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Lifters are a common and wide-raging type of lifting weapon found in Robot Wars. Their primary purpose, as their names suggest, is to lift and turn robots over, using a variety of shapes and mechanisms.

Lifters were first used as early as the original 1994 US competition, quickly proving one of the more effective weapon types available to competitors. Of the three 1994 competitors to use one, The X-1 achieved the biggest success, securing the inaugural Middleweight Face-Off championship with its pneumatic-powered arm. The X-1's weapon was also one of the first to be described as a 'flipper'; a term later applied to similarly-designed, but substantially more powerful weapons.[1] Other notable machines to use lifters in this era include heavyweights The Master and BioHazard, the usage of which was critical to their heavyweight championship victories in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

In televised Robot Wars series, the first lifters included the tusks of House Robot Matilda and the forks of Series 1 competitor Shogun, both being seen in the very first UK episode. Other notable lifter-wielding robots include Series 2 champion Panic Attack - whose forks became larger and more powerful in subsequent appearances - Third World Champion Storm 2 and US Season 1 champion Panzer Mk2.

Definition[]

  • A lifter is not restricted to one specific shape or size, most commonly existing in the form of arms, forks, spikes, or even large plates resembling those of front- or rear-hinged flippers. They can be operated using a variety of mechanisms including, but not limited to, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or spring-based systems.
  • Lifters are designed primarily to lift opponents partially or completely off the ground, before turning them over or suspending them while the robot carries them around the arena. The main distinction between lifters and flippers is that during the attack, robots remain on the lifter until it is released, falls off, or is successfully rolled onto its side or back. This contrasts greatly with flippers, which aim to launch other robots into the air and allow gravity and torque to flip the robot over or out of the arena.
  • Certain lifters, such as those used by Eric and Panzer Mk2, were nevertheless powerful enough to turn opponents over instantly, somewhat blurring the above distinction.
  • A lifter equipped with a clamp(s) so that it can grab and lift at the same time is called a grappler.

Advantages and Disadvantages[]

Advantages

Panic Attack vs Whirling Dervish

Panic Attack topples Whirling Dervish onto its back in Series 2

The Steel Avenger vs King B Powerworks vs Tornado

King B Powerworks stabs Tornado with its forks during its Extreme 1 Mayhem battle

Bigcheeseshrapnel

The Big Cheese hoists Shrapnel over the pit

MortisSrimechS3

Mortis demonstrates its self-righting arm

  • Lifters were especially effective weapons in early series, being able to overturn robots and immobilise them instantly before the invention of the srimech. Panic Attack's runs in Series 2-4 are perhaps the best examples of this.
  • Lifting weapons usually had sharp ends, allowing them to double as ramming spears, spikes, or blades. King Buxton was consistently able to use its forks to jab and pierce through its opponents in its appearances, as did Dreadnaut during its Series 3 victory over Psychokiller.
  • Lifters could easily be incorporated into invertible robots. King Buxton, Suicidal Tendencies, Storm 2, Big Nipper, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. are among the most notable examples.
  • They could act as effective pitting weapons, with robots such as Panic Attack, The Big Cheese, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. all using their lifters to carry and lower their opponents into the pit with considerable success.
  • Lifters could offer a useful weapon synergy when combined with another weapon type, especially axes. It was not uncommon for lifting arms to be placed side-by-side with axes or hammers, with Mortis, Vercingetorix, and Comengetorix all featuring this synergy. Big Nipper was also notable for combining its lifter with a set of crushing claws.
  • Some lifters were capable of doubling as clamps, such as the lifting arms of The Big Cheese, Foxic, and the Series 4 version of Wild Thing.
  • From Series 3 onwards, they could be designed in such a way as to act as the robot's self-righting mechanism, reducing the need for a separate mechanism to be added (or invertible driving for that matter). Mortis' arm was capable of righting itself whenever it was flipped, while other lifting weapons such as Probophobia's forks were capable of rotating a full 360-degrees.
  • Lifters - especially in later series - could easily be incorporated into designs featuring interchangeable weapons. These can either take the form of a standalone weapon which could be exchanged for another (e.g. Big Nipper and Storm 2's arms in the reboot) or a single weapon with multiple configurations to suit different opponents (e.g. the various wedge, scoop and fork-type lifter ends designed for Foxic).

