- "Each week on Robot Wars Revealed, we follow the exploits of teams from all over the country, as they fight it out to become the Robot Wars champion. With exclusive action direct from The Pits and contenders' own video diaries, we see how life is lived as a roboteer, and just where those grease stains really come from. And now, with only one more Semi-Finals place left to fill, nerves of steel and stainless pants are required! Six start, only one can remain. Who's it gonna be?"
- — Philippa Forrester's introduction
Episode 12 of Robot Wars Revealed was originally aired on BBC Choice on 12 February 1999. It presented behind-the-scenes footage of Heat L of Robot Wars: The Second Wars, including video diaries of the Angel of Death, Tender Caress, Havoc and Haardvark teams preparing their robots for the main competition.
Robots Featured[]
Newcomers[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Angel of Death | ||
| Weight | 77.8kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.1 x 0.9 x 0.22m | |
| Speed | 4mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 2mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Front and rear circular saws | |
| Notes | Built over 2-3 months. Cost £250. Powered by Volvo windscreen wipers | |
| From: Bristol | ||
| Team Members: Dan McGrath & Nathan Green | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Flirty Skirty | ||
| Weight | 79.5kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.05 x 1.05 x 0.5m | |
| Speed | 2mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 3mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic lifting skirts and spikes | |
| Notes | Circuit boards designed by Stafford College. HGV lorry air tanks | |
| From: Baswich in Staffordshire | ||
| Team Members: Richard Peter, Victor Peter & Albert Peter | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Haardvark | ||
| Weight | 79.8kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.5 x 0.85 x 0.4m | |
| Speed | 12mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 10mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Lifting forks and circular saw on arm (removed to meet weight restrictions) | |
| Notes | Chassis strengthened with strip steel and aluminium beams | |
| From: Cannock in Staffordshire | ||
| Team Members: Owen Barwick, Liz Harrison & Mike Evans | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Havoc | ||
| Weight | 77.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.3 x 0.72 x 0.4m | |
| Speed | 6mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 50mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Zinc mace and lifting jack | |
| Notes | Weapons salvaged from a car jack and powered by windscreen wiper | |
| From: Burnley | ||
| Team Members: Kevin Shirtcliffe, John Robinson & Philip Robinson | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tender Caress | ||
| Weight | 78.7kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.4m | |
| Speed | 15mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0.6m | |
| Ground Clearance | 38mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Spikes, circular saw and 1000RPM angle grinder | |
| Notes | Custom built electronics. Aluminium shell with stainless steel mesh | |
| From: Redford in Surrey | ||
| Team Members: Phil Thomas, Rik Allen, Andrew Berridge & Duncan McPherson | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vercingetorix | ||
| Weight | 77.9kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.2 x 0.72 x 0.38m | |
| Speed | 9mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 3-25mm (Variable) | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Pneumatic flipper and side rams | |
| Notes | Adjustable outer shell for ground clearance. 24V wheelchair motors | |
| From: Isle of Wight | ||
| Team Members: Ian Gear, Alistair Curtis-Horsefall & Nigel Radestock | ||
Content[]
Video Diaries[]
Angel of Death[]
- "Nathan from the Angel of Death team has built a few things before. An automatic pond-filling device that completely failed to work, and a birdhouse that totally fell apart. And now, he's building a robot. Shy, retiring Dan, on the other hand, is a dab hand at welding. They both saw the first series of Robot Wars and decided to give it a go."
- — Philippa Forrester
Dan McGrath welds Angel of Death's chassis
Various clips of Dan McGrath and Nathan Green working on Angel of Death's chassis and individual components were shown, accompanied by Philippa Forrester's voiceover recapping the unsuccessful inventions that the latter had built previously. McGrath was also seen downing an alcoholic beverage during a boating trip that both team members took as a break from building.
Angel of Death takes a test spin
- "Three months later, they have... a motorised skateboard. Unfortunately, their video diary doesn't show us how they got from this, to the finished machine."
