RCC

RCC
Participation Information
Dutch Series	1
Other Names	Radio Controlled Carnage
Team Information
Team	Team RCC
Team Members	Leo van Miert Erik-jan van Boxsel Barry van Hees
From	Roosendaal
Robot Statistics
Weight	100kg
Dimensions	1.04m x 0.82m x 0.59m
Power	40Ah SLA battery
Drive	2x car starter motors
Weapons	Pneumatic axe and pincers
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

RCC (abbreviated from Radio Controlled Carnage) was a Dutch heavyweight robot, and the first robot built by Team RCC which entered in the first series of Dutch Robot Wars. RCC lasted just 15 seconds in the first round against PullverizeR, and withdrew from the Losers' melee.

Design

"It had (too) many weapons; A double action axe (the mohawk on top), flippers on the sides, pincers in the back. There was also a pneumatic spike originally, but we had to take it out because the bot was too heavy."

— Team RCC on their weapony, including the removed spike

RCC in the arena

RCC was a multi-coloured robot with two enclosed drive wheels and two different weapons. The latter included a pneumatic axe with a curved arm and multiple spikes, named the 'mohawk', along with a set of small horizontal steel pincers dubbed the 'scissors'. Above the 'scissors' was an illustration of a devil's face giving a menacing smile. Originally a pneumatic spike was also featured, but removed as the robot was too heavy with this in place.

"We ran the robot on a 40Ah SLA battery, and the drive were 2 rewound and converted starter motors from Opel Kadett cars. Since we could not get the home built speed controllers to work, we had to settle for h-bridges made with automotive relais, aka bangbang drive. Due to the weight of 100kg it actually drove pretty well, going forward at least. Driving backwards was close to impossible, it would just swing around in a J-turn."

— Team RCC on the robot's mobility

RCC in the pits

According to its statistics board, RCC also featured an in-built self-righting mechanism, with the sides incorporating bottom-hinged panels connected to short pistons. The travel of the 'mohawk' weapon suggested that it potentially had self-righting capabilities as well, although neither method was demonstrated in combat. While large and possessing more durable armour than other Dutch Series competitors, RCC had a slow top speed and electrical issues which hampered its progress in the championship.

Etymology

The abbreviated name "RCC" stood for "Radio Controlled Carnage". The full name was used on the robot's statistics board in Dutch Series 1, though the show otherwise used "RCC" on battleboards and other elements, becoming the robot's more commonly used name.

Qualification

"We started building in 2000, we went through selection and recorded the BNN Robot Wars series in 2001. To make work on it easier and safer we built a special workbench with a electric winch to raise and lower the bot to the arena."

— Team RCC on the qualification and build process

RCC was selected for Dutch Series 1, after attending rehearsals and passing relevant safety checks in an unpainted and partially-finished state. However, its audition was not without problems. In a clip shown in Robot Wars: The Kick-Off, RCC weighed in at 102kg minus most of its armour. The discrepancy was explained onscreen as being caused by the robot's pneumatic tank already being filled with air at the time of the weigh-in.

"Still, we learnt so much in the first BNN season, thanks to all the British competitors who were so welcoming to us in the pits and showed us all the techniques and tricks they had learned in the 5 years they were already running. We're very fortunate to call many of these roboteers friends now. Our BNN series 2 and UK series 6 and 7 showed a lot of progress thanks to them."

— Team RCC on their learnings from their first outing

RCC 2, which failed to qualify for UK Series 7

The insides of RCC 2 during the Series 7 qualifiers

The team built a new version of the robot called RCC 2 with the intention of entering it in Dutch Series 2. However, the robot was not finished on time, so Team RCC participated with their other robot, Blackdevil Warzone.

RCC 2 drives under Gravity in its qualifier battle

Instead, the team attempted to enter RCC 2 into UK Series 7 alongside their other recently acquired robot Splinter, although Splinter ultimately withdrew from its qualifier battle. RCC 2 was drawn against fellow European robots Gravity and Mechaniac, alongside a representative of Richard Huish College. Although it seemingly survived the full battle, it was pushed across the arena by Mechaniac and could not complete a significant attack other than its first charge on Gravity. The battle was ultimately won by Gravity, and RCC 2 was not selected to compete in Series 7.

For the reboot, Team RCC would instead apply with Bullfrog, which also was not selected to compete.

Robot History

Dutch Series 1

Competing in Heat B, RCC's first battle was against PullverizeR.

