Rhino

For the Army entry from Extreme Series 1, see Rhino (Extreme 1).

Rhino
Participation Information
UK Series	7
Team Information
Team	Team Reactor
Team Members	Russell Orton Martin Crouch Daniel Orton
From	Birstall, Leicestershire
Other Entries	Reactor (Series 4-5)
Robot Statistics
Weight	98kg
Dimensions	0.67m x 1.32m x 0.79m
Drive	36v electric motor
Weapons	High pressure flipper & disc
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Could leave more experienced machines on the horn of a dilemma..."

— Jonathan Pearce introduces Rhino

Rhino was Team Reactor's entry for the seventh series of Robot Wars, designed to resemble a rhinoceros, as the team had a desire to build a robot that looked like something. It reached the second round before falling to the experienced Steel Avenger.

Design

Rhino in the second round. Note the "That hurt" armour panels

Rhino was a four-wheel driven robot, built to resemble a rhinoceros, with the rhino's 'head' acting as a high-pressure flipper. It was also armed with a 2500rpm bludgeoner on the back, which Jonathan Pearce ridiculed.

"What is that?...That's not a weapon, that's some sort of...fan!"

— Jonathan Pearce comments on the Rhino flywheel

It was untested before its qualifying battle but had destructive and potent weaponry. However, the self-righting mechanism did not always work and, according to the robot's statistics, the "driver needs more practice".

Qualification

Rhino fought Aggrobot, Ceros and the Dutch entry Twister in its Series 7 qualifier battle. Rhino was fairly passive throughout the battle, and Ceros deliberately avoided it in order to give the team a fighting chance, and earn more points by attacking the more threatening Twister. Although Twister went on to win the battle, Rhino was awarded a discretionary place in the main competition of the Seventh Wars, alongside Ceros and Aggrobot.

"We fought for around 2 minutes in which time ceros managed to get flipped, self right perfectly and they go on to toss aggrobot several feet in the air and on contact with terra firma again were dead to the world :). We the decided as rhino were still trying to learn how to control their machine that we should go for twister as otherwise it would look like we were scared of it. We hit it and it buckled the entire side of ceros :O. Me being the way I am did not stand for this and attacked again trying to flip the vulnerable wheel of the machine. I almost got a flip on but he turned lat {sic} minute and the flipper caught the heavy frame in which time 4 major things happened. I saw a very pretty bright titanium spark :) the flipper got buckled, we through twister up a little, but the best bit was tearing through the spinning weapon requiring them to have to get it re welded before they could fight again."

— Ceros website describes the battle

Robot History

Series 7

Rhino participated in Heat I of the Seventh Wars, and was placed up against the number sixteen seeds Storm 2, past Heat Finalist Supernova, and newcomers Mayhem in its first round battle.

Rhino lifts Storm 2

Mayhem loses one of its wheels

Storm 2 shunts Rhino back

In the battle, Rhino lived up to its name as it immediately charged at Supernova, but missed. Storm 2 then came up behind it and pushed it across the arena. Rhino tried to fight back, but Storm 2 got up to speed and crashed it against an angle grinder, almost sending Rhino onto its back. Mayhem hit Rhino, but caused no damage, before Supernova hit them both, bouncing off Rhino and taking one of Mayhem's tyres off. Rhino then flipped Storm 2, but it bounced back onto its wheels. Storm 2 rammed Rhino against the wall again, putting its opponent on top of it. Rhino was then pushed into a CPZ and Matilda, in an attempt to hit Rhino, actually severely damaged the arena side wall, giving Rhino time to escape. Meanwhile, Mayhem had been immobilised and Rhino lifted Storm 2 again.

"Rhino... just about moving"

— Jonathan Pearce on Rhino's movement

Rhino was now barely moving, but Supernova, after taking one of Sir Killalot's tracks off, had broken down and was counted out, sending Rhino through to the next round of the heat along with Storm 2.

In the second round of the heat, Rhino was placed up against the experienced Steel Avenger.

Rhino is littered with dents and holes by Steel Avenger

Rhino is axed by Steel Avenger

In this battle, Steel Avenger managed to get around the more sluggish Rhino machine and dig its axe in a couple of times and Rhino missed with its flipper. Steel Avenger activated the pit, but Rhino steered away and tried to ram Steel Avenger.

"The Rhino, very much an endangered species out there in the warzone."

— Jonathan Pearce

Rhino defiantly flicks Steel Avenger up

Rhino is eventually pitted

Steel Avenger pushed back and pushed Rhino against the arena wall and axed another hole into it. Rhino then appeared to have broken down and Steel Avenger pushed it near to the pit and, after a few attempts, nearly pitting itself and a late flip from Rhino, pushed it down into the pit of oblivion, eliminating Rhino from the competition.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1

Series Record

The team in the pits with Rhino

Series	Rhino Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Entered with Reactor
The Fifth Wars	Entered with Reactor 2
The Sixth Wars	Failed to qualify with Reactor 3
The Seventh Wars	Heat, Round 2
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Trivia

Official Series 7 photo

• In their interview after their defeat, Team Reactor noted that they based their robot upon a rhino for it was a threatening animal which had not yet been turned into a robot on the show. Ironically, Rhino's heat aired directly after Heat H, which contained Ceros, a fellow rhinoceros design.
  • Ceros and Rhino both fought each other at the qualifiers.
  • Both robots were from Leicestershire.
• Team Reactor and Team Steel Avenger appeared in Heat M of Series 4 but didn't fight each other there with them meeting each other in Heat I of Series 7.
• During Rhino's appearance, it was referred to as a newcomer despite it appearing in Series 4 and 5 as Reactor, with the team mentioning later on in Rhino's heat that they appeared with a different robot, this being Reactor.