Mantis

Mantis
Participation Information
UK Series	7
Team Information
Team	Team Remove-All
Team Members	Duncan Chan-Pensley Jonathan Leversedge Chris Barber
From	Balderton, Nottinghamshire
Robot Statistics
Weight	100kg
Dimensions	0.24m x 1.63m x 1.17m
Top Speed	15mph
Power	18 amp Micro Kiel batteries (12V)
Drive	2x Bosch GPA 750W motors
Weapons	Hydraulic gripping arm & lifting mechanism
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"They'll be praying their hydraulic crusher and lifter works."

— Jonathan Pearce

Mantis was a competitor robot that solely took part in Series 7 of Robot Wars. Mantis reached the second round of the main competition and also won the Crusher Crunch Up special event.

Design

"Has the hydraulic crush and lift capability, parading its opponents before its peers like a true gladiator! Quite quick, but the exoskeleton can be hooked and lifted and the tyres are too exposed."

— Jonathan Pearce describes Mantis

Mantis with its lifters raised

Mantis was a two-wheeled robot, armed with three long lifters, with a massive lift capability, and a hydraulic crushing beak, meaning it could lift and crush simultaneously in a similar fashion to Tetanus. The main tactics were to grab hold of opponents and then drop them in the Pit or out of the arena, but it never succeeded in either. The lifter and crusher did prove very effective however at holding opponents off the arena floor, and carrying them to the CPZs or hazards such as the flame jets.

Mantis enters the arena with its lifters up

The robot had Bosch GPA 750w motors and 4QD NCC 70 24speed controllers, and was powered by 12 Volt, 18 amp Micro Kiel batteries, giving a high top speed of 15mph (quoted as 14mph by Jonathan Pearce). The robot's chassis was constructed from thin box section steel, with pieces of angle iron, tubing and alumininum, but due to being right at the top of the weight limit, the robot had very little armour, meaning the exoskeleton could be easily hooked, and the wheels were unprotected which cost it against Kat 3.

"This is the strength of your robot so don't scrimp on the design, it may eat into your weight budget but armour or no armour if the chassis can't hack it your guaranteed trouble against today's big hitting opposition. All credit to Chris here we have actually never had a structural failure in battle and we've got no armour !! He welded thin box section steel together for ours but I've seen angle iron, tubing, aluminium, I think I have even seen parts of a Rolled Steel Joist somewhere."

— Team Remove-All website on Mantis' chassis and lack of armour

The robot's wheels, chains and sprockets were taken from kart racers, the robot's motor controllers were bought from 4QD, the batteries were bought from RS Components, and the removable link was bought from Technobots, the online store founded by the team of fellow Series 7 competitors M2. The robot's radio gear, including the controller, receiver and servos, was a a Futaba Skysport 6, bought from a model shop.

"It's different to the others, that's the main thing. We didn't want to just copy other peoples' designs, so we've come up with our own!"

— Chris Barber on the design of Mantis

Etymology

Its name is derived from the praying mantis insect, famous for their extended forelegs for catching and gripping prey, which inspired Mantis' design.

The Team

The complete Team Remove-All

Team Remove-All in Series 7

Mantis was built by Team Remove-All, a team of five roboteers from Balderton in Nottinghamshire, captained by Duncan Chan-Pensley. Due to the limit on team members, three of the five members were seen on television; Duncan, Jonathan Leversedge (nicknamed "Coug" on the team's website) and Chris Barber. They were also assisted by friends Paul Cottam and Steve Baker during the build process. The team had first seen Robot Wars during its very first series, but it took them many years to design Mantis.

"Mantis was a long time coming ... about seven years in reality, but from the very first time we watched a new program called "Robot Wars" we knew we had to have a go. 5 years later, the Friday night pub banter had got us nowhere, just a few slurred concepts, one or two out of focus ideas and a misguided conviction that "...we could do better than that, no sweat". Then in a frenzy of organization a Robot Meeting was called; "Right you lot, be round at Paul's flat, bring your ideas and NO alcohol until later" was the battle cry."

