Riptilion

Riptilion
Participation Information
UK Series	6-7, Extreme 2
Team Information
Team	Terror-Dactyls
Team Members	Geoff Graham Peter Platt Maureen Moke (Series 6) Lorna Graham (Extreme 2) Robert Read (Series 7)
From	Preston, Lancashire
Other Entries	Araknia (Series 7)
Robot Statistics
Weight	89kg
Dimensions	0.26m x 1.20m x 1.20m
Top Speed	27mph
Drive	2x 750W electric motors
Weapons	Horizontal spinning blade
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Slimy, sneaky, tricky, low down, we love it!"

— Jonathan Pearce in Series 7

Riptilion was a heavyweight robot which competed in Series 6 of Robot Wars, also appearing in side competitions through the second series of Extreme and Series 7, representing its home country of New Zealand in the latter. However, Riptilion did not win any of its three battles.

The Terror-Dactyls also entered the main competition of Series 7 with the similar Araknia.

Design

Riptilion in Series 6

Riptilion was circular in shape, making it one of the widest machines in Robot Wars at 139cm. Themed after a reptile, it used a scaly design with an image of two dinosaurs on top, and cost £2,000 to build. Riptilion was primarily a sit-and-spin design, using a two-wheel drive and static cutting teeth to cause damage by driving the robot in circles. In Series 6, Riptilion had four static teeth, but this was reduced to three before Extreme 2 and Series 7 to make way for a new active weapon, a small lawnmower blade, positioned at an angle. Riptilion's statistics board in Series 6 claimed the robot had a spinning disc, but this was not seen.

Riptilion at the time of Extreme 2

According to Jonathan Pearce, Riptilion boasted very high top speeds of 27mph. The team also pioneered a unique 'side step' manoeuvre for Riptilion - its wheels were so far apart that the driver could send one wheel into reverse, carrying the body of the robot around its own circumference to sneak behind other opponents. However, Riptilion's relatively flat top gave it a weakness to axe and hammer weapons, and although Riptilion's wide shape made it hard to flip, it could not self-right nor run inverted.

Etymology

The name Riptilion was derived from the lizard class reptilian, alongside 'rip'. Similarly, the team name Terror-Dactyls is derived from the dinosaur pterodactyls.

The Team

The Terror-Dactyls in the pits during the Series 6 qualifiers

Riptilion was the first robot built by the Terror-Dactyls, who also competed in Series 7 with Araknia. Although the team were based in Preston, Lancashire, the team captain Geoff Graham was born in New Zealand, which Riptilion represented in its Third World Championship qualifier.

Geoff Graham was consistently joined by Peter Platt in all appearances, while Maureen Moke completed the Series 6 team, and Robert Read completed the Series 7 team. Geoff's wife Lorna Graham temporarily joined the team in Extreme 2 and drove the robot during the Iron Maidens tournament.

Robot History

Series 6

"Risen from the Robot Wars swamps, looks prime evil!"

— Jonathan Pearce

In its Robot Wars debut, Riptilion was drawn against the second seed and reigning UK runner-up Bigger Brother, alongside Major Tom and Killer Carrot 2.

Riptilion drives itself into the pit

It was immediately targeted by the seasoned Bigger Brother, which flipped Riptilion up, although the wide robot was not turned over due to its size. Riptilion landed on Bigger Brother's wedge and was clamped by the flipper, and pushed into Mr. Psycho, also being flicked up again, so Riptilion attempted to push Bigger Brother out of the way. However, even after Bigger Brother drove away, Riptilion failed to evade a hammer blow from Mr. Psycho, rattling the body of the robot. Riptilion attempted to use its sit-and-spin tactics near the Disc of Doom, but was not challenged by its foes, and Riptilion eventually drove too close to the pit which was open, and fell into it.

"Riptilion, the snake, slithered into the pit of its own accord!"

— Craig Charles

Riptilion was eliminated from the Sixth Wars at this stage. The Terror-Dactyls revealed to Philippa Forrester after the match that they were close to withdrawing before the battle started as they were suffering from issues with their controller, but competed after believing they had fixed the issue with superglue.

Extreme 2

"Resists impact well, unless it's an axe weapon, which can penetrate the outer cover."

— Jonathan Pearce

In the Iron Maidens competition, Riptilion was driven by Lorna Graham, and faced long-time Robot Wars competitors Behemoth and Kat 3.

