S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y.
Participation Information
UK Series	3-7, Extreme 1-2
Robot Wars Live Circuit	2016
Team Information
Team	Team Ixion
Team Members	Robin Bennett Mik Reed (Series 3-6, Extreme 1-2) Andy Pugh (Series 3-6, Extreme 1) Steve Bennett (Series 7, Extreme 2) Mike Fleming (Series 7)
From	Kent (Series 3) Maidstone, Kent (Series 4, 6, Extreme 2) 'Cyberspace' (Series 5, Extreme 1) Horley, West Sussex (Series 7)
Robot Statistics
Weight	100kg
Dimensions	0.26m x 1.00m x 0.80m
Top Speed	10mph
Power	Cyclon batteries
Drive	750w Bosch electric motors
Weapons	Front lifting jaws and rear horizontal disc
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Sorry Mate I Didn't See You. If you're a biker or a cyclist, you know exactly what that means."

— Mik Reed

S.M.I.D.S.Y. (which stood for Sorry Mate I Didn't See You) was a heavyweight robot, which competed from Series 3-7 of Robot Wars, also competing in both series of Robot Wars Extreme. It was built by a group of motorbike enthusiasts who formed their team over the internet, giving S.M.I.D.S.Y. the unique identifier of being "From Cyberspace" as opposed to "From Kent" or "From West Sussex" as other robots were identified.

Throughout its career, S.M.I.D.S.Y. became one of the mainstays of the series; though it would never reach a semi-final of a domestic championship or win a combat tournament, it competed in seven series and five UK Championships (the same amount as many major all-stars). It also reached the heat finals of Series 4, 5 (in which it was seeded twenty-fourth) and 7 (in which it was seeded thirteenth), losing to Panic Attack, Chaos 2 and Atomic on those occasions respectively. By the end of Series 7, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had become the only three-time Heat Finalist not to reach the Semi-Finals.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. had an aggressive battle strategy and was capable of dominating robots even without the use of its weapon. Despite having nine losses, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was defeated by UK Semi-Finalists on all eight of those occasions to take place after the robot's debut battle. Some of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s most famous battles include its Series 6 melee, in which it dominated Warhog, Comengetorix and future Semi-Finalist St. Agro, and its violent loss to Terrorhurtz in Extreme 2.

Design

"The first stage was to identify the dangers faced by a RobotWars robot. We came up with something like this- The robot can be out-manoeuvred. Our robot would have to be fast, manoeuvrable, easy to drive and have plenty of traction. The robot can be damaged by other robots, the house robots and the arena itself. Our robot would have to be a compact design, armoured against piercing and cutting weapons, flame-proof and be constructed throughout in a manner resistant to shock and vibration. The robot can be disabled by other robots, the house robots or the arena obstacles. We had all seen TV footage of robots on their backs or grounded on obstacles, sitting ducks for being pushed into the pit. Our robot would have to be heavily armoured, able to run inverted and have sufficient ground clearance to negotiate debris on the arena floor"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on designing S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Series 3

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s rear spikes in Series 4

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was a black and red decorated invertible box-shaped robot with aluminium sides (later upgraded to titanium) which ran on go-kart wheels to give it four-wheel drive. Its main weapon was a set of jaws on the front described as "the Gnashing Jaws of Doom", which could either lift, grab, or act as a wedge. The weapon was operated by a luxury car seat actuator, which was later replaced by a windscreen wiper motor. The advantage of these jaws was that they could reset as a wedge even if S.M.I.D.S.Y. was flipped, rather than leaving the wedge set as a gaping ground clearance, which robots such as Tornado often suffered from.

"Many elements of SMIDSY were chosen with the Gauntlet in mind, but that aspect of the game was dropped before we ever fought. Luckily, being low-slung, stable and manoeuverable is good in a fight too!"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on designing S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the arena during Series 4

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the pits for Series 4

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was originally built in early 1999 in the garage of Andy Pugh, after months of the team members sending each other suggestions and designs over the internet. The robot took six weeks to build, at a cost of £750. The top and bottom armour was made from polycarbonate and aluminium. The robot's jaws were driven by a motor from a Jaguar.

"They were driven using the standard jag motors, which were a bit small and hard to mount. They were driven through flexible speedo style drives which were hard to mount, especially with the limited space we had, and prone to snapping. The night before Series Three filming we were welding new mounts to the chassis to try and help this, yes a full strip down job."

— S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on the jaws

For Series 4, S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s aluminium armour was replaced with titanium, sourced by team member Andy Pugh from Sheffield University. The gearing was lowered for better steering, and the robots top speed was 10mph. The mechanism for the jaws was changed from the Jaguar motors to windscreen wiper motors.

Until Extreme 2, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had curved sides, which were made of polypropylene pipe, reinforced with metal, originally aluminium, replaced with titanium.

"British domestic natural gas pipelines are made of a distinctive thick-walled yellow polypropylene pipe that is designed to withstand accidentally being hit with a backhoe digger. It is extraordinarily tough stuff, and the curve in SMIDSY’s side panels was the curve of a section cut from this pipe. There was a period when members of the TeamIxion Robot Wars crew would scour the roadsides of the country spotting discarded off-cuts of yellow pipe left behind by British Gas road works, and eventually we had quite a collection of different sections."

— Jenny List on Hackaday, in an article of the creation of S.M.I.D.S.Y.

By 2003, the side armour was replaced with 1mm thick stainless steel with reinforcing bars. .

The robot also featured a PVC air cooling duct inside the robot, to prevent it from overheating - however, earlier versions of S.M.I.D.S.Y. were coated in flammable leather on top. The robot's drive system was powered by Bosch GPA750 24V 1HP permanent magnet DC units, overvolted to twice their regulated power, made possible through the internal cooling system.

"When it opens those jaws wide, S.M.I.D.S.Y. looks like a giant, great big black and red... clothes peg, I think."

— Jonathan Pearce in Series 3

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Series 5

S.M.I.D.S.Y. originally featured a set of ramming spikes at the back. After the Extreme 1 weight increase, a 11-12.5 kg pair of horizontal spinning discs replaced these spikes, spinning at 200 mph at its teeth, with a wider chassis built and some of the electronics moved forwards to accommodate the new weapon. The discs were laser cut and powered by an Iskra motor, and were made of mild steel with titanium nitride-hardened teeth.

"Having decided to use a spinning disk, we had to work out where to put it. It could go right around the robot, doubling up as armour, but the bearings would be really difficult for an invertible robot and we'd lose the jaws. We could do what Hypnodisk does and have really small wheels with the disk on top, but that's not invertable at all. We decided to have a small disk, between the rear wheels. To make up for the lack of size we can make it thicker and run it faster. Fortunately, because our design has the disk in the middle, we can support both ends of the disk axle. This means it's held firmly enough to be spun very fast indeed. We couldn't make a disk as thick as we wanted so we had two disks made and mounted them with a slight gap. This protects the drive belt but is mainly because it looks good. We anticipate a number of robots will have had disks added since last year and we wanted to be a bit different."

— S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on adding the discs

Official profile for Series 6

Official image of S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Extreme 2

In Series 3-5, the side armour of S.M.I.D.S.Y. was prioritised, and secondhand polypropylene pipe coated the sides of the robot, creating a curved appearance. In 2001, the speed controllers were replaced with more powerful ones, and a custom-made rack and pinion system was constructed to control the jaws, making them faster and more efficient, as the team found that in Series 4, robots would often drive off the jaws before they could opne.

"We have rebuilt the entire robot for the 2001 War, because the weight limit was increased by 20kg, which was enough to fit in a whole new weapon - a 200mph, 15kg disk which damages walls, other robots, bits of wood, my thumb, whatever comes near it! At the same time, we built a new chassis, better jaw actuators, re-organised the insides to give more room, pretty much everything was rebuilt, better than before, and in only about twice as many weekends as we estimated. Once again, our thanks to the Pugh family for playing host to lots of bikers who turn up, make a lot of noise with machine tools, sleep all over the house and then vanish into the night."

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on designing S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Official Series 7 photo

Rear view of S.M.I.D.S.Y., demonstrating its spinning disc and adjusted tyre pressure

After Series 6, S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s jaw was replaced by a simple lifting scoop with steel teeth for Extreme 2 and Series 7, via a home-made rack and pinion. For Series 7, the lifter was strengthened, now being armoured with 2 layers of 2.5mm thick titaniumThe disadvantage of the lifting scoop was that unlike the jaws it couldn't reset itself as a wedge if S.M.I.D.S.Y. was flipped which left a big ground clearance that robots such as Dantomkia and Atomic easily exploited. However, the team never really relied on these weapons, preferring to use S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s formidable pushing power and speed to pit their opponents or merely send them into CPZs for the House Robots to take care of.

Later into its career, S.M.I.D.S.Y. started adjusting its tyres so that the rear set of wheels would push the robot's body higher up than the front wheels, giving S.M.I.D.S.Y. a slightly more angled approach into the arena floor and lowering its front ground clearance in the process.

Etymology

The S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Team Ixion logos, circa 2002

Team Ixion Logo

The name S.M.I.D.S.Y. was an acronym which stood for "Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You". This term is used by motorcyclists, in reference to a common excuse used by vehicle drivers who are responsible for traffic collisions and near-accidents threatening the less-visible motorcyclist. Team Ixion consisted entirely of motorcyclists, hence the name.

In turn, the name "Team Ixion" (also styled as "TeamIxion") is derived from the British motorcycling club, IXION.

The Team

"As 1998 drew to a close, a bunch of about twenty motorcyclists who are among the subscribers of a mailing list for UK bikers called IXION started talking about the Robot Wars series which was airing on BBC TV at the time. Motorcyclists are by nature people who build and modify machines, so it was only a matter of time before a heated discussion about the design shortcomings of the on-screen robots threw up the question-"Why don’t we have a go at Robot Wars ourselves?". Like I said, it all seemed like such a good idea at the time. After a lot of heated email discussions and a meeting in a rather good pub in Oxford, we all threw £20 into the kitty to give ourselves a fighting fund and set to designing our robot."

— Team Ixion website on the origins of S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Team Ixion introduce S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Series 3

The team with S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the pits during Series 5

Team Ixion in Extreme 2

Team Ixion in Series 7

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was entered into Robot Wars by Team Ixion, a group of motorcyclists from across the UK, containing around twenty members overall. The team originally consisted of Mik Reed, Robin Bennett and Andy Pugh, this line-up lasting from their debut in Series 3 up until Series 6.

"We had the idea at a meeting of the Ixion club at the Harcourt Arms near Oxford. We were trying to think of weapons we could fit to our bikes that would clear the streets, then someone had the idea of putting them on a robot and entering it for Robot Wars."

— Steve Bennett on the origin of S.M.I.D.S.Y., interviewed in Ultimate Real Robots magazine

The team originally built S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Andy Pugh's father's garage, as the father was interested in engineering, a capable welder, and provided the team with power tools. Andy Pugh was absent in Extreme 2 and Series 7, being replaced by Steve Bennett, a relative of Robin, in these series and he was also seen in the audience in series 4. Mik Reed was the captain of the team for every series except for The Seventh Wars where he was absent, with Mike Fleming taking his place as the third team member. Robin Bennett, the only team member present in all of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s appearances, was the driver in all the team's appearances, and became team captain for Series 7.

"The original one was built by Andy Pugh and Mik Reed. Andy had a PhD in physics, I think, and had all the machinery to do it. Mik did all the co-ordinating, planning and admin - generally encouraging the team and leading."

— Mike Flemming, interviewed in Ultimate Real Robots magazine

The team first met each other after communicating through IXION, an online motorcycling club. As a result, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was introduced as emerging "from Cyberspace" in Series 5, due to the team meeting online, and living in separate cities. Team captain Mik Reed was based in Sussex, with Robin Bennett living in Kent, and Andy Pugh living in Yorkshire. Until Series 7, besides the Fifth Wars and Extreme 1, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was introduced as originating from Kent; in Series 7, it was said to be from Horley in West Sussex.

Andy Pugh left the team after Series 6.

"I think it was partly to make space for someone else, the team was much bigger than the 3 that were on TV, and I thought it would be useful to have our electronics / RC expert in the pits at the show. Also, around that time I changed jobs, moved to another part of the country and acquired a girlfriend."

— Andy Pugh in 2025

For the Series 5 qualifiers, two other team members were present on the team, these being Alan Coubrough and John List. They joined Robin Bennett in place of Mik Reed and Andy Pugh as the team wanted other members to experience competing on Robot Wars.