Bridget Maasland: "Of course, the big question is: can you handle Pullverizer with this mohawk? Is it enough?"

Leo van Miert: "It will be interesting. Absolutely. I think it, ehm... it will be one of the most fun battles I will do."

Bridget Maasland: "Why?"

Leo van Miert: "The other teams are great. Absolutely. I have seen many other teams that are doing great, but I respect Pullverizer most in this... If you talk to Pullverizer's team, they'll say the same about our robot."

— Pre-battle interview with Bridget Maasland and Team RCC (Mech+ subtitles)

PullverizeR hits the side of RCC

PullverizeR knocks out RCC

PullverizeR held back at the beginning, allowing its flywheel to get up to speed, whilst RCC drove towards it. As RCC got close, PullverizeR drove forwards, hitting RCC with the flywheel, but PullverizeR merely bounced off. RCC fired the axe as PullverizeR hit it, but missed because PullverizeR bounced off. RCC turned around to try and use its pincers, but PullverizeR got at the side, hitting the wheelguard with its flywheel. As RCC reversed, Pullverizer turned away and drove around for another attack. PullverizeR drove at RCC, which turned around to use its axe. As PullverizeR hit the front of RCC, RCC fired the axe, but this had no effect. After this hit from the flywheel, RCC broke down due to electrical problems.

"It was not successful, in its first and only match it lost connection with the transmitter and went into failsafe. Trying to fix the issue proved too difficult at the time so we were not able to get into the arena again for our second fight."

— Team RCC on the reason RCC broke down

RCC in the claws of Sir Killalot

RCC is carried to the Pit by Sir Killalot

This breakdown was later revealed to be caused by its transmitter signal being lost, sending the robot into failsafe mode. PullverizeR hit the side of the immobile RCC with its flywheel, then drove away. Refbot came over to count RCC out, and after it was counted out, Sir Killalot picked it up by the axe and carried it to the Floor Flipper. RCC was thrown across the arena, landing on its back, and PullverizeR landed another hit, this time on the rear. Sir Killalot picked RCC up again and help it up for Sgt. Bash to toast with his flamethrower, then carried it to the Pit and dropped it in.

Bridget Maasland: "It's still possible, right?"

Team RCC: "Absolutely."

Bridget Maasland: "But... I had a good look. It's very damaged."

Team RCC: "The House Robot did that."

— Losers' Melee pre-match interview with Team RCC, reflecting on their machine's defeat against PullverizeR (Mech+ subtitles)

RCC was due to take part in the Losers' Melee against Scraptosaur and Pyramid of Chaos. However, RCC was still suffering issues with its electronics, and was forced to withdraw from the battle, and the competition as a whole.

Bridget Maasland: "This totally sucks, right?"

Team RCC: "This totally suck[s], yeah."

Bridget Maasland: "What the hell happened?"

Team RCC: "Well, our electronics actually stopped working when we wanted to enter the arena. Now we have been busy for an hour, an hour and a half trying to fix it. And yeah... [w]e still haven't quite figured out what the problem is. And at some point, you'll just have to admit that it won't work out, so we'll just quit."

— Team RCC withdraw from the competition (Mech+ subtitles)

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 1

Series Record

Dutch Series

RCC makes an appearance in The Pits during Extreme 1 filming

Dutch Series	RCC Series Record
Series 1	Heat, Round 1
Series 2	Entered with Blackdevil Warzone

UK Series

Series	RCC 2 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	Failed to qualify Failed to qualify with Splinter
Series 8	Not selected with Bullfrog
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Outside Robot Wars

RCC 2 at the Dutch Robot Games in 2003

RCC 2 with its team at the event

Between Dutch Series 2 and the Seventh Wars, RCC 2 made its combat debut at the Dutch Robot Games in 2003. Its first-round battle was a melee against Dantomkia and Hammerhead 2, although Dantomkia promptly pitted RCC 2 and won the battle, eliminating RCC 2. It also fought in a non-competition rumble against Toe Cutter 2 and Spike, with Spike winning the battle.

Trivia

Official image of RCC

• RCC is the sole competitor in Dutch Series 1 to only have one fight on Robot Wars.
• Along with a number of other Dutch Series 1 competitors, RCC makes a cameo appearance during the second Annihilator of Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1. It can be seen to the left of the screen in one shot while Julia Reed checks on the Disc-O-Inferno team, as they and George Francis undertake running repairs following the first round.

External Links

• Team RCC website
• Team RCC Facebook page
• RCC 2 in its qualifier battle for Series 7