- — Philippa Forrester, over clips of the team's motorised skateboard and a partially-complete Angel of Death being tested
The build clips later cut to one showing another of the team's inventions - a motorised skateboard – the crude-looking device trundling along the garden patio at night. This then cut to a clip of the partially-complete Angel of Death reversing and spinning on the spot, minus side panels and with its top panel yet to be properly attached.
Tender Caress[]
The cardboard prototype for Tender Caress' base frame
The Tender Caress team visualise an early drive motor layout for their entry
Shown immediately before its Gauntlet run, Tender Caress' first diary opened with an overview of the design drawings prepared for its body and the mechanism for its rotating shell. The robot's framework and drivetrain layout began to take shape with the aid of a cardboard mock-up, the appearance of which was briefly likened by the team to a crop circle. Six weeks into the build process, further clips showed team members calculating budgets and showcasing the type of controller board used for its electronics system.
Tender Caress sets off down the corridor, with a team member as passenger
The second diary featured two clips exemplifying the 'uncontrollable' driving characteristics Tender Caress would exhibit in the televised competition. On both occasions, the robot (minus armour) could not drive in a straight line with team members riding on top of its framework, at one point bumping into a doorway while being driven through a narrow corridor.
Havoc[]
The internals of Havoc are laid out for measurements
Havoc's first diary began with an introduction to John Robinson and a basic layout of its base frame and internals. The latter was used to roughly gauge the robot's planned dimensions prior to it being fully assembled. By 26 June 1998, the box-wedge profile of Havoc's chassis was already beginning to take shape, though early issues were encountered with the originally-planned starter motors which were discovered not to be able to work in reverse. Two electric wheelchair motors were then obtained, but with broken gearboxes which their seller refused to provide the necessary gear for the team to repair.
As a box of spare gears could not be bought within the team's budget, it was eventually decided to use a pair of 1963 lawnmower motors as Havoc's main source of drive, though Havoc would in the end be quoted as being powered by Lancia windscreen wiper motors in the main Heat L. The diary concluded with Havoc being tested, Robinson sitting inside its unarmoured frame as the robot slowly spun around in circles.
- "Many roboteers get carried away and build very complicated machines. So, if anything goes wrong, as it invariably does, finding the problem can be a complete nightmare. Not so with Havoc! Their 1963 lawnmower motors may be old, but they're also reliable, and very easily fixed."
- — Philippa Forrester, as one of Havoc's motors temporarily stalls during testing
The second diary recorded a virtually-complete Havoc during a test three days before filming. At some point, it stopped responding to John Robinson's control inputs, smoke pouring from inside as its top panel was opened up. The cause of Havoc's issue was traced - according to the team website - to a locked-up wheel causing one of the lawnmower motors to stall.[1] After the internals were left to cool down, the panel was eventually closed and Havoc proceeded to continue testing in the family driveway.
Haardvark[]
- "We do not recommend putting parts of your precious robot in the oven at Gas Mark 7. The experienced engineers on the Haardvark team just need a snug fit for their bearings..."
- — Philippa Forrester, over clips of Mike Evans preparing Haardvark's bearings
A tray of Haardvark's heat-treated bearing housings; some bearings had already been inserted by this point
Shown before its Sumo run, Haardvark's first diary showed a number of its components in a freezer and its bearing housings being heat-treated in a kitchen oven by Mike Evans. A few bearings were inserted outdoors, as Owen Barwick explained the separate heating, freezing and insertion processes for these vital parts.
Haardvark's chassis undertakes an 'off-road' test, with Liz Harrison at the controls
The second diary, shown before Haardvark's Arena Semi Final fight, was taken at an early stage of the robot's build, where Liz Harrison's back garden was already established as the team's main 'build area'. The chassis, a motor and a wheel were shown resting on the lawn, before Barwick unravelled a long roll of woven fibre material which was being tested against machine tools such as a drill and an angle grinder. One clip showed Barwick trying to drill a hole through the material, which, after a few seconds, wrapped itself around the power drill. A short montage of the chassis being grinded into shape lead to indoor and 'off-road' tests, conducted by Evans and his fellow team members.