Other members of Team Ixion not seen on television included; Justin Rowles, who helped build the robot and generally helped the other members, Geoff Wain, the team's treasurer and contributor until his death in a motorcycle accident

Qualification

At the Series 3 auditions, S.M.I.D.S.Y. performed the driving test, but drove into a wall and broke internally, causing it to stop moving, but it still qualified regardless.

"SMIDSY seemed to go through OK. We were 2.2kg under weight (surprised us) and chatted to the various members of the crew quite a bit. Only real hitch was we rammed through the goal (bit enthusiastic there) and hit the back wall and a spade flicked off the battery pack, so we didn't get to show off at the other tests."

— Mik Reed on S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s performance at the Series 3 auditions

S.M.I.D.S.Y. fought two battles at the Series 4 qualifiers. First, it fought Draco. It won the battle, ramming Draco into submission.

"The call comes across, 'Let the wars begin!' And Robin is shooting SMIDSY forward, Draco, caught out by the jump start also begins moving as in our speaker the count of 3... 2... 1... Activate! comes across. About the moment that Activate is mentioned SMIDSY is smashing in under the scoop of Draco and preparing for another hit. We pound in again and again, Andy on the jaw controls, Robin driving round and diving in to gash the sides, or continue to flatten the front scoop. Me, shouting directions over their shoulders. … Draco is trying to get its axe into play, but it stops over 2 inches short of SMIDSY's top, hitting the stops on its bulkhead. Robin has turned SMIDSY and is going in with the spikes, one already bent out of shape thanks to a hard hit on the arena wall. Draco becomes less and less effective and by the time the crowd count down to 0 for the end of the round it's limping with one motor disabled. Surely we've won! Cease is called and the compere announces the judges are not amused with our jump start. Rules can't be broken and sometimes you have to do things you don't like. My heart starts to sink once more, he then announces we have a Yellow Card. This means nothing, I'd been suckered in, I thought the bout was going to be taken from us. He continues, asking the crowd to cheer to decide the winner, bearing in mind our rule-breaking demeanor, Draco gets a poor reception of thumbs down and boo's, he announces SMIDSY and the crowd goes *WILD* :-) . Robin has disappeared down to drive SMIDSY back off of the arena, we're interviewed and blame the jump start on Robin being over eager and getting Red Mist."

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on the battle

Its second battle was against Kronic the Wedgehog. It managed to survive to a judges’ decision, but lost. However, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had still impressed the producers enough to qualify.

"This time Robin waits (on pain of hard stares) for Activate to be called. Once more we charge towards each other. This is another slugging match. Wedgehog has the same turn of speed as us, we chase them around the ring trying to get spikes or jaws to bear. They are too tight to the ground for us to get under and eventually while we're pushing them from the front they activate the flipper. We are held vertical on their front armour, they flip again, a third time and we're over. Robin hits the arena floor full forward throttle selected and SMIDSY charges straight back in to the fray. We bash and push for a while and then are flipped back the right way up, once more we land and hit out unscathed. This happens a couple more times, we have had some good hits on Wedgehog, they have almost carried us out of the arena. They can't pin us, we can't do serious damage to them. Finally after five minutes of stand up battle cease is called. The crowd are consulted and Wedgehog gets a better response. Sure enough the judges follow suit and the vote goes against us. Bubble a bit burst we return to the pits, only to be told that winning or losing that bout won't necessarily cause problems. Most 'bots only managed one bout, and some had it very easy. We'd just come out of our second stand up fight and it had had one of the best crowd reactions of the day!"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website

Team Ixion with S.M.I.D.S.Y. at the Series 5 qualifiers

At the Series 5 qualifiers, S.M.I.D.S.Y. took part on the Sheffield leg of the tour. It fought three battles, the first of which was against Derek and Black Knight. S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Derek took Black Knight out together, before S.M.I.D.S.Y. knocked out Derek to win.

"Everyone's friendly, the guy with Black Knight (another Steve Parker from Doncaster!) says he doesn't mind being trashed, we agree a plan with Derek for us to hold the knight's head in SMIDSY's Jaws whilst they cut it up :) The bout starts, (it all goes a bit fuzzy now) and basically Black Knight gets walloped by us both, Shunt joins in, we have a scrap with Derek, and clout it with the disk. It jars Derek so badly that its safety link falls out :) Black Knight is finished off by Shunt who then starts scrapping with us. A few seconds before the bout ends, Shunt puts its pick through our top armour and into the nice new Cyclon battery :( Bout ends and it dawns on me that we've won!"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was then asked to take part in the next day’s battles, as a reserve. The next day, S.M.I.D.S.Y. fought two more battles, the first of which was against Brute Force and Ignorance. Despite having a low battery, it won the battle because Brute Force and Ignorance broke down.

"As soon as we arrived in the booth the transmitter 'low battery' warning sounded, giving us about a minute before it died. We switched it off until the bout started and were in such a hurry to get it over SMIDSY went on the 3 of 3,2,1... Time goes so slowly when you're in the booth. We stopped half way across the arena and waited for the 'activate'... We rammed them, pushed them around, hit them with the disk etc. They stopped working at some point having never managed to use their flipper. The transmitter switched off entirely but there was so much interference that the bot would occasionally drive across the ring, or spin around, so it looked as if we were moving. Craig came and stood next to us for a better view and to ask what was going on... By leaving the transmitter off for 30 seconds we could get 10 seconds of control before it switched off again, which gave us just enough control to avoid Shunt (and park over the flame pit, which failed to set fire to the vinyl). But we won!"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website

The third battle was a four-way melee against Immortalis, Trident and Viking. S.M.I.D.S.Y. performed well, but ultimately lost the battle. Nevertheless, S.M.I.D.S.Y. qualified for Series 5, and was awarded the 24th seed.

"We attack Trident with the disk and I think it died there and then (well, it was dead when it landed, so we pushed it into the pit :) Immortalis was quietly wrecking itself against any immovable object cus they couldn't steer :( and Viking started tussling with us. This was the point where we lost drive again (low batts). We got shoved into a corner and managed to keep Shunt and Viking at bay with the disk, we got pickaxed again but the damage wasn't so bad. If we'd have gone for Viking first I think we might have won as the other two were BalsaBots but then, who can say :)"

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website

At the Series 6 qualifiers, S.M.I.D.S.Y. fought Draven, and won by pushing it into the Pit, thereby automatically getting an place in Series 6.

The team were due to retire S.M.I.D.S.Y. before Series 7 due to newer robots being too far ahead of its older design. Nevertheless, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was still granted a seeding position for Series 7 and automatically qualified.

Robot History

Series 3

"They describe their weaponry as gnashing jaws, crushing jaws, “lift you up and dismember you jaws”. Cor, they can’t half “jaw”, this team! They say it took six weekends to build and six months talking about it!"

— Jonathan Pearce introduces S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s first appearance was in the final heat of the Third Wars, where it fought fellow newcomer Rattus Rattus in the first round. No trace of its future skill was evident yet, as it was suffering from radio interference and moving slowly and sporadically.

"What we had was a solid dangerous and competent robot, with a flakey second rate and suspect Radio Control system. We are more than happy that given a degree of actual control of SMIDSY we’d have won our bout after a good solid scrap. As it was we suffered from crippling interference from the second the chainsaws were activated and were unable to do anything much at all. I doubt the cameras will show us dangling Robin out of the cherry pickers by his ankles to try and get control over SMIDSY, but they ought to (well we were almost doing it!) Even with the fact we couldn’t actually control SMIDSY everyone reckoned the bout was one of the best filmed that day as our opponents kept on attacking as best they could (they were also suffering from interference but to a lesser extent.)"

— Mik Reed describes S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s radio issues on the S.M.I.D.S.Y. website

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is charged by Rattus Rattus

S.M.I.D.S.Y. started slowly, moving fitfully forwards, turning a little, then continuing to move forward, though it kept stopping and starting. Rattus Rattus drove into the arena centre as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove forwards, and after holding back to line up an attack, charged at S.M.I.D.S.Y., ramming into its side, getting underneath, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. slid off the side. Rattus Rattus reversed against S.M.I.D.S.Y. to try and use its flail, but it did no damage, so Rattus Rattus drove away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. lay immobile in the arena centre, and Rattus Rattus charged up the arena at it, getting under one side. Rattus Rattus tried to push, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. slid off the side again as it drove past. Rattus Rattus turned around, but had driven onto the Arena Spikes, which lifted up its front end, and lifted it up and down as it tried to get off. S.M.I.D.S.Y. held back, and could only move forwards a little, then reverse, whilst Rattus Rattus was on the spikes. After driving off the Arena Spikes, Rattus Rattus turned around to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, but as it tried to push it to Dead Metal, S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed and turned to face Rattus Rattus.

"Rattus Rattus, gnawing away at S.M.I.D.S.Y. once again."

— Jonathan Pearce as Rattus Rattus tries to push S.M.I.D.S.Y. into the CPZ

Rattus Rattus drives over S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Rattus Rattus drove over S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s jaws, and as it turned around for another attack, S.M.I.D.S.Y. could not get away, merely turning around a little, its control issues preventing it from making a serious charge. Rattus Rattus rammed into its side, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. moved stiltedly forwards to try and get away, then stopped. Rattus Rattus rammed into the side again, pushing past it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. could barely drive forwards, only twitching forwards a little, and Rattus Rattus got behind it and pushed it onto the Arena Spikes, which flicked S.M.I.D.S.Y. up. Rattus Rattus pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. around in a circle, then reversed for another charge. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to reverse a little as Rattus Rattus charged at it, and tried to reverse away, but could only move fitfully due to the interference. Rattus Rattus pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. back onto the Spikes, which flicked S.M.I.D.S.Y. up a few times, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. could not get off.

"Really, S.M.I.D.S.Y. is doing very little attacking work, it's all Rattus Rattus, and eventually it’s just going to push S.M.I.D.S.Y. into the CPZ."

— Jonathan Pearce as Rattus Rattus pushes S.M.I.D.S.Y. onto the Arena Spikes

Rattus Rattus pushes S.M.I.D.S.Y. onto the Arena Spikes

S.M.I.D.S.Y. gets flipped by the Arena Spike

Rattus Rattus rammed S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the edge of Dead Metal's CPZ, and Dead Metal got his arms over S.M.I.D.S.Y., pinning it down. Rattus Rattus rammed into the back of S.M.I.D.S.Y. as Dead Metal pinned it down, and eventually Dead Metal let S.M.I.D.S.Y. go, though S.M.I.D.S.Y. could only reverse a little before stopping. Rattus Rattus charged at S.M.I.D.S.Y., but missed its charge, crashing into Dead Metal, and the impact knocked its armour shell loose from the base. Rattus Rattus quickly reversed down the arena, with its shell now hanging loose, and its internals partially exposed.

"The interference in the arena was dreadful though, we only had any vestige of control in the Death Mewtal zone, and cowering behind it didn't really cut it as a tactic. They turned off the ranks of angle grinders round the arena in later heats after complaints."

— Andy Pugh on Groups.Google.altRobotWars

Dead Metal puts S.M.I.D.S.Y. out

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was not moving, only twitching a little, as Rattus Rattus reversed onto the Flame Pit, and Shunt lifted it with his scoop. Rattus Rattus drove off the Flame Pit, with smoke rising from the machine. S.M.I.D.S.Y. regained some movement, but drove into Sir Killalot's claw, as Sir Killalot had swapped CPZ's with Dead Metal. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was able to turn and speed away across the arena, but drove into Dead Metal, and Rattus Rattus blocked its escape as Dead Metal grabbed onto S.M.I.D.S.Y. to bring his saw down and cut into Sthe rear tyre, and push it down the arena. After a pause, Dead Metal pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the edge of the Pit, still cutting into it, before pulling back the saw and pushing S.M.I.D.S.Y. into the Pit. However, as he did so, he drove over the edge of the Pit and beached himself.

"The Rattus Rattus are really good guys, we wouldn't have even fought today if they hadn't lent us half their tools and a good chunk of their spares!"

— Robin Bennett, gracious in defeat

As a result, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was eliminated in Round 1.

"There again, we thought we could beat all the robots in our heat, and they agreed. Then it just didn't work. There is an immense luck factor (and having a potentially good but actually poor 'bot will obviously count against you, as was the case with us). Next year, Mwahaahahahahah, we hope to have enough control to drive ourselves into the pit!!!!!!!"