— The team website on the origins of Mantis

Duncan was a retired engineer, who organized the team and wrote the team's website. Jonathan worked for a hydraulics company and did the wiring for Mantis, whilst Chris constructed the chassis

"A superstar DJ at the weekend, Chris is the fabrication expert in the crew; this boy could weld air together if he wanted to (if you get the chance, check out the chassis). Building and maintaining lifting platforms is his actual vocation and the guy is a total workhorse. Talk about dedication to the cause, often working an hour before and after an 8 - 10 hour shift Chris is the reason we were able to build Mantis in under two weeks, not that the rest of us got much of a look in mind you !!"

— The team website on Chris Barber

Of the untelevised members, Paul Cottam was an engineer who manufactured parts for Mantis, and Steven Baker also sourced parts for the team.

"An Engineer by trade and whizz on the old centrelathe, many parts for Mantis have been manufactured by this talented individual (when his boss allows it). ... We couldn't do without him and his ability to turn up impressive components free of charge is marvelous"

— Mantis website on Paul Cottam and Steven Baker

Qualification

The robot was only finished the night before the Series 7 qualifiers, and although the team were not able to give the robot armour, Mantis qualified. It is unknown which robots it fought at the qualifiers.

"I'd been following the forum on the UK Robot Wars site for some time looking for build tips etc. when news started to be posted about series seven, I told the lads and we agreed that if the opportunity came up we'd put in an application and see what happened. Eventually the details where posted, I downloaded the forms, filled 'em out and off they jolly well went. Large portions of nothingness went by, filming dates approached, there was no chance, oh well next year we'll have another go, hell we might even have built it by then. So I'm checking the post one morning hoping for DVD's I've ordered, when I notice a large envelope, I kid you not I had X-ray vision that day 'cos I knew what that was, you beauty. Slight problem though filming is in two weeks and we're NOWHERE near ready. Copious amounts of text messaging later ( I ran up about fifty quid on texts alone that month) and everyone's on board, we're getting this baby on telly make no mistake, we had a purpose and a vision nothing is getting in our way. Well not for a couple of weeks anyway, No Home life, no sleep, no nothing, I think we put in at least forty hours build time in that fortnight on top of our everyday jobs. We finished the night before qualification, not unusual in the robot fraternity, but it ain't ideal, I was stressed, I had backache and worst of all MY HANDS WHERE DIRTY, it had better be worth it !! So there you have it Mantis was complete. Ready for series seven. Well, ready as you can be in two weeks anyway, only we had no armour... not this time anyway., but like I said we will EVOLVE. {sic}"

— Team Remove-All website on the weeks leading up to the Series 7 qualifiers

Robot History

Series 7

"New to Robot Wars, they better start praying."

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis enters the arena

Mantis competed in Heat K of Series 7 and its first battle was against fellow newcomer Jabber (who was also from Nottinghamshire, the same county as Mantis), veteran Infernal Contraption and the twelfth seed and Tag Team Terror champion Bulldog Breed.

Chris Barber: "This beak here is in a raised position, and we can drive under the others hopefully, the beak comes down and we can actually lift them off the ground."

Jayne Middlemiss: "You're basically hoping to either drop them in the Pit..."

Chris Barber: "In the Pit, over the side, feed them to the House Robots, toast 'em, whatever!"

— Chris Barber explains his plan before Round 1

Mantis carrying Jabber

Mantis holds Jabber over the arena wall

Mantis started the battle near the Pit, and whilst Bulldog Breed charged up the arena at its two opponents, Mantis drove forwards, driving straight into Refbot's side. Mantis tried to turn to face up the arena, but turned against Refbot, so Refbot reversed. Mantis drove up the arena, driving around Infernal Contraption, which turned to attack Jabber. Infernal Contraption and Jabber came together, and Mantis got behind the two of them, but before it could attack, Bulldog Breed charged in, driving between Jabber and Infernal Contraption and pushing past the two. Bulldog Breed pushed against Mantis' front lifter, so Mantis reversed. Whilst Bulldog Breed chased after Infernal Contraption, Mantis went after Jabber, getting its lifter underneath and grabbing it with the crusher, then lifting it off the floor. Mantis turned and carried Jabber over to the arena wall, driving into an angle grinder.

