- "Tonight, eight more robots are in the pits, including old favourites Behemoth!"
- — Craig Charles
Heat L of Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars was the twelfth of sixteen heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Seventh Wars. The episode featuring Heat L was originally broadcast on January 18, 2004 on Five.
Competing robots
Newcomers
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|---|---|---|
| Mute | ||
| Weight | 96kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.26 x 0.96 x 0.67m | |
| Power | 4HP electric motor | |
| Weapons | Front & rear flippers | |
| Strengths | Tough armour | |
| Weaknesses | Vulnerable to pits | |
| From: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire | ||
| Team Members: Adam Emmett, Daniel Emmett & Jeremy Honcox | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Tartarus | ||
| Weight | 97kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.70 x 1.60 x 1.00m | |
| Power | 2 x 24V electric motors | |
| Weapons | Hydraulic claw | |
| Strengths | Destructive weapon | |
| Weaknesses | No srimech | |
| From: Roermond, The Netherlands | ||
| Team Members: Martin Scholten & Bryan Cutler | ||
Veterans
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|---|---|---|
| Behemoth (seeded 10th) | ||
| Weight | 100kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.62 x 1.05 x 0.65m | |
| Power | 2KW electric motor | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic flipper & axe | |
| Strengths | 6 Wheel drive | |
| Weaknesses | Falls into pit too often | |
| From: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire | ||
| Team Members: Anthony Pritchard, Michael Pritchard & Kane Aston | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Corkscrew Two | ||
| Weight | 90kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.19 x 0.96 x 0.96m | |
| Power | 750W electric motor | |
| Weapons | Full body spinner | |
| Strengths | 360 Degrees of attack | |
| Weaknesses | Hard to control | |
| From: Selkirk, Scotland | ||
| Team Members: John Heatlie, Lewis Heatlie & Laurence Heatlie | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Crushtacean | ||
| Weight | 99kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.40 x 0.85 x 1.30m | |
| Power | 800W electric motor | |
| Weapons | 2 Crushing claws | |
| Strengths | Indestructible | |
| Weaknesses | Poor driver | |
| From: Altrincham, Cheshire | ||
| Team Members: Ian Visser, Dominic Visser & Michaela Visser | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Demolition Man | ||
| Weight | 100kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.50 x 1.23 x 0.70m | |
| Power | 4 x 200W electric motors | |
| Weapons | Directional spinning disc | |
| Strengths | 4 Drive motors | |
| Weaknesses | Slow srimech | |
| From: Southminster, Essex | ||
| Team Members: Stephen Thomas, Chris Lord & Damian Smith | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Judge Shred 3 | ||
| Weight | 100kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.57 x 1.11 x 0.92m | |
| Power | 2 x 800W electric motors | |
| Weapons | Full pressure flipper | |
| Strengths | Speed & weaponry | |
| Weaknesses | Unreliable | |
| From: Ellistown, Leicestershire | ||
| Team Members: Alan Blakeman, Paul Blakeman & Michael Blakeman | ||
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|---|---|---|
| UFO | ||
| Weight | 98kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.45 x 1.09 x 0.86m | |
| Power | 2 x 800W electric motors | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic flipper | |
| Strengths | Captain's driving | |
| Weaknesses | Untested robot | |
| From: Vale of Glamorgan, Wales | ||
| Team Members: Mark Hamilton & Belinda Hamilton | ||
Round 1
Demolition Man vs Corkscrew Two vs Judge Shred 3 vs Mute
Mute forces Demolition Man into Shunt's CPZ straight away
Mute was the quickest robot to begin the fight, rushing straight towards Demolition Man, pushing it against an angle grinder. Mute then snuck behind the rear of Demolition Man, and pushed it, causing Demolition Man to roll into Shunt's CPZ. Shunt threatened Mute, but then turned its attention to Demolition Man. Demolition Man slowly reversed into Shunt, which after a delay, struck with its axe while pinning Demolition Man against the arena side wall, and lifted Demolition Man with its scoop.
Judge Shred 3 throws Demolition Man over
- "Interesting to see the new variable, angle spinning disc on the back of Demolition Man - haven't seen it yet, it's in trouble"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Mute was then shown dashing towards Corkscrew Two, while Judge Shred 3 drove away into the distance with no target in sight. Mute slightly misaligned, and spun away from Corkscrew Two, before Judge Shred caught up to and flipped Corkscrew. Corkscrew Two was inverted, and Mute charged at Corkscrew Two, moving straight under it and then all the way through. The Corkscrew Team, potentially unaware of the new controls their inverted robot would require, drove Corkscrew Two straight into an angle grinder, and then straight back across the arena, driving into the parallel side wall.
