Munch was a heavyweight robot which competed in the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. Built by Distraction Laboratories and captained by Josephine Lowry, it reached the second round of that year's Heavyweight Face-Off championship, only to be eliminated by Punjar at that stage.[4][5]
According to the Distraction Laboratories website, Munch was originally intended to be upgraded for the 1997 US competition with more powerful hydraulics, improved control systems and an alternative top shell. However, it would ultimately be rebuilt by the team into its successor, TallyWhacker, which featured a number of these improvements while keeping some of Munch's internal parts.[5][6]
Design[]
The chassis of Munch
Munch was a two-wheeled robot with an insectoid-themed design, constructed out of welded steel tubing and protected by a black plastic shell. On each side, it featured six hinged steel rods with red tips, resembling the legs of a typical insect. These 'legs' were to function as 'skirting', in an attempt to make it difficult for opponents to breach Munch's otherwise high ground clearance.[4][5]
As its main weapon, Munch utilized a pair of horizontal jaws powered by a hydraulic mechanism, also made from steel tubing. Distraction Laboratories designed the jaws to have a gripping force of 1,000lbs, along with narrow spikes at the inner ends, though the weapon was only capable of clamping other robots rather than crushing through them. Hydraulics were also used to power Munch's drivetrain, in tandem with a Tecumseh 2-stroke engine.[4][5][7]
Robot History[]
1996 US Championship[]
Munch competed exclusively in the 1996 Heavyweight Face-Off championship, facing Namreko 3000 in the first round.
Both robots slowly approached each other in the opening moments; smoke from Munch's engine filled the air as it swerved to the left. There, it drove around the back of Namreko 3000 and grabbed it with the jaws. Munch was dragged and pushed around by Mike Okerman's machine, but neither were able to separate. About one minute into the match, it was declared by the Judges that Munch's grappling constituted a 'pin', allowing it to win to the audience's 'displeasure'.[5][4][8]
In the second round, Munch faced Punjar.
Another tentative start resulted in it turning towards and dodging the lower-right flipper, before both competitors collided near the center. In spite of its anti-wedge 'legs', Munch was scooped up and pushed back into the swinging flipper. One of Munch's 'legs' briefly snagged the flipper paddle itself, before the Seattle machine broke free. According to Andrew Lindsey, the 'legs' were also pushed underneath the robot by Punjar during these moments, further compromising Munch's mobility.[5][4][9]
Munch attempted to grab and pin Punjar from the top, while blocking the latter's exit from the lower-right corner. This proved unsuccessful; Punjar turned and pushed Munch back into the lower wall, where Munch was pinned for a full 30 seconds. As a result, the Distraction Laboratories machine was eliminated from the Heavyweight Face-Off.[5][4][9]
Results[]
| MUNCH - RESULTS | ||
| 1996 US Championship | ||
| Heavyweight Face-Off Round 2 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. Namreko 3000 | Won |
| Round 2 | vs. Punjar | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
NOTE: This record reflects that of Distraction Laboratories. Klaas Langhout and Jeff Bowden also competed with Slomo and Test Toaster One respectively.
| Events | Munch Event Record |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Did not enter |
| 1995 | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 2 |
| 1997 | Entered with TallyWhacker |
Trivia[]
- Though Munch and its team originated from Seattle, Washington, the official US Robot Wars website listed it as being from California.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 'Munch Diary', Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos', US Robot Wars website entry on Munch (archived May 2 1997)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 'Team Members', Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 'MUNCH', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 'Munch -- Story of RW 96', Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- ↑ '070197', Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- ↑ 'Munch -- Assembly Round One', Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1996 - Namreko 3000 vs Munch', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded July 22 2008
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 'Robot Wars 1996: Munch versus Pungar (Heavyweight)', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 2 2019
External Links[]
- Distraction Laboratories website (archived)
- Munch on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)
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