Disadvantages

Chaos 2 vs big cheese

After losing power during its Heat Final against Chaos 2, The Big Cheese's lifter was unable to act as a srimech

Hypno-Disc Stealth

Stealth's lifter mechanism is severed by Hypno-Disc

  • With the above exceptions, most lifters were not usually large or powerful enough to self-right. The Big Cheese's defeat to Chaos 2 in Series 3 was attributed to its lifting arm losing half of its power during their Heat Final, which prevented it from being able to lift itself back onto its wheels. Meanwhile, other robots such as Panic Attack required separate self-righting mechanisms which cost them in weight and/or weapon power. As shown by Panic Attack's various losses to Firestorm however, those self-righting mechanisms were not always effective or reliable either.
  • Lifters were often slower than flipping weapons, which meant that they were not able to be used effectively if opponents moved quickly enough. This setback was especially crucial in the decline of Panic Attack in later series, which, whilst able to eliminate Edge Hog and Spin Doctor, was overpowered by Kronic 2, Terrorhurtz, Tough as Nails and Dantomkia in Series 6-7.
    • Additionally, this often meant lifters were weak in offensive power (unless they had ramming spikes or so).
  • Often the weapons or their mechanics could be vulnerable to damage, perhaps more so than flippers. For example, Panic Attack's forks were easily susceptible to damage, as its encounters with Mortis, The Steel Avenger, Barber-Ous, Pussycat, and Tough as Nails demonstrated. Meanwhile Stealth's entire pneumatic mechanism - akin to that of earlier rear-hinged flippers - was destroyed by Hypno-Disc after its 'ram' was left open.

List of Robots with Lifters[]

Robots are listed in alphabetical order.

DESKTOP MODE ONLY: Robots which are not heavyweight entries are listed with a green background. House Robots are listed with a gold background. Robots from the original 1994-1997 US competitions are listed with a purple background.

