Robot Redford Jr

Robot Redford Jr
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1996
Other Names	Robert Redford Jnr
Team Information
Team Members	William Bakaleinikoff
From	Half Moon Bay, California
Robot Statistics
Power	2x car batteries
Drive	2x 'large gearmotors
Weapons	Drill, optional blade, 'chain whip' & 'harpoon'
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Robot Redford Jr (referred to in American Robot Wars 1996 as Robert Redford Jnr) was a heavyweight robot which competed exclusively in the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. It was eliminated in the first rounds of both the Heavyweight Face-Off and Melee events, the former upon getting turned over by eventual champion BioHazard. Highlights of Robot Redford Jr's appearances in both fights were featured in the American Robot Wars 1996 and American Robot Wars Final 1996 VHS releases; the Face-Off loss was also briefly highlighted in Heat D of Robot Wars: The First Wars.

Design

Robot Redford Jr as it appeared in the Heavyweight Melee; note the extra disc and entanglement devices

Making use of a black wheelbarrow as its outer shell, Robot Redford Jr was a two-wheel drive robot with rubber tires and a 'simple metal frame'. Its main weapons included a long drill attached to the front-left corner, along with a similar arm at the back with a bladed tip. Robot Redford Jr's drive wheels were motorized by a pair of large gearmotors, with the whole robot being powered by two car batteries. Though these internals proved to be reliable, the robot had a low top speed, a high ground clearance and a lack of self-righting mechanism; the latter two weaknesses being easily exploited in its debut fight.

Robot Redford Jr (left) being worked on

For the Heavyweight Melee, an extra set of weapons was added to Robot Redford Jr, including a four-sided cutting blade, a 'chain whip' and a 'harpoon' at the back, plus an extra arm on the front-right with an entanglement device. Meanwhile, a small net or mesh was wrapped around the drill arm, also for entangling purposes. In addition to these, William Bakaleinikoff brought along a water cannon for potential use as an extra weapon, though this was outlawed under Robot Wars rules. A claimed weight of "450 pounds" is mentioned on a website entry highlighting Robot Redford Jr's 1996 run, though this would have likely put Robot Redford Jr significantly over the heavyweight limit if confirmed.

Etymology

Robot Redford Jr's name was likely derived from Robot Redford, an earlier "showbot" created by William "Bill" Bakaleinikoff in 1983 (see Outside Robot Wars). In turn, "Robot Redford" was a play on the actor Robert Redford. The connection is further reinforced in American Robot Wars 1996, which erroneously refers to the 1996 heavyweight as Robert Redford Jnr.

Robot History

1996 US Championship

Robot Redford Jr began its 1996 run in the Heavyweight Face-Off. In the opening round, it would face fellow newcomer BioHazard.

Robot Redford Jr is turned against the wall by BioHazard

At the start, it slowly spun around on the spot. BioHazard closed in, nudged and flicked Robot Redford Jr sideways with an early lift. Robot Redford Jr survived, but was pushed past an arena flipper and into the wall. There, BioHazard turned it over against the sponsor banners, eliminating Robot Redford Jr as a result.

""Robert Redford Jnr's" weaponry wasn't much help here. The BioHazard's lift arm makes sure of that."

— Paul Vallis comments on Robot Redford Jr's Face-Off defeat

Robot Redford Jr would return for the Heavyweight Melee, sporting extra weaponry including the four-pointed disc and a number of entanglement devices. In its first-round clash, it would battle against a total of five opponents - Frank, Gutrip, Marvin, SWAK and TerMinal frenzy - for a chance to progress to the overall Final.

Gutrip drives under the side of Robot Redford Jr

From the outset, Robot Redford Jr engaged in a duel with Gutrip. It attempted to snare Gutrip's twin cutters with one of its newly-fitted entanglement devices, before the two machines pushed each other back and forth across the arena. Robot Redford Jr struggled to utilize its 'chain whip' during these exchanges, the disc merely brushing against the Lexan armor of Bob Schneeveis' machine. A hit from the swinging Ball of Doom caused the disc to spin downwards. As this happened, Gutrip began buffeting Robot Redford Jr into their air with its cutters, doing so multiple times while Robot Redford Jr was dragged into, then held in the perimeter for several seconds.

Robot Redford Jr (center) attacks an immobile Frank

Robot Redford Jr eventually escaped, approaching and pushing a seemingly immobile Frank towards one of the mousetraps. There, it would be attacked by Marvin, which resorted to pushing it, and Gutrip again. Robot Redford Jr took more side-on attacks from Gutrip's blades, including one which caught it from the left-hand side. From that point, it was gingerly pushed and dragged around in the center, before breaking free and receiving a side-on ram from Marvin. Another three-way tussle developed, with Robot Redford Jr again being snagged on Gutrip's cutters, and controlled across the arena. Upon being pushed towards Frank, it attempted to damage Kua Patten’s axlebot with its drill, but without success.

"We (my son and me) were finally victorious taking on six robots at one time......you see see us battling the last survivor....the other lay in carnage in the back ground..........it was great fun."

— William Bakleinikoff, recounting Robot Redford Jr.'s run in its Heavyweight Melee

Robot Redford Jr and Gutrip separated once more, with the former's drill now badly bent. Turning around, Robot Redford Jr briefly backed towards Gutrip, before shuffling around and generally avoiding its surviving opponents in the final moments. By the time the match concluded, it appeared to become completely immobilized, with Gutrip and Marvin ultimately emerging as the last two surviving robots. While Robot Redford Jr was eliminated from the Heavyweight Melee tournament at this stage, William Bakaleinikoff still considered its Round 1 battle to be 'fun' and a personal victory for his team.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 2

Series Record

Events	Robot Redford Jr Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Heavyweight Face-Off, Round 1 Heavyweight Melee, Round 1
1997	Did not enter

Outside Robot Wars

Prior to competing at Robot Wars 1996, William Bakaleinikoff's first foray into robotics came in the early 1980s, where he initially worked as an 'in-house ad agency' for Advanced Robotics. Following this experience, he would found the companies Superior Robotics of America, Star Robots USA and Chiri-Bakaleinikoff & Associates International, prior to his retirement from business in 2000. Of these companies, Star Robots would be best known for creating the original Robot Redford. Incorporating an onboard camera and flashing 'eyes' placed within an articulating 'head', it was capable of transmitting speeches spoken by Bakaleinikoff through a hidden microphone. Robot Redford itself became notable in 1983, when it delivered a commencement address at the Anne Arundel Community College, Maryland, to international media attention and controversy.

In addition to its 1983 speech, the original Robot Redford appeared alongside Robot Redford Jr at Robot Wars 1996 itself. Reserved for non-combat purposes, it would primarily be used to greet spectators at the event, with the ability to 'speak' to them through Bakaleinikoff's microphone. Following this appearance, Robot Redford was placed into storage at Bakaleinikoff's family household.

Sadly, Bakaleinikoff passed away on June 20 2018, aged 75, following a three-year battle with kidney cancer.

External Links

• University High School Class of 1961 website, featuring photos of Robot Redford Jr's 1996 run
• Robot Redford Jr on the official US Robot Wars website (archived May 2 1997)