Interviews[]
The Peter family introduced themselves and their machine Flirty Skirty, so-called because of its unusual pneumatic 'skirt' weaponry lining all of its sides. Alistair Curtis-Horsfall explained the etymology behind Vercingetorix, named after the Gaulish king and chieftain, with the machine itself being inferred to seek 'revenge' for its namesake's defeat against Julius Caesar in 52 BC (erroneously recollected onscreen as 62 BC).
Part of Haardvark's troublesome internals
Other teams discussed modifications carried out to their entries before the competition. Philip Robinson explained that approximately a third of Havoc had to be 'sawn off' in order to get the near-complete machine under the 79.4kg weight limit. Haardvark's electronics engineer Mike Evans also had to modify its internal circuitry to enable its starter motor to operate in reverse. However, this had the effect of creating enough static noise to cause radio interference issues with Haardvark's own transmitter.
- "So it's been a long battle against interference, really. Everything else has worked fine. All of the motor controllers work fine, the analogue electronics works fine, but interference is a real pain."
- — Mike Evans summarises the condition of Haardvark's electronics
The Tender Caress team mentioned their use of a cardboard mock-up to aid with the construction of its welded spaceframe chassis, undertaken by colleagues (including individuals named Jason and Graham) at their workplace who they credited onscreen. Dan McGrath admitted at this very early stage that Angel of Death's ground clearance would be too low for it to negotiate ramps and other uneven surfaces, but had the trade-off of preventing other robots from getting underneath it.
Gauntlet[]
Glen Collins briefs Heat L roboteers on the Gauntlet hazards - including Sir Killalot
Philippa Forrester's introduction from the main Heat L was followed by Glen Collins' briefing on the Gauntlet hazards, specifically those for the centre route, and a clip of Haardvark being placed into the starting pen. This swiftly lead into highlights of Haardvark's Gauntlet run itself, where the Cannock machine darted down the left-hand route until it was seized and pitted by both Dead Metal and The Sentinel. Tender Caress was next to start its run, making its way through the right-hand route at a steady pace until it got stuck on the Ramrig. Sergeant Bash and Dead Metal wasted no time in attacking the tiger-striped entry as it struggled to escape. Though running out of time to progress any further, the 'indestructible, but incontrollable' Tender Caress survived with only superficial damage. According to Andrew Berridge, it also succeeded in damaging the spikes for the Ramrig and angle grinders during the time it languished in between those hazards.
Havoc's top and front panels are removed to resolve a last-minute wiring issue
Havoc's run was initially beset by technical issues, which forced the team to remove its armour panels after it had already been loaded in. The issue was traced to a dislodged wire which was quickly resolved; meanwhile, a clip of House Roboteer Colin Tilley showed him giving a thumbs down towards Havoc's presence in the starting pen. Havoc attempted a run through the left-hand route, backing up and driving straight into the spiked club of The Sentinel on separate occasions. Dead Metal also closed in to stop Havoc from going further, ultimately blocking the route after breaking down on his own accord. John Robinson and Kevin Shirtcliffe were still triumphant, however, the latter revealing that The Sentinel later helped Havoc by blocking Sir Killalot from reaching and attacking it.
Victor Peter files away Flirty Skirty's damaged bracket
Flirty Skirty was reported to have had issues earlier that morning, leaving the Peters nervous and tense ahead of its run. The hazard-striped machine was initially jostled by the arena spike before being steered directly alongside the second pit by The Sentinel. Sir Killalot came in to hoist and drop Flirty Skirty in; Victor Peter reported visibility issues and a damaged bracket, which he resolved by filing it away.