Robot Series Appearances with Lifters Notes Image
A-Kill Series 6 Lifter was "powerful enough to lift the skin off a rice pudding", according to the team.
A-Kill Series6
Aggrobot Series 6-7, Extreme 1 A small bar at the bottom of Aggrobot's wedge would push down on the ground, lifting the wedge.
Aggrobot
Ansgar's Revenge Series 6, German Series
Ansgar's Revenge
Anty Geddon Series 2 Antweight; arm-like lifter.
AntyGeddon1
Anubis 1997 US Championship Middleweight. Pneumatic rear-hinged arm; referred to as a 'flipper'.[2]
ANUBIS
Armadillo Series 2 Featherweight Championship only; articulated rear 'tail'.
Armadrillo pits
Arena Killer Dutch Series 1, German Series Competed as Arena Killer in Dutch Series 1, and Absolut Krankhaft in the German series.
ArenakillerDRW
Arnold, Arnold Terminegger Series 4, Extreme 1 Front forklift-style lifter powered by a 400W winch motor. Lifting capacity of 140kg. In Extreme 1, the forklift was combined with an overhead axe weapon, with a scissor-like motion.
Arnold arnold terminegger
Beast of Bodmin Series 3 Small front 'flipping ram' mounted at the tip of its wedge.
Beast Of Bodmin Crop
Berserk 2 Series 3-4 A set of rear forks mounted on a larger arm. Series 3 Heat-Finalist.
Berserk 2
The Big Cheese Series 3 A large red lifting arm powered by a linear actuator. Capable of leaving other robots dangling in the air - even Sgt. Bash - and acting as a clamp.
The Big Cheese Crop
Big Nipper Series 5, 7-8, 10 Combined with a set of horizontal crushing claws to make a grappler. Series 5 version was a simple front-mounted lifter, which was redesigned from Series 7 onwards into a centrally-mounted arm enabling Big Nipper to self-right. Lifting capacity of 200kg in Series 7 and 300kg in Series 8. Interchangeable with another arm featuring a vertical flywheel in Series 8 and 10.
Big Nipper
BioHazard 1996-1997 US Championships Four-bar electric lifting arm with twin spring-loaded front plates - the first combat robot equipped with such a weapon. First robot documented to self-right with a powered weapon, doing so in 1996. 1996 and 1997 US Robot Wars Heavyweight Face-Off Champion; 1997 Heavyweight Melee Co-Champion.
Originalbiohazard
Centurion Series 3 Replaced with a flipper in Series 4.
Centurion1
Cherub Series 9 Cherub's two lifting forks turn 360 degrees, and can allow Cherub to handstand, and lift other robots.
Cherub S9
Comengetorix Series 5-6, Extreme 1 Lifting arm paired with a pneumatic axe. Successor to Vercingetorix which previously used this pair of weapons.
Comengetorix
Coyote Series 9-10 Featured two lifters which worked in conjunction with a vertical clamp to grip and lift, making it a grappler.
Coyote 10
Crackers 'n' Smash Series 9-10 Crackers originally featured a front-hinged lifting arm, which was replaced by a set of interchangeable rear-hinged lifters in Series 10.
Crackers
The Creature Series 4 Set of aluminium lifting tusks resembling those of Matilda. Tusks were electrically-operated.
The creature arena
Crusader Series 3-4
Crusader 2
Deadline Series 2 Featherweight four-bar lifter built by Team Terrafonics. Omitted from the televised broadcast.
Deadline
Depoppesaurus Rex Series 3 Predecessor to the more successful Philipper machines. First Belgian competitor in Robot Wars.
Deporex
Derek! Series 5 Added apparatus to help the lifter be used as a srimech. Used a vertical spinning disc in Series 6.
Derek
Diotoir Extreme 2 Equipped with a spring-loaded flipping weapon in previous appearances, but for Extreme 2, the weapon was in the form of a small lifting plate.
Diotoir
DooMore 1995-1996 US Championships Pneumatic spike was mounted on the end of a pivoting arm, offering the potential capability to 'lift a skewered opponent' upwards.[3] 1996 Heavyweight Face-Off Semi-Finalist and Heavyweight Melee Finalist.
DooMore96
Draggon Waggin' 1996 US Championship Pneumatic 'articulated jaw' functioned similarly to a lifter, though potential lifting capabilities were never addressed by the team. Erroneously referenced as Dragon Wagon in American Robot Wars 1996.
Draggon waggon
Dragon Extreme 2 Featherweight Championship.
Dragon rwe2
Dreadnaut Series 1-4 Small lifting prongs replaced with hardened steel forks from Series 2 onwards. Final incarnation, named Dreadnaut XP1, used an upgraded weapon system powered by motorcycle starter motors.
Dreadnautxp1
Dynamite Series 6 Loanerbot, representing Germany in the UK vs Germany Special.
Dynamite
Elvis Series 2
Elvis S2 Crop
Enzyme Series 2
Enzyme Crop