— Andy Pugh on a Google forum in the Year 2000

Series 4

"Upgraded from the last war, we’ve got titanium side panels instead of aluminium, we’ve lowered the gearing so it’ll steer better."

— Mik Reed on the improvements to S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. returned to the wars with a more reliable radio system and titanium replacing the aluminium armour.

"That’s gas main, we picked when they were digging up the roads, they don’t put pickaxes through the pipes, we figured they wouldn’t put pickaxes through the side of the robot."

— Mik Reed on the armour

Its first battle of Heat O was against Overkill GTI, another robot that went out in Round 1 of the previous series, and fourth seed Panic Attack, champion of Series 2.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Overkill GTI

At the start of the battle, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove forwards, then drove around to the back of Overkill GTI, and Panic Attack drove at Overkill GTI's side. Panic Attack tried to get under Overkill GTI with its forks, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away. Overkill GTI drove off Panic Attack's forks as it tried to lift and drove away, and as Panic Attack reversed, S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at Overkill GTI, charging past Panic Attack. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past Overkill GTI, then turned around and rammed under the side of Overkill GTI. As it did so, the tips of Overkill GTI's punctured the arena floor, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed it onto the Flame Pit, a large gash was into the arena floor.

"Now on the attack of Overkill again was S.M.I.D.S.Y., and look at the damage caused here to the arena floor! A great chunk taken out!"

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Panic Attack, whilst Panic Attack lifts Overkill GTI

S.M.I.D.S.Y. then charged at the seeded Panic Attack, but as it drove into Panic Attack's front, Panic Attack turned to avoid it, getting in a side-by-side position. Overkill GTI drove at the back of Panic Attack, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around as Overkill GTI got under the rear of Panic Attack. Panic Attack slid off Overkill GTI's wedge, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at Overkill GTI, but rode up the front wedge, and Overkill GTI flipped it over. Panic Attack got its forks underneath the front of Overkill GTI, and lifted it as it rammed it into an arena wall, before lifting it onto a wall spike, which left it hanging off the spike, its wheels unable to touch the arena floor. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push it free, but Panic Attack got behind S.M.I.D.S.Y., so S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, driving into Matilda's CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Matilda, then reversed back at Panic Attack with its rear spikes. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove between Overkill GTI and Panic Attack, Matilda came out of her CPZ to try and push Overkill GTI free, but Panic Attack got its forks under one of one of Overkill GTI's wheels, pushing it off the spike and lifting the robot up. As Panic Attack carried Overkill GTI across the arena, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past, bumping into Overkill GTI to try and push it free. This failed, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around to the back of Panic Attack and pushed it, which caused Overkill GTI to topple off the spikes and back down to the arena floor. As Overkill GTI turned around, Panic Attack reversed S.M.I.D.S.Y. against Overkill GTI. Overkill GTI reversed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at it, but drove up the flipper, and Overkill GTI flipped it over.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. the meat in the sandwich there, and flicked over, that won't bother them."

— Jonathan Pearce as Panic Attack backs S.M.I.D.S.Y. against Overkill GTI, which then flips S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Panic Attack pushes against S.M.I.D.S.Y.

As Overkill GTI tried to drive away, S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into its side and pushed, but Overkill GTI turned away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to puncture one of Overkill GTI's tyres with a hard hit with its rear spikes. Panic Attack pushed Overkill GTI against the arena wall, getting under the front and lifting the robot up against an arena spike, its back resting on the wall. One of Overkill GTI's flipper fell open, and it fired the other flipper to try and get itself down, but this failed to shake it free. Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. mistakenly drove into Dead Metal's CPZ, and Dead Metal pinned it down with its arms and cut into the top with his circular saw. Panic Attack tried to lift Overkill GTI over the arena fence, but this merely lifted it off the arena spike, and as it reversed, Overkill GTI fell back down upright. S.M.I.D.S.Y. escaped Dead Metal's CPZ, drove down the arena, then charged in reverse at Overkill GTI, pushing it against the arena wall at the edge of Dead Metal's CPZ. Dead Metal got his arms around Overkill GTI and brought his saw down onto it, but Panic Attack drove at the side of S.M.I.D.S.Y., getting under it with its forks and lifting it up and onto its side, propping it up against the wall. Panic Attack rammed into S.M.I.D.S.Y., knocking it off the wall and onto its forks. Panic Attack reversed, pulling S.M.I.D.S.Y., and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned off the forks and drove away.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes away, Panic Attack. Panic Attack, were they simply reversing to come in another slam on S.M.I.D.S.Y.?"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. gets away from Panic Attack

Dead Metal let Overkill GTI go, and it limped towards Panic Attack. The two drove into each other, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed in between the two, with both backing away. Panic Attack tried to get its forks under the back of Overkill GTI, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove between the two again. Panic Attack got its forks under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side and tried to lift, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. used its wheel that was still touching the floor to to turn and slipped off the forks as Panic Attack pushed. Panic Attack reversed against the side of Overkill GTI and pushed it down the arena, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. getting beside it and helping to push Overkill GTI against the arena wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed for another charge, but as it charged, Overkill GTI drove away from the wall, causing S.M.I.D.S.Y. to miss its charge. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, it backed dangerously close to Sir Killalot, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. quickly drove away before the House Robot could attack. AS it drove along the arena wall, Panic Attack intercepted it, pushing it up against a wall spike. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was left hanging from the spike as Panic Attack went back after Overkill GTI, getting behind it and reversing it against the arena wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got free of the arena spike, and drove around to Panic Attack's front, managing to get under its forks. Panic Attack raised its forks and pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. across the arena.

"Panic Attack - little bit of a tug of war with S.M.I.D.S.Y., they've been impressive so far."

— Jonathan Pearce

Panic Attack and S.M.I.D.S.Y. lift Overkill GTI in the dying seconds of the battle

Panic Attack pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards Sgt. Bash's CPZ, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to turn away and get off the forks.. Overkill GTI limped away from the arena wall on its one intact tyre, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged up the arena at it, getting around to its side, and lifting it up with its jaw. Panic Attack also drove up the arena, getting behind Overkill GTI and and trying to lift it with its forks, but one of its forks was under S.M.I.D.S.Y., and the combined weight caused Panic Attack to overbalance forwards, so it lowered the forks and reversed away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. held Overkill GTI off the floor for the remaining seconds, until "Cease" was called, and the battle went to a Judges' decision.

"Very close for all three teams!"

— Jonathan Pearce as the battle goes to a Judges' decision

The Judges put Panic Attack and S.M.I.D.S.Y. through to the next round, where it was drawn against the 20th seed Aggrobot 2.

"We've got about the same sort of pushing power, we've got similar weapons, it’s going to be down a bit of luck, driver’s skill, we’ll see how it goes, could go to the Judges"

— Mik Reed on fighting Aggrobot 2.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is set alight by the flamethrower

At the start of the battle, both robots drove forwards, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. was quicker, and drove to Aggrobot 2's side, beside its lifter, and tried to get underneath, but turned too far. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove in front of Aggrobot 2 and turned to face it, and Aggrobot 2 reversed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around to Aggrobot 2's side, getting its jaws underneath and pushing Aggrobot 2 up the arena. However, Aggrobot 2 turned against it, and tried driving away, making it harder for S.M.I.D.S.Y. to push, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried turning around Aggrobot 2, it drove into the top arena wall, just below a flamethrower, which torched S.M.I.D.S.Y., giving Aggrobot 2 a chance to drive away. After a pause, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, with its top on fire.

"Ooh, a lick of flame to the top there; burning paint, and graphics - charcoaled effect now on the top of S.M.I.D.S.Y."

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is lifted by Aggrobot 2

Aggrobot 2 reversed at S.M.I.D.S.Y. with its rear zonker, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed to avoid it, backing against the top arena wall, then rammed Aggrobot 2 down the arena. Aggrobot 2 turned away from S.M.I.D.S.Y., so S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, getting under the back of Aggrobot 2 before it could get away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed Aggrobot 2 up the arena, but Aggrobot 2 turned to get off of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s jaws, then drove around S.M.I.D.S.Y. and fled down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. chased after it, and as Aggrobot 2 turned around to try and use its zonker, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around to its side. Aggrobot 2 reversed away as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept chasing, turning and getting under Aggrobot 2's front corner and getting at Aggrobot 2's side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Aggrobot 2 up the arena, until it got away and drove down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, but this time, Aggrobot 2 was ready for it, and drove under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front as it turned around, getting underneath with the lifter, lifting S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheels off the floor.

"It comes in on the attack now, with the lifting nose cone. Trying to get in under underneath S.M.I.D.S.Y., that'll be difficult, it's got a 1 inch adjustable ground clearance, S.M.I.D.S.Y."

— Jonathan Pearce as Aggrobot 2 gets under S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Aggrobot 2 mounts S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Aggrobot 2 raised its front lifter, but as it turned and tried to push, S.M.I.D.S.Y. slipped off the lifter and drove away up the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and as Aggrobot 2 drove after it, charged back down the arena, slamming into it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and rammed into Aggrobot 2's side, ramming it up the arena and slamming it against the top arena wall, under a flamethrower, and pushed it into Dead Metal's nearby CPZ. Dead Metal pushed Aggrobot 2 out of the CPZ, but Aggrobot 2 merely reversed along the wall, seemingly unable to turn away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around to its front and pushed it away from the wall, then drove around to its other side and rammed it. Aggrobot 2 drove down the arena, driving close to the arena wall, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at it, getting underneath, and with Aggrobot 2 on top of it, reversed it across the arena, dumping it on the Flame Pit.

"It's S.M.I.D.S.Y. here, doing all the work ... it’s S.M.I.D.S.Y. here on top in this Heat Semi-Final for me, again slamming underneath Aggrobot! Aggrobot, the little piggyback, coming down onto the arena floor, over Flame Pit in the end, so that’s good style, control and aggression from S.M.I.D.S.Y., they’re on top should this go to the Judges, I'm sure of that!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Aggrobot 2 across the arena

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away for another attack, but Aggrobot 2 was now immobile, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged back at it, pushing it towards Sgt. Bash's CPZ, and after lining itself up, pushing Aggrobot 2 right into Sgt. Bash's front jaw. Sgt. Bash bit into Aggrobot 2, then pushed it away from his CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got behind it and rammed it up the arena, ramming it against the top arena wall, under a flamethrower. Aggrobot 2's top armour and one of the wheels caught fire, and the House Robots surrounded it, with Sgt. Bash grabbing the side with his jaw, and Shunt axing it as Sgt. Bash dragged it down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. stayed away as the House Robots attacked the immobile Aggrobot 2, with Sir Killalot picking it up and spinning it around.

"Dissapointing for them, but a very good performance, I thought, by S.M.I.D.S.Y.! Underrated machine, these boys have!"

— Jonathan Pearce as the battle ends

"Cease" was called, and Aggrobot 2 was through to the Heat Final.

"Craig Charles"

— Well, with a name like S.M.I.D.S.Y., you expected something like a little kitten, or something like that! but there's nothing kitten-ish about that robot is there?

Unfortunately for the team from Cyberspace, the success from S.M.I.D.S.Y. was short-lived as it met the 4th seed Panic Attack once again, this time in the Heat Final, with Kim Davies being concerned about the battle, as it would not be able to overturn S.M.I.D.S.Y. due to it being invertible, and its shape meaning that if Panic Attack did lift it, at least one of the wheels would still be touching the floor.

Julia Reed: "S.M.I.D.S.Y., the team from cyberspace, seem to have the Panic Attack boys a little bit worried!"

Andy Pugh: "Hard to see why really, they've got a similar design to us only better, so why should they be worried?"

Julia Reed: "Ah, maybe they were just being modest then."

Robin Bennett: "They're better drivers, and they've got the cute kids on their teams, which is always an advantage in this case!"

Julia Reed: "Don't put yourselves down! Now is not the time! You've got a great robot!"