Shunt axes the immobile Demolition Man
- "Well, that blade is moving so fast, it does seem to, erm, be stopped..."
- — Jonathan Pearce on Corkscrew Two's weaponry
As Corkscrew Two distanced itself further, Judge Shred 3 gave chase. Corkscrew Two eventually reversed straight onto the flipper of Judge Shred 3, which flipped it over again. Mute drove towards the back of Judge Shred 3, but made no action. Demolition Man was being punished by Shunt all the while, being axed again, seeming to be immobile.
- "The arrow's pointing one way, it's moving the other..."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Corkscrew Two scuttles around the arena
Judge Shred 3 hurls out Corkscrew Two
Corkscrew Two and Mute both drove at each other, and due to Corkscrew Two's high ground clearance, it ran straight up the wedge of Mute, and overturning itself once more. Judge Shred 3 used another opportunity to flip Corkscrew Two. Judge Shred 3 then changed its focus, and flipped Demolition Man, with Mute going on another very fast charge at the same robot. Mute made an effort to flip Demolition Man out of the arena, but this was not executed correctly, instead leaving Demolition Man on its side, where it could take yet another axe attack from Shunt.
Demolition Man is counted out
- "We mentioned before they were slow to self-right, that'll leave them exposed."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Demolition Man is toppled
Corkscrew Two was then revealed to be being troubled by Dead Metal, which had trapped it in a corner of the arena, before freeing it. Mute drove towards Corkscrew Two with its flipper already raised, while the Refbot counted out Demolition Man. While Refbot was continuing to count out Demolition Man, Judge Shred 3 and Mute had trapped Corkscrew Two against the arena side wall, where Judge Shred 3 subsequently flipped Corkscrew Two over the arena wall.
Mute decides to attack Shunt
- "The scales of justice weighed heavily against Corkscrew Two."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Judgeshred 3 flings Corkscrew Two out of the arena
Shunt was mysteriously far out of its CPZ, which obstructed Mute, as Judge Shred 3 pressed the pit release. With Demolition Man and Corkscrew Two defeated, Judge Shred 3 and Mute had already qualified, but the two continued to clash regardless. Dead Metal was pushing the beaten Demolition Man around the arena, with Mute driving into the Refbot, and then Shunt, getting underneath Shunt with its rear lifter and pushing it backwards.
Demolition Man is pitted
- "You wanna stay out of trouble now, Mute. Maybe a little bit inexperienced in that arena, but don't go shoving our House Robots around."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mute attacks Shunt
Dead Metal tried to spin Demolition Man into the pit, but Judge Shred 3 flipped Demolition Man all the way onto the other side. Dead Metal was then able to revolve Demolition Man into the Pit, and cease was called.
- "Again, they've gone early. Hard hats and all."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Demolition Man is pitted
Qualified: Judge Shred 3 & Mute
Tartarus vs Crushtacean vs Behemoth (10) vs UFO
Behemoth quickly topples Tartarus
The very moment "Activate" was called, Behemoth rushed at Tartarus, and instantly overturned it, pushing it into Shunt's CPZ as well. Behemoth reversed and charged at Tartarus again, as Shunt struck Tartarus with its axe.
UFO drives Crushtacean against the arena wall
- "Tartarus, surely here just for show."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Crushtacean and UFO sized each other up, before Crushtacean finally drove at UFO, merely driving straight up the wedge of UFO, which then pushed Crushtacean. While UFO pushed, Behemoth trapped Crushtacean against the side of UFO. Behemoth made a separate charge at Crushtacean, this time overturning it, and also driving itself into the arena wall. UFO was present behind the rear of Crushtacean, so Crushtacean could not reverse away. UFO got underneath Crushtacean, but by this point it was apparent that UFO's flipper was not working, as it never once flipped a robot at any given opportunity.
Shunt axes Crushtacean
- "You see, UFO underneath, but can't flip. They've come into the warzone, UFO, without a weapon."