Eric Series 3-4 Hydraulically-operated 'lifting jaw', functioning both as a conventional lifting arm and a clamp weapon. Lifting capacity of 200kg.
Eric
Evil Weevil Series 3-4 Series 3 Semi-Finalist and Robotic Soccer champion. A set of three lifting forks, later two in Series 4. Combined with a pneumatic hammer in Series 4.
Evil Weevil
Falcon US Season 1-2 Initially interchangeable with an axe-like 'spike' weapon, became the robot's main weapon in US Season 2 with a slower mechanism. US Season 2 Grand Finalist as The Falcon Mark 2.
Falcon mark 2
Flipper 1996 US Championship Lightweight. Pneumatic rear-hinged lifting panel powered by airbrush propellant. 1996 Lightweight Melee finalist.[4]
Flipper 96
Flybot Extreme 2 Featherweight built by future Robot Wars champions Team MAD.
Flybot
Forklift Series 2 First 'forklift' style lifter robot.
Forklift
Foxic Series 8-9 Doubles as a guillotine clamp. Featured interchangeable lifting arm and plate in Series 8. Series 9 version featured a lifting arm with interchangeable wedges and hooks, including an anti-spinner wedge.
Foxic S9
Gator 1996 US Championship Lightweight. Front lifting arm utilising a custom rail, rod and sprocket mechanism. Intended to hold opponents off the arena floor for knockout 'pins'.[5]
Gatorhq
General Carnage Series 3 Featured a claw on the end of the lifting arm.
General Carnage S3 Crop
Griffon Series 2-3 Four-bar lifting arm powered by linear actuators, inspired by BioHazard. Series 3 iteration featured an upgraded weapon with a lifting capacity of 300kg. Series 2 Internet Insurrection winner; during the same battle, Griffon also became the first robot to turn Sergeant Bash over.
Griffon
Guzunderbot Series 5
Guzunderbot
Haardvark Series 2-3 Set of forks powered by a motorcycle starter motor, reprofiled and made out of hardened steel for Series 3. Series 2 Semi-Finalist.
Haardvark S2 Crop
Havoc Series 2 Interchangeable with a mace and a battering ram.
Havoc
Hellbent Series 7 Pneumatic lifting forks, capable of flipping opponents completely over. Used in tandem with a pneumatic axe.
Hellbent
Hercules 1997 US Championship Electric lifting arm with a claimed 270-degree reach and self-righting capabilities. Could be modified with interchangeable spiked or 'spatula' ends; plus spinning or static hammer weapons at the back.[6][7] 1997 Heavyweight Melee Finalist.
Hercules
HIGH-5 Series 9 Interlocking lifting/clamping jaws shaped like a pair of hands. Lifting capacity of 280kg.
HIGH5
House Robot (1994) 1994 US Championship 180-degree lifter; capable of turning lighter competitors over with ease. Used exclusively in Melee and Escort events.
Houserobot 1994
Immortalis Series 5 Pneumatic plough-shaped lifter with three sides.
Immortalis mag
Indefatigable Series 4 Spiked forklift, with a lifting capacity of 75kg.
Indefatigable front
Inquisitor Mk 2 Series 3 Only competed in the Series 3 Pinball Competition, but was able to overturn Matilda.
InquisitorM2Above
Inverterbrat Series 3-4 Pneumatic lifter consisting of two arms which could separate while lifting opponents. Lifting capacity of 100kg.
Inverterbrate Series 3
Judge Shred Series 3 Pair of lifting arms featuring sets of pincers on the end.
Judge Shred S3 Crop
Kick Robut Series 2 Super Heavyweight Champion. Most powerful lifter. Pair of rotating lifting spikes mounted either side of the robot's chassis.
Kick Robut
King Buxton Series 2-5, 7-8, Extreme 1 Pair of electrically-operated lifting forks. Series 2 Semi-Finalist and Series 4 Tag Team Terror champion alongside 101. Relied more on its pushing power than the forks.
KingBRemix
Kater Killer Series 4
Kater Killer
Mace Series 2-3 Used an electric lifting arm in Series 2. Was converted to a pneumatic lifting arm for its return in Series 3 as Mace 2. Two-time series semi-finalist.
Mace S2 Crop
Major Tom Series 4 Featured a lifting plate, replaced by a flywheel weapon in later series.
Major Tom S4
Manic Mutant Series 3
Manic Mutant
Mantis Series 7 Lifter acted as grappler with crushing claw.
Mantis
Marvin 1996 US Championship Lifting beam fitted with a front spike and a set of chains at the back. 1996 Heavyweight Melee Finalist.[8]
Marvin
Matilda Series 1-7, Extreme 1-2, US Seasons 1-2, Nickelodeon, Dutch Series 1-2, German Series Pair of pneumatic tusks lifting from within the front bodyshell. Upgraded in Series 4 and as part of her Extreme 1/Series 5 rebuild. Series 8-10 build converted the tusk design into a more powerful flipper assembly.
Matilda

