Grunt

Grunt
Participation Information
UK Series	1, 1995 UK Open Competition
Team Information
Team Members	Matthew Dickinson
From	Coventry
Robot Statistics
Weight	45kg
Dimensions	1.4m x 0.46m x 0.25m
Clearance	3mm
Top Speed	15mph
Power	2 x 12v Wheelchair motors
Weapons	None
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"...tonight's fastest robot, with a top speed of 15 miles an hour. Running off two 12 volt wheelchair motors, with a zero turning circle and 3 millimetre ground clearance. Grunt is definitely lean, mean and deadly keen!"

— Jonathan Pearce introduces Grunt

Grunt was a robot which competed in the first series of Robot Wars: The First Wars. Originally built for the 1995 UK Open Competition, it was piloted in the series by Matthew Dickinson, the son of Judge Eric Dickinson.

Alongside WYSIWYG and Eubank the Mouse, Grunt participated as one of three stock robots built and supplied by the Robot Wars production crew, fighting alongside the 33 genuine competitors owing to a shortage of entries. Despite completing The Gauntlet in the second-fastest time of its Heat, it was eliminated in the Sumo Trial after driving straight off the platform in only 4.15 seconds.

Grunt's appearance in the 1995 UK Open was extensively highlighted in Robot Wars: The First Great War, where it participated in multiple combat and non-combat events. The released highlights also showcased a two-part clusterbot variant competing against heavyweight opponents; the first robot of its kind to have appeared in any Robot Wars competition.

Design

Grunt in The Pits

Grunt in the Heat A Sumo

Grunt was a relatively long, thin wedge-shaped robot with an all-over grey paint scheme, designed to loosely resemble a battleship. In the absence of powered weapons, it relied on its shallow wedge shape to drive underneath and control opponents, as showcased in highlights of its 1995 UK Open run. Design details included a functioning lightbulb; an external fan on the front-left surface; removable bladed hooks; and a recessed rectangular-shaped cutout likely simulating an aircraft catapult.

Internally, Grunt was powered by two 12 volt wheelchair motors, which gave it a high top speed of 15mph. A zero-turning circle ensured optimal agility to compliment its pace across the arena; a ground clearance of just 3mm proved especially advantageous in its 1995 events. At 45kg, the Series 1 incarnation was classified as a middleweight under the original UK Series build rules, though the televised show listed it as a heavyweight.

One build of Grunt as it appeared in the 1995 UK Open Competition

Grunt competes as a clusterbot at the 1995 UK Open

Two separate builds of Grunt were prepared for the 1995 UK Open, which could fight in single or dual configurations. While not acknowledged in The First Great War, the latter aspect made it the first clusterbot documented to appear at a Robot Wars event, predating the debuts of Triple Redundancy in 1996 and Gemini in The Fourth Wars. Each of the 1995 Grunt builds featured noticeable cosmetic differences over the Series 1 incarnation, along with a generally less detailed shell. One version incorporated twin exhaust pipes, vents, an air scoop and a smooth lower wedge surface with red, yellow and black detailing. The second version incorporated a similar recessed cutout and extra side panels to the Series 1 incarnation, with sets of three forward-facing red blades attached to either side of the cutout. Battle footage from the UK Open confirms that one version had two large wheels in the centre, surrounded by four smaller castors.

Qualification

Grunt being tested in the Series 1 audition

Grunt was present during the First Wars audition, where it is shown in one photograph being driven within chalked outlines illustrating a prototype Sumo arena. Outside of this test - likely devised to prove the viability of the televised Trial - very little is known about the robot's presence at the audition. Due to the low number of competitors, Grunt was brought into the competition.

Robot History

1995 UK Open

Grunt scoops and spins The Mouse around

One half of Grunt is scooped up by La Machine

As one of the handful of British-built robots prepared for the 1995 UK Open Competition, Grunt fought in multiple events against domestic and international opponents. Highlights of its appearance there would be featured in the home video release Robot Wars: The First Great War, showcasing the machine in its single and clusterbot forms.

Grunt collects an unidentified opponent

Grunt, accompanied by a rabbit-themed opponent

Clips from the event showed one half of Grunt fighting solo against The Mouse - the early incarnation of fellow Series 1 stock robot Eubank the Mouse - and two more unidentified competitors of similar size. The robot's shallow wedge shape proved very effective in getting underneath The Mouse and the first featherweight machine, allowing Grunt to control them effortlessly. One set of clips focused on Grunt performing a high-speed spin under the arena spotlight, with a rabbit-themed robot laying stationary in the background.

"The British robots were severely punished by their American cousins. British robot Grunt takes a pounding from the American heavyweight The Master."

— Craig Charles, over clips of Grunt battling The Master, Robot Wars: The First Great War

One Grunt cluster is overturned by La Machine, while the other fights The Master

Grunt successfully pins The Master and La Machine

Another series of clips saw Grunt - represented by its clusterbot form - battling established US heavyweights The Master and La Machine. A three-way melee involving these competitors resulted in one segment being turned over, while the other weathered repeated blows from The Master's sword. The surviving Grunt segment proceeded to pin The Master twice, at one point resulting in La Machine getting lifted upwards against the wall. La Machine ultimately recovered to ram both The Master and Grunt during the second pin attack.

