Marvin

Marvin
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1996
Team Information
Team Members	Willis Wong
From	Fremont, California
Other Entries	The Landshark (1997)
Robot Statistics
Drive	2x gearmotors
Weapons	Rear chain & front spike
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Marvin was a heavyweight robot which competed in the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. Built by Willis Wong, it was eliminated in the second round of the Heavyweight Face-Off championship by Merrimac, but reached the final of the Heavyweight Melee event, which was ultimately won by La Machine. Marvin's appearance in the Heavyweight Melee Final was among those to be highlighted in the American Robot Wars 1996 VHS.

Design

Marvin was a two-wheel drive robot powered by large gearmotors. It was constructed out of welded steel, utilizing tubes for the chassis and plating for its angled box-shaped shell. The robot's main weapon was a large chain attached to the rear of a lifting beam, which was also fitted with a front spike. Marvin primarily relied on ramming attacks, along with sit-and-spin tactics to utilize its chain, which was intended to strike or entangle nearby opponents. Though claimed to be 'sturdy', the robot had a high ground clearance which could be exploited easily by wedge shapes and lifting weapons.

Robot History

1996 US Championship

Marvin's 1996 campaign involved runs in both the main Heavyweight Face-Off and Melee tournaments. In the Face-Off, it initially benefited from a first-round bye, allowing it to start from the second round. Here, Marvin was drawn to face Merrimac - a returning heavyweight entered by a team representing Industrial Light & Magic.

Both robots started tentatively. Marvin was slow to attack Merrimac at first, weaving across the arena and into the mousetraps. After getting caught by the upper trap, it approached and swung its chains at Merrimac, but was unable to caught any damage. Regardless, it continued to spin, which had the effect of pressuring Merrimac into the lower-weight corner. Marvin next jabbed its spike through a gap beneath one of Merrimac's lifting flaps, though this had very little effect as Merrimac nudged it aside.

Marvin attempted to attack Merrimac twice more with the spike, and once more with the chains. No major damage was inflicted, despite Merrimac suffering from its own control issues. Marvin spun around on the spot, continuing to swipe Merrimac with the chains as it was nudged by Mark Anderson's machine. Following a tentative moment, Merrimac suddenly rammed, lifted and held Marvin in place opposite the side wall. Marvin, unable to drive away, was pinned for the required thirty seconds, and eliminated from the Heavyweight Face-Off.

In the Heavyweight Melee, Marvin was first drawn into a six-way preliminary round, also featuring Frank, Gutrip, Robot Redford Jr, SWAK and TerMinal frenZy.

It and three of its opponents - Frank, TerMinal frenZy and SWAK - all converged on one side of the arena in the opening moments. Marvin soon started pushing TerMinal frenZy, itself having lost reverse drive early on, before sandwiching SWAK between itself and Frank. The duel with TerMinal frenZy continued; having dodged its axe, Marvin swiped its side with its arm, then caught its spike in the axe shaft itself. Both robots were able to separate; Marvin next teamed up with Gutrip to duel with Robot Redford Jr, spinning on the spot in an attempt to strike William Bakaleinikoff's machine with its chains. Ultimately, it resorted to pushing Robot Redford Jr a few more times; both would be attacked from the sides by Gutrip, itself attempting to cause damage with its twin milling cutters.

Marvin attacks TerMinal frenZy with its chains

Marvin (top-left), continues its tussle with TerMinal frenZy

While Gutrip diced with Robot Redford Jr, Marvin re-engaged with the crippled TerMinal frenZy. With its arm, it pushed the Team Minus Zero machine against an arena flipper. Marvin held TerMinal frenZy in place for several moments, before again battling with Gutrip as the match entered its closing seconds. Upon driving its arm into Gutrip's cutters, it was briefly jostled, but survived. No significant attacks were inflicted by either machine, which proceeded to nudge each other. Marvin's next ram left it stuck on Gutrip's angled side, enabling Gutrip to push it backwards towards the lower-right flipper. Regardless, it quickly backed out, ramming Gutrip twice more before the full five minutes expired. As the last two robots still mobile, both qualified for the Heavyweight Melee Final together.

Alongside Gutrip, Marvin fought ten other opponents for the 1996 Heavyweight Melee title - La Machine, The Master, Tazz, South Bay Mauler, DooMore, Punjar, Nemesis, Killbborg, Red Scorpion and Merrimac.

Marvin challenges South Bay Mauler

Immediately, The Master charged into South Bay Mauler, getting underneath but failing to topple it. Soon after, a pile up occured in the centre of the arena as The Master rained down blows on South Bay Mauler while DooMore, Punjar and Merrimac all slammed into it too. South Bay Mauler was eventually freed and then hit Marvin with its flail. However, South Bay Mauler's attacks proved ineffective, with its weapon halting upon each impact, but once up to speed, south Bay Mauler managed to cripple the arm of Marvin. Marvin continued its assault on South Bay Mauler, pinning it against a mousetrap, however, Marvin eventually lost mobility. The melee would eventually be won by La Machine.

In the opening seconds, Marvin duelled with Nemesis in the left-most side of the arena. While a pile-up occurred in the center, it would end up being pushed around by Chris Harriman's machine, while also taking a blow from The Master's swinging sword. Marvin and Nemesis would be among the robots shovelled around by La Machine, until the latter found itself pinned on The Master's blade for over a minute.

Moments later, Marvin engaged in a duel with South Bay Mauler. Driving into the Tilford family's machine, it succeeded in stopping its overhead flails, before pushing into the quartet of DooMore, The Master, Tazz and Punjar. This would not last for long, however, as South Bay Mauler proceeded to strike Marvin with its weapon. With Tazz also joining in, Marvin proceeded to pressure Donald Hutson's machine alongside Gutrip, itself suffering from mobility issues. In turn, Marvin was pushed across the center and into the upper mousetrap by Punjar, with assistance from Nemesis. Marvin was snared by the hazard for several moments, and again Tazz joined in the scrap.

Marvin (center) rests beside the upper-right flipper as the Heavyweight Melee Final ends in an audience vote

Marvin eventually broke free, engaging in further tussles with Nemesis and Merrimac before being shoved by La Machine again. After briefly pressuring Killbborg, it would be caught in another multi-robot pile-up alongside Ken Atkinson's machine, with both robots able to back out as the pack split up. Ultimately, Marvin finished the battle next to the upper-right flipper; the match, along with the Heavyweight Melee championship, was won by La Machine on the subsequent audience vote.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 2

NOTE: Marvin's first-round bye is omitted from the Wins tally.

Series Record

Events	Marvin Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 2 Heavyweight Melee, Final
1997	Entered with The Landshark

External Links

• Marvin on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)