Series 4 incarnation

Maximus Extreme 2 Front-hinged lifter described as a 'flipper'. Featured a circular saw protruding through the lifter plate.
MaximusStranded
Medusa 2000 Series 4 The lifting plate was mounted on the bottom part of the wedge, raising the front of the robot off the ground when opened.
Medusa 2000
Metalis Series 7 A 'full-body lifter', incorporating a three-sided lifting plough and a crushing claw. Base was spread around the perimeter of the machine, excluding the rear.
Metalis S7
Millennium Bug Series 4 A walkerbot.
Millenium bug arena
Mortis Series 3-4 First competitor robot to combine an axe with a lifting arm, used in tandem with its famous 'tantō blade'. Arm could act as a srimech. Series 4 War of Independence champion.
Mortis
Namreko 3000 1996 US Championship Grabbing/lifting jaws powered by 'lead-screw linear actuators'.[9]
Namreko3K96
NEATer Machine Series 7, Dutch Series 2 An A-shaped scoop-type lifter, converted from a static weapon first used by the robot's Dutch Series 2 incarnation, Neater. Lifting capacity of 100kg.
NEATer Machine
Panic Attack Series 2-7, Extreme 1-2 Pair of lifting forks operated by linear actuators. Series 2 Grand Champion and multiple Semi-Finalist in subsequent series. Came closest to lifting an opponent out of the arena.
PanicAttack-removebg
Philipper Extreme 1, Dutch Series 1 Utilised two lifters, at the front and rear. Instead used a flipper and crusher when competing as Philipper 2.
Philiper
Phoenix Series 7 Middleweight.
Phoenix Middleweight
Pika 3 Dutch Series 2
Pika3
Pokey 1996-1997 US Championships Middleweight. Front-mounted CO2-powered forklift. Lifting capacity of 'about 250lbs'.[10] 1997 Middleweight Face-Off Semi-Finalist.
Pokey vs scrappy
Probophobia US Season 2, Nickelodeon Pair of lifting prongs which could rotate 360 degrees and act as a srimech.
Probophobia
Raizer Blade Series 3-4 Four-bar lifting arm, operating at 2,400psi and powered by a Ford Granada-sourced AVS pump.
Raizer Blade
Rampage 2 Series 7 Featherweight Championship finalist.
Rampage 2
Razer UK Series 2-6, 8, Extreme 1-2,
US Season 1-2
Crusher 'tail' doubled as a lifter on very rare occasions. Front claw/hook attachments used similarly against Tornado's 'anti-crusher weapon' in Series 6 and Extreme 2.
Razer backwards lift technolease
Reaper NP2 The Third World Championship
Reaper np2
Red Dragon Series 3
Red dragon arena
Rex 1996 US Championship Heavyweight walker. Mechanism for the front clamping arms could be raised and lowered, possibly doubling as a lifter.
REX
RoboDoc Series 2
Robo Doc Crop
Robopig Series 3 A hinged spike mounted within the robot's 'snout', referred to as a 'Vicious Piggy Lick'. Weapon could alternately be used for lifting and bludgeoning opponents.
Robopig
Rohog Series 5
Rohog
Schumey Too Series 3 Pneumatic front lifting forks.
Schumey Too
Scorpion (1996) 1995-1996 US Championships Middleweight. The robot's 'hook-like tail', primarily intended for sit-and-spin attacks, could be used to lift opponents via a separate onboard motor.[11]
Scorpion middleweight 1996
Serpant Extreme 2 Antweight; worked in conjunction with a grabbing claw, making it a grappler.
Serpent
Shadow of Napalm Series 4
Shadow of Napalm
Shogun Series 1 First robot with a lifter in the UK Series.
Shogun Crop
S.M.I.D.S.Y. Series 3-7, Extreme 1-2 Earlier versions of the robot featured a set of jaws which could also double as lifting wedges. Top jaw was remodelled into a scoop-type lifter for Series 6 and Extreme 2, featuring a set of four spikes at the base. The lifter was redesigned again for Series 7, which also saw the lower jaw removed altogether.
