction, while Track-tion watched on, making enough movement to prove its mobility. 'Cease' was called and Apex was pitted by Sir Killalot, while Track-tion progressed to the next round.

"No wonder they're elated, that team of schoolchildren has just beaten the biggest bar in Robot Wars history!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Track-tion is flipped out in the fastest Robot Wars battle ever

Track-tion opted to keep Team Immersion's wedge which had been taken from Vulture for its next fight, where they faced Rapid again. However, Track-tion did not last long against Rapid, as Rapid immediately drove under Track-tion's wedge and flipped it straight out of the arena in under 6 seconds, in what became the shortest battle in Robot Wars history. After a very quick defeat, Track-tion was relegated to the third place play-off of the heat.

"Very mean! The young aims and dreams crushed. You rotters, Rapid."

— Jonathan Pearce

This meant that Track-tion had to beat Vulture to qualify for the 10 Robot Rumble, after it was beaten by Terrorhurtz. Track-tion's team returned the borrowed wedge to Vulture before battle was due to commence, and used cardboard to try and protect the top of their robot. However, Vulture pulled out before the battle began after discovering pinched wires which were found inside the robot. Vulture could not be repaired in time, so Track-tion automatically qualified for the 10 Robot Rumble.

Will Thomas' crudely drawn face on Track-tion

There, Track-tion, the only newcomer in the battle, faced Apollo, Big Nipper, Concussion, Eruption, Expulsion, Iron-Awe 6, Sabretooth, Terrorhurtz and Thor, all vying for a place in the Grand Final. In homage to the fallen robot entered by the team's teacher Will Thomas, Track-tion mockingly referenced Aftershock by entering the arena with a cardboard replica of the spinner on the top of Track-tion, brandishing the name 'Afterflop' while also featuring Will Thomas' face drawn in marker pen - this modification had originally been designed to cushion the overhead blows of Vulture in the team's previous draw. Track-tion fought using its standard crusher setup.

"It's chaos!"

— Team captain Dan during the battle

Track-tion, complete with 'Afterflop', loses its track

Track-tion becomes the second robot to fall in the pit

Moving slightly before 'activate' was called, Track-tion slowly moved towards the centre of the arena, facing Expulsion, but could not catch its quicker opponents. The exposed tracks of Track-tion were quickly targeted by Concussion, and with a single blow from the drum spinner, one of the tracks was torn loose, then further dislodged by Big Nipper. This rendered Track-tion immobile in the opening stages of the 10 Robot Rumble. The pit was opened by Thor, and Concussion drove straight under Track-tion, skidding it backwards, and Terrorhurtz axed its crusher, while Expulsion drove straight into the pit. After a brief period of Fog of War, Thor pushed the immobile Track-tion into the pit, making it the second robot to fall in a battle ultimately won by Eruption.

"Track-tion, yes, still in there, and finally out! So two have gone!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 3

The third place play-off fight, where Vulture forfeited, is omitted from the Wins tally.

Series Record

Series	Track-tion Series Record
Series 1-7	Did not enter
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Heat, Third Place

NOTE: The students' teacher Will Thomas competed in Series 8 with Shockwave, Series 9-10 with Aftershock and Battle of the Stars Episode 2 as mentor for Soldier Ant.

Gallery

Track-tion with 'Afterflop' atop the body

Track-tion's Team Toad sticker (left panel)

Track-tion in its win against Apex

Team Collingwood Carnage and Will Thomas with Track-tion

Outside Robot Wars

Track-tion's chassis was scrapped some time after its appearance on Robot Wars, though Will Thomas kept its tracks and claw weapon. Its drive motors and Roboteq speed controller were also salvaged for use on Team Shock's newest robot, Tectonic.

Trivia

• Track-tion was the only competitor robot in the reboot to run on tracks, and was the first UK competitor to use this locomotion since Series 7's Trax.
• Track-tion was also the only newcomer to compete in the 10 Robot Rumble.
• Track-tion is one of two robots to be thrown out of the Arena multiple times in the same episode, the other being Cherub.
  • The two are also the only robots to be thrown out of the Arena multiple times by the same robot, Rapid in Track-tion's case, and Eruption in Cherub's.
• Various sources such as Robot Wars: The Official Handbook and The Pits have erroneously spelt the robot’s name as Tracktion and Traction, with the official website using the incorrect capitalisation Track-Tion; the team claim to use various spellings, with Track-tion being the leading choice.
• Track-tion's claw was salvaged from classic series competitor Saw Point, which Will Thomas purchased and rebuilt as Disc-Struction.
• According to Will Thomas, Collingwood Carnage started work on a new robot after Series 10 had been filmed, which was to be built from scratch for the first time.

External Links

• Track-Tion on the Robot Wars website
• Team Track-Tion Twitter