"And Jabber has been picked up very easily by Mantis! This is what they said they hoped to do, the Mantis team; Duncan Chan-Pensley, Jonathan Leversedge and Chris Barber - pick a machine up and dump it out of the arena very quickly."

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis carries Jabber to the arena wall

Mantis pushes Jabber against Refbot

Mantis held Jabber over the arena wall, but could not drop it over the fence, so it reversed. Bulldog Breed was in the top left CPZ, trying to flip Infernal Contraption out of the arena, and Mantis carried Jabber over to the corner, driving into Refbot, which had driven over to the corner. Mantis pushed Refbot, who reversed away, and Mantis turned and drove across the arena. Bulldog Breed followed it, and got around to Mantis' front, getting under Mantis' lifter, which still held Jabber. However, Bulldog Breed could not get under Mantis' ground clearance, so it turned away.

"And still, Mantis can't finish Jabber off. So we know Mantis can clutch and lift a machine up off the arena floor, but can they dump? Can they release a machine?"

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis carries Jabber around

Infernal Contraption is attacked by Bulldog Breed and Mantis

Mantis turned and carried Jabber down the arena, and as it neared the bottom right CPZ, Bulldog Breed charged into its side. Bulldog Breed tried to get its flipper underneath, but Mantis turned, causing Bulldog Breed to drive into the arena wall. Mantis pushed against Bulldog Breed, getting its middle "leg" under Bulldog Breed, trapping it under the lifter. Mantis pushed Bulldog Breed away from the arena wall, still holding Jabber, but the combined weight proved too much to push too far, and Mantis got stuck. Infernal Contraption slammed into the side of Mantis, and Bulldog Breed fired the flipper, which helped it struggle free of Mantis' front. Mantis reversed, still holding Jabber, and turned around. Mantis drove to the top of the arena, carrying Jabber over to Sgt. Bash's CPZ, where it finally let go of Jabber, dropping it in the CPZ.

"What is Mantis going to do eventually with Jabber? Drop it is the answer."

— Jonathan Pearce questioning the tactics of Mantis

Mantis lifting Bulldog Breed at the end of the battle. Note: the mesh falling out of Bulldog Breed

Because of this attack, Jabber had lost drive on one side, so Mantis left it for Sgt. Bash to attack, reversing away from the CPZ. As Mantis drove towards the arena centre, Bulldog Breed rammed Infernal Contraption up against its side, so Mantis turned away, driving close to Sgt. Bash's CPZ. It turned away, but then appeared to stop. Infernal Contraption charged at it, so Mantis drove across the arena. Bulldog Breed drove around it, but as Bulldog Breed tried to find a way to get underneath, Mantis turned and got its front prongs under Bulldog Breed's side. Bulldog Breed got off, and Mantis drove down to the bottom of the arena.

"Mantis has done enough for me, in terms of aggression and style, should it go to a Judges' decision."

— Jonathan Pearce

The melee comes to an end

Bulldog Breed chased after it, but Mantis turned to face it. Bulldog Breed could not get under Mantis, but pushed it against the Pit release button. At that moment, mesh came out of Bulldog Breed and trailed across the arena floor, having been dislodged by Infernal Contraption in an untelevised moment where it got under the flipper. Bulldog Breed rammed back into Mantis' front prongs, but couldn't get underneath them and Mantis reversed. Jabber drove down the arena at Mantis, having regained full mobility, and Bulldog Breed reversed against Mantis' front, but Mantis pushed past them, and both opponents reversed away as Mantis drove up the arena. Infernal Contraption was in the top half of the arena, so it fought Mantis, getting behind it, but Bulldog Breed charged up the arena, pinning Infernal Contraption against Mantis. Mantis drove forwards and turned around, driving straight onto the front wedge of Bulldog Breed, but it slid off the side before Bulldog Breed could flip. Bulldog Breed drove at Jabber and flipped it over, but this allowed Mantis to get at its side and get the lifter underneath. Grabbing Bulldog Breed with the lifter and the crusher, Mantis lifted it clean off the ground. However, as Mantis tried to pull Bulldog Breed back, Bulldog Breed fired the flipper, which allowed it to fall out of Mantis' grip. Meanwhile, Infernal Contraption was attacking the back of Mantis, so Mantis drove away. Time ran out, with all four robots having survived to a Judges' Decision.