S.M.I.D.S.Y
Snickers 1996 US Championship Lightweight incarnation (referred to by its team as Snickers 2) was equipped with a large lifting frame powered by two motors.[12] A lifting 'bumper' was also planned for the original 1995 Super Lightweight incarnation, but not used in order to meet the upper weight limit for this class.[13]
Roach
Spike (1996-1997) 1996-1997 US Championships Featherweight; two incarnations with electric-powered lifters. Original 1996 incarnation had a twin-forked arm at the back;[14] the invertible Spike II switched to a front-mounted arm operated by a custom linear actuator.[15][16][17] Featherweight Face-Off Semi-Finalist in both years; 1997 Featherweight Melee Finalist as Spike II.
Spike1996
Spike97
Spike (MTV) MTV Pilot Heavyweight based on an updated incarnation of the 1996-1997 featherweight; lifter incorporated an overhead grabbing claw. Participated exclusively in the unaired American Robot Wars 2000 pilot.
SpikeMTV
Spunkey Munkey 1996 US Championship Featherweight; armed with an electric 'lifting paddle' at the front.[18]
Spunky munkey
Stealth Series 3 Slow-actuating pneumatic "lifting ram", which had its rams famously sliced apart by Hypno-Disc. Referred to as a 'flipper' or 'flipper device' by Philippa Forrester.
Stealth NoBackground
Steg-O-Saw-Us Series 3 Series 3 Grand Finalist, but the lifting tail was almost never used.
Stegosawus
Storm 2 Series 7-8 Added a four-bar lifter for Series 7 in order to comply with the active weapons rule. Series 7 runner-up and Third World Champion, though relied on its speed and pushing power as its primary weapon. Made interchangeable with a front-hinged flipping arm and a vertical flywheel for Series 8.
Storm2
Suicidal Tendencies Series 4 Series 4's Suicidal Tendencies used a pair of titanium lifting spikes, used in tandem with a 'toothpick' axe. Used a lifting scoop in Series 5.
Suicidal Tendencies 2
Sumpthing Series 4, 6, Extreme 2
Sumpthing
Squirmin Vermin Nickelodeon Competed in US Season 1 as The Green Mouse.
SquirminVermin
T 2 Series 3 Modelled on a steam locomotive cowcatcher, claimed to have a lifting capacity of 182 or 300lbs.
T2 arena
Tazz 1996-1997 US Championships Electric lifting/thwacking arm connected to a 360-degree turret. Renamed Tazbot for 1997; two-time Heavyweight Face-Off Quarter-Finalist.
Tazz
Terror-Bull Series 4, 6
Terror-bull
Tetanus Series 5-6, Extreme 2 The original version used a single lifting spike, which was used in tandem with a set of four static claws to simultaneously lift, clamp and crush opponents, making it a grappler. Tetanus 2 initially used a set of forks with a top-mounted crushing arm; for Extreme 2, it was equipped with a third lifting fork, attached to a rollcage-style self-righting mechanism.
Tetanus
Technophobic Series 3 Armed hydraulic lifting arm.
Technophobic`
Texas Tornado US Season 2
TexasTornado
The Beetle 1994 US Championship Articulated front 'pincer arm' was designed to lift from its central pivots, though The Beetle mostly relied on its pushing power and the design of the arm's twin prongs to control opponents.[19][20][21][22][23] 1994 Heavyweight Face-Off runner-up.
The beetle 94
The Enforcer 1996 US Championship Lightweight. Electric lifting arm powered by a 12V car window mechanism. Replaced the robot's original arm-mounted cutting disc following early issues with weapon reliability. 1996 Lightweight Melee Finalist.[24][25]
The enforcer vs attlier the hun

