- "Each week on Robot Wars Revealed, we follow in the footsteps of six teams of intrepid robotic warriors. Their quest – to become crowned the Robot Wars champions! With a high-octane mix of exclusive behind-the-scenes action, battles from the arena and video diaries, we get down to the nitty-gritty of life as a roboteer and inevitably ask... why on earth are they doing this? But first, let's meet our magnificent men and their fighting machines..."
- — Philippa Forrester's introduction
Episode 6 of Robot Wars Revealed was originally aired on BBC Choice on 11 December 1998. It presented behind-the-scenes footage of Heat F of Robot Wars: The Second Wars, including video diaries of the Ron and Panic Attack teams preparing their robots for the main competition.
Robots Featured[]
Newcomers[]
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|---|---|---|
| Disruptor | ||
| Weight | 82.1kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.9 x 0.79 x 1.09m | |
| Speed | 6mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 0-40mm | |
| Power | 1 x battery (38A) | |
| Weapons | 9" circular saw | |
| Notes | Movable arm driven by 25cc petrol engine | |
| From: Newport | ||
| Team Members: Anthony Lockwood, Masayo Kobayashi & Wayne Martin | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Panic Attack | ||
| Weight | 81.8kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.25 x 0.7 x 0.2m | |
| Speed | 9mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 25mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Electric lifting spikes | |
| Notes | Spider graphics by a Year 7 pupil | |
| From: Cwmbran, Wales | ||
| Team Members: Kim Davies, Kevin Pritchard & Lee Wicombe | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Ron | ||
| Weight | 78.0kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.85 x 0.6 x 0.4m | |
| Speed | 9mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 8mm | |
| Power | 20 x 1.2V batteries | |
| Weapons | Drills, cutters and 30cm saw | |
| Notes | Batteries salvaged from a fighter aircraft | |
| From: Cranfield University | ||
| Team Members: Colin Offer, John Economou & Chris Ransom | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Parthian Shot | ||
| Weight | 79.6kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.65 x 0.8 x 0.45m | |
| Speed | 15mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 25mm | |
| Power | 3 x batteries (1 x 25A, 2 x 7A) | |
| Weapons | Ball and chain/spikes | |
| Notes | Weapon powered by 125W car motor | |
| From: Dunstable in Hertfordshire | ||
| Team Members: Chris Hale, Neil Savage & William McLafferty | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Whirling Dervish | ||
| Weight | 79.7kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.8 x 0.8 x 0.425m | |
| Speed | 5mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 50mm | |
| Power | 2 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Large rotating bandsaw blade/chain | |
| Notes | Inside out road tyre | |
| From: Farnborough | ||
| Team Members: Dave Allsopp & Malcolm Smith | ||
Veterans[]
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Corporal Punishment | ||
| Weight | 76.1kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.35 x 0.78 x 0.45m | |
| Speed | 15mph | |
| Turning Circle | 0m | |
| Ground Clearance | 0mm | |
| Power | 4 x 12V batteries | |
| Weapons | Lifting scoop/prongs | |
| Notes | Previously entered a featherweight called Vector of Armageddon | |
| From: Romford | ||
| Team Members: Adam Clark | ||
Content[]
Video Diaries[]
Ron[]
Cranfield University's lead builder, Ron, outlines the team's intentions
"Professor" Ron explains his namesake's design features
The first of Ron's diaries, titled "Professor Ron" after the Cranfield University team's lead builder, revealed that the latter was the direct inspiration behind the robot's name. It also outlined the team's intent to use 'sound engineering principles' to ensure that they could perform competitively while still embracing the 'fun' element of the show. The partially-assembled chassis for Ron was also shown at this point to be already fitted with the small rear cutting disc. A second, untitled diary showed two takes of Chris Ransom smartening himself up for the camera, before cutting to an interview introducing him and Ron's driver John Economou.
A trial run for one of Ron's test chassis
A King Buxton-style test chassis pushes a fridge
An armourless Ron hauls a small van
The second "Professor Ron" diary explained the robot's unusual method of achieving invertible mobility; by having two castors on the rear of its chassis, allowing the robot's front wheels to maintain contact with the arena floor. In the Cranfield University car park, two chassis were used to test its drive systems, the first with a longer and lower box shape than that of the finished design. Each chassis successfully pushed a fridge on a wheeled trolley and pulled a red van respectively, demonstrating Ron's strength immediately prior to its Sumo run.