"Bulldog Breed into Infernal Contraption, good attack! Points scored there; good style, good control, good aggression! Mantis, had done well against Jabber, well enough I think, at this stage."

— Joanthan Pearce reviews the highlights before the controversy

Mantis qualified for the next round along with Bulldog Breed, who was given a yellow card for the use of mesh around its cylinders for the flipper.

Mantis went on to face the very experienced Kat 3 in the second round of the heat.

Jayne Middlemiss: "How are you going to deal with Kat 3? They've got a big axe, and your bodywork's pretty exposed."

Duncan Chan-Pensley: "Not really bothered about the axe, too much, we'll try to keep out of the way, but we can't necessarily use what we've got to effect, because it's low to the ground, so we don't know whether we can get under it. We've got other tactics."

Jayne Middlemiss: "What are your other tactics?"

Duncan Chan-Pensley: "We're not sure yet."

— Pre-battle interview

Kat 3 axes Mantis

As the battle started, Mantis drove across the arena, driving past Kat 3 to the side of the arena, where it turned around. Kat 3 turned to face it, and the two competitors drove towards each other, but Mantis drove around Kat 3's side. Kat 3 turned to face Mantis, but Mantis turned around and drove away from Kat 3, which missed a blow with the axe. Mantis drove away from Kat 3, driving onto the Drop Zone square and turning around, hitting Refbot with its front legs. Kat 3 drove towards Mantis, but stopped and fired the axe too early, before it was near enough to Mantis.

"Can Mantis devise a way then, picking Kat 3 off the arena floor? A 0.2 centimetre ground clearance on Kat 3, very low, protected by the front scoop."

— Jonathan Pearce at the start of the battle

Mantis turned and drove towards the side of the arena, but Kat 3 chased after it, getting at the side of Mantis and firing the axe into its exposed body. However, as it tried to pull the axe back, it caught on the skeletal frame of Mantis. Kat 3 fired the axe again, and tried to pull the axe free, but as it reversed, the axe went up again, hooking the frame again. As Kat 3 tried to get the axe free, Mantis took advantage, reversing and pulling Kat 3 with it. Mantis backed into Refbot, which reversed away, and Mantis continued to reverse around in a circle, pulling Kat 3 with it. Mantis stopped pulling, and raised its lifter, then pushed against Kat 3, which was still struggling to get its axe free.

"I said right at the start of the programme, I thought that exoskeleton, the exposed parts of Mantis, the bones, would be susceptible to a hook, a grapple."

— Jonathan Pearce as Kat 3 gets its axe in Mantis' frame

Mantis sustains another blow

The two struggled against each other, driving up the arena, until Mantis was able to turn, pulling the axe free from under its frame. Mantis drove down the arena, and turned around and backed into the Pit release button as Kat 3 drove down the arena after it. Kat 3 got beside Mantis, and fired the axe, which slid over the crusher and onto Mantis' body, but Mantis pushed past, and drove to the arena side wall. Mantis turned to face Kat 3, but turned to far, hitting an angle grinder with its lifter. Kat 3 closed in, pinning the lifting arms against the angle grinder. However, as it turned to try and attack Mantis, it turned too far. As Kat 3 turned for another attack, Mantis turned to try and get the lifter under Kat 3, so Kat 3 reversed. Mantis moved away from the wall, then turned around as Kat 3 drove at it, and managed to drive away as Kat 3 closed in, causing Kat 3 to miss its charge, firing the axe at the arena wall.

