Mercenary was a competitor robot that attempted to enter Series 3 of Robot Wars, but failed to qualify. While the team had hoped to compete in the previous series, the robot was not ready due to time constraints.
Design[]
Mercenary's design, while being listed as a middleweight, is largely unknown at this time. The team's website details that they were constructing the robot's transmission and scoping out the electronics for the build many months before the qualifiers and filming of the competition.[2] Mercenary was planned to feature two Sinclair C5 motors and be armoured with either Lexan or Makrolon polycarbonate, despite an original plan to use carbon fibre. While the team did not plan for it originally, Mercenary was due to make use of interchangeable weapons to add versatility to the design.[3][4]
The Team[]
Mercenary was built by High Wycombe-based school student Robert Barltrop, who started designing the robot in February 1998. While Barltrop made reference to having a teammate, a potential sponsor and support from a school Technology teacher, further detail was not listed on the team website.[5]
Qualification[]
Despite the progress update and a partially constructed website, no details exist as to whether Mercenary was fully completed and attended a qualification event. The team confirmed on its website that it had missed the audition for the second series, and in an update in late January 1999 noted that progress had come to a halt but that an application had been sent off for a future series.[6]
Series Record[]
| Series | Mercenary Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Missed auditions |
| The Third Wars | Failed to qualify |
| 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 |