- — Jonathan Pearce as UFO fails to flip while underneath Crushtacean
Crushtacean tried to find a good angle to attack UFO, but Behemoth got around the rear of Crushtacean, and flipped it toward the arena side wall. Crushtacean then reversed into an empty CPZ, and the centre of the arena afterwards. Both Behemoth and UFO made separate drives at Crushtacean, with Behemoth getting a light flip, and UFO still being unable to do so. While Crushtacean was mounted on UFO, Behemoth struck Crushtacean with its axe.
Behemoth throws out Crushtacean
- "Behemoth has sensed the main danger here will come from Crushtacean and is taking on Crushtacean at will."
- — Jonathan Pearce
UFO pushed Crushtacean into an empty CPZ, where Behemoth followed. Crushtacean drove over the top of UFO, and into the arena side wall, leaving itself stranded. Refbot began to count out Tartarus, as Shunt hit Crushtacean with its axe. This axe attack was essentially harmless, however, Shunt's axe merely bounced off the top of Crushtacean. Both Shunt and Behemoth closed in on the stranded Crushtacean, as Tartarus was completely counted out. Behemoth then lifted Crushtacean over the arena side wall, flipping it out.
This left Behemoth and UFO as the winners of the battle, and safely through to the next round.
UFO drives at the rear of Behemoth
- "Now for me, that is a shock, because it means UFO will go through with Behemoth."
- — Jonathan Pearce
However, despite UFO being safely put through to the next round of the heat, it took the time to sneak behind Behemoth, pressing Behemoth against the rear spike on Dead Metal, which was attacking Tartarus. UFO drove completely underneath Behemoth, leaving it in front of Behemoth. UFO reversed onto Behemoth's scoop, which lifted UFO, but did not overturn the machine.
Behemoth flips UFO over
- "I didn't expect UFO to survive and they have used that wedged shape design well when you consider the flipper isn't really working."
- — Jonathan Pearce as UFO tussles with Behemoth
Behemoth drove into a side wall on the other side of the arena, where UFO got underneath Behemoth and attacked again, using its wedge shape to completely overturn Behemoth onto its rollover top. After taking all of this punishment, Behemoth was finally able to catch UFO, and flip it side-on, and driving into an angle grinder itself. After this, cease was finally called.
Qualified: Behemoth & UFO
Round 2
Mute vs Behemoth (10)
Mute self-rights, and lands on top of Behemoth
Both robots clashed with each other at the start of the battle, before Mute circled around Behemoth. On one attack, Mute got underneath Behemoth, but this opportunity was not used for any good, instead driving close to the arena side wall.
- "Mute dashing, and dapper - the quicker of the two."
- — Jonathan Pearce
On another attack, Mute drove at the front of Behemoth, which had the lower weapon, and could subsequently overturn Mute. Mute fired its flipper to self-right, catapulting very high into the air, somersaulting, and landing straight on top of Behemoth.
Behemoth finds itself stuck in forward drive
As soon as Mute landed on top of Behemoth, Behemoth had a malfunction, and was stuck in forward drive. Behemoth charged towards an arena side wall, bounced off, and then drove into Matilda's CPZ, where it continually pressed against the wall. The Behemoth team were concerned, as Matilda lifted Behemoth with her tusks.
Behemoth tried to free itself by activating its scoop, but Behemoth continued to drive forwards. The scoop, which was raised above the arena side wall, would only raise Behemoth itself when it tried to retract, as it was pressing on the top of the arena side wall.
Mr. Psycho attacks the stranded Behemoth
- "Look at Behemoth! They're stuck on the arena side wall, and they need to get out here, the number 10 seeds, very, very quickly!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Mr. Psycho came towards Behemoth, and struck Behemoth with its hammer twice. Mr. Psycho pushed Behemoth off of the arena side wall with its claw, but Behemoth was still stuck in forward drive, driving into the rear of Mr. Psycho. While Behemoth was underneath Mr. Psycho, it attempted to overturn the house robot, but this was not successful.
Behemoth shoots across the arena floor
- "They're not going to try and lift him up? No, no, no, no, no."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Behemoth fails to lift Mr. Psycho
Behemoth was eventually set at an angle where it could drive back into the main arena, but still just charged into another arena side wall, which it bounced off, and once again altered Behemoth's drive angle so it could rush towards Matilda's CPZ, which grazed Behemoth with her flywheel.
Refbot finally counts out Behemoth
- "Forward gear, come on, this way, er, over here, another wall over here, yeah, thank you!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Behemoth's struggles continue
Afterwards, Matilda got a more direct hit on Behemoth with her flywheel, before the Refbot closed in to count out Behemoth. Refbot counted out Behemoth, and Mute was declared the winner of the match.