— Pre-battle interview

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Panic Attack back

At the start of the battle, both competitors charged at each other, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. hitting Panic Attack's front corner and driving past. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove across the arena, and as Panic Attack turned around and drove at it, S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and drove to Panic Attack's side. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed, Panic Attack turned, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned to avoid the forks, and kept pushing at Panic Attack's side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to push Panic Attack down the arena over the flame jet, but it then rode up Panic Attack's sloped side, and Panic Attack drove away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, and as Panic Attack turned to face S.M.I.D.S.Y., S.M.I.D.S.Y. got its jaw besides the forks and pushed Panic Attack around. Panic Attack raised its forks and reversed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, but drove up and over the forks, onto Panic Attack's top. Panic Attack pushed, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed off before Panic Attack raised its forks. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed towards the arena wall, then drove back at Panic Attack, driving at the side of its forks, and pushed Panic Attack back across the arena.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. up and over, but again direct, aggressive."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Panic Attack

S.M.I.D.S.Y. uses its rear spikes on Panic Attack

Panic Attack pushed back, causing S.M.I.D.S.Y. to ride up its sloping side again. Panic Attack tried pushing, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed off, and backed away to the side of the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at Panic Attack, riding up and over the forks and driving over Panic Attack. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and drove back at Panic Attack, driving around its forks and trying to push. Panic Attack reversed, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept after it, getting beside the forks and pushing Panic Attack back. Panic Attack managed to push S.M.I.D.S.Y. back, ramming it to the edge of Shunt's CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got away before the House Robot could attack, and Panic Attack drove to the bottom half of the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, charging straight at Panic Attack and driving over the forks. Panic Attack drove to the arena centre and turned around, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at it, backing into its side with its rear spikes.

"Quite even at the moment; S.M.I.D.S.Y. the more aggressive. Perhaps, Panic Attack the more controlled."

— Jonathan Pearce

Panic Attack turned around, and reversed away as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and reversed past Panic Attack. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned to face Panic Attack, Panic Attack tried to get its forks under it, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around to Panic Attack's side. Panic Attack turned, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove to the top of the arena. Panic Attack turned to chase after it, but in doing so it turned dangerously close to Dead Metal, who grabbed Panic Attack in his arms. Dead Metal let go, and as Panic Attack drove away from the CPZ, S.M.I.D.S.Y. slammed into its side, then drove past, nearly driving into the arena wall. As it turned away from the wall, it backed into the arms of Dead Metal, but as Dead Metal tried to grab it, S.M.I.D.S.Y. got away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at the back of Panic Attack, but Panic Attack reversed against it, and managed to push it back across the arena, until S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y., we haven't really seen the jaws work, have we so far, but I do think they've done ever so well, they had radio signal problems in the last series, better this time around..."

— Jonathan Pearce

Panic Attack's lifting mechanism slots into S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheel arch.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed up to the top of the arena, and Panic Attack drove after it and got underneath with its forks. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to get off, Panic Attack lifted the forks, and managed to hook one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s rear wheel arches with its forks. Holding S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheels off the floors, Panic Attack carried S.M.I.D.S.Y. down the arena, and held it over the flame jet.

"The wheels, from go-karts - little bit of a gap around them, and Panic Attack and Kim Davies have found that gap, and now, that could be the single most decisive moment of this entire heat!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Panic Attack drops S.M.I.D.S.Y. into the Pit

Panic Attack pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. across the arena and rammed it into the wall, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened its jaw to try and push itself free. Panic Attack turned around and carried S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the Pit. However, it was not yet open, so Panic Attack pulled S.M.I.D.S.Y. back, then pushed it, causing it to slip off the forks. Soon after, the Pit opened, and Panic Attack got under S.M.I.D.S.Y. again. and lifted it up onto its top. Panic Attack pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards the Pit, then turned to drop S.M.I.D.S.Y. in.

"Oh, they looked so promising, but the Heat Final belongs to Panic Attack, and not to those S.M.I.D.S.Y. boys!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Panic Attack pits S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was therefore eliminated from Series 4, whilst Panic Attack went through to the Semi-Finals.

Craig Charles: "Last time we talked, you were quite confident!"

Robin Bennett: "Oh, we were never confident about Panic Attack!"

Craig Charles: "Well, you're a tenacious little robot, and you sort of matched it for power, however you didn't have that little lifter, and [Panic Attack] lifted you up, carried you around, the pit wasn't open, so it carried you around again, then it put you down, and then as soon as the pit opened, it picked you up again and threw you in the pit!"

Mik Reed: "He's the granddaddy, he was winning before we were thinking of building them! I mean, come on! If we're going to lose to anyone, we might as well lose to a previous winner!"

— Post-battle interview

S.M.I.D.S.Y. also took part in the Sumo Basho and Pinball Warrior Tournament in the same series. During the Sumo, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was the seventh competitor to face Shunt, and the team attached salt shakers, taken from the Robot Wars canteen, to its jaws as a reference to real life sumo wrestlers who threw salt into the ring for good luck.

"We'd seen a number of robots pushed out of the ring in the blink of an eye; before we entered the ring none had lasted more than 6 seconds. We knew our jaws were twisted from repeated ramming the previous day so there was no way we were going to get under Shunt's mighty bulldozer blade. Instead we opted for the stategy of dodging him for as long as possible."

— Mik Reed describes the team's tactic for Sumo

S.M.I.D.S.Y. gets side on against Shunt

S.M.I.D.S.Y. started quicker, driving around to Shunt's side before he could get close. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push Shunt, but Shunt turned, getting his scoop under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front. Shunt tried to push S.M.I.D.S.Y. off, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away from Shunt, driving dangerously along the edge but staying on.

"That's a great technique, going to the side of Shunt, backing away!"

— Jonathan Pearce praises S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s driving

S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove down the platform. As it did so, Shunt charged getting at its side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. was quick enough to drive past. It turned, trying to get at Shunt's side, but Shunt reversed.

"This is a very, very good Sumo Basho run here by S.M.I.D.S.Y.!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. gets at Shunt's side

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is pushed off

S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and Shunt tried to charge at its side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove forwards and turned to get at Shunt's side. However, Shunt turned against S.M.I.D.S.Y., and pushed it, causing S.M.I.D.S.Y. to charge over the edge.

"Eventually went off, but that's a very creditable run!"

— Jonathan Pearce after S.M.I.D.S.Y. went over the edge

S.M.I.D.S.Y. had lasted 14.11 seconds, and ultimately took 5th place overall on the leaderboard.

"It was only 14.11 seconds but it was the longest 14 seconds of my life. It was also the best Sumo bout that the crowd had seen so far, and they went absolutely wild - no one had managed to dodge Shunt so many times. We were very happy at the time and only mildly disappointed later when a couple of robots manged {sic} to jam themselves under Shunt and last the whole 60 seconds - they had just been lucky, we'd actually used speed and manoeuverability to avoid him. We didn't even mind that Panic Attack managed to dodge for even longer than us and trick Shunt into driving over the edge, because Kim is a ReallyNiceChap {sic} and an excellent driver. We'd put on a good show and had an adrenaline buzz that would last for days."

— Mik Reed on the team's Sumo performance

S.M.I.D.S.Y. competed in the Pinball Warrior Tournament, where it was the eighth competitors to run.

"What sort of tactics will they use, go straight for the barrels? That's what everyone else has done. Maybe push that sphere into the illuminated pit, that'll pick them up 20-odd points."

— Jonathan Pearce just before S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s run

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drives over the bridge

S.M.I.D.S.Y. went straight for the bridge and drove straight over it, the first competitor to successfully drive over it. It then went straight for the multiball release, stylishly swerving to hit the bumper, then turned towards Sgt. Bash's zone. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Sgt. Bash's side, but couldn't push past him to reach the target, so turned around the House Robot and knocked the sphere away. It drove behind the right set of barrels, but suffered from steering problems, so it turned too far, missing the barrels and driving alongside them. It turned, but turned too far again, merely nudging one of the barrels, without knocking any over.

"Attacking the barrels, normally easy-peasy these! What are they doing? Dancing around the barrels, hit them! Hit them! Get them down! Dead Metal closing. Well that was a strange lack of direction"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drives by the barrels

S.M.I.D.S.Y. after knocking over the barrels. Note the smoke coming from S.M.I.D.S.Y., having been torched by the arena flamethrowers

Dead Metal drove after S.M.I.D.S.Y., so it backed to the top arena wall, being hit by one of the flamethrowers. The top was singed, and smoke began to rise from S.M.I.D.S.Y. due to its leather cladding. It charged away from the wall, knocking the sphere into the corner, but as it did so, it was hit by the other flamethrower. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Dead Metal's side, and actually managed to push him back, then reversed into the barrels, knocking them over.

"Now finally barrels go down! But that was a muddled sort of phase there!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. manages to hit the barrels, having suffered from control issues

Matilda blocks S.M.I.D.S.Y. from reaching her target

It then charged across the arena, swerving around Dead Metal, aiming for the other set of barrels. S.M.I.D.S.Y. hit the one in the corner, causing the top three to also fall over. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove down the arena, into Sir Killalot's zone, but Sir Killalot blocked the target with his claw. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Sir Killalot's side, but couldn't get around Sir Killalot, so turned and drove for Matilda's zone. However, it drove into Matilda's side, and Matilda blocked it from reaching the target using her tusks.

"Ah, they're being frustrated here. They keep turning down blind alleys."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. fails to get past Sir Killalot, then Matilda

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away, hitting the see-saw, and time ran out. Despite a promising start, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had scored just 70 points, meaning it finished 14th out of 16.

"Oh, it looked a good run, but in the end was disappointing. Flattered only to deceive. Great start, wasn't it, up and over the ramp. 20 points, the first robot to succeed in that area. Then the multiball release, 10 more, but then Bash thwarted one attack. Yes the barrels, but it was all confused after that, and they ran out of velocity and ideas, and points too."

— Jonathan Pearce reviews the highlights at the end of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s Pinball run

Extreme 1

"We’ve always been tenacious, this year we’ve got more bite, we’re going to smash them up in the ring and leave them to sweep up the pieces."

— Mik Reed’s introduction in Extreme 1

In the first episode of Extreme, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was involved in the Mayhem, and was drawn up against Sumpthing and Series 4 runner-up Pussycat for a place in the first Annihilator.

"Made it to the Heat Final in the last series but no further. The name means "Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You". The jaws operated by a luxury car seat actuator. They've had radio signals in the past!"

— Jonathan Pearce sums up S.M.I.D.S.Y. before the battle

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Pussycat early on

It started by charging at Pussycat, which was also approaching. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got at Pussycat's side, and pushed it onto the Flame Pit. Pussycat turned straight off the Flame Pit whilst S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed into the arena centre. Pussycat drove at S.M.I.D.S.Y., which drove away, then turned around to face Pussycat. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into Pussycat, resisting its saw and pushing Pussycat upright. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past, Pussycat toppled back down, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at it with its new rear disc.

"Certainly at the moment, S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Pussycat, coming straight into the battle. Sumpthing a little bit slow to come out of the traps."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Pussycat

S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sumpthing attack Pussycat together

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Pussycat, but Pussycat turned away. It started attacking Sumpthing, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into its back as it drove past, pushing it away from Sumpthing. Pussycat turned back at Sumpthing and continued to fight with it, whilst S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove down the arena and opened the Pit, knocking the button away from the wall (This was the first time the Pit release button was shown). S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around the Pit and drove into Sumpthing, but as it drove away, it drove over the edge of the descending Pit, nearly falling in. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and Pussycat rammed into it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push Pussycat, but Pussycat reversed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and the two competitors charged at each other, with Pussycat's disc hitting S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front lifter, causing sparks. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Pussycat up the arena, whilst Sumpthing also drove after Pussycat, hitting it with its saws. Pussycat turned, getting at S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side and trying to use its saw, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, so Pussycat turned as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push. Pussycat tried to get away, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. chased after it, and tried to push it onto the flame jet, but Pussycat rode up S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front and over the side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed to the arena centre to turn around for another attack. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around Pussycat as it charged at it, and pushed past its side without the disc. This allowed Pussycat to get at S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s jaws with its disc.

"Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Pussycat again. If you have to go weapon to weapon on those two teams, I'd fancy Pussycat I must admit."

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push Pussycat, but Pussycat reversed, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, Pussycat turned around and drove away. Pussycat drove up the arena, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. chased after it. Meanwhile, Sumpthing seemed much more sluggish than its two opponents, who began pushing each other, and as it drove up the arena, managed to impale itself in the side of Sgt. Bash, getting its spikes caught in his wheel arch. Pussycat drove around the two, and Matilda used her tusks to dislodge Sumpthing from Sgt. Bash. Pussycat pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. into a CPZ as Sgt. Bash drove back to the CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to reverse away from Sgt. Bash, but it had lost drive on one side, leaving it spinning in circles.

