My Little Pony was a featherweight robot built and entered by Will Wright into the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. Armed with an unusual set of tape reel devices, it would use these mechanisms to ensnare Spiny Norman in its first Featherweight Face-Off battle,[3] only to be eliminated in the second round by The X-2.[4] My Little Pony would also compete in the Featherweight Melee tournament - where it was eliminated in the first round[5][6] - and unite with The X-2, KMM and Arsenic to win a one-off 'team bout'.[7][8][9][10]
Design[]
My Little Pony was a large box-wedge shaped robot protected by gray foam cladding throughout. The top of the robot was decorated with a red hourglass-shaped pattern, ironically resembling that of a black widow spider, along with a My Little Pony toy figurine as a mascot. In the absence of damaging weaponry, My Little Pony would employ a set of tape reel mechanisms as its primary offense. Each reel could be placed onto the back in pairs, or as a single unit at the front. Attached to one end of each tape reel was a rare earth magnet, which was intended to attach itself onto metal armor and components wielded by opponents. Once attached, the tape would unravel to act as an entanglement device, snaring any robots which drove or were pushed into it. My Little Pony's use of foam armor was to prevent the robot from getting entangled itself.[7]
Etymology[]
The robot's name derives from the toy line and media franchise of the same name.
Robot History[]
1996 US Championship[]
My Little Pony's 1996 campaign began in the Featherweight Face-Off, where it initially faced Spiny Norman. This took place as one of a number of 'Dual Matches' in the first round, occurring at the same time as The X-2 vs Spunkey Munkey.
In the opening moments, My Little Pony slowly moved forwards as the diminutive Spiny Norman darted past and around it in circles. As Spiny Norman tried to push My Little Pony from the right-hand side, My Little Pony released its tape, snaring the 1994-1995 veteran by one of its wheels. My Little Pony emerged as the winner once Spiny Norman became immobilized.[3][7]
My Little Pony progressed to the second round, where it fought The X-2, the other winner from its 'Dual Match' quadrant.
Immediately, it rammed The X-2 and began deploying its tape device, while driving into one of the mousetraps. My Little Pony was thus vulnerable to an attack from Mike Winter's machine, which lifted, but struggled to get purchase on its foam armor. My Little Pony escaped, began circling around and briefly caught The X-2 with its tape; the magnets, however, could not attach themselves to The X-2's aluminum chassis. My Little Pony drove tentatively into the center of the arena, taking a heavy hit from the Ball of Doom as it did so.[4][7]
A few tentative moments followed, as My Little Pony drove into one of the arena flippers, and The X-2 kept chasing it across the arena. My Little Pony survived a ram, but was lifted a few more times by The X-2. Both robots continued to chase and shove each other for some time. An aggressive bump by My Little Pony, however, prompted The X-2 to lift and turn it completely over from the front. My Little Pony, unable to self-right, was eliminated from the Featherweight Face-Off by knockout.[4][7]
My Little Pony later faced The X-2 again in the Featherweight Melee tournament. In the first round, both robots fought alongside Black Sheep 2, 1995 Super Lightweight champion KMM, Melvin, Spike, recently-crowned Face-Off champion Wedge of Doom, and UK competitor WYSIWYG.
- "When the match started, all the robots attacked each other. My Little Pony's tape quickly unraveled, and I made sure to avoid getting caught in it. I then noticed that KMM was driving straight toward me. I turned The Wedge of Doom and charged straight at KMM."
- — Tony Buchignani, noting the threat of My Little Pony's tape in its Featherweight Melee round[11]
As all eight robots scrambled towards the center in the early moments, My Little Pony's tape once again proved a major threat. The tape snared Melvin and the right claw of KMM, with Wedge of Doom also driving cautiously to avoid getting trapped itself. My Little Pony, however, drove itself over the tape, which appeared to compromise its maneuverability across the arena floor. From that point on, it played very little part in the Melee, and was not chosen to progress to the Final.[5][6][8][11]
In addition to the main tournaments, My Little Pony also took part in an 'experimental team bout' alongside seven other featherweight machines. Together with Arsenic, KMM and The X-2, it fought as part of "Team W", fighting Melvin, Spike, Spiny Norman and WYSIWYG on "Team X".
Both teams immediately swarmed towards the center; My Little Pony was driven into the wall by WYSIWYG, but soon began deploying its tape from its side of the arena. In a mirror of its earlier battles, the tape trails snagged Spiny Norman, itself lying on its back following a flip by The X-2, then Melvin, tethering and incapacitating both "Team X" machines in quick succession. My Little Pony, however, would soon be pressured again by WYSIWYG; Eric Dickinson's machine pinned it against the lower mousetrap before The X-2 lifted and dragged it away. Having deposited all of its remaining tape, My Little Pony twitched cautiously in the lower-left corner, while its teammates sparred on in the opposite side of the arena.[8][9][10]
Moments later, WYSIWYG again collected and pushed My Little Pony, this time into the right-hand side wall. My Little Pony was pinned in place for several seconds, prompting The X-2 to nudge and flick WYSIWYG in a bid to free it. Eventually, My Little Pony was separated, later becoming caught up in KMM's movements as Rik Winter's machine dragged Spiny Norman around with its tape. Avoiding the tape itself, it survived to the end of the match, allowing "Team W" to claim victory. My Little Pony, KMM and The X-2 all moved in unison to the left-hand side of the arena, emphasizing their win further.[8][9][10]
Results[]
MY LITTLE PONY - RESULTS | ||
1996 US Championship | ||
Featherweight Face-Off Round 2 | ||
Round 1 | vs. Spiny Norman | Won |
Round 2 | vs. The X-2 | Lost |
Featherweight Melee Round 1 | ||
Melee | vs. Black Sheep 2, KMM, Melvin, Spike, Wedge of Doom, WYSIWYG, The X-2 | Lost |
Other Battles Featherweight Team Battle (Team W, paired with Arsenic, KMM and The X-2) | ||
Team Battle | vs. Melvin, Spike, Spiny Norman and WYSIWYG (Team X) | Won |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 2
- Losses: 2
Series Record[]
Events | My Little Pony Event Record |
---|---|
1994 | Entered with Julie-Bot |
1995 | Entered with Kitty Puff Puff |
1996 | Featherweight Face-Off, Round 2 Featherweight Melee, Round 1 Entered with Triple Redundancy |
1997 | Entered with Bob Smith |
The above record reflects that of Will Wright only.
References[]
- ↑ 'Robot Wars III 1996 Event Report', Team Minus Zero website (archived)
- ↑ 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos', US Robot Wars website entry on My Little Pony (archived May 2 1997)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Dual Match 5', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded December 16 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 'Robot Wars 1996: My Little Pony versus X2 (Featherweight)', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded December 30 1996
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Melee 3', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 10 2019
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 'Robot Wars 1996 - Featherweight Melee 2', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded July 20 2008
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 'MY LITTLE PONY', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 'The Story Of Spike', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Melee 1', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 9 2019
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 'Robot Wars 1996 - Featherweight Melee 1', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded July 20 2008
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 'The 1996 Featherweight Melee', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
External Links[]
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