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(Now that we know Ian Watts personally vouches for Ms Nightshade, can some users please tone down the anti Nightshade rhetoric?) |
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The robot's name and design are inspired by the 'nightshades', a family of flowers notable for containing powerful and sometimes toxic alkaloids. |
The robot's name and design are inspired by the 'nightshades', a family of flowers notable for containing powerful and sometimes toxic alkaloids. |
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| + | ==The Team== |
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| + | Katie Henderson was a student of [[Team Big Brother|Ian Watts]]. She had enrolled in his robot combat module at the time Series 8 was announced, and when Series 9 was announced Watts was asked if he knew any aspiring engineers who could apply. Henderson took the opportunity to apply and was ultimately accepted. With teammate Jodie Nye and assisted by the university and Watts himself, the robot was built in six weeks. |
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| + | <ref>https://slick.productions/2017/04/28/nightshade/ Ms Nightshade write up, by Charles Hoile</ref> |
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==Design== |
==Design== |
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[[File:Ms_Nightshade_team_pits.jpg|thumb|Team Ms Nightshade inspect their machine in the pits]] |
[[File:Ms_Nightshade_team_pits.jpg|thumb|Team Ms Nightshade inspect their machine in the pits]] |
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Ms Nightshade featured a unique, tall conical-shaped body reminiscent of a nightshade flower (hence the name). Painted dark purple (two-tone purple in profile images), the robot featured six pneumatically-powered 'petals' around its surface, each with a spike mounted on top which allowed them to function as hammers/axes by firing downwards. Alternately, the 'petals' can act as a [[sit-and-spin]] weapon when fully opened and when Ms Nightshade is spinning. The team claimed that Ms Nightshade had the ability to climb out of the pit using its 'petals', and that it could not be flipped; however, the latter claim was spectacularly disproven in its only battle. Ms Nightshade was not only the tallest robot in Series 9, but also the widest, with a height of one metre and a width of two metres with the 'petals' fully extended. The bottom of the robot was decorated with two lines of LEDs. |
Ms Nightshade featured a unique, tall conical-shaped body reminiscent of a nightshade flower (hence the name). Painted dark purple (two-tone purple in profile images), the robot featured six pneumatically-powered 'petals' around its surface, each with a spike mounted on top which allowed them to function as hammers/axes by firing downwards. Alternately, the 'petals' can act as a [[sit-and-spin]] weapon when fully opened and when Ms Nightshade is spinning. The team claimed that Ms Nightshade had the ability to climb out of the pit using its 'petals', and that it could not be flipped; however, the latter claim was spectacularly disproven in its only battle. Ms Nightshade was not only the tallest robot in Series 9, but also the widest, with a height of one metre and a width of two metres with the 'petals' fully extended. The bottom of the robot was decorated with two lines of LEDs. |
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| + | Ms Nightshade was built very last minute, due to being accepted based on a paper application and because the university insisted on a wooden version being built first. It also meant that the robot was not fully assembled or tested when the show was broadcast.<ref>https://slick.productions/2017/04/28/nightshade/</ref> |
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==Robot History== |
==Robot History== |
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[[File:Ms Nightshade with Sharkey.jpg|thumb|Team Ms Nightshade with Noel Sharkey]] |
[[File:Ms Nightshade with Sharkey.jpg|thumb|Team Ms Nightshade with Noel Sharkey]] |
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*Ms Nightshade was first unofficially revealed on December 3rd, 2016, through a tweet from [[Noel Sharkey|Professor Noel Sharkey]], who was supporting the presence of female engineers on the team<ref>https://twitter.com/NoelSharkey/status/805081096111214592</ref>. |
*Ms Nightshade was first unofficially revealed on December 3rd, 2016, through a tweet from [[Noel Sharkey|Professor Noel Sharkey]], who was supporting the presence of female engineers on the team<ref>https://twitter.com/NoelSharkey/status/805081096111214592</ref>. |
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| + | *With both team members having moved on in their studies, Ms. Nightshade resides at the University of Brighton.<ref>https://slick.productions/2017/04/28/nightshade/</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 23:46, 16 December 2017
- "This unique robot with eight armed petals stands at one metre high. Ms Nightshade is the competition's tallest."