Winner: Mute
Judge Shred 3 vs UFO
As UFO's flipper was not functioning in its previous fight, the team were concerned whether or not it would work in the arena, but UFO successfully fired its flipper before Activate was called.
Judge Shred 3 flips UFO
After Activate, both robots drove forward, but they merely glazed off the side of each other. The two turned into each other, and Judge Shred 3 fired its flipper, but UFO was not on top of the weapon. UFO tentatively skirted around Judge Shred 3, before finally driving straight up it. However, Judge Shred 3 missed this opportunity, and only flipped after UFO had escaped.
- "This is tentative stuff. When I say tentative... it's boring! Get in there! Flip! Toss 'em out! Chuck 'em out! Bash and crash!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
The two robots faced each other head-on, neither seeming to get underneath the other, but Judge Shred 3 fired its flipper, and UFO was fully overturned. UFO, however, was able to self-right. Both robots faced each other once more near a flame jet, with Judge Shred 3 flipping UFO once more after a delay. UFO was dangerously near to the arena side wall, but Judge Shred 3 could not flip UFO out of the arena. UFO was instead righted, and it drove away from Judge Shred 3.
Judge Shred 3 prepares to throw UFO towards the arena wall
- "Judgeshred 3 has got them in on the arena side, oh! Came in for the drive, and that would've been curtains for the UFO, they would've been out to space again, quite literally."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Over the flame pit, UFO got behind Judge Shred 3, and pushed it up to the arena side wall, where UFO could then flip. UFO's front-hinged flipper made it impossible to flip Judge Shred 3 out of the arena, so UFO instead held Judge Shred 3 against the arena side wall. Judge Shred 3 tried to fire its flipper to break away, but UFO was still hooked on. UFO tried to use bashes to overturn Judge Shred 3, but this was not successful, and Judge Shred 3 eventually dropped back onto the arena floor.
UFO presses Judge Shred 3 against the arena wall
- "An alien force, in the warzone this time around."
- — Jonathan Pearce as UFO fights back
UFO got around the back of Judge Shred 3, pushing with its own rear end, pushing Judge Shred 3 into the centre of the arena. Judge Shred 3 was eventually, however, able to angle itself at the side of UFO, where it could flip UFO onto its side. Even when firing its flipped, UFO simply could not knock itself back over again, and Judge Shred 3 backed away, leaving the stranded UFO idle.
- "Well that was a good display by UFO, I look forward to seeing them again, in another Robot Wars, because they were worthy competitors"
- — Jonathan Pearce as UFO is left stranded on its side
Refbot counts out UFO
Refbot counted out UFO, as Judge Shred 3 pressed the pit release, and then span in a victory dance. Mr. Psycho closed in on UFO, and clutched UFO in his claw. Mr. Psycho held UFO over the flame pit, as UFO meaninglessly fired its flipper. Mr. Psycho carried UFO further around the arena, bumping into a camera in the process, before finally dropping UFO into the pit. Mr. Psycho swung its hammer into the pit, but this did not make contact with UFO. Judge Shred 3 was subsequently declared the winner of the fight.
Winner: Judge Shred 3
Final
Mute vs Judge Shred 3
At the start of the battle, the two robots span around each other, until they eventually reached each other face-to-face. Judge Shred 3 fired its flipper, but it was not underneath Mute. Judge Shred 3 got a side-on opportunity to flip Mute, but still could not overturn the machine. The two robots skittered around the flame pit, and Mute attacked with another frontal charge, pushing against Judge Shred 3.
Judge Shred 3 throws Mute up and over
- "They've not met head to head, really, in our warzone. They fought together in the first round tonight, and came through that first round together."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Eventually, as the two robots pushed against each other face-on again, Judge Shred 3 got its flipper underneath Mute and flipped it completely over. Mute fired its flipper to self-right, but rather than landing on its wheels, it instead did a complete somersault, and landed inverted again. Judge Shred 3 pushed against Mute, and Mute was able to self-right using the angled Judge Shred 3 as a platform.
