- "The project is to develop the basics from Panda Monium and produce a tougher robot for future events."
- — Robot Wars 101 website[1]
More Panda Monium was a heavyweight robot which attempted to enter Series 3 and 4 of Robot Wars. It was not selected for the main competition of Series 3, despite completing its audition, and subsequently failed to qualify for Series 4 after replacing Team Panda's other entry, Big Pants, in the qualifiers.
Design
More Panda Monium was a two-wheel drive, box-shaped robot armed with two pneumatically-powered weapons: a lifting scoop and a spike mounted immediately on top of the scoop. The scoop was made from 2.5mm steel and was initially actuated by a pair of pneumatic pistons, giving it a lifting capacity of approximately 65-70kg. Following durability issues encountered between auditions and filming of Series 3, More Panda Monium's scoop was later modified to feature three pistons, increasing its lifting capacity to over 100kg.[2] The robot's spike was intended to pierce through opponents' armour, and could be positioned at various angles in order to reach robots of varying sizes.
- "As you can see the reach of the spike is significant. It was designed with even the smallest robots in mind."
- — Robot Wars 101 website[3]
More Panda Monium was made out of steel with polycarbonate top panels, and sported a yellow, black and white colour scheme. The robot cost almost £1,200 to build.
Qualification
More Panda Monium attended the auditions for Series 3, where it encountered minor control issues during the obstacle course.
- "It was the usual, weigh-in, photos, technical check, driving test affair. We sailed through all but the driving test. Due to the speed controller balance not being quite right, it was ok but not great. We did get some good feedback from Mat (Irvine) and others about the completed MPM."
- — Robot Wars 101 website[4]
Following feedback from the Robot Wars production crew, the robot was subsequently modified ahead of filming, although More Panda Monium would not be selected to compete in the main competition. Team Panda still expressed interest in taking part in the planned Tag Team competition; on a forum post discussing the event, Peter Collier offered More Panda Monium as a potential partner to other roboteers.[5] However, the competition was cancelled due to a behind-the-scenes accident in The Pits, where another unidentified spike-wielding robot injured a crew member with its weapon.[6] The incident caused numerous delays leading to the cancellation of other side events, and compelled Rex Garrod, a vocal critic of health and safety standards in earlier series of Robot Wars, to retire from the show altogether. More Panda Monium, meanwhile, went into storage when Team Panda received news of the cancellation.
- "We got two calls today to tell us both the Tag and grudges are cancelled. Panda is all tidied away for the winter and it's very much back to the drawing board (and the ants of course!) Series 4 anyone? Charity events perhaps?"
- — Peter Collier[7]
After not being selected to compete in Series 3, More Panda Monium was initially replaced for Series 4 with Team Panda's newest machine, Big Pants. However, Big Pants failed to qualify due to the judges having doubts about its reliability, and Team Panda decided to enter More Panda Monium again while the qualifiers were still taking place. Nevertheless, More Panda Monium lost its qualifier battle to V.I.P.E.R. 01, with both robots failing to qualify for the Fourth Wars as a result. After this, More Panda Monium was finally retired from combat.
Series Record
Main Series | More Panda Monium Series Record |
---|---|
The First Wars | Did not enter |
The Second Wars | Entered with Panda Monium |
The Third Wars | Not selected |
The Fourth Wars | Failed to qualify Failed to qualify with Big Pants |
The Fifth Wars | Failed to qualify with Big Pants |
The Sixth Wars | Entered with Hot Pants |
The Seventh Wars | Entered with Thunderpants |
Series 8 | Did not enter |
Series 9 | Did not enter |
Series 10 | Did not enter |
Robot Wars Extreme | Appearances |
Series 1 | Entered with Pants |
Series 2 | Entered with Pants |
Outside Robot Wars
Following the Series 3 auditions, More Panda Monium attended the High Wycombe fete, where it fought Series 2 champion Panic Attack in one battle.[8] During the fete, it sustained damage to its scoop and rear motor mountings, prompting Team Panda to make repairs and modifications to its design before filming of Series 3 began.
References
- ↑ http://robotwars101.org/heavys/morepanda/index.html
- ↑ http://robotwars101.org/heavys/morepanda/construction6.html
- ↑ http://robotwars101.org/heavys/morepanda/pictures.html
- ↑ http://robotwars101.org/heavys/morepanda/construction5.html
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20020201031900/http://www.tinweb.com:80/discus/messages/350/1720.html?FridaySeptember1719990527pm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20020201032648/http://www.tinweb.com:80/discus/messages/350/1738.html?ThursdayNovember419990200pm
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20010521155216/http://www.tinweb.com:80/discus/messages/350/1725.html?WednesdayOctober2719990855pm
- ↑ http://robotwars101.org/heavys/morepanda/construction6.html