Riptilion is lifted up by Behemoth

Riptilion was extremely passive in the opening stages while Behemoth flipped Kat 3; this allowed Riptilion to spin up its new lawnmower blade, but also drove head-first into an angle grinder. Riptilion turned to face the struggling Kat 3, but did not attack it, and was lifted up by Behemoth and dropped. However, this did bring Riptilion's weapon into contact with Kat 3, causing a side panel to come loose from Kat 3.

"Riptilion we've seen very little of until that moment there, sandwiched between the two, comes crashing down."

— Jonathan Pearce

Kat 3 spikes Riptilion

Once Riptilion had landed, it lost mobility and could only spin its weapon in self-defence, but caused little damage to Behemoth. Shunt and Mr. Psycho closed in on the docile machine, waiting for Riptilion to be rendered officially immobile. Kat 3 then drew close, and buried its spiked axe straight through the shell of Riptilion, dragging it backwards until it rested on top of the pit.

"It just has lacked any sort of drive, two 750w drive motors but it's never got going, has it, Riptilion"

— Jonathan Pearce

Riptilion is hammered into the pit

While Kat 3 pressed the pit release button, Refbot counted Riptilion out. Riptilion was directly in front of the pit, but Kat 3 and Mr. Psycho fought for the opportunity to push it down. Mr. Psycho slammed its hammer onto Riptilion, before Kat 3 pushed Riptilion over the open pit, where the width of the robot suspended it there until Mr. Psycho knocked it in, and hammered it one last time.

"It's R.I.P., Riptilion!"

— Craig Charles

Series 7

While the Terror-Dactyls competed in the main competition of Series 7 with Araknia, they represented their home country of New Zealand using Riptilion in a qualifier for The Third World Championship against the Belgian representative, Hard. The Belgian team were not confident of their ability to flip Riptilion due to its size.

"Well he's so large that we think it might be quite difficult to flip him over...we're not even sure if he fits in the pit!"

— Jan Huygh on Riptilion

Riptilion is flicked up by Hard

Riptilion's blade causes visible damage to the side of Hard

Riptilion utilised its sit-and-spin tactics to defend itself from Hard and power up its lawnmower blade, but Hard found its way underneath and threw Riptilion into the arena wall. Hard was completely submerged by the size of Riptilion, but flipped it up again and drove it into an empty CPZ, although Riptilion's spinning blade made contact with Hard, causing a visible bend in its front armour. Riptilion was pushed into another CPZ by Hard, where the Belgian machine and Cassius Chrome unleashed a joint attack on the vulnerable Riptilion. Unable to escape from the CPZ, it was next attacked by Growler, which bit into Riptilion's shell, and dragged the now completely immobile robot over the pit.

"And the Refbot is about to count down the Kiwi hope. They could've done with a Maori chant or two, the Haka dance used by the Rugby Union players. They lacked a formidable nature, and Riptilion beaten."

— Jonathan Pearce

Hard and Riptilion are pinned by Cassius Chrome

Riptilion is bitten by Growler

Hard flipped and pushed Riptilion while it was counted out by the Refbot, ending its qualifying campaign. Growler gripped Riptilion by its spinning blade, and dragged it onto the floor flipper, which threw Riptilion forwards in a somersault, and 'cease' was called during one last attack from Hard.

Craig Charles: "What went wrong?"

Geoff Graham: "It looks like the chains came off one of the motors, we've just lost power."

— Geoff Graham explains Riptilion's breakdown

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 3

Series Record

Main Series	Riptilion 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	Heat, Round 1
The Seventh Wars	World Championship Qualifiers Entered with Araknia
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Iron Maidens, Round 1

Trivia

• The Terror-Dactyls are the only New Zealander team to enter Robot Wars.
• Riptilon's image on its statistics board during Series 7 appears to use a cropped version of the pre-battle shot of it under the Arena spotlight, instead of a studio shot like almost all other competitors' stat boards. It is possible this is because the robot was brought in at short notice, since Araknia took significant damage during the main competition.
• All three of Riptilon's losses involved at least one robot that was armed with a flipper.
• In Riptilion's first appearance, it appeared in the first battle of the episode. In its second appearance, it appeared in the second battle of the episode and in its third appearance, it appeared in the third battle of the episode.