Mute flicks Judge Shred 3 up with its rear flipper
- "How high do they need to jump when they self-right? Is it necessary to do the old balletic pirouette?"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mute throws itself into the air
Mute backed away, and then span around again. As Judge Shred 3 closed in for another attack, Mute was showing its back to Judge Shred 3, and was able to get underneath Judge Shred 3 using its rear lifter, and raise Judge Shred 3 off the ground. Mute continued to circle around Judge Shred 3. Judge Shred 3 eventually caught Mute, but could not overturn it with the flipper. Mute then made another ramming attack.
Mute is sent flying by Judge Shred 3
Judge Shred 3 and Mute made yet another frontal meeting, and Judge Shred 3 could overturn Mute once more. Just as before, Mute's attempts at self-righting only resulted in it completely somersaulting and landing inverted again. After two failed attempts, Mute landed the right way up, only to be on top of Judge Shred 3's flipper, which flipped Mute once again. Mute remained on its wheels after this flip.
Mute somersaults around the arena
- "What is going on out there? They're jumping around like a little flea!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Mute's antics continue
While this next attack was not shown on the televised edit, Mute was afterwards able to get another attack on Judge Shred 3 with its rear flipper. Judge Shred 3 was then shown to have reached Mute side-on, and Judge Shred 3 then flipped Mute over again. Mute's attempt at self-righting saw it land straight on top of Judge Shred 3, before making another failed attempt at self-righting. After this, Mute was able to successfully self-right.
Mute manages a powerful thrust
- "That's gymnastic!"
- — Jonathan Pearce, as Mute tries to self-right
Mute and Judge Shred 3 met face-to-face again, and Judge Shred 3 fired its flipper. Judge Shred 3 was not underneath Mute, so it bounced into the air, allowing Mute to get underneath Judge Shred 3, and flip it. This flip rolled Judge Shred 3 across the arena wall, and left it reeling. Sir Killalot came out of its CPZ to press the pit release. As Sir Killalot backed away, Judge Shred 3 could be seen paralyzed, as it was only moving on one wheel, merely turning in a circle, unable to drive forwards.
- "Mute splendidly stylish - out of control sometimes, it would seem."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Judge Shred 3 immobile on one wheel, at the end of the battle
Mute circled around Judge Shred 3 even more, trying to find an opportunity to flip with its rear lifter, but Mute's attack missed, and resulted in Judge Shred 3 being able to flip Mute once more, which self-righted straight away afterwards. Mute kept its distance, and cease was called.
- "Well, I hope they go for Mute, with all due respect to Judge Shred 3, 'cos I think they've been splendid fun"
- — Jonathan Pearce
On the basis of Judge Shred 3 being limited in its movement at the end, and Mute getting attacks throughout, the Judges' Decision was awarded to Mute. This decision was considered highly controversial by some viewers, though this could be partially down to the fact that attacks of Mute's had been edited out of the fight.
- "The judges have made their decision. Based on style, control, damage, and aggression. Its a bit controversial, not sure I agree with it, then again, I'm not a judge. You three are. THEY'VE GONE FOR MUTE!!!!"
- — Craig Charles breaks the news to the Judge Shred team
Heat Winner: Mute
- "It's one robot, you won't find in the stores, but its done itself proud, on Robot Wars!"
- — Craig Charles' sign-off
Special Event
- Main article: The Third World Championship
Between Round 1 and Round 2 of each heat (except Heat I), a 'Special Event' was shown. For Heat L, it was a World Championship qualifier between three robots from Germany.
Ansgar 3 (GER) vs I Bot One Beta (GER) vs Reaper NP2 (GER)
Winner: Ansgar 3
Trivia
- Heat L featured a grudge match between Behemoth and Crushtacean, who had previously fought in The Fifth Wars. Behemoth threw out Crushtacean for its second achievement, and achieving vengeance.
- Had Behemoth beaten Mute, it would have fought Judge Shred 3 in a rematch from Robot Wars: The Fourth Wars/Heat N.
- Despite being veteran teams, Corkscrew, Demolition Man, Judge Shred and UFO all appeared in completely new guises.
- There were no true newcomers in this heat, Tartarus having fought in the second Dutch Wars and Mute finishing as runner-up in the New Blood Championship.
- This was the only UK Championship heat to feature multiple robots that also competed in other national championships, Crushtacean and Tartarus having fought in the second Dutch Championship.
- Coincidentally, both robots were eliminated in the same first round battle.
- Before the second commercial break, Jonathan Pearce said the second round 2 battle was going to be between UFO and Judge Shred 2 when it was actually Judge Shred 3. However, after the break, he did correct himself.
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