Changes: Merlin

Revision as of 12:19, 31 January 2020

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 pits — 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.

MerlinVSDeadmetal — 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.

Angela Merlin Turbulence Monte — 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.

Results

MERLIN - RESULTS
Series 8
Series 8 - Pilot Episode Round 2, Third Place
Pilot Episode, Qualifier	vs. Monte, Reaper, Wraith	Qualified
NOTE: Wraith withdrew prior to the battle
Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head	vs. Ka-Pow!	Won
Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head	vs. Turbulence	Lost

Series Record

Merlin at the time of Series 7
Merlin in 2006

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

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

Team Merlin — 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.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Robot
 |robot_name = Merlin
-|image      = [[File:Merlin_old.jpg|200px]]
+|image      = [[File:Merlin Pilot.jpg|200px|center]]
-|caption    = Merlin at the time of Series 7
+|caption    = Merlin in the pilot episode
-|series     = 2016 (Pilot only)
+|series     = 8 (Pilot only)
-|team       = [[Team BlazerBotics]]
+|team       = [[Team MAD]]
-|team_members = Alan Young<br/>Dave Young
+|team_members = Alan Young
+|from       = Birmingham
 |weight     = 99.7kg
 |dimensions = 21 x 90 x 70cm
-|power      = 2 x 750w Bosch motors
+|drive      = 2x 750w Bosch motors
 |speed      = 10mph
 |weapons    = Flipper
 }}
-'''Merlin''' was the heavyweight robot that was entered for [[Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars|Series 7]] of ''[[Robot Wars]]'' by [[Team BlazerBotics]]. The robot was armed with a very powerful full-pressure flipper, but was also invertible, similar to [[Raging Knightmare]], another robot from Leicestershire (also a robot that the team would later own).
+'''Merlin''' was a heavyweight built by [[Team MAD]] which competed in the [[Robot Wars: Series 8/Pilot|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 [[Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars|Series 7]], but Merlin suffered from technical issues the day before the qualifiers, so had to withdraw from the qualification process.
-However, Merlin suffered from technical issues the day before the qualifiers, so had to pull out, meaning that it failed to qualify for the series and was not seen on the televised show. Despite this, Merlin was still well known within the roboteering community for its powerful flipper.
+==Design==
-Merlin did not enter the [[Robot Wars (2016 series)|2016 series of ''Robot Wars'']] but was invited to take part in the pilot episode.
+{{quote|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}}
+[[File:Merlin pits.jpg|thumb|left|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|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==
-===2016 series===
+===Series 8===
-Although Merlin did not compete for the main series of ''[[Robot Wars]]'' in 2016, it was regardless invited to attend filming of the pilot episode on March 1st, giving it the opportunity to have a head-to-head battle in front of a live audience as part of a camera test.
+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.
+[[File:MerlinVSDeadmetal.jpg|thumb|left|Merlin takes damage from Dead Metal's blade]]
-In its first battle, Merlin was drawn into a four-way qualifier against [[The Grim Reaper|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 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 one-on-one round, Merlin defeated veterans in [[Onslaught|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]].
+In the first battle of the head-to-head round, Merlin defeated veterans in [[Onslaught|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's final battle was a loss against fellow flipper, [[Turbulence]], as Turbulence won the Judges' decision on the basis of aggression and control.
+[[File:Angela_Merlin_Turbulence_Monte.png|thumb|250px|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.
 ==Results==
-{{Results Top|Blue|Black|MERLIN}}
+{{Results Top|#3232ff|Silver|MERLIN}}
-{{Show|2016 Series}}
+{{Show|Series 8}}
-{{Competition|2016 Series - Pilot Episode|Main Competition}}
+{{Competition|Series 8 - Pilot Episode|Round 2, Third Place}}
-{{Battle|Pilot Episode, Qualifier|[[The Grim Reaper|Reaper]], [[Monte]], Wraith|Qualified}}
+{{Battle|[[Robot Wars: Series 8/Pilot|Pilot Episode, Qualifier]]|[[Monte]], [[Reaper]], [[Wraith]]|Qualified}}
 {{Note|Wraith withdrew prior to the battle}}
-{{Battle|Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head|[[Ka-Pow!]]|Won}}
+{{Battle|[[Robot Wars: Series 8/Pilot|Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head]]|[[Ka-Pow!]]|Won}}
-{{Battle|Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head|[[Turbulence]]|Lost}}
+{{Battle|[[Robot Wars: Series 8/Pilot|Pilot Episode, Head-to-Head]]|[[Turbulence]]|Lost}}
 |}
 ==Series Record==
+<gallery type="slideshow">
-*Series 1-6: Did not enter
+Merlin_old.jpg|Merlin at the time of Series 7
-*Series 7: Withdrew before qualifiers
+Merlin2006.jpg|Merlin in 2006
-*2016 Series: Pilot only
+</gallery>
+{{Series Record EX|Merlin|Did not enter|Did not enter|Did not enter|Did not enter|Did not enter|Did not enter|Withdrew before qualifiers<br>Featherweight Championship with [[Alpha]] and [[Gladiator|G2]]|'''Pilot Round 2, Third Place'''<br>Entered with [[Apollo]]|Entered with [[Apollo]]|Entered with [[Apollo]]|Did not enter|Entered with [[Gladiator]], [[Flybot]], [[Chroma]] and [[Hades]]}}
+''NOTE: [[Monte]], a robot built by Team MAD, was also loaned to [[Robo Challenge|Paul Streeter]] in order to enter the 2016 pilot''
-==Outside of Robot Wars==
+==Outside Robot Wars==
+[[File:Merlin.png|thumb|Merlin with its flipper up]]
-Since Robot Wars, Merlin has been rebuilt several times, but has experienced great 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.
+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|Iron-Awe 6]] in its heat, but then Merlin lost to Iron-Awe 5.
 ==Trivia==
+[[File:Team Merlin.jpg|thumb|Merlin's cameo appearance in Series 10]]
-*Despite [[Team BlazerBotics]] making several robots for ''Robot Wars'', Merlin was the only heavyweight at the time of Series 7.
+*Despite [[Team MAD]] making several robots for ''Robot Wars'', Merlin was the only heavyweight at the time of Series 7.
+*Merlin, alongside [[Alpha]], [[Gladiator|G3]] and Blazer, made a cameo appearance in [[Robot Wars: Series 10/Heat 1|Heat 1]] of Series 10, in a family photo of Dave and Alan Young.
 {{2016 Competitors}}
-[[Category:Robots that failed to qualify for any wars]]
-[[Category:Robots with Rear-Hinged True Flippers]]
 [[Category:Invertible Robots]]
 [[Category:Robots which are still competing today]]
 [[Category:Robots that fought in the 2016 Pilot]]
-[[Category:Robots with equal amount of Losses and Wins]]
 [[Category:Robots from Leicestershire]]
+[[Category:Robots with more Wins than Losses]]
+[[Category:Robots with an equal amount of Wins and Losses]]
+[[Category:Robots which failed to qualify for any main series]]
+[[Category:UK Tag Team winners since Robot Wars]]
+[[Category:Robots with Rear-hinged Flippers]]
+[[Category:Robots with cameo appearances in Series 10]]
+[[Category:Robots with cameo appearances in Series 8]]