- "Colin, John and Chris have very high hopes for their machine, but pulling a car is very different to facing Shunt in the arena..."
- — Philippa Forrester, over clips of a partially-assembled Ron pulling a red van
The fourth and final diary (also part of the "Professor Ron" series) covered a few of Ron's safety features, such as an ‘automatic immobilisation system’ - described with a similar function to an electrical failsafe – along with multiple chassis-mounted isolator switches enabling the swift disconnection of its batteries.
Panic Attack[]
- "There's nothing slow-moving about Panic Attack. It's one of the faster robots taking part in Robot Wars. But to achieve this speed requires many weeks of tinkering and tuning, and the Panic Attack team of Kevin [Pritchard], Kim [Davies] and Lee [Wicombe] are consummate professionals when it comes to that!"
- — Philippa Forrester
Team Panic Attack make adjustments to their machine's lifting mechanism
Panic Attack's diaries first showed the finished robot being prepared for tests in an empty car park near its Cwmbran base. Kim Davies and Lee Wicombe removed the top panel to make adjustments to its lifting weapon and drive mechanisms, as Philippa Forrester's voiceover explained that the team had experimented with several different components to get it to a functional state. A fully-armoured Panic Attack was then seen driving away from the camera with very little difficulty.
Panic Attack, during outdoor tests in a Cwmbran car park
The second set of clips – also taken from the Cwmbran diary – saw further weapon and drive tests with Kim Davies at the controls. Forrester explained the gearing changes required for Panic Attack to exhibit greater control and manoeuvrability than in its initial build, as the footage then showed it stopping and spinning in front of the camera. Footage recorded from Panic Attack's point of view was also taken with Kevin Pritchard sitting on top of the robot as it was being driven. This proved particularly hazardous as in one clip, Pritchard fell off and cut his elbow while Panic Attack was being spun round. The diary concluded with Pritchard showing his bloodied elbow as he and Kim Davies briefly – and light-heartedly – discussed the fall.
- Kim Davies: "Cameraman falls off robot!"
- Kevin Pritchard: "There was no seat on it! That was not funny."
- — Team Panic Attack discuss Kevin Pritchard's fall at the end of their second video diary
Interviews[]
- "It's got a plain metal finish, because one of things I did prior to these events was to go to the competition series in America, and no one ever painted them. It's a bit of a surprise to see everyone painting them, because you can get scratched. The other thing is that it's extra weight, and extra work, so... plain metal finish is how it comes."
- — Adam Clark explains his choice to leave Corporal Punishment unpainted
Adam Clark explained his decision to preserve the unpainted metal finish of Corporal Punishment, citing weight and time savings as well as his experiences of seeing similarly-prepared machines at the original US Robot Wars live competitions. While impressed with the general quality of other robots in attendance for The Second Wars, Clark later expressed concerns that 'weaker' entries would struggle without resources such as the internet, and by choosing components and design ideas which had already proved ineffective or fragile.
The Whirling Dervish team, with Wheelosaurus' Peter Gibson (centre)
The Whirling Dervish team introduced themselves and their workplace – the now-defunct DERA (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency) facility in Chertsey, Surrey – before giving a brief summary of their robot's rotating bodyshell concept. While acknowledging that its ground clearance would not be sufficient to prevent wedges from getting underneath, the team were confident that the spinning 'clubs' of Whirling Dervish would be damaging enough to counter this.
Following the first "Professor Ron" diary, the Cranfield University team showcased the Eurofighter batteries Ron was using – the amount comparable to those installed in three aircraft of this type.
- "We hope it goes well, and best - we hope – [a] good laugh for everybody!"
- — John Economou of the Ron team
Neil Savage opens up on technical difficulties experienced with The Parthian Shot
The Parthian Shot's speed, turning circle and spike/flail weaponry were also discussed by Chris Hale as his teammate, Neil Savage, was busy wiring its circuitry. Savage admitted that he was experiencing issues with The Parthian Shot's speed controller setup, which was not suited to work with its 'non-reversible' motor. This required an overnight disassembly and rewiring of the motor which Savage added was still being worked on. On top of this, Hale revealed that The Parthian Shot had already blown two speed controllers as they could not manage the power being sent through to the motors. A third was tested by Neil Savage, who managed to engage The Parthian Shot's forward drive without any apparent issues.
- "We've got forward... question is, have we got reverse?"
