Metalithor (alternatively spelt as Metallithor) was a heavyweight robot which competed exclusively in the 1997 US Robot Wars competition. In its only competition run, it received a first-round bye in that year's Heavyweight Face-Off tournament, only to lose its solitary match against Tazbot after suffering severe technical issues.[2][3]
Design[]
Metalithor was a six-wheeled robot with a flat-topped pyramid shape, a steel chassis and a complex turret-based hammer weapon. The hammer was not only designed to swing vertically at a range of 180 degrees, but also horizontally via the belt-driven turret mechanism, similarly to the lifting/thwacking arm already employed by Tazbot.[3]
Despite the robot's size and imposing weaponry, Metalithor suffered major issues arising from its 'low budget', 'last-minute' build. These included a lack of armor on most sides - save for a single plastic panel taped to the outer chassis - and the internals not having the power, torque or reliability required to operate the drive or weapons as intended. A noticeable example was the belt for the turret, which had a tendency to slip, burn out and melt.[3]
Robot History[]
1997 US Championship[]
Metalithor received a bye in the first round and moved straight into the second round where it faced Tazbot.
Metalithor smokes as Tazbot lifts it
Both turret-wielding machines clashed with their arm-based weapons in the opening moments. Tazbot's spiked lifter jostled and hooked the exposed frame of Metalithor, which was suffering from multiple technical issues as a result of its 'low budget' and 'last-minute construction'. The two robots became locked together in this struggle. After spinning on the spot, Tazbot dragged its opponent around to the center of the arena. The belt powering Metalithor's swinging hammer began to slip; blue smoke rose from Metalithor itself as the weapon mechanism overheated.[2][3]
Tazbot gingerly lifted Metalithor off the arena floor, holding it in place for several moments and overbalancing during further attempts to control Jay Smith's machine. The Judges requested Donald Hutson's machine to release as the pin lasted for the maximum sixty seconds. Hutson obliged, and Tazbot lowered Metalithor to enable both robots to be separated. Metalithor, smoking once more, retaliated with a simultaneous ram and hammer strike, but with very little effect on Tazbot as the weapon belt had already partially melted during the embrace.[2][3]
A largely uneventful phase saw Metalithor continue to swing its arm around, before Tazbot began shoving and thwacking it multiple times. Metalithor displayed very little mobility thereafter, twitching back and forth as Tazbot kept attacking. More swipes from Tazbot's arm were enough to dislodge, then rip off the plastic panel attached to Metalithor's chassis during the final minute. It became abundantly clear that Metalithor's drive had been completely immobilized, as Tazbot continued its earlier attacks and proceeded to win the subsequent Judges' decision.[2][3]
Results[]
| Metalithor - RESULTS | ||
| 1997 US Championship | ||
| Heavyweight Face-Off Round 2 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. No opponent | Bye |
| Round 2 | vs. Tazbot | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
NOTE: Metalithor's Round 1 bye is omitted from the Wins tally.
Series Record[]
| Events | Metalithor Event Record |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Did not enter |
| 1995 | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Did not enter |
| 1997 | Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 2 |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 'Contestants: Heavyweight Class', 4th Annual Robot Wars (1997) souvenir programme, p.4
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 'Robot Wars 1997 Heavyweight match: Tazbot versus Metallithor', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded April 22 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 'MATCH: TAZBOT VS METALLITHOR', Team Spike website (archived)
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