The Enforcer (left) battles Attiller (the Hun) with its lifter

The Gap US Season 2 Described by the show as a 'pneumatic lifting platform'.
The Gap Pits Crop
The Green House US Season 1 Later converted into Vert-I-Go.
The green house
The Green Mouse US Season 1 Later converted into Squirmin Vermin.
Green mouse arena
The Master 1995-1996 US Championships
1995 UK Open
Electric rear-hinged arm with tip spikes and a lifting capacity of 500lbs (approximately 226.8kg). One of the robot's 'modular' weapons used throughout its 1995-1996 campaign, frequently in tandem with its circular saw. 1995 US Heavyweight Face-Off Co-Champion.[26]
TheMaster
The Morgue Series 4-5 The Morgue in Series 4 had front lifting forks powered by a linear actuator, based on a 'shunt-and-lifting' system. Capable of lifting 150kg. Later versions generally used a variety of pneumatic lifting and flipping weapons, though Mini Morg would use lifting forks in Series 5.
The Morgue
The Mule Series 2 CO2-powered forklift with a lifting capacity of 150kg, used in tandem with three pneumatic 'bucking legs' on the sides and rear. Winner of the Best Engineered Robot award in Series 2.
The Mule
The Predator Series 4 Front-mounted forklift.
Predator
The Scorpion 1997 US Championship Base of the robot's 'tail' was redesigned for this event to function as a secondary rear-facing lifter, also referred to as a 'scoop'. The entire weapon was powered by a hydraulic system, with the thwacking 'stinger' component being articulated through a double spring mechanism.[27][28]
Scorpion 1997
The Steel Avenger Series 5, 7, Extreme 1-2 Rear weapon added after the 100kg weight limit was introduced, to compliment its primary bladed axe.
Steel Avenger
The X-1 1994-1995 US Championships 1994 Middleweight Face-Off Champion. One of the first three Robot Wars competitors to use a lifter; in this case a pneumatic-powered arm capable of turning opponents over.
X195
The X-2 1996 US Championship Featherweight. Fast-actuating pneumatic forklift, capable of flipping opponents in its weight class over with ease. 1996 Featherweight Melee Champion and Face-Off Quarter-Finalist.[29]
X-2 RW96
Thor (1995) 1995 US Championship Hydraulic spiked hammer was modified to feature an angled plate for the 1995 Heavyweight Face-Off Final and Melee matches, presumably to lift and ram opponents. Finished as Face-Off runner-up and Melee finalist in this configuration.
Lamachine vs thor
Thumper 1997 US Championship 1997 Autonomous champion. Front electric lifter powered by two 0.5hp motors; power output could be adjusted through the use of a spring. A second set of 360-degree rotating arms could also double as extra lifters and self-righting mechanisms.[30][31]
Herculesvsthumper