Team Vecingetorix challenge Derek Foxwell's assertion that their machine generated its own interference
Vercingetorix also endured a difficult run through the left-hand route, which ended in it getting pushed against the side rails by The Sentinel and taking damage from Dead Metal's saw. Ian Gear explained afterwards that the team had lost radio signal partway through, prompting clarification from Derek Foxwell that a 'full frequency scan' had been carried out in the arena with no abnormalities being detected. Foxwell suggested that Vercingetorix's internals had been generating their own source of interference; Gear and Nigel Radestock quickly challenged his claim by reporting an issue - shared by another unidentified competitor - where their robot suddenly activated while its transmitter had been switched off.
Last to attempt The Gauntlet was Angel of Death, which beached itself over one of the spikes for the angle grinders and was eventually boxed in by Sergeant Bash and Dead Metal. As his team's machine faced elimination through covering the shortest distance, Dan McGrath explained the aerial and wheel issues that had previously compromised its mobility, before again citing its low ground clearance as a critical factor.
Trial (Sumo)[]
The "Sumo" platform takes shape
Team Haardvark perform urgent internal repairs
The bolts added to Flirty Skirty for Sumo
The segment opened with an introduction to the returning Sumo Trial, along with scenes of the platform being assembled by the Robot Wars production crew. However, the clips used were actually of the similar King of the Castle stage being set up, as previously aired in Episode 5.
Mike Evans was next seen speaking to the camera, where he addressed an issue encountered with Haardvark's switching relays. A faulty motor repeatedly caused the relays to short out, forcing the team to completely redesign its circuitry into a simplified 'on-off' type system. Meanwhile, sharpened bolts were hammered through Flirty Skirty's skirts to gain purchase on the platform, in an effort to compensate for the robot's lack of torque and traction.
- "We've got custom electronics driving speed controllers and its differential control. Unfortunately, when you push the stick forwards, the robot could either swing left or swing right, but we've no idea at the moment. So... we just don't know which way it's gonna go! It's uncontrollable, basically."
- — Andrew Berridge on Tender Caress' electronics and control issues
Andrew Berridge briefly commented on Tender Caress' custom electronics and differential control, along with an unwelcome side effect of the robot's three-wheeled layout – an inability to drive in a completely straight line. Ian Gear tested a different radio frequency in an attempt to resolve Vercingetorix's interference issues; despite receiving voltage, the robot remained unresponsive to his control inputs. Gear's attempts to report the problem to Philippa Forrester were partially interrupted, when Forrester addressed a nearby sound engineer who declined to be involved with Team Vercingetorix's situation.
- Ian Gear: "So you admit it, then?"
- Philippa Forrester: "And we've got a big engineering bod here from the BBC. I could go and get him if you want!"
- Ian Gear: "Well... they have just admitted there was a frequency problem in there."
- — Ian Gear persists in reporting the interference issues affecting Vercingetorix
Craig Charles' introduction from the main Heat L was followed by highlights of all five competitors' Sumo runs – the best performer being Vercingetorix, which just managed to survive getting completely pushed off by Dead Metal. Liz Harrison and her teammates were especially thrilled with progressing as Haardvark's internal changes had only left it with forward and reverse drive at this stage. John Robinson was happy with Havoc outlasting both Flirty Skirty and Tender Caress, while Team Vercingetorix – having been forced to use a transmitter supplied by Robot Wars themselves – continued to deny issues with their own equipment. The gutted Tender Caress team were chided by Philippa Forrester for an 'absolutely rubbish' run, in which it was rammed off the platform after only six seconds.
Arena Semi Finals[]
Craig Charles' introduction from Heat L was followed by Mike Evans' reflection on Haardvark's Sumo success, as he began to sketch diagrams for its new 'left and right' control circuitry and Liz Harrison was seen working on its internals. Philippa Forrester revealed the draw of the first Semi Final to Team Vercingetorix, confirming a face-off between the Isle of Wight and Cannock machines.