"Ah, that's a good turn away! That was good style, very stylish indeed!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis turns away Kat 3

Mantis turns Kat 3 onto its side

Mantis drove up to the top of the arena, with Kat 3 driving after it. Kat 3 and Mantis drove at each other head-on, with Kat 3 firing the axe at Mantis as it tried to get its lifter under Kat 3's front, but the axe merely glanced off the crusher. Mantis got its front lifter under Kat 3's side, but when it turned to try and grab it with the crusher as well, turned just a little too far, so the crusher came down past Kat 3's side. Mantis reversed a little, which allowed Kat 3 to get free. Kat 3 drove to the top of the arena, and Mantis chased after it, getting its lifter under the back of Kat 3, lifting it up and turning it over.

"What can Mantis do, offensively? Pushing, lifting, ah, we know it can do that! Now that's interesting, because Kat 3 has to self-right."

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis turns Kat 3 over

One axe blow flicked Kat 3 back upright, and it turned around and drove back at Mantis. Mantis tried to get its lifter under Kat 3's side, but Kat 3 turned to get off the lifter, then fired the axe, which hit the inside of Mantis. Kat 3 pulled the axe free, and Mantis pushed it a little. Kat 3 reversed, which caused it to miss when it fired the axe. The axe head briefly got caught in the Floor Flipper, but Kat 3 was able to shake the axe free and it turned away. Kat 3 drove across to the side of the arena, and Mantis chased after it. Mantis caught up with Kat 3, and tried to get its lifter under Kat 3's side. The two robots turned around together as Mantis tried to get the lifter underneath, until Mantis tried reversing. Kat 3 drove alongside it, firing the axe, which fell beside Mantis. Mantis drove under the front of Kat 3, getting the lifter under the side. Mantis tried to grab Kat 3 with its crusher, but it merely glanced off the side. Kat 3 tried to get free of the lifter, but Mantis lifted it onto its side.

"Mantis' weapon, the actual claw part of the weaponry, isn't doing great work, but the hydraulic lifters are."

— Jonathan Pearce as Mantis turns Kat 3 over again.

With its axe resting against the wall, Kat 3 was able to fire the axe to turn itself back upright, but it fell back onto Mantis' lifter. In the last few seconds, Mantis lifted Kat 3 up, but Kat 3 slid off the lifter. Mantis turned and tried to stop Kat 3 from getting away by pinning it with its raised lifter, but Kat 3 turned and got away just before the battle ended.

"Goodness, this is a tense one! Very, very tight! It's gonna go to the Judges, who are far brainier that I, let's be honest!"

— Jonathan Pearce as the battle ends

The Judges decided that Kat 3 had won on a close decision.

Craig Charles: "It was close!"

Jonathan Leversedge: "It was just down to, I think, the lack of damage we can cause with our weapon, it's more of a removal weapon."

Craig Charles: "Yeah, it's not really offensive, is it, it's kind of a defensive weapon really."

Jonathan Leversedge: "No, so we didn't get to use it to its full potential there unfortunately."

Craig Charles: "Yeah, couldn't you push 'em in the Pit? I kept thinking, 'cause you weren't doing any damage and I though "Get them in the Pit!"."

Jonathan Leversedge: "I was trying to, but it just didn't seem to go that way."

— Post-battle interview

Mantis also took part in the Crusher Crunch Up which was broadcast as the special event of Heat H, three heats before the heat that Mantis competed in and here, it fought against R.O.C.S. and Pinser.

Mantis lifting R.O.C.S.

Mantis started by staying away from its two opponents, turning down the arena as Pinser drove at R.O.C.S.. Mantis turned around and drove back up the arena, driving behind R.O.C.S. and trying to get its lifter under the back. Mantis pushed R.O.C.S. against Pinser, which pushed R.O.C.S. onto the lifter. Mantis lifted R.O.C.S.'s wheels off the floor as it pushed it into Mr. Psycho's CPZ. Mr. Psycho fired his hammer onto R.O.C.S. and pushed it off of Mantis' lifter, and Mantis turned away as Mr. Psycho cornered R.O.C.S. and attacked it.

"That's a good, good shove by Mantis! 750 watt motors out there, and R.O.C.S. between one and a hard place."