- — Neil Savage, 'flashing' The Parthian Shot's third speed controller
Gauntlet[]
- "Pretty nervous. Hopefully we'll keep underneath most of the stuff. It's gonna be the straight-line speed that's gonna win it at the end of the day, I think. So if we can keep away from those slow-moving House Robots, we'll have them!"
- — Kevin Pritchard of Team Panic Attack
Philippa Forrester's introduction from the main Heat F was shown, preceding a sped-up clip of Glen Collins briefing competitors on the Gauntlet courses and obstacles for this episode. Members of the Ron and Panic Attack teams expressed anxiety and apprehension over what was to come, the former having to wait two days before having a chance to compete.
- "The anxiety's really getting to us, so the sooner it's over, the better as far as we're concerned. If we get through, we hope we’ve survived well enough so that we can go into the next round."
- — Chris Ransom of the Ron team
An outtake of Philippa Forrester's interview with the Ron team was followed by highlights of it and Panic Attack's runs. Both competitors experienced difficulties with Dead Metal and Sir Killalot manipulating the see-saw ramp; in Panic Attack's case, the weight of an approaching Sir Killalot held the ramp down and forced it to launch off onto Dead Metal. Both robots sustained damage from Shunt's axe, especially Panic Attack which took several holes to its top armour. Ron was also reported to have sustained damage to its underside which necessitated the fitting of new baseplates.
- "...we’ve got a certain amount of nerves to see if all the work and effort is going to be wasted in the first few seconds, but hopefully we'll go and get through at least a few of these games and get onto the actual fighting."
- — Adam Clark on his ambitions for Corporal Punishment
Whirling Dervish followed next, which fell off the see-saw ramp and was hooked by the flails by Sir Killalot. Meanwhile, Adam Clark hoped to get Corporal Punishment far enough into the Heat to battle in the Arena stage. His chances were boosted when Corporal Punishment cleared The Gauntlet effortlessly via the right-hand route, though not without control issues encountered upon reaching the end zone. With Disruptor attempting the centre route, Anthony Lockwood revealed that his team had to raise its bodyshell up to get a high enough ground clearance to negotiate the see-saw. Disruptor's run was scuppered by Dead Metal, who again pushed the see-saw askew, preventing the former from driving up properly and leaving it at the mercy of Sir Killalot.
- "We just finished building Parthian Shot about five minutes before we were due on stage. And we wanted to do a good test run, and we found the controller had no power. So, mad panic, looking for a controller, and we found that one of the welds had shorted out some power rails. Tempted to rectify the situation, and just got it dury-rigged so that it'll run... just as we’ve run out of time. Too late!"
- — Neil Savage recounts the events leading up to The Parthian Shot's retirement
During this time, The Parthian Shot was still being worked on. Neil Savage finally managed to get reverse drive, just before Philippa Forrester – in footage shared with the main Heat F - broke the news that they had run out of time to attempt The Gauntlet. When discussing The Parthian Shot's retirement, Stephen Carsey revealed that an extra day of filming had been added owing to scheduling delays. Savage then explained the circumstances leading up to his team's elimination, mentioning the test and power issues also broadcast in Heat F. The news was especially welcome to Disruptor, whose team members were relieved when Forrester informed them that they would progress to the Trial by default.
- Masayo Kobayashi: "We could [be] better in the second round."
- Philippa Forrester: "Yeah? You reckon you will do better in the second round?"
- Masayo Kobayashi: "Yes. I'm going to stay confident. It's for fighting... not for manoeuvring!"
- — Confidence from Masayo Kobayashi as Disruptor's place in the Sumo is confirmed
Trial (Sumo)[]
- Kim Davies: "We'll be goin' in the ring, and..."
- Kevin Pritchard: "Get demolished!"
- Kim Davies: "...push him all around the ring!"
- — Team Panic Attack evaluate their Sumo prospects against Shunt
Robot Wars crewmembers were first seen assembling the Sumo platform, before the segment cut to interviews with Team Panic Attack, Adam Clark and the Disruptor team, concerning their feelings and chances of success in this event. An additional extract from Whirling Dervish's opening interview was shown among these, where Dave Allsopp revealed that it accidentally reversed off the stage at one point due to suspected radio interference. Thankfully, no one was known to have been injured in this instance.
- "The first time we tried this on stage, we had – we think - some interference from somebody welding next door. The whole robot shot backwards off the edge of the stage and fell a couple of feet onto the concrete... leaving a big hole, I think."
