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"A hydraulic crushing arm obviously. Two wheel drive. Made from titanium TA10 with 690 watt power. Problems, a high centre of gravity, low speeds and a high ground clearance."
— Jonathan Pearce

Pinser was a triangular wedge shaped machine with a hydraulic crushing arm that competed in Series 7 of Robot Wars. It lost both of its battles because of mechanical breakdowns after attacks on other machines.

Pinser was considered unfinished at the time of Robot Wars. It is unknown if Pinser was ever 'completed' after this.

Design[]

Pinser S7

Pinser in its heat

The robot had four-wheel drive, and was armoured in titanium TA10. Its weapon and namesake was its powerful hydraulic crusher. The weapon was extremely powerful, one of the strongest in Robot Wars, although its hydraulic fluid proved to be flammable, a weak point for the robot. The team claimed that Pinser had a self righting mechanism, while its initially high ground clearance was protected by polycarbonate side skirts. Although its weapon was strong, and its wedge was low, Pinser suffered from a high centre of gravity, a low top speed, as well as proving to be unreliable in both its battles.

Etymology[]

Pinser S7

Official Series 7 photo

The name Pinser is derived from pincers, a crushing system often used by combat robots. Ironically, by definition, Pinser was not equipped with a pincer, but instead a crusher. The word 'pincer' is traditionally spelled with the letter 'C', while the robot Pinser used the letter 'S'. It is unknown whether this was an error, or if this was an intentional decision by the team.

The Team[]

Pinser was entered by the Davis family, captained by father Steve Davis, and his sons Luke and Jake. The family were based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Jayne Middlemiss credited the two young sons as the builders of Pinser on television.

Robot History[]

Series 7[]

Jayne Middlemiss: "What does it do?"
Luke Davis: "Well the arm goes down and it crushes all the other robots."
— Interview before Pinser's first round battle

Pinser competed in Heat J of the Seventh Wars, where it was drawn against the experienced Kronic the Wedgehog, fellow newcomer Cobra, and a new robot from an experienced team, The Kraken for its four way melee in the first round.

Pinser pierces kronic

Pinser pierces Kronic the Wedgehog's flipper

Pinser and cobra

Refbot counts out Pinser and Cobra

Pinser Cobra 1

Pinser and Cobra are thrown over by the Floor Flipper

PushingTogether

Pinser and Cobra get taken to the Drop Zone

In the early stages, Pinser grabbed hold of Kronic the Wedgehog's front flipper and pushed it over a flame vent, and into the already struggling Cobra. After The Kraken broke the three machines apart, the double crusher machine attacked Cobra, who appeared to be immobile. Pinser followed with a similar attack as Mr. Psycho drove over Cobra. By now it was apparent that Pinser had immobilised itself, having burnt out over the flames, so the Refbot counted both machines out of the Seventh Wars. They were tossed by the Floor Flipper together, then put on the Drop Zone together, where a television was dropped on the two losing robots.

"Let's just confirm then. Pinser and Cobra went."
— Jonathan Pearce after Pinser's first round battle

Pinser also competed in the Crusher Crunch Up special event, broadcast in Heat H, two heats before the heat Pinser competed in. Here, it was placed up against R.O.C.S. and Mantis.

ROCS attacks mantis

Pinser engages with R.O.C.S.

Crusher crunch up

Pinser crushes into R.O.C.S.

In the battle, Mantis got in the first attack, pushing R.O.C.S. into Mr. Psycho's CPZ. Pinser then used its crushing arm on the front of Mantis, and held it over the flame jet. After dragging it away, R.O.C.S. clamped onto the side of Pinser, causing minimal damage.

Crusher Crunch Up 3

Pinser inflicts damage to R.O.C.S.

Crusher Crunch Up 2

All three robots at close-quarters against the arena wall

Cassius Chrome Crusher Crunch Up

Cassius Chrome helps to separate the competitors

Mantis pushed Pinser against the wall, almost tipping it over before the pit descended. Pinser surely pulled off the most powerful attack of the fight, crushing deep into the front end of R.O.C.S. and severing a hydraulic line, causing hydraulic fluid to flood the arena floor. The three machines drove to the other end of the arena, where a lick of flame caused an explosion of hydraulic fluid from underneath Pinser. The trio were stuck against the arena wall until Cassius Chrome split them. Pinser still could not gain full traction on the fluid-coated floor, and could only twitch in place whilst R.O.C.S. exhibited even less movement. Mantis, meanwhile, kept its distance and celebrated a potential victory.

The battle went to a Judges' decision, and despite Pinser's strong efforts throughout the fight, Mantis was awarded the win on the basis of being the most mobile machine at the end.

Results[]

PINSER - RESULTS
Series 7
The Seventh Wars UK Championship
Heat, Round 1
Heat J, Round 1 vs. Cobra, Kronic the Wedgehog, The Kraken Eliminated
The Seventh Wars, Special Events
Crusher Crunch Up
Crusher Crunch Up vs. Mantis, R.O.C.S. Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 0
  • Losses: 2

Series Record[]

Series Pinser Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Did not enter
The Third Wars Did not enter
The Fourth Wars Did not enter
The Fifth Wars Did not enter
The Sixth Wars Did not enter
The Seventh Wars Heat, Round 1
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Tanto, TX-108 and Pinser

Pinser (top) on display after Series 7 with Tanto and TX-108

Pinser retired from combat shortly after Robot Wars began its hiatus, but has since still been used on occasion as a static display for some live events.

Trivia[]

  • Pinser is possibly the only robot to be immobilised by a flame vent on the arena floor, and still managed to be visibly affected by the hazard in both of its battles.
  • Jonathan Pearce referred to the Crusher Crunch Up as the "Crusher Carve Up" when Pinser appeared in the arena for its first round melee in Heat J of Series 7, the heat that Pinser competed in.
  • Of the three newcomers in Heat J of Series 7, Pinser was the only one to appear in another episode.
  • Pinser and Cobra were the only two competing robots in Heat J of Series 7 not to fight Thermidor 2 at any point (due to Kronic the Wedgehog fighting it in Series 4).
  • Both of Pinser's battles featured Mr. Psycho as one of the House Robots.
  • All of Pinser's opponents except Cobra lost in the second round of their heats in Series 7.
    • The Kraken was the only one of those opponents to lose to the eventual heat winner, losing to Thermidor 2.

Navigation[]

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