— Jonathan Pearce as R.O.C.S. finds itself in Mr. Psycho's CPZ

Mantis is attacked by R.O.C.S.

Mantis charged down the arena at Pinser, but drove straight up its front wedge. Mantis brought its lifter down, but couldn't shake itself free, and Pinser grabbed its body with the crusher, and as it grabbed hold, it lifted Mantis' wheels off the floor. Pinser pushed Mantis onto the flame jet, then held it there whilst R.O.C.S. tried unsuccessfully to get under Pinser's side.

"Mantis and Pinser, this looks like a good little duel out there. Pinser has moved the hydraulic crushing arm down, you'll see, and has got to grips with Mantis' spindly frame. ... Mantis is being burnt at the moment, by Pinser, which looks the most durable of the machines, to be honest."

— Jonathan Pearce as Pinser grabs Mantis and pushes it onto the flame jet

Mantis, R.O.C.S. and Pinser in a deadly grasp

Pinser pulled Mantis off of the flame jet, and R.O.C.S. tried to use its crusher, but as it was unable to get under Pinser, it got beside the two machines and brought its crusher down onto Mantis' lifter, but couldn't pierce it. Pinser let go of Mantis and reversed to let it go, and Mantis tried to get its lifter under Pinser's side, but couldn't breach the ground clearance. As Pinser turned, Mantis drove forwards, bumping into Refbot. Mantis turned away, and as Pinser tried to get under R.O.C.S., Mantis got under its side with its lifter and pushed it down the arena, pinning it against the bottom arena wall.

"And they are praying at the moment for survival, Mantis! Run away across the arena floor, 14 mile-an-hour top speeds, quickest in this Crusher Crunch Up. Very close at the moment."

— Jonathan Pearce

All three robots lock together

Mantis tried lifting Pinser, but Pinser slid off the lifter. R.O.C.S. got beside Mantis, so Mantis reversed. Mantis drove at R.O.C.S., trying to get the lifter underneath, but couldn't breach its ground clearance, and as it pushed, R.O.C.S. turned away, causing Mantis to drive forwards, dangerously close to the Pit. Mantis reversed, bumping into R.O.C.S., then turned around. R.O.C.S. tried to get into a position to attack, so Mantis drove up the arena, bumping into the top arena wall. Pinser got under R.O.C.S., and grabbed onto the exposed electronics. Mantis tried to get under R.O.C.S., but Pinser pulled R.O.C.S. across the arena to the flame jet, but as it tried to push R.O.C.S. over the flame jet, R.O.C.S. slipped off the front wedge. As Pinser tried to turn away, Mantis pushed Pinser onto the flame jet, which caused its hydraulic fluid to burst into flames. Meanwhile, R.O.C.S.'s wheels were spinning, but due to the damage from Pinser's crusher, the tyres could not get traction. Mantis turned around and got its lifter under R.O.C.S.'s front, lifting it up and hooking the frame with its lifter. Mantis pushed R.O.C.S. against the wall, and Pinser drove off the flame jet, driving around to Mantis' side, but couldn't get under Mantis' ground clearance. As Mantis held R.O.C.S. against the wall, Pinser drove back round it and tried to grab R.O.C.S., but this proved to be a mistake, as it drove back onto the flame jet, which caused its internals to burst into flames, immobilising it. Mantis tried to drop R.O.C.S., and could not move way, so all three machines were not moving.

"They're all locked together! The Ref is looking on, the Refbot with the Refcam. Who's burning? Who's moving? Certainly flame underneath Pinser."

— Jonathan Pearce as the battle comes to a standstill

Cassius Chrome helps to separate the competitors

Mantis raised and lowered the lifter to try and let go of Mantis, but the lifter was still caught in R.O.C.S.'s frame. Cassius Chrome came over, pushing the back of Pinser, then pushed the side of Mantis, which helped it to unhook the lifter from R.O.C.S.'s frame. Mantis reversed away from the wall, leaving a trail of the hydraulic fluid from Pinser.

"Who's alive out there? Mantis....yes, there's movement in Mantis!"