- — Dave Allsopp recounts an interference incident affecting Whirling Dervish
Craig Charles' introduction from the main Heat F was followed by brief highlights of all five runs, of which both Panic Attack and Corporal Punishment successfully defeated Shunt as a result of the House Robot's driving errors. Disruptor also survived the full 30 seconds, securing its qualification for the Arena stage along with Whirling Dervish, to the satisfaction of Dave Allsopp.
Following these, the segment introduced another insight into Ron's high-tech batteries, which were revealed by Chris Ransom to have previously powered a flight-capable electric microlight. However, despite being demonstrated in video diaries to have good pulling and pushing power, Ron was rolled off the Sumo platform by Shunt after only 4.6 seconds, undermining the Cranfield University team's earlier confidence in its ability to excel at this event.
Arena Semi Finals[]
Interview clips between the Sumo and Arena segments mainly focused on the weapons of Whirling Dervish, Corporal Punishment and Disruptor, along with Kevin Pritchard commenting on Panic Attack being 'completely well-protected' prior to its Gauntlet run. Dave Allsopp also revealed that the flail spinner on Whirling Dervish was found to be unbalanced during an early test, causing the entire robot to spin round, start oscillating through gyroscopic forces, and the top to eventually fly off and land down a nearby road.
Micky Edwards, in the process of reattaching Sergeant Bash's rear saw following its removal by Panic Attack
Later on, Kim Davies confirmed that Panic Attack was 'running perfectly' ahead of its Semi Final draw against Whirling Dervish, though he still changed its batteries nevertheless. Malcolm Smith emphasised that his primary aim was to avoid the House Robots before he and Dave Allsopp wheeled their robot into the arena. Panic Attack comfortably won by pushing and tipping Whirling Dervish over with its forks, before proceeding to ram and remove Sergeant Bash's circular saw. The inverted Whirling Dervish, meanwhile, was grabbed and dragged over the Flame Pit by Dead Metal. A replay of Sergeant Bash losing his saw was followed by a brief segment involving his operator Micky Edwards, who was seen reattaching the weapon for safety reasons prior to sending him back to The Pits for repairs.
The Disruptor team consult Derek Foxwell on an engine test
Technical consultant Derek Foxwell discussed arrangements with the Disruptor team to perform an engine test, ahead of its fight against Corporal Punishment. Repairs to one of Disruptor's brackets were also revealed, while Adam Clark brought up the possibility of his machine facing Sergeant Bash in the arena.
- "Well, I mean, there's a Sergeant in there, so... I think there might be... a bit of a court marshal coming up if we... manage to get hold of him!"
- — Adam Clark
Adam Clark inspects the defeated Corporal Punishment
Corporal Punishment repeatedly rammed a smoking Disruptor in the ensuing highlights, before getting itself caught in the PPZ between Matilda, Shunt and - ironically enough – Sergeant Bash himself. A final ram in the closing seconds resulted in Disruptor pushing Corporal Punishment back, the former advancing to the Heat Final. Adam Clark noticed that the upper scoop spikes had also become warm.
Mat Irvine Segments[]
- "If anything scares the House Robots, it's Panic Attack... 'cause not only did it knock out its opponent, but then it went after three of the House Robots, and in fact – I admit – damaged some of them."
- — Mat Irvine introduces his segment on Panic Attack
Mat Irvine summarises Panic Attack's run and internals
Mat Irvine evaluates the complex design of Disruptor
Mat Irvine noted Panic Attack's attacks on both Whirling Dervish and the House Robots in its Arena Semi Final, before showcasing the robot's Bosch windscreen wiper motors, electronics, four-wheel drive system and lifting forks. Incidentally, the visibly-bent forks were revealed to be the only components to take damage throughout Team Panic Attack's run at that stage. Disruptor's overhead saw design was considered one of the more 'different' Irvine had seen, to which he discussed its weapon, complex gearing and hybrid petrol-electric power system. The latter incorporated individual electric motors for each wheel, making Disruptor a 'true' four-wheel drive machine.
Final[]
Both teams expressed polar opposites in their approach to the Heat Final; while Team Panic Attack were resting in their Pits area, the Disruptor team were seen tightening the bolts holding its drive wheel assemblies in place. The battle itself saw Panic Attack repeatedly get underneath and push Disruptor around, eventually dispatching its opponent into the pit. In post-battle interviews, Kim Davies revealed the charity sponsorship for Panic Attack's entry, with multiple companies having already donated to the team for competing up to this point.
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