Thumper battles Hercules

Tiny Tim 1994 US Championship Very tall forklift.
Tiny Tim
Tornado Series 7 Part of its interchangeable weapons system. Used in one fight only, during its Heat Final against Tetanus Booster.
Tornado Lifter
Tridentate Series 6 Set of three small rotating spikes, two of them of which are able to rotate a full 360 degrees.
Tridentate
Turtle Roadkiller 1997 US Championship Middleweight. Pneumatic front flap intended to 'flip' opponents over; proved secondary to the robot's ramming capability.[32] 1997 Middleweight Melee Champion.
Turtleroadkiller
UFO Series 6 Later used a front-hinged flipper in Series 7.
UFO
Vector Series 3 Said to double as piercing arm and srimech.
Vector
Vercingetorix Series 2-4 Purely a lifter in Series 2 and 3, later paired with a spiked axe in a similar configuration to Mortis for Series 4.
Vercingetorix
Vert-I-Go Nickelodeon Converted from The Green House.
Vertigo
Vlad the Impaler 1996-1997 US Championships Twin pneumatic lifting forks cut from metal pipe sections, which could also be used as ramming spears. 1996 Heavyweight Face-Off Semi-Finalist.
Vladtheimpaler 1996
Weld-Dor Series 3 Front lifting forks with a lifting capacity of 90kg.
Weldor
Wild Thing Series 4-5, Extreme 1 A lifting lance capable of acting as a clamp and a self-righting mechanism. Combined with a horizontal spinning disc in Series 5/Extreme 1.
Wildthing s4 mag
X7 1997 US Championship Lightweight clusterbot, incorporating an updated version of The X-2 (X3) with a larger CO2 canister.[33][34] 1997 Lightweight Face-Off Semi-Finalist.
X7
X-Terminator 2 Series 4 Interchangeable with the robot's signature axe, but proved the more effective weapon in battle, reaching the Semi-Finals of Series 4 with this weapon. Later replicated as the robot's weapon of choice in its minibot.
XTflipper
√3² Dutch Series 2 Three-part clusterbot, although only two segments featured lifting or flipping weapons. S.O.Xbot featured a linear actuator-powered lifting arm, while Elevation featured a larger pneumatic-powered flipping arm; the latter was only able to lift heavyweight opponents due to its small size.
V3

References[]

  1. 'New Page 1', Robot Action League website (archived)
  2. 'ANUBIS', Team Spike website (archived)
  3. 'DOOMORE', Team Spike website (archived)
  4. 'FLIPPER', Team Spike website (archived)
  5. 'Gator's Construction in 96', Gator website (archived)
  6. 'Hercules 1 - Robot Design & Build page', RobotCombat.com
  7. 'Hercules 1997 - Battle 1', RobotCombat.com
  8. 'MARVIN', Team Spike website (archived)
  9. 'Namreko 3000', Team Spike website (archived)
  10. 'Pokey @BoilerBots.com', BoilerBots.com (archived)
  11. 'SCORPION', Team Spike website (archived)
  12. '1996 Roach and Snickers 2', Grayson DuRaine's website (archived June 27 2001)
  13. '1995 Snickers', Grayson DuRaine website (archived June 27 2001)
  14. 'The Story Of Spike', Team Spike website (archived)
  15. 'Spike II - RW 1997', Team Spike website (archived)
  16. 'Spike II - Design & Construction', Team Spike website (archived)
  17. 'The Event', Team Spike website (archived)
  18. 'SPONKEY MUNKY', Team Spike website (archived)
  19. Brad Stone (2003), Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.44
  20. 'Robot Wars 1994 Official Promo', ASilva528 (YouTube), uploaded February 18 2015
  21. 'next step', compilation of Next Step segments on the 1994 US Robot Wars event uploaded by garth knight (YouTube), March 1 2009
  22. 'Robot Wars 1994 Highlights Part 1', ASilva528 (YouTube), uploaded February 18 2015
  23. 'Robot Wars 1994 Highlights Part 2', ASilva528 (YouTube), uploaded February 28 2015
  24. 'Maximus Pulverous Machinicus' [The Enforcer], Al Kindle/Minion website (archived)
  25. 'THE ENFORCER', Team Spike website (archived)
  26. 'Team Sinister', Team Sinister website (archived)
  27. 'SCORPION', Team Spike website (archived)
  28. 'Robot Wars 1997 Interview: Ray Washburn with Scorpion', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 2 2021
  29. 'X2', Team Spike website (archived)
  30. 'Robot Wars 1997 Interview: Bob Gross with Thumper', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded April 29 2021
  31. 'ROBOT WARS 1997 AUTONOMOUS CLASS CHAMPION', Joseph W. Partlow Robotics website (archived)
  32. 'Turtle Roadkiller', Team Spike website (archived)
  33. 'Robot Wars 1997 Interview: Mike Winter and team with The X7 and Doughboy', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 1 2021
  34. 'X7', Team Spike website (archived)

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