— Jonathan Pearce looking for survivors

Time ran out, and with its two opponents immobile, Mantis spun on the spot in victory. The battle still went to a Judges' decision as no robot had been counted out, and Mantis having scored more points on Style, Damage, Control and Aggression.

Craig Charles: "Hey, you won something! The advantages of pincers, crushers over, say, flippers and spinners. Are there advantages?"

Duncan Chan-Pensley: "Oh well, we just like to be different really. It's gonna be a natural progression, you will see Mantis evolve."

— Post-battle interview

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 1

Series Record

Series	Mantis Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
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	Heat, Round 2
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Gallery

Mantis in the arena during the first round

Mantis being prepared backstage at the filming of Series 7

Outside Robot Wars

Mantis during the Robot Wars hiatus

Mantis under Team RCC branding

Since Robot Wars, Mantis was sold to Ade Sandercock in 2006 who then sold it in 2008 to Team RCC, a Dutch/Belgian team who competed in Dutch Robot Wars with RCC and Blackdevil Warzone, and have also owned Hannibal, Splinter and Obsidian at various points in time. Mantis has since been heavily revised in terms of armour and weaponry, still keeping the same design. Mantis fought in the 2011 UK Championships, where it fell in the heats against Wilhelm's Scream, White Knight and Meggamouse after being flipped over by Meggamouse. It also fought a couple of extra battles, but lost them both. It fought in a four-way melee with Toon Raider, Toxic 2 and Iron-Awe 6, where it was repeatedly flipped over and tossed around the arena by its three flipper-wielding opponents, before being flipped out of the arena by Iron-Awe 6. It fought against Iron-Awe 6 again in a four-way melee, along with Kan-Opener and Team Wind Power's other robot, Puck, but was flipped over by Iron-Awe 6 before being pushed into the pit by Kan-Opener.

Mantis in 2018, under the captaincy of Alex Hall

In June 2017, Mantis was reunited with Ade Sandercock, after nine years with the Dutch/Belgian team, with improvements including a HARDOX shell and reinforcing the legs by welding inserts into them. In December 2017, the latest version of Mantis was sold to Alex Hall, who was intending to enter it into Robot Wars, but the series was cancelled. Under this new captaincy, Mantis fought in five battles at Robots Live! in Grantham, towards the end of June 2018. However, it lost all of the battles, being thrown out of the arena on four occasions. Alex Hall continued to own Mantis for a few more years without competing, until passing the robot onto another owner.

Trivia

Official Series 7 photo

• Before the team decided to build a robot with a crusher, they were planning to build a fast rambot with a scoop, based on the US machine La Machine.

"A high speed scoop which basically knocked things into the air! Then came the idea of having Claw or Talon shapes on the front to act as a scoop, same basic design but looked meaner. Following that a claw that actually grabbed robots, no need to knock them in the air now. But hold on, what about grabbing them and lifting them up immobilizing the suckers, superb. That's the concept to go for, let's do it. A bit of sketching later and we had a basic design, everyone flopped back in the chairs, we were burnt out..."

— Mantis website on the design process

• During the construction of Mantis, the team had resources provided by Hyacc Access Platform Specialists, Abco Engineering, C & G Hydraulics, Parker Hydraulics and Newark Storage.
• Mantis' statistics board misspelt Jonathan Leversedge's name as "Lonathan Levereidge".
• Team captain Duncan Chan-Pensley was absent from the filming of Mantis' Heat, but was present for the Crusher Crunch Up.
• All of Mantis' battles featured Mr. Psycho as one of the House Robots.
• All of Mantis' battles ended with a Judges' decision. It shares this feat with The Grim Reaper.
• Mantis is the only robot to have beaten R.O.C.S. to have never fought Terrorhurtz.
• Both of Mantis' battles in its heat saw it fight a robot who fought in a first round melee of Heat K of the Sixth Wars.
• Mantis was the only robot in the Series 7 Crusher Crunch Up not to have a separate self-righting mechanism.
  • It was also the only robot in the event not to fight Kronic the Wedgehog.

External Links

• Team Remove-All website (archived)