- Philippa Forrester: "Now, they so far haven't had a problem with radio interference."
- Ian Gear: "Nope, but they've had every other problem under the sun!"
- — Confidence from Team Vercingetorix as they are drawn against Haardvark
Further clips of Haardvark being reassembled prefaced another clip of Evans in the main combat arena, who addressed that the yet-to-be-retested robot could still start the fight in an immobilised state. Haardvark, however, would go on to prove the more dominant, ramming Vercingetorix a few times and shepherding it into the PPZ where the latter was eventually attacked by Shunt. Sir Killalot was then seen lifting Vercingetorix over the Flame Pit before sending it into the open Pit of Oblivion.
Philippa Forrester informs Alistair Curtis-Horsfall of an extra arena scan, shortly after Vercingetorix's defeat
- "The transmitter. None of that was our doing, we didn't touch anything. You know, we just sat there, waggled the aerial, waggled switches, and it was doing what it liked."
- — Alistair Curtis-Horsfall, as Vercingetorix returns to The Pits
Upon returning to The Pits, a crestfallen Alistair Curtis-Horsfall reported yet more transmitter-related issues affecting the now-eliminated Vercingetorix. Philippa Forrester informed Team Vercingetorix that as a favour to them, the arena had again been scanned with no abnormal or clashing frequencies being reported.
- "Well, we can cook some eggs now!"
- — Ian Gear salvages some humour from Vercingetorix's loss
Without its opponent's frequency issues, the Haardvark team believed that the durable Vercingetorix would have easily won the fight otherwise. Regardless, Haardvark itself emerged with very little damage aside from the lifting forks slipping off their chain.
The damaged chassis of Flirty Skirty, shortly after its elimination
Flirty Skirty was next to enter the arena for the other Semi Final against Havoc, in which it was repeatedly rammed and speared by the Burnley machine which pushed it into the PPZ. From that point on, Flirty Skirty was cornered and 'disrobed' by Sir Killalot, though the delighted Peters reported that the robot was still functional despite taking extensive damage to its internals and now 'mangled' bodyshell.
Mat Irvine Segments[]
While John Robinson continued to work on Havoc ahead of the Heat Final, Mat Irvine commented on its interchangeable zinc mace weapon and lawnmower motors.
Matt Irvine highlights the arm-mounted saw originally built for Haardvark
- "We want to see ingenuity in Robot Wars, and considering that two games ago this robot wasn't working, was never gonna work again - it just got through to the Quarter Finals."
- — Matt Irvine addresses Haardvark's perseverance
Concerning Haardvark, he shared his amazement by the robot's turnaround following the technical issues suffered in the Gauntlet and Sumo, before briefly highlighting its wheelchair motors, 'hefty' batteries and low centre of gravity. Irvine rounded off the segment by presenting the arm-mounted circular saw originally built for Haardvark, but removed due to weight restrictions.
Final[]
The Heat Final between Haardvark and Havoc proved frenetic and 'fairly matched' according to Owen Barwick, with both competitors taking turns to ram and push each other into the PPZ in the accompanying highlights. Ultimately, Havoc suffered worse off after being pushed into and turned on its side by Shunt, with the Haardvark team returning to The Pits as amazed about their progression as ever. Evans, nevertheless, reported that the forks had again been damaged and needed an hour to be repaired.
Trivia[]
Team Haardvark introduce themselves and their machine; note the incorrect "Hardvark" caption
- This was the third consecutive - and last - episode of the series in which Philippa Forrester wore glasses in her intro and outro segments.
- This episode was the first to feature video diaries for more than two or three competitors, with clips for no fewer than four robots being televised.
- Throughout this episode, Haardvark's name was incorrectly spelt as Hardvark, an error which would also carry over into the recaps for Episode 14.
- During the segment covering the Heat L Sumo Trial, the transition animation for the Arena stage was mistakenly played immediately before Craig Charles' introduction.
References[]
[]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||