Grunt is slammed out of the arena by La Machine

Additional clips of Grunt and La Machine saw one segment getting scooped upwards, then pushed sideways out of the arena boundaries. The latter moment was relayed by Craig Charles to be a loss for Grunt in the First Great War highlights.

"British triumphs were few and far between. This is America's La Machine, celebrating another victory over the Brits."

— Craig Charles as one Grunt segment is pushed out of the arena by La Machine, Robot Wars: The First Great War

The Grunt twins avoid chaos as La Machine takes the "Soccer" goal down

The clusterbot Grunt made a further known appearance in a "Soccer" match, again with The Master and La Machine as opponents. Both segments and The Master surrounded The Mouse (acting as a "House Robot" and referee) at one point, with La Machine also getting involved as a Grunt half succeeded in getting underneath Mark Setrakian's entry. Grunt stayed away from the chaos as La Machine brought down the goal, the two halves bumping each other with their wedge shapes. However, according to Greg Munson, it was likely pushed into the goal by La Machine - along with every other robot - during a separate moment not highlighted in The First Great War. While further details on the match are limited, it was again inferred by Craig Charles that the UK representative lost.

"The American robots even turned the gentle sport of soccer into absolute carnage. But while the British were left licking their wounds, the Americans turned their attention to fighting each other!"

— Craig Charles on Grunt's 'soccer' match against La Machine and The Master, Robot Wars: The First Great War

Series 1

Under the controls of Matthew Dickinson, Grunt appeared in the inaugural UK Robot Wars episode to be televised - Heat A of The First Wars. The sixth and last competitor to be introduced for that Heat, it was the fourth overall to attempt the Gauntlet course.

Matilda squeezes Grunt into the wall

Grunt immediately sped out of the turntable upon 'Activate', darting into the left-hand route and past Sergeant Bash. It ploughed straight under Dead Metal, who pushed and held Grunt back into the side railings. Grunt pushed back, forcing Dead Metal to drive forward and allow it to escape.

"...this is very quick so far."

— Jonathan Pearce

Grunt swerved around Dead Metal, only for Matilda to trap it against the side wall. Matilda let off the pressure momentarily, which was enough for Grunt to break free, smash through the pipes and reach the end zone.

Jeremy Clarkson: "You must know right, you have the choice of three courses, and you take on our three robots?"

Matthew Dickinson: "Err, it's quicker!"

Jeremy Clarkson: "You're not joking, that was a stunning run! Congratulations!"

— Post-Gauntlet interview with Jeremy Clarkson

It completed the Gauntlet in the second-quickest time, behind Nemesis.

Grunt takes a dive in Sumo

In the Trial, which was Sumo, Grunt was the fifth and last of the surviving competitors to attempt the challenge. It swerved away as Shunt closed in, but then drove too close to the edge of the ring, then over the side. Grunt's run ended after just 4.15 seconds, eliminating it from the competition.

"Not so nice, over in a trice! And Grunt goes in spectacular style."

— Jonathan Pearce

On television, Matthew Dickinson and Jeremy Clarkson acted as if this was a serious driving error.

Jeremy Clarkson: "You blithering idiot! Could you not see the edge?"

Matthew Dickinson: "Yeah, I could."

Jeremy Clarkson: "You did so well in the Gauntlet, I mean really good steering, and then really terrible steering!"

Matthew Dickinson: "It was, weren't it? It was terrible!"

Jeremy Clarkson: "I think you'd better go home, and really quietly, alright?"

— Post-Trial interview

According to Oliver Steeples, it is suggested that Grunt's driving 'error' was possibly intentional, as stock robots were allegedly not permitted to progress beyond the Trial stages. These circumstances, coupled with Grunt's fast Gauntlet run, frustrated members of Team Power, who felt that their competitor Barry would have performed better in Sumo.

"We were kicking ourselves. It would have been easy for Barry; no problem. When it came to Grunt's turn (watch out for this on TV) he drove straight off the edge. Why couldn't he have fallen in the Gauntlet so at least we would have been given the chance to show up the house robot, Shunt?"

— Daniel Parry of Team Power, on Grunt's exit

Results

Wins/Losses

• 1995 UK Open Wins: 1
• 1995 UK Open Losses: 2

NOTE: Grunt's records from the 1995 UK Open are based on highlights released in Robot Wars: The First Great War, and are thus incomplete. Its Robotic Soccer loss is also omitted from the 1995 UK Open tally.

Series Record

Series	Grunt Series Record
The First Wars	Heat, Trial
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
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

Grunt also fought in the 1995 UK Open Competition.

Gallery

Grunt in The Gauntlet

Grunt in The Pits in Series 1

Official image of Grunt

Outside Robot Wars

Grunt in the pits with Panic Attack and Eubank the Mouse at a charity event

Sometime after its appearance in Series 1, Grunt appeared at a charity event alongside Eubank the Mouse and Series 2 Grand Champion Panic Attack.

Trivia

• Grunt is one of twenty robots never to reach the Arena stage of earlier UK Robot Wars series, having only ever competed in The Gauntlet or Trials.
• Grunt is one of 23 robots to have completed The Gauntlet, and was the first non-heavyweight and first weaponless robot to do so.
• Of the three roboteers who controlled the Stock Robots in Series 1, Matthew Dickinson was the only one not to compete with genuine competitors in later series.