Millennium Bug

For the similarly-named robot which competed in Series 2-4, see Milly-Ann Bug.

Millennium Bug
Participation Information
UK Series	4
Team Information
Team Members	Rory Williams Thomas Williams Andrew Walker
From	Norwich
Robot Statistics
Weight	160kg
Dimensions	0.72m x 0.65m x 0.45m
Clearance	250mm
Top Speed	4mph
Drive	2x disability scooter motors
Weapons	Forklift & 2000rpm spinning disc
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"A walking robot, therefore allowed to be twice as heavy as the rest. A 2000rpm rotating disc was inspired by the success of Hypno-Disc in the last wars. Will this be a bugbear for the rest?"

— Jonathan Pearce introduces Millennium Bug

Millennium Bug was a walking robot that exclusively competed in Series 4 of Robot Wars. It was defeated in the first round of its only appearance, at the hands of Judge Shred 2 and X-Terminator 2.

Design

Millennium Bug in the arena

Box-shaped and very large for its time and 24kg over the weight limit for walkerbots at the time, Millennium Bug walked on eight legs made from scaffold pipes. It was armed with a large forklift at the front, and a 2000rpm forward-facing spinning disc at the rear. Millennium Bug was a very slow robot with a top speed of just 4mph, and could not self-right when overturned, leading to its defeat in its only battle.

Etymology

Millennium Bug's name came from the Year 2000 problem, commonly known as the "Y2K bug" or "The Millennium Bug", a predicted problem of computers reverting back to 1900 as the year at the start of 2000, leading to issues with time-dependent tasks. Millennium Bug was built and entered for Series 4, which was filmed in early 2000.

Qualification

Millennium Bug battles Little Fly

"Millenium Bug is probably the best 'Walkerbot' RW has ever seen."

— Robot Wars Magazine after the Series 4 qualifiers

At the Fourth Wars qualifiers, Millennium Bug fought Little Fly. The walker lost one of its legs during the battle, but regardless both robots survived for the full fight, and qualified for the series.

Robot History

Series 4

Millennium Bug competed in Heat N, where it faced the twenty-second seed X-Terminator 2 and Judge Shred 2.

X-Terminator 2 chops off one of Millennium Bug's leg supports

Millennium Bug's leg protection is flipped away

X-Terminator 2 axes Millennium Bug

Judge Shred 2 flips Millennium Bug over

Millennium Bug failed to made an impression as it couldn't keep up with the speed of its opponents. Eventually X-Terminator managed to break off a few leg guards with its axe, and Judge Shred got underneath it, and used its flipper to turn it onto its rear. Unable to self-right, with it legs still waving about in the air, Millennium Bug was deemed immobilised, and was finished off by being put onto the Arena Floor Flipper and sent flying, landing upside down at the bottom end of the arena just like Clawed Hopper. This would be Millennium Bug's only appearance on Robot Wars.

"The bug's on its back, legs flailing. Flipped out of the competition."

— Craig Charles after Millennium Bug's defeat

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 1

Series Record

Series	Millennium Bug Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Heat, Round 1
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

Gallery

The team with Millennium Bug

Millennium Bug in The Official Robot Guide, with its lifter cropped out

Millennium Bug's battle card. Note that the lifter is absent

Outside Robot Wars

Millennium Bug at Techno Games 2001

Millennium Bug was later entered into Techno Games 2001, devoid of its armour and weapons. In this incarnation, it enjoyed significantly more success in the Battery Sprint discipline, outlasting machines including Team EyeEye's Rita Rocks to win its heat. Millennium Bug progressed all the way to the overall Battery Sprint final, ultimately taking the bronze medal for the 2001 event.

Trivia

• In both Robot Wars: The Official Robot Guide and the Robot Wars Battle Cards, the picture of Millennium Bug has had its lifter cropped out.
• The Millennium Bug team was the only team in Heat N of Series 4 not to make another appearance.
• In the Series 4 results in Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide, Millennium Bug is simply called Millennium.
• The Millenium Bug team were friends with the team from fellow Norwich-based robot Thermidor 2.