- "This looks like an alien UFO, complete with coloured flashing lights and siren. It's powered by six 90-watt motors and has hardened steel spikes"
- — Jonathan Pearce summarises REALI-T
REALI-T was a competitor robot from Series 1 of Robot Wars. It reached the Heat Final in its only appearance, before being defeated by Bodyhammer in its Heat Final despite pushing it onto a grille at one point.
Design[]
Official shot of REALI-T
REALI-T in the pits
REALI-T was a large silver circular-shaped robot covered with wire-frame and mesh armour and designed to resemble a UFO, complete with a toy alien pilot sitting inside the front 'cockpit'. It featured flashing lights and a siren which played whenever the robot was in action, and was armed with a pair of front hardened steel ramming spikes as its weapon. REALI-T also had a top speed of 9mph and was powered by six 90W motors, which gave it good speed and pushing power as well as damage potential with the front spikes. However, its wheels, motors and gearboxes were easily susceptible to damage, which resulted in REALI-T having to be converted from six-wheel drive to four-wheel drive before its Heat Final.
Etymology[]
The name REALI-T was a pun on the word 'reality', and was also an acronym for "Reverse-Engineered Alien Technology" according to the team. On occasion, the alternative spellings Reali-t and Reali-T were also used by the team and show.
Robot History[]
Series 1[]
REALI-T takes on the first ramp
REALI-T started slowly in its Gauntlet run, taking the centre route and slowly going over both ramps. It dodged the drills and pendulum in the process, completing the Gauntlet and advancing to the Trial stage despite wedging itself through the wall upon reaching the end zone.
REALI-T is blocked by Matilda, as Full Metal Anorak tries to ram her out of the way
In the Labyrinth, REALI-T immediately collided with Psychosprout, causing the latter to stop moving and eventually roll back to the start, before advancing through the left-hand route past Bodyhammer. It reached the middle zone, but spun on the spot and collided with Bodyhammer as it tried to advance forwards.
- "I just wonder about this outer shell of REALI-T. It looks to me as if it's made out of cold spaghetti."
- — Jonathan Pearce expresses reservations about REALI-T's armour during the Labyrinth
REALI-T initially followed Bodyhammer, before changing route and going for the left-most lane, being blocked by Matilda in the process. It rammed Matilda in an attempt to get past, but despite nearly reaching the end zone, it did not complete the course and finished second to Full Metal Anorak in the arena. Despite this, the results table showed REALI-T as finishing fourth, behind both Bodyhammer and Torque of the Devil. Following the Labyrinth, it was revealed that REALI-T's wheels and gearboxes were damaged by Matilda in the closing stages of its run, resulting in the team having to make extra repairs and modify the robot to run on four wheels, due to one snapping off, before the Arena stage.
REALI-T pushes Full Metal Anorak against the side bars
In its Semi-Final, REALI-T met Full Metal Anorak, the robot that attempted to help it out in the Labyrinth. It started slowly as Full Metal Anorak tried to get underneath it with its front blade, and was attacked by Sergeant Bash after trying to chase Full Metal Anorak around the arena. Eventually, REALI-T rammed Full Metal Anorak a few times, eventually spiking and slamming it against the side bars and causing it to drive onto a grille after another bump.
REALI-T tries to stop Shunt from pushing Bodyhammer off the grille
REALI-T stranded on the side bars
Both robots chased, dodged and pushed each other around numerous times before Bodyhammer slammed REALI-T into a CPZ and a pyramid, allowing Matilda to come in and pin REALI-T against the wall. REALI-T escaped, clouting the swinging pendulum as Bodyhammer partially drove itself onto a grille, leaving it stranded as REALI-T pushed it fully on, losing a wheel in the process. Shunt subsequently pushed Bodyhammer off the grille, allowing it to keep fighting, despite REALI-T trying to spear Shunt and push him away. REALI-T became harder to steer in the result of its missing wheel, and got too close to the side bars itself, leaving it stranded and vulnerable to attacks from Sergeant Bash and Bodyhammer, who pushed REALI-T fully onto them. 'Cease' was called, and despite its strong performance, REALI-T was eliminated from the First Wars.
Series Record[]
| REALI-T - RESULTS | ||
| Series 1 | ||
| The First Wars - UK Championship Heat Final | ||
| Heat E, Gauntlet | Completed (1st) | Qualified |
| Heat E, Trial (Labyrinth) | Second Furthest (2nd) | Qualified |
| Heat E, Semi-Final | vs. Full Metal Anorak | Won |
| Heat E, Final | vs. Bodyhammer | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 1
NOTE: REALI-T's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included
Series Record[]
| Series | REALI-T Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Heat Final |
| 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 | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Did not enter |
| Series 9 | Did not enter |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In Heat E, the Labyrinth's results were broadcast wrong, with REALI-T listed in fourth place instead of second. This was despite the clear order of REALI-T, Torque of the Devil, and Bodyhammer.
- REALI-T fought Full Metal Anorak in the Arena Semi-Final, but had the normal pattern of the Semi-final lineups been followed, (1st in the Labyrinth fought 3rd, 2nd fought 4th), REALI-T should have fought Bodyhammer in the Semi-Final.
- REALI-T's armour also acted as a weapon, as it was covered in chicken wire.
- In MUCH TV's Mandarin Chinese dub of Series 1, REALI-T's name was roughly translated as Foreign Visitors, likely as a result of its UFO-inspired design.
- While working in The Pits the team members of REALI-T were seen sporting t-shirts reading "DERAnged scientist at work", a nod to the DERA (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) facility that operated in Malvern, Worcestershire at the time of recording, where the team members worked. DERA was privatised in 2000 and was rebranded under the Qinetiq banner.
External Links[]
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||