- — Angela Scanlon
Ms Nightshade was a robot which competed in Series 9 of Robot Wars. It was entered by two students from the University of Brighton, and was one of only a few robots to have an all-female team. In its only battle, Ms Nightshade was eliminated as it struggled for movement and was thrown up and over by reigning champions, Apollo.
The robot's name and design are inspired by the 'nightshades', a family of flowers notable for containing powerful and sometimes toxic alkaloids.
The Team
Katie Henderson was a student of Ian Watts. She had enrolled in his robot combat module at the time Series 8 was announced, and when Series 9 was announced Watts was asked if he knew any aspiring engineers who could apply. Henderson took the opportunity to apply and was ultimately accepted. With teammate Jodie Nye and assisted by the university and Watts himself, the robot was built in six weeks.
Design
- "Their robot is surrounded with pneumatic hammers to provide them with 360° defence, and when the petals are open it's over 2 metres wide!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Ms Nightshade
Ms Nightshade with its team
Team Ms Nightshade inspect their machine in the pits
Ms Nightshade featured a unique, tall conical-shaped body reminiscent of a nightshade flower (hence the name). Painted dark purple (two-tone purple in profile images), the robot featured six pneumatically-powered 'petals' around its surface, each with a spike mounted on top which allowed them to function as hammers/axes by firing downwards. Alternately, the 'petals' can act as a sit-and-spin weapon when fully opened and when Ms Nightshade is spinning. The team claimed that Ms Nightshade had the ability to climb out of the pit using its 'petals', and that it could not be flipped; however, the latter claim was spectacularly disproven in its only battle. Ms Nightshade was not only the tallest robot in Series 9, but also the widest, with a height of one metre and a width of two metres with the 'petals' fully extended. The bottom of the robot was decorated with two lines of LEDs.
Ms Nightshade was built very last minute, due to being accepted based on a paper application and because the university insisted on a wooden version being built first. It also meant that the robot was not fully assembled or tested when the show was broadcast.[2]
Robot History
Series 9
- "As this will be their first time in the arena they have decided to play it safe and their tactics are to run away from their enemies."
- — The Robot Wars website
Ms Nightshade enters the arena
Ms Nightshade competed in Heat 5, where it faced the reigning champion Apollo, and fellow newcomers Coyote and Rusty. This would prove to be the robot's first time being driven as a completed robot.
- Dara Ó Briain: "One of the joys of getting to the second series of this, is that the robots are getting weirder looking! Is it fast, is it mobile, is it...?"
- Katie Henderson: "Well, in all honesty, we haven't tested it with petals on, because we wanted it as a surprise to us!"
- — Team Ms Nightshade on their lack of testing
Ms Nightshade is sent flying
Ms Nightshade started the battle by twitching on the spot as one of its petals hung outwards. Ms Nightshade then flailed away with its weapons as Coyote attempted to push it backwards, before being sent airbone - with its petals outstretched - by a flip from Apollo.
- "Oh, Ms Nightshade, they're in a bit of a flap - are they waving goodbye?"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Ms Nightshade flaps its petals as it lies immobile
Ms Nightshade landed on its side, and, unable to self-right, helplessly flicked its petals. Dead Metal then strewed Ms Nightshade around the arena floor as it was activated into Rogue House Robot mode. With Rusty also immobile, cease was called, and Ms Nightshade was eliminated at the first hurdle.
- Dara Ó Briain: "How have you enjoyed your journey?"
- Katie Henderson: "I loved it! It was the first time we tested the pneumatics and the petals coming out, and they worked really well."
- — Team Ms Nightshade bow out of Series 9 in high spirits
Results
| MS NIGHTSHADE - RESULTS | ||
| Series 9 | ||
| Series 9 - UK Championship Round 1 | ||
| Heat 5, Group Battle | vs. Apollo, Coyote, Rusty | Eliminated |
Wins/Losses
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
Series Record
Ms Nightshade's turntable shot
| Series | Ms Nightshade Series Record |
|---|---|
| Series 1-7 | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Did not enter |
| Series 9 | Heat, Round 1 |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
Trivia
Team Ms Nightshade with Noel Sharkey
- Ms Nightshade was first unofficially revealed on December 3rd, 2016, through a tweet from Professor Noel Sharkey, who was supporting the presence of female engineers on the team[3].
- With both team members having moved on in their studies, Ms. Nightshade resides at the University of Brighton.[4]
References
External Links
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