"And S.M.I.D.S.Y. stands in the rear, with its ramming jaws; can flip, can drive over attacks, improved mechanical ability, but for me it's Pussycat and Sumpthing doing all the aggressive work here. S.M.I.D.S.Y. dancing around, dodging!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. spins in circles whilst Sumpthing and Pussycat battle each other

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is nudged into the Pit

Sumpthing then rammed into Pussycat, impaling its spike into the previous runner-up's side, but it could not take advantage of this. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned away from the CPZ, and tried to spin towards its opponents, helped by a push from Sgt. Bash, but Refbot blocked it from Pussycat and Sumpthing. Refbot blocked S.M.I.D.S.Y. as it turned around towards its opponents again, then pushed against Sumpthing to free it from the side of Pussycat. Pussycat drove at S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. could do nothing to retaliate due to its reduced drive. Pussycat hit the side and top with its saw, and Sumpthing drove behind S.M.I.D.S.Y. as Pussycat turned away to line up another attack. Sumpthing drove to the arena side wall, and Pussycat charged down the arena at S.M.I.D.S.Y., but rode up the side, turning it upright. Pussycat reversed into Refbot to tip itself back down, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned back and forth, which brought it closer and closer to the Pit. Pussycat took advantage, charging back at S.M.I.D.S.Y., pushing it so it was hanging over the edge, then tipped it in with a nudge with its saw. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was left dangling over the Pit, its ends caught on the sides of the Pit, so Pussycat forced it in with its saw.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. seems to have lost control there, one side is going round in circles, that'll count against it, and it's teetering and tottering on the brink! And S.M.I.D.S.Y. has gone! S.M.I.D.S.Y. is out of it!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Soon after, time ran out just, and the Judges ruled in favour of Pussycat over Sumpthing.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. I thought was tentative throughout, eventually went down into the Pit and out of the contest, leaving the Judges to decide on the others."

— Jonathan Pearce whilst reviewing the highlights

S.M.I.D.S.Y was also involved in the Tag Team Terror competition alongside Sumpthing, the two were dubbed 'the grease monkeys' of the competition by Jonathan Pearce. The pair went up against Cerberus and Thermidor 2 in the first round.

"We're just hoping that they'll [Cerberus and Thermidor 2] run a fair fight, that they won't cheat on us, because we've got everything we need to run them here, just to beat them fair and square, and just run them into the ground, no problem at all!"

— Mik Reed before the battle

Cerberus and S.M.I.D.S.Y lock horns

S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Cerberus went out first for their respective teams, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. started the quicker, charging at Cerberus. Cerberus turned to face S.M.I.D.S.Y. as it rammed into it, and though S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push Cerberus back, it couldn't get enough traction. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed as Cerberus pushed against it, then rammed back at Cerberus, deliberately avoiding the middle, where its crushing jaw was. However, Cerberus got the lifting spike at S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, and as the two competitors pushed against each other, spinning around together, Cerberus cut into S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side with the bottom half of its jaw, then pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. back, until S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned away.

"Cerberus pushing S.M.I.D.S.Y., will find that difficult at the moment, S.M.I.D.S.Y. just digging in."

— Jonathan Pearce as Cerberus tries to push S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. collides with its team-mate's weapon

Cerberus spun around, clubbing S.M.I.D.S.Y. with its tail, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and reversed. Both competitors turned to face each other, but instead of charging straight at each other, they both turned into each other, clipping the side and turning away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed into Cerberus's tail, causing sparks as it cut in, causing a large scar.

"There you can see the weapon of S.M.I.D.S.Y., a 10 kilo disc running at 2-and-a-half thousand RPM. Oh look at that, and shredding into the side of Cerberus!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. cuts into Cerberus with its disc

Thermidor 2 flips S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Cerberus pushed against S.M.I.D.S.Y., and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away for another attack, but then seemed to have control issues - it started reversing towards Cerberus, but then stopped and drove back to the corner with Sumpthing, driving into its saws. Instead of tagging Sumpthing, it reversed back towards Cerberus, then stopped. After a pause, it turned around and drove at Cerberus. The two competitors drove at each other, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. started to push Cerberus, but Cerberus turned away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept going, driving across the arena, all the way to an angle grinder near Sgt. Bash's CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was stuck in forward drive, so Sumpthing came out of the CPZ to fight Cerberus.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. here, that's a long, long run, that's too long, that's suspiciously long! I think they might might have been stuck there in front drive {sic} and they have been, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. are in trouble which is why Sumpthing have come out! They weren't technically tagged!"

— Jonathan Pearce noting S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s loss of control

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is axed by Shunt

Thermidor 2 also came out of its corner, and pushed Sumpthing against Cerberus and flipped it, leaving it stranded on its front spikes. Refbot began counting it out, meanwhile, Shunt turned S.M.I.D.S.Y. over, axed it and dragged it out of the CPZ. Shunt left it by the Pit, completely immobile. Thermidor 2 came over and flipped it over, and Cerberus rammed into its side. Refbot counted S.M.I.D.S.Y. out as well.

"Well that looked promising early on for S.M.I.D.S.Y., they got stuck though, had remote control problems. The Refbot's coming in and Sumpthing and S.M.I.D.S.Y. are about to counted out here!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Refbot prepares to count out S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sumpthing

Shunt gets stuck on S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Shunt pits S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Once it was counted out, Shunt came over and axed the top a couple of times, puncturing the top, then used his scoop to lift S.M.I.D.S.Y. up and turn it over. However, as he pushed and lowered the scoop, he became caught on S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side. He fired the axe, but this did not shake him free. The Pit opened, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. was able to break free from Shunt. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was turned back over, and Shunt pushed it towards the Pit, but one of the spikes on top of Shunt's scoop became caught in one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheel hubs. Shunt pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. over the edge of the Pit, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. was still caught, so he could not drop it in. This did not matter, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sumpthing were both eliminated.

Craig Charles: "Then again, you go and take on a House Robot and look what happens! He didn't like you very much, he just put you in the pit!"

Robin Bennett: "I'd like to claim I was in control, but the radio interference was doing it all for me!"

— In the post-battle interview

Series 5

"We’ve updated the speed controllers, so that we’ve got a lot more power, completely rebuilt the chassis, which allows us to put in a 4 ½ kilo disc, 200mph on the teeth. Last year we got to our Heat Final, went out to Panic Attack. We’ll be fine this year, provided we don’t come against a previous winner."

— Mik Reed’s introduction in Series 5

For finishing in the Heat Final of Series 4, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was seeded 24 out of 24 for Series 5, and came up against newcomer Obsidian in the first round of Heat A.

"Ranked 24th, Sorry Mate I Didn't See You, S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s back in town. Great team and a good robot, low to the ground with plenty of pushing power, and this year they've added a spinning disc weapon!"

— Philippa Forrester at the start of the Heat

S.M.I.D.S.Y. backs Obsidian into Sgt. Bash's CPZ

Obsidian moved first, charging forwards as S.M.I.D.S.Y. held back, then S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove forwards to meet it in the arena centre. Obsidian fired the axe, but narrowly missed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed to the other side of the arena. Obsidian also reversed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at Obsidian, trying to drive at its side, but Obsidian drove past it as it got close. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, driving around to its front. Obsidian reversed as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push, and fired the axe, but narrowly missed again, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, and as Obsidian drove towards it, reversed into its side with the disc, and backed it against the arena wall. This attack had bent a piece of framework, leaving it wedged against a wheel, which left Obsidian only moving on one wheel. Obsidian turned back and forth, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed into it again, forcing it into Sgt. Bash's CPZ.

"On the attack again, and you can see already, look, damage to the black carbon fibre cladding of Obsidian!"

— Jonathan Pearce notes the damage to Obsidian's armour as S.M.I.D.S.Y. backs it into Sgt. Bash's CPZ

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pins Obsidian against the angle grinder

Obsidian managed to turn out of the CPZ, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into its side, preventing it from getting away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and tried to reverse into Obsidian with its disc, but Sgt. Bash got in its way, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away as Sgt. Bash and Matilda attacked Obsidian. Obsidian hit Sgt. Bash with with its axe, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. came over, pushing against Obsidian's side. Matilda reversed into Obsidian with her flywheel, and Obsidian pulled its axe free of Sgt. Bash. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Obsidian against the arena side wall by an angle grinder, where Refbot came over and counted it out. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove to the arena centre, spinning in celebration.

"Phil Upton and Steve Coley at the controls of Obsidian try and get some movement, but they're wedged in there against the side wall, pushed by S.M.I.D.S.Y., creating damage all the while! They're crumpled, they're bruised, they're battered, they're scratched! Custom designed is Obsidian, but all the design work in the world will not save you from the Refbot's count! Down it goes, and the jaws of S.M.I.D.S.Y. open in a victory grin!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Obsidian against the arena wall, then as it is counted out

Refbot finished his count, and Sgt. Bash pulled Obsidian free of the wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to drive at Obsidian with its rear disc, but Sgt. Bash reversed into it to block it, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. held back as the House Robots attacked, with Matilda ripping through the armour with her flywheel, and Sgt. Bash and Matilda pushing it onto the Floor Flipper where it was thrown. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was therefore through to Round 2.

"One of the hits had actually split one of Smidsy's wheels, but to be fair they had beaten us fair and square and we wished them well for the rest of the competition."

— Steve Coley on the Obsidian website

In the Heat Semi-Final, S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s opponent was another newcomer in 8645T.

Philippa Forrester: "But those little faces! You can't be mean to them!"

Mik Reed: "But he's heartless, there's no problem, Robin's just such a driver, he'll go in there and he doesn't care about small, cute kids or anything, he'll just smash up the robot and away you go!"

Philippa Forrester: "It's terrible here!"

— Pre-battle interview, speaking of the children in the 8645T team

8645T axes S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. started the battle quicker, driving at 8645T. 8645T fired the axe as S.M.I.D.S.Y. got close, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at 8645T's side and tried to get its jaws underneath. 8645T turned around, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove behind it, which allowed 8645T to hit the top with its axe. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed down the arena, pulling 8645T with it. 8645T let S.M.I.D.S.Y. go, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. got at the back of 8645T and pushed it up the arena. 8645T hit S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top with his axe, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept pushing, pinning 8645T against the top arena wall, just outside Shunt's CPZ.

"This is all the work being done by S.M.I.D.S.Y., great tactics as well."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes 8645T against the top arena wall

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes 8645T into Shunt

Shunt came over, axing 8645T a couple of times, and lifting it up using its scoop and axe together. This allowed S.M.I.D.S.Y. to get in underneath, and Shunt dropped 8645T onto S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top. S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened its jaws, but 8645T was hanging off the edge, and tried using its wheel that was touching the floor to get off, also firing the axe. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned, trying to use its jaws to topple 8645T, but the arena wall prevented 8645T falling onto is side. Instead, S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and pushed 8645T against Shunt, who axed it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed out of the CPZ as Sir Killalot came over.

"They've pushed there the beast into the CPZ, the Corner Patrol Zone, and then the House Robots can take over, and therefore S.M.I.D.S.Y. conserves its energy for what looks like the Heat Final against Chaos 2!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes 8645T against Shunt

S.M.I.D.S.Y. tips over 8645T

Sir Killalot picked 8645T up with his claw, but as he turned out of the CPZ, 8645T slipped out of its claw, landing on its wheels. 8645T charged down to the arena centre, where S.M.I.D.S.Y. was waiting for it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at 8645T - the top half of its jaws was stuck open, but it managed to get the bottom half under 8645T's side, and started pushing. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned 8645T round, and managed to lift it with the bottom half of its jaw. S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept pushing, and managed to topple 8645T onto its side. 8645T's axe/flipper combination did not allow it to self-right, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed it over to the Flame Pit, where Refbot began to count it out.

"As I said before, if you squint at the numbers and the letter, 8645T, you can see the beast's name written. Well they're squinting now, but they're squinting in pain, and the jaws of S.M.I.D.S.Y. have them! Over goes the beast!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tips over 8645T

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove down the arena to open the Pit, and as Refbot finished his count, it drove back up the arena to push S.M.I.D.S.Y. off the Flame Pit, pushing it to the waiting Sir Killalot, who picked 8645T up with his claw. Sir Killalot carried 8645T to the Floor Flipper, and dropped it on the Flipper, but 8645T landed on its wheels and drove off the Flipper. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, and pushed against 8645T's side one last time before the battle ended. Therefore, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was through to the Heat Final again.

Craig Charles: "Went really well, didn't it?"

Mik Reed: "Yeah, we got him! We were a bit worried when we were coming in, but once we started to see we were all over him, it was not too bad."

Craig Charles: "What about him worried you?"

Mik Reed: "The axe, we're quite low, we're very flat, we're a lovely target for a good axe!"

— In the post-battle interview

Here, it went up against Chaos 2, the reigning UK champion and number one seed for the last two series.

Philippa Forrester: "You've gotta fell sorry for the S.M.I.D.S.Y. team here, to come so far, and then be up against Chaos 2!"

Mik Reed: "We're going exactly to plan! We put off fighting Chaos 2 as long as possible, and here we are!"

Philippa Forrester: "At the end of the day, I've been thinking about it quite carefully, and those "Gnashing Jaws of Doom" ain't gonna do much good!"

Mik Reed: "Well... we run both ways up, that's the sort of robot you need to beat Chaos 2."

Philippa Forrester: "Is that both ways up, or both ways up outside the arena?"

Mik Reed: "Oh, if he flips us out when we've still got lots of battery, the crew had best run!"

— Pre-battle interview

Chaos 2 flips S.M.I.D.S.Y. straight away

Both robots charged straight at each other, and Chaos 2 got it flipper under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s jaws and flipped it up in the air. S.M.I.D.S.Y. cartwheeled, landing upside-down. It charged straight back at Chaos 2, which turned around to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side and flipped it again. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rolled through the air, landing back upside-down, but drove back at Chaos 2. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove up Chaos 2's flipper, which lifted its own wheels off the floor, unable to get away, but this time, Chaos 2 didn't flip straight away, instead carefully pushing against S.M.I.D.S.Y., getting its whole flipper underneath, to prepare for a big push. S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened and closed its jaws to try and push itself free, but this failed.

"The jaws try and grapple Chaos 2, they can't gain any purchase! Chaos 2 awaits its moment here it seems, to get in underneath and push very steadily towards the arena side wall!"

— Jonathan Pearce

After some struggling, Chaos 2 started pushing S.M.I.D.S.Y. across the arena, then in one large push, rammed S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards the arena wall, and tried to flip it out. However, S.M.I.D.S.Y. hit an angle grinder, and as it bounced up, it landed back on the arena wall, hanging off the edge. Chaos 2 went over to try and flip it out, but as it lined up its flipper, it turned too far, and failed to get the flipper properly under S.M.I.D.S.Y., so when it fired the flipper, it turned itself over.

"They've flipped themselves over! Are we going to see an almighty shock here!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 puts itself into danger

Both robots immobilised at the same time. Notice Chaos 2's damaged flipper panel, which prevented it from righting properly

Chaos 2 tried to self-right, but damage caused to its flipper by S.M.I.D.S.Y. earlier in the battle, coupled with a loss of power, meant it did not have enough momentum to turn itself over. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened and closed its jaws to try and push itself free of the wall, Chaos 2 tried to self-right again, but the flipper didn't have enough power. With both robots immobilised, 'cease' was called early.

"We could be seeing, here, one of the greater shocks in Robot Wars history! Unless S.M.I.D.S.Y. have been immobilised... I think George Francis has been immobilised... What happens now? The judges will have to decide!"

— Jonathan Pearce

According to Andy Pugh of Team Ixion, in a part of the battle not televised, S.M.I.D.S.Y. eventually managed to get down from the wall and proceeded to pit Chaos 2. However, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. had been immobile for over 30 seconds, this was overruled, and so the battle was restarted. Also, Team Chaos were permitted to repair the damage S.M.I.D.S.Y. had done to the flipper before the rematch.

"What you didn't see: Very shortly after the cut SMIDSY escaped the side wall and pitted Chaos2. However, this was after the 30 seconds immobilisation rule. If it had been a 45 second rule we would have beem clear winners. The reason Chaos2 was unable to self-right was that the initial attack from SMIDSY had broken the front armour just enough to stop it self-righting. Without repairs at restart, we would have won round two, too."

— Andy Pugh on YouTube

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is pinched by Sir Killalot

In the rematch, both competitors charged at each other, but this time, S.M.I.D.S.Y. avoided Chaos 2's flipper, driving into its front just by the flipper. Chaos 2 turned, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away and turned around. It drove past Chaos 2, driving over its flipper, but driving away before Chaos 2 could flip. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove towards the side wall and turned around, then drove back at Chaos 2, but again drove over the flipper before it could fire.

"This time, S.M.I.D.S.Y. a little bit more cautious, not the full-frontal attack, dodging away from Chaos 2, interesting."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. avoids Chaos 2

S.M.I.D.S.Y. finally goes out

S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove to the arena centre, where it turned around to face Chaos 2. Chaos 2 drove at it, getting the flipper under the front jaws, but turned at the wrong moment, causing it to miss its flip. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got under Chaos 2's ground clearance, but as it pushed, Chaos 2 slipped off the side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around Chaos 2 and both competitors turned to face each other, with Chaos 2 getting under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front and flipping it over. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away towards the arena side wall, where it turned around. S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed into the arena wall, then charged back at Chaos 2, but Chaos 2 flipped it over. S.M.I.D.S.Y. landed back on Chaos 2's flipper, and Chaos 2 pushed it to Sir Killalot, flipping it onto his claw. Sir Killalot reversed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. slid off his claw, but it was now immobile, its removable link having fallen out. Sir Killalot pinched S.M.I.D.S.Y., crumpling the base, then let go so Chaos 2 could flip it again. Chaos 2 flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards the arena wall, then up against the wall, and after taking a couple of attempts to line its flipper up properly, flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. over the fence.

"I wonder if S.M.I.D.S.Y. have been immobilised once more! Chaos 2 with a flip, and again! Killalot gets out of the way, wisely, with Chaos 2 in this sort of mood! Is it inevitable? A retreat, the onslaught, and there they go! Chaos 2 march on! The S.M.I.D.S.Y. boys are beaten by that man George Francis. Out of the arena once again. Aren't they unbeatable?"

— Jonathan Pearce

Chaos 2 claimed the Heat, eliminating S.M.I.D.S.Y. from the Fifth Wars.

Mik Reed: "The power pin flipped out. I'm going to regret thumping that in for a while!"

Craig Charles: "Really?"

Mik Reed: "Yeah, we saw it as it came out of the arena, dangling up at the top."

— Mik Reed explains S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s loss of power after the battle

In 2025, Andy Pugh revealed that the Chaos 2 had been given extra time for repairs.

"in our match with Chaos II we actually beat them (if you change the rules). We put them in the pit, so that surely counts for something? Basically, our first hit broke their self-righting mechanism (and we went in super-hard at the beginning specifically to try to damage something, so this was deliberate). They left us against the arena wall, stuck, but then flipped themselves and couldn't get back on their wheels. 45 seconds after we were put on the wall we got off, opened the pit and shoved them in. Because the limit was 30 seconds, and at 30 seconds both robots were immobilised (but functional) we agreed on a restart. We were expecting it to be just a restart without repairs, recharge and re-gas (for Chaos). Under those terms we would have beaten them fairly easily, but Chaos negotiated a 1-hour break during which we could repair, recharge and re-gas. We didn't need to do anything, but in the changeover and removal from the arena we failed to properly re-insert our removable link, and it fell out when we were flipped by the re-gassed Chaos."

— Andy Pugh in 2025

Series 6

"As four-wheeled invertible design, built to be tough, has multi-purpose front jaws, tipped with razor-sharp blades and a 12 kilo, 200 miles per hour rear disc!"

— Jonathan Pearce describes S.M.I.D.S.Y.

In Heat J, an unseeded S.M.I.D.S.Y., fighting with newly designed front lifting jaws, fought against newcomer St. Agro and veterans Comengetorix and Warhog in the first round of the Heat.

Philippa Forrester: "Now we've noticed something, me and my team - you've got different treads on your tyres, front and rear. Is that deliberate or are they the only one you could get?"

Andy Pugh: "Yes, complicated technical reasons for that."

Philippa Forrester: "Go on."

Andy Pugh: "Which... I..."

Robin Bennett: "We had two tyres damaged last year and we had to buy new ones!"

— Pre-battle interview

Comengetorix axes S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is pushed into Warhog, about to destroy the arena wall.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. started by charging at Comengetorix, which turned to face S.M.I.D.S.Y. as it charged at it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Comengetorix back, but Comengetorix hit S.M.I.D.S.Y. with its axe and pushed back. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to get enough traction to push Comengetorix back, forcing it against Warhog, which was being pinned against a wall by St. Agro. However, Comengetorix lifted S.M.I.D.S.Y. up with its lifter, lifting its wheels off the floor. Comengetorix pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y., but as the lifter rose to its full height, S.M.I.D.S.Y. slipped off the lifter, falling onto Comengetorix's front.

"Comengetorix's axe comes down on S.M.I.D.S.Y., once previously reached a Heat Final {sic}, it was in the last wars, Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars. Have they improved again, S.M.I.D.S.Y.?"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. fights with Comengetorix. He would later correctly mention that S.M.I.D.S.Y. had previously reached two Heat Finals during its battle with Dominator 2

Shunt lifts Warhog onto S.M..I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed off, then drove away across the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into the arena centre, then turned around, ramming into Warhog, which had driven away from St. Agro, and was trying to get its spinner back up to speed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed it against St. Agro, then turned away, driving to the other side of the arena, away from its opponents. Whilst St. Agro fought with Warhog, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was approached by Comengetorix. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Comengetorix's front, pushing it back, but Comengetorix fired the axe, hitting its top, and lifted S.M.I.D.S.Y. up with its lifter, dropping it onto its top, leaving it hanging over the side. Comengetorix turned around, getting S.M.I.D.S.Y. under its lifter as it closed. Comengetorix pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. up the arena, pushing it against Warhog, which was sitting still near the top arena wall, getting its spinner up to speed. As Comengetorix pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. against Warhog, it forced Warhog against the top arena wall, smashing the wall, and knocking Warhog aside. Comengetorix pinned S.M.I.D.S.Y. against the top arena wall, but then reversed, letting it go. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, and Comengetorix went after Warhog. Whilst St. Agro opened the Pit, S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Comengetorix with its rear disc, but Warhog drove at its side, so it turned and pushed against Warhog, forcing it towards Shunt's CPZ. Warhog tried to get away, but in doing so drove straight into Shunt, who axed it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Warhog against Shunt, and Shunt lifted it up with his scoop, dropping it on S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top. S.M.I.D.S.Y. held its jaws open to hold Warhog in place, and carried Warhog down the arena in reverse.

"Oh, piggy back! Lifted up on S.M.I.D.S.Y.! Where's it gonna go from there? Splendid stuff!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. gives Warhog a "piggyback"

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes St. Agro into the Pit.

Warhog began to slip off of S.M.I.D.S.Y., but S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed it into an empty CPZ, slamming it against a wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, dropping Warhog, and drove behind St. Agro, whose flipper had become stuck open. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away as Comengetorix drove at St. Agro, backing into Warhog to block it from escaping the CPZ, but as it backed into the CPZ, Shunt attacked it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to get away as Shunt fired the axe, but the axe caught its rear disc. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to get away, dragging Shunt with it, but Shunt kept hold with its axe, until it managed to free the axe using its scoop. Warhog drove into S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, and chased after St. Agro, getting behind it and pushing it across the arena, then turning and ramming it down the arena. St. Agro managed to turn and get away, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept chasing it. Meanwhile, Comengetorix got its axe hooked on the arena side wall, but managed to get free after some rams from Growler, and it reversed along the edge of the Pit, nearly falling in. Warhog also drove dangerously close to the Pit, before S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed St. Agro into the Pit.

"It's now free, and it's gone into the Pit? No! Very nearly, ooh, and the crowd! Dear, dear, Warhog's almost gone in, and now finally St. Agro's bitten the dust and they've gone in! Dear, oh dear, oh dear."

— Jonathan Pearce struggles to keep up as St. Agro finally goes into the Pit after close shaves for both Comengetorix and Warhog

S.M.I.D.S.Y. carries Warhog

S.M.I.D.S.Y. then charged at Warhog, which had driven into the arena centre. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed Warhog up the arena into Shunt's scoop. Shunt axed Warhog's top, and as it kept Warhog pinned down, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after Comengetorix, managing to get behind it and ram it against Warhog, then force it into the CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed away, and Warhog reversed out of the CPZ as Shunt let go of it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed it into an angle grinder, then pushed it down the arena, before ramming it against an arena wall in an empty CPZ.

"Certainly S.M.I.D.S.Y. has done brilliant work for me, once again. S.M.I.D.S.Y., knocked out of the Heats three times in the past, can they go one step further this time?"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Warhog down the arena

S.M.I.D.S.Y. puts Warhog in the Pit

Warhog tried to get away, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. raised its lifter, lifting its wheels off the floor. Growler charged down the arena at the two competitors, forcing Warhog onto S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top. S.M.I.D.S.Y. carried Warhog up the arena, holding its jaws open to kept Warhog in place. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and carried Warhog to the Pit, and after a little difficult dropping Warhog off from its jaws, managed to lower Warhog, dropping it against St. Agro. As it did so, Comengetorix got its lifter under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front jaw and tried to flip it, but failed to lift it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed away. Warhog could not fall properly into the Pit because of St. Agro already being in, but it could not escape, so it was still eliminated.

"Warhog piggybacking again on S.M.I.D.S.Y. again, trying to take a ride through to the later stages, it's not going to work boys! Go on S.M.I.D.S.Y., get rid!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. carries Warhog to the Pit

Alongside Comengetorix, S.M.I.D.S.Y. advanced to the second round.

This brought it into a close second round match against the sixth seed Dominator 2.

Philippa Forrester: "S.M..I.D.S.Y., you may be neighbours in the pit, but on the arena floor, it's gonna be a different matter, isn't it?"

Andy Pugh: "Yes."

Mik Reed: "On the arena floor, we'll be the people pushing them around, tipping them over, discing them, straight into the Pit!"

— Confidence from Mik Reed before the battle

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Dominator 2 against the arena wall

The battle started quickly, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. charging at Dominator 2 and driving around it. Dominator 2 tried to axe S.M.I.D.S.Y. as it drove in front of it, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. was fast enough to drive around Dominator 2. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed along Dominator 2's side, and though Dominator 2 fired the axe, it narrowly missed. Dominator 2 turned to try and axe S.M.I.D.S.Y., but S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept pushing at its side, and Dominator 2 narrowly missed, falling just beside S.M.I.D.S.Y. again. S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept pushing against Dominator 2, and turned to get under its side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Dominator 2 against the Disc of Doom button and activated the Disc, but Dominator 2 turned away from the arena wall. It tried to axe S.M.I.D.S.Y., but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned, so the axe fell just beside S.M.I.D.S.Y. again. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and drove around Dominator 2, which missed an axe blow. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove up the arena, turned around and drove back down at Dominator 2. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got under the front tips of Dominator 2, but Dominator 2 fired the axe, hitting one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front tyres, slotting into the wheel hub. However, the axe did not puncture the tyre, so Dominator 2 pulled the axe back.

"Well a lucky escape for S.M.I.D.S.Y., I felt! I don't think the Dominator 2 team pressed home its advantage there"

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to push Dominator 2, but Dominator 2 turned around and fired the axe, but it turned too far and missed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned away as Domiantor 2 missed with its axe, driving into the arena wall, then turned around. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got under Dominator 2's side and started pushing, but Dominator 2 turned around to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side. Dominator 2 tried to turn and get under S.M.I.D.S.Y. so it could use its axe, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around with it. The two spun around together, until S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to reverse away. Dominator 2 drove alongside it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove forwards, turning around Dominator 2. Dominator 2 turned around and tried to axe S.M.I.D.S.Y., but missed, with the axe falling just behind S.M.I.D.S.Y. as S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove around Dominator 2, which turned around to try and get at S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side and fire the axe, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned, getting at Dominator 2's side and ramming it against the bottom arena wall.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y., slamming Dominator 2 into the side wall, and for me, at this moment in time, S.M.I.D.S.Y. would be on top!"

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed towards the arena centre, and Dominator 2 drove after it. The two competitors turned around together, each trying to get side on against its opponent and use its weapon, until S.M.I.D.S.Y. broke the stalemate by reversing a little, allowing it to turn and get under Dominator 2's side, helped by Dominator 2 firing its axe. S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed Dominator 2 across the arena, slamming it into the Disc of Doom button.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. underneath Dominator 2 again, this is a splendid drive by S.M.I.D.S.Y.!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. rams Dominator 2 against the disc of doom button

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s disc causes sparks to fly

Dominator 2 slid off of S.M.I.D.S.Y., and turned around to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past it. As Dominator 2 drove after it, S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed past it. Dominator 2 turned around to face S.M.I.D.S.Y., and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around to use its flywheel against Dominator 2. S.M.I.D.S.Y. hit Dominator 2's front as it turned, causing sparks but no major damage, and Dominator 2 fired the axe, but turned too far and missed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed past Dominator 2, then drove to the top of the arena. Dominator 2 drove after it, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. got under its side and pushed it down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, lifting Dominator 2's wheels off the ground with its front jaws, and pushed Dominator 2 up the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. forced Dominator 2 against Growler, then up against the top arena wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed for another charge, but Dominator 2 slipped off the jaws as it reversed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into the top arena wall. Dominator 2 reversed along to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned against Dominator 2, but its rear flywheel was no longer spinning. Dominator 2 turned around to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, with Dominator 2 narrowly missing with its axe as it drove away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove down the arena, and Dominator 2 chased after it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. avoided the axe, and the two robots pan around together, edging close to the Flame Pit Dominator 2 nearly got in a position to axe S.M.I.D.S.Y., but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past it, and as it turned after it, Dominator 2 turned onto the Flame Pit. Dominator 2 hit S.M.I.D.S.Y. with the axe, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Dominator 2 off of the Flame Pit, driving over the flames itself as it did so. Dominator 2's axe hooked onto one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s rear wheel hubs, and it held onto S.M.I.D.S.Y. as it tried to drive away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned to get side-to-side to Dominator 2, and Dominator 2 pulled back its axe.

"Again, Dominator 2 gets that axe in, but it was a little tentative nudge, wasn't it? Didn't want to hold on to S.M.I.D.S.Y., letting S.M.I.D.S.Y. get away once again. Very close this one!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Growler rams into Dominator 2 and S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past Dominator 2's side, but Dominator 2 turned and hit S.M.I.D.S.Y. with the axe. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and reversed up the arena, where it turned around and reversed at Dominator 2 with its rear disc. Dominator 2 fired the axe, but narrowly missed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Dominator 2, but instead of hitting it with the disc, it slid up the front wedge, and as it drove off, Dominator 2 hit one of the rear tyres. Dominator 2 kept S.M.I.D.S.Y. pinned and pushed it, before pulling back the axe to let it go. S.M.I.D.S.Y. seemed slower after this attack, and Dominator 2 drove around it, and hit the top with its axe, pinning S.M.I.D.S.Y. down. Dominator 2 forced S.M.I.D.S.Y. up to an empty CPZ at the top of the arena, but drove into the CPZ as well, and Growler charged up the arena at them, slamming into Dominator 2. This impact split Dominator 2's base, but it was able to turn out of the CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was cornered by Growler, who drove up on top of it, pushing it against the wall.

"Oh Growler! Look at that, both went into the CPZ and Growler came in with a right, roar ripping shunt! And S.M.I.D.S.Y. now, needs to get out and get out very quickly, and it's lacking power, you can see that. ... And S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s taken the worst of that!"

— Jonathan Pearce on Growler's ferocious drive

Dominator punctures one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheels

Growler reversed off, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and tried to drive out of the CPZ, Growler slammed it against the wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove out of the CPZ, limping away from the top arena wall, driving slowly towards Dominator 2. Dominator 2 pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards the Flame Pit, and though S.M.I.D.S.Y. was able to turn off of the flames, Dominator 2 axed one of the rear wheels, puncturing the tyre. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Dominator 2 against the arena wall, so Dominator 2 pulled back the axe. However, as it drove away from S.M.I.D.S.Y., driving over the Flame Pit and up the arena, S.M.I.D.S.Y. could only very slowly turn around. Dominator 2 charged back at it, pushing it against the wall, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. weakly reversed, backing straight onto the Flame Pit. It managed to turn off, but its top was on fire. Time ran out, and the battle went to a Judges' decision.

"I think this second round has been turned on its head. I think that damage sustained by S.M.I.D.S.Y. has cut its power and pace, and Dominator 2 can now grapple. ... S.M.I.D.S.Y. is in trouble, and they were well on top! They've backed onto the flame pit, you can see only one side seems to be working and they're on fire at the end!"

— Jonathan Pearce towards the end of the battle

The Judges chose Dominator 2 to advance to the Heat Final, eliminating S.M.I.D.S.Y. from Series 6.

Craig Charles: "I kind of thought they stole that myself."

Mik Reed: "Well we had to keep out the axe a bit, so maybe they decided we weren't being aggressive enough."

Craig Charles: "You look a bit disapointed."

Mik Reed: "We thought we were going to go further this year, we really did."

Craig Charles: "I mean, you keep sort of flattering to decieve! I mean, it's a good robot, but you're out!"

Mik Reed: "Yep!"

Craig Charles: "We'll see you next year, and hopefully, you'll go further!"

— Post-battle interview

Extreme 2

S.M.I.D.S.Y. competed two competitions in the second series of Robot Wars Extreme. The first was the Tag Team Terror, with Sumpthing as its partner as in Extreme 1. In Round 1, they were drawn against X-Terminator and Mini Morg.

Philippa Forrester: "Now S.M.I.D.S.Y., you've quite a bit of work to this robot, haven't you?"

Mik Reed: "We've changed the side armour a bit, changed the front a bit"

— In the pre-battle interview

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drags X-Terminator

X-Terminator and S.M.I.D.S.Y. went out first for their respective teams. X-Terminator charged into the arena centre and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at it. The two competitors turned, trying to get in a good position to attack, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. got at X-Terminator's side and started pushing, but X-Terminator turned, then reversed as S.M.I.D.S.Y turned to try and attack its front. S.M.I.D.S.Y drove past, and the two turned to face each other. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at X-Terminator's front, but X-Terminator fired the axe, which landed in one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheel hubs, allowing X-Terminator to hook S.M.I.D.S.Y. and ram it across the arena.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. on the attack, pushed back by X-Terminator, down came the great pneumatic axe!"

— Jonathan Pearce as X-Terminator hooks S.M.I.D.S.Y. with its axe and pushes it across the arena

S.M.I.D.S.Y. slams Mini Morg into X-Terminator

X-Terminator rammed S.M.I.D.S.Y. towards the top CPZ, where its partner Sumpthing was waiting. S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to turn around, and hit X-Terminator with its discs, but X-Terminator rammed it into the top arena wall. Sumpthing came out of its corner, and X-Terminator reversed. X-Terminator rammed Sumpthing, then tagged its partner Mini Morg. Sumpthing also tagged, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Mini Morg's side as it came out of the CPZ, ramming it against X-Terminator. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed, and both Mini Morg and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around to use their rear discs. The two drove into each other with their discs, causing sparks, and due to S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s disc being horizontal, it knocked Mini Morg's disc aside as it hit, allowing S.M.I.D.S.Y. to turn and hit Mini Morg's side with the disc.

"Back into the action comes S.M.I.D.S.Y., in underneath Mini Morg! It has a 1-and-a-half centimetre ground clearance, Mini Morg, that is dangerous! S.M.I.D.S.Y. trying to get there, its weapon, the rear disc, 12 kilos of weapon there, 200 mile an hour, Carbide-toothed spinning rear disc into play!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. fights Mini Morg

S.M.I.D.S.Y. becomes under pressure from X-Terminator

Mini Morg turned and reversed away, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed back towards its corner. Mini Morg drove at S.M.I.D.S.Y., which drove onto its front lifter, but backed off before Mini Morg fired, causing it to miss. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove along the top arena wall at X-Terminator, which hit S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top with its axe, but failed to do any damage. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Mini Morg, turning beside it, and Sumpthing came out of its corner illegally and hit Mini Morg with its axe. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed into the corner, but Sumpthing reversed to the corner as well. Shunt came over to attack Sumpthing for breaking the wall, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at Mini Morg, which was caught on X-Terminator's front. Whilst Dead Metal chased Sumpthing down the arena, S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Mini Morg against the top arena wall with its rear disc. X-Terminator pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. against the top arena wall and hit it with its axe, whilst Sumpthing drove at X-Terminator.

"They're all out there now I think! ... How can you keep up with this? All into a devil's brew of ill-disciplined demonic destructive power of roboteers!"

— Jonathan Pearce as all four competitors fight

X-Terminator's axe is severely bent

S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away from the wall, bumping into its teammate, which reversed away. Mini Morg got under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away, hitting the Disc of Doom button. Sumpthing was in one of the bottom CPZ's, being attacked by Dead Metal. Sumpthing stopped moving, having run out of battery power, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. came over to help, but Shunt came behind it, trapping it in the corner and hitting its top with his axe. X-Terminator took advantage, axing S.M.I.D.S.Y., the axe catching in one of the wheel hubs. However, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. struggled against X-Terminator, this bent the axe handle, and Dead Metal got his arms around X-Terminator and cut into it with his saw. X-Terminator pulled the axe back and reversed away, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed out of the CPZ, only for X-Terminator to pin it against the wall and hit it with the axe again.

"X-Terminator, slamming down there with the pickaxe onto the top of S.M.I.D.S.Y.! If one robot in a Tag Team is immobilised; dumped out, thrown out, pitted or whatever the other machine can fight on a lone vigil!"

— Jonathan Pearce as X-Terminator axes S.M.I.D.S.Y. whilst Sumpthing lies immobile

Sumpthing is counted out just before cease, whilst S.M.I.D.S.Y. struggles for movement

X-Terminator turned, but missed its second axe blow, so pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. against the wall, catching it on top of its front scoop. X-Terminator pulled it away from the wall, and Mini Morg came out of the corner to help. X-Terminator dropped S.M.I.D.S.Y., and left it to Mini Morg. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Mini Morg with its rear disc, and Mini Morg turned away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was now only able to drive back and forth, and it drove into its teammate, which was now immobile. It reversed into the CPZ, then drove forwards into Refbot, who had come to count out Sumpthing. In the last few seconds, Mini Morg got its flipper under the side of S.M.I.D.S.Y. and flicked it up, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. continued to move back and forth as Refbot finished counting out Sumpthing just before the battle ended.

"... and they'd need to come up with two knockout blows because a judges' decision would automatically give it to the team with two robots left and do you know? That could happen here because I think Sumpthing is about to be counted out. We're also running very, very close to time. Will it be counted out before Cease is called? That's the big question. I think they're out! And Cease they call! It means Sumpthing and S.M.I.D.S.Y. are out! Are gone!"

— Jonathan Pearce in the last few seconds of the battle

The battle went to a Judges' decision, but it was automatically in favour of X-Terminator and Mini Morg by default as they still had two mobile team members.

Philippa Forrester: "What do you put it down to, you know, losing this?"

Mik Reed: "Losing? I... I wouldn't like to blame anything in particular for losing!"

Philippa Forrester: "Or anyone?"

Mik Reed: "Or anyone, no!"

Philippa Forrester: "And I'll leave you with that thought."

— Suggestive dialogue next to Sumpthing's table

S.M.I.D.S.Y. also fought in the Challenge Belt, for the right to fight Tornado, fighting previous Semi-Finalist Dantomkia, three-times Grand Finalist Hypno-Disc and the experienced Sir Chromalot.

Philippa Forrester: "That Challenge Belt, you know, I was thinking that would look good with all your biking leathers, on your bike, wouldn't it, getting off at the pit stop. Do you think? Can you see that on you?"

Mik Reed: "Yeah, well, nah! It wouldn't fit on me! It'd fit on Robin"

— Pre-battle interview

Hypno-Disc recoils from impacting S.M.I.D.S.Y.

As the battle started, S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Dantomkia drove at each other, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. driving up on Dantomkia's front wedges, but driving over before Dantomkia could flip. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into the side of Hypno-Disc, pushing past, and the two turned to face each other. The two drove together, with Hypno-Disc's disc spinning, but on impact with S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front, Hypno-Disc was delfected aside. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into the side of one of Dantomkia's front wedges and pushed Dantomkia against Hypno-Disc. Dantomkia recieved a glancing blow from the disc, and turned to try and get under Hypno-Disc, as S.M.I.D.S.Y. continued to push it. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Dantomkia into the CPZ, Dantomkia got under Hypno-Disc and flipped it up against the arena wall. Hypno-Disc tried to use its srimech arm to push itself free, but Dantomkia got under the back and flipped it out of the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed out of the CPZ as Mr. Psycho came over, but Dantomkia found itself cornered by the giant House Robot. S.M.I.D.S.Y. held back as Dantomkia tried to get free, with Mr. Psycho blocking its escape and pushing it against the wall.

"What can we see of Sir Chromalot and S.M.I.D.S.Y.? Nothing much, because Dantomkia's having all the trouble from Mr. Psycho! Get out of there!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sir Chromalot hold back whilst Dantomkia is cornered by Mr. Psycho

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is thrown over the Flame Pit by Dantomkia

S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened the Pit, and as Mr. Psycho reversed out of the CPZ, letting Dantomkia free, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove behind Dantomkia. Dantomkia tried to drive around Mr. Pyscho, but Mr. Psycho drove alongside it, blocking it. Dantomkia turned away, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at the front of Mr. Psycho. Mr. Psycho did not attack, and both machines reversed apart. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove past Sir Chromalot, and held back as Dantomkia drove at Sir Chromalot, trying to get under and flip it. After failing to get under Sir Chromalot's ground clearance a couple of times, Dantomkia turned and drove at S.M.I.D.S.Y., getting underneath and flipping it over. Upside-down, S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at Sir Chromalot, driving over the flame pit, but as it got at Sir Chromalot's side, Dantomkia got under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side and flipped it back over.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s under pressure and flipped by Dantomkia... S.M.I.D.S.Y., the meat in the sandwich there, from Dantomkia and Sir Chromalot."

— Jonathan Pearce as Dantomkia flips S.M.I.D.S.Y., then flips it away from Sir Chromalot

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is thrown aside

S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Sir Chromalot and pushed it, but Sir Chromalot turned and drove at Dantomkia, who got underneath it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove behind Sir Chromalot and Dantomkia flipped it over and onto S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s top. Sir Chromalot rolled over S.M.I.D.S.Y., landing back on its wheels. Dantomkia got under S.M.I.D.S.Y. and tried to push it onto the Dlame Pit, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. slid over the side of Dantomkia's front wedges, then reversed off of Dantomkia. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove back at Dantomkia, getting under the tips of the front wedges, but Dantomkia reversed. S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept chasing after Dantomkia, but accidentally turned into Mr. Psycho, which allowed Dantomkia to get under and flip it. Dantomkia turned its attentions to Sir Chromalot, pushing it, but failed to breach the ground clearance, so turned back to its original target. Dantomkia tried to get under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned to use its spinning disc. Dantomkia pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. against the top arena wall and flipped it, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. falling into the CPZ. Mr. Psycho pushed at Dantomkia and S.M.I.D.S.Y., causing S.M.I.D.S.Y. to fall up against the arena wall, propped up on its disc and unable to get free.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the CPZ, is overturned! Mr. Psycho looks on!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Dantomkia flips S.M.I.D.S.Y. against the top arena wall

Mr. Psycho drives over S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Dantomkia drives S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the arena wall

Dantomkia went back after Sir Chromalot, whilst Mr. Psycho grabbed S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front lifter with his claw, picking the robot up and dangling it over the arena wall as he turned. S.M.I.D.S.Y. fell onto the arena wall, and fell back into the arena. Meanwhile, Dantomkia had rammed Sir Chromalot into an empty CPZ at the other side of the arena and flipped it over, and it could not self-right with the flipper. Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, turning it upright, but Sir Chromalot had lost power, and could not escape the CPZ, it moved a little, then stopped. With Sir Chromalot immobile, Matilda reversed into it with her flywheel, throwing it over the top arena entry gate and out of the arena, eliminating it without even waiting for Refbot to count it out. Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove to the bottom of the arena, but drove into a CPZ. Mr. Psycho drove down the arena and drove on top of S.M.I.D.S.Y., then reversed off, and pushed it out of his CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was now immobile on one side, and as it turned back and forth, Dantomkia rushed over, flipping it up and over its side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was immobilised as "Cease" was called, but it didn't matter as it was already through, along with Dantomkia.

"Dantomkia on awesome form! Only two robots remain in the arena, they go through! S.M.I.D.S.Y., and Dantomkia!"

— Craig Charles announces the winners of the battle

Before the fight ended, Dantomkia proceeded to flip S.M.I.D.S.Y. out of the arena, but this was not shown on the televised airing.

"As much as I like S.M.I.D.S.Y., I didn't rate the disk as any possibility of damage. It's far too small to be able to get a decent bite. Other than that their machine was first rate."

— Mike Lambert on S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2015

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s second round match was against a Sixth Wars Grand Finalist, Terrorhurtz.

"Not really seen yet the carbide-toothed, twelve kilo rear disc at play."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. enters the arena

Terrorhurtz immobilises S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Terrorhurtz charged straight at each other, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. could not get under Terrorhurtz's front ground clearance, riding up the front, and Terrorhurtz hit the top with its axe. Terrorhurtz kept swinging the axe as S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed off its front and away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove towards the Pit release button, with Terrorhurtz chasing after it. Terrorhurtz got behind S.M.I.D.S.Y. and fired the axe, but turned at the wrong moment, causing it to miss. S.M.I.D.S.Y. hit the Pit release, and reversed at Terrorhurtz with its disc. Terrorhurtz fired the axe, but narrowly missed, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around Terrorhurtz, hitting it with its rear disc. However, this allowed Terrorhurtz to hit its top with the axe, hitting one of the rear wheels. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to get away, but Terrorhurtz kept after it, hitting the rear wheel twice in quick succession, then hitting the top between the wheels repeatedly.

"Oh, they're slicing in onto the exposed tyres of S.M.I.D.S.Y.! It has been vulnerable to axe weaponry in the past, S.M.I.D.S.Y.! It's backing away tentatively."

— Jonathan Pearce as Terrorhurtz batters S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Terrorhurtz continues to batter S.M.I.D.S.Y.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to drive away from Terrorhurtz, driving to the arena centre. Terrorhurtz chased after it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around to face Terrorhurtz. Terrorhurtz fired the axe, which glanced off of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front lifter as it was not close enough. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, but as it reversed back at Terrorhurtz, it turned, exposing its side and allowing Terrorhurtz to hit the top again. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and drove away across the arena. Terrorhurtz chased after it, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at it with its rear disc, but this merely allowed Terrorhurtz to land more blows on its top.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. desperately trying to get away! Robin Bennett driving, look at that! Absolutely hammering into the protective armament of S.M.I.D.S.Y.! S.M.I.D.S.Y. can't do anything really! It has been absolutely mullered out there!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. can do nothing to fight back against Terrorhurtz

The ruined S.M.I.D.S.Y

As Terrorhurtz rained blows down on S.M.I.D.S.Y., it pushed its opponent towards the arena side wall, and as it reversed away, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had lost drive on one side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned back and forth, but could not get away from the arena wall, and Terrorhurtz drove behind it, hitting it with the axe again. Terrorhurtz landed lots of blows on the back of S.M.I.D.S.Y., which tried turning away, but drove into the arena wall.

"Terrorhurtz have destroyed S.M.I.D.S.Y.! They can't get going, look at the axe! .... Basically, S.M.I.D.S.Y. you need the arena floor to collapse and Terrorhurtz to go down a very, very big, black and endless hole for you to stand any chance! S.M.I.D.S.Y., and Robin Bennett driving, if I was you, find the Pit of Oblivion and fall into it!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Terrorhurtz beats S.M.I.D.S.Y. into submission

The beaten machine is pitted

S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and backed away over the Flame Pit, but Terrorhurtz drove after it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. could not get away as Terrorhurtz got behind it and landed more blows. Terrorhurtz got beside and landed another axe blow, which left S.M.I.D.S.Y. totally immobile. Terrorhurtz backed off, and Refbot came over to count it out. When the count was finished, Sir Killalot pushed it onto the Floor Flipper, and after it was thrown down the arena, then bulldozed it over to the Pit and pushed it in.

Craig Charles: "Anything to say?"

Mik Reed: "Ouch!"

Craig Charles: "It did look painful!"

Mik Reed: "Yeah, we tried to keep, well we wanted to try and keep him on the armour, but he kept hitting the wheels and... there you go!"

Craig Charles: "He pulverized you! Absolutely battered!"

Mik Reed: "Well, have to get fish and chip shop