Merlin

Merlin
Merlin in the pilot episode
Participation Information
UK Series	8 (Pilot only)
Team Information
Team	Team MAD
Team Members	Alan Young
From	Birmingham
Robot Statistics
Weight	99.7kg
Dimensions	21 x 90 x 70cm
Top Speed	10mph
Drive	2x 750w Bosch motors
Weapons	Flipper
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Merlin was a heavyweight built by Team MAD which competed in the pilot episode of Robot Wars: Series 8. Although the episode went unaired, Merlin made various cameo appearances throughout the main series, appearing in the pits, alongside with Turbulence and Monte. In the pilot, Merlin was driven by Alan Young, while brother Dave Young entered the main competition with Apollo.

Merlin was previously intended to compete in Series 7, but Merlin suffered from technical issues the day before the qualifiers, so had to withdraw from the qualification process.

Design

"The current Merlin chassis is now 12 years old, and is still based on the original Mk1 that was built in 2003 but with a few changes."

— Alan Young in 2018, on the differences between Merlin at the times of Series 7 and 8

Merlin in the pits at the Pilot

Merlin is a box-wedge shaped robot, designed for high pushing power, although weight restrictions forced Merlin to run on a two-wheel drive. As the tyres surfaced outside of the robot's top armour, Merlin was invertible, although it could also self-right using its primary weapon, a powerful full-pressure flipper.

The Team

Main article: Team MAD

Merlin was built by Team MAD, originally Team BlazerBotics, consisting of two brothers, the older Alan Young and the younger Dave Young. The captain of the team at the time of building Merlin was Alan Young, despite Dave Young later becoming the captain while driving Apollo in Series 8, 9 and 10. When Merlin entered the pilot episode in 2016, it was driven by its original builder Alan Young, who at the time was a member of the technical crew for Series 8, explaining why he was not present on the Apollo team.

Robot History

Series 8

Although Merlin did not compete in the main competition of Series 8, it was regardless invited to attend filming of the pilot episode on March 1st, giving it the opportunity to compete in front of a live audience, as part of a camera test.

Merlin takes damage from Dead Metal's blade

In its first battle, Merlin was drawn into a four-way qualifier against Reaper, Wraith and Monte. Wraith suffered from electrical problems before the start of the battle, and withdrew, turning the fight into a three-way battle. Monte quickly broke down, and was pitted, leaving Reaper and Merlin to fight alone until cease was called, with both robots qualifying.

In the first battle of the head-to-head round, Merlin defeated veterans in Team Onslaught, winning against their new robot, Ka-Pow!, when Ka-Pow! drove into the pit in the opening moments of the fight. As the battle was so short, Merlin turned its efforts to attack Dead Metal.

Merlin, Turbulence and Monte make cameo appearances in Episode 4

Merlin's final battle was a loss against fellow flipper, Turbulence. After a close fight between the two flippers, Turbulence won the Judges' decision on the basis of aggression and control. Merlin never fought a head-to-head battle against Reaper to complete the second round, and was eliminated at this stage, largely due to time constraints.

Series Record

• Merlin at the time of Series 7
• Merlin in 2006

1/2

Main Series	Merlin 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	Withdrew before qualifiers Featherweight Championship with Alpha and G2
Series 8	Pilot Round 2, Third Place Entered with Apollo
Series 9	Entered with Apollo
Series 10	Entered with Apollo
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Entered with Gladiator, Flybot, Chroma and Hades

NOTE: Monte, a robot built by Team MAD, was also loaned to Paul Streeter in order to enter the 2016 pilot

Outside Robot Wars

Merlin with its flipper up

Since Robot Wars, Merlin has been rebuilt several times, but has experienced success, particularly in the Roaming Robots circuit. Arguably Merlin's greatest triumph to date was when it won the Tag Team Terror Competition alongside Velocirippa in 2006.

Merlin still fights competitively today, reaching the Quarter-Finals of the 2011 UK Championships, after beating Dantomkia and Iron-Awe 6 in its heat, but then Merlin lost to Iron-Awe 5.

Trivia

Merlin's cameo appearance in Series 10

• Despite Team MAD making several robots for Robot Wars, Merlin was the only heavyweight at the time of Series 7.
• Merlin, alongside Alpha, G3 and Blazer, made a cameo appearance in Heat 1 of Series 10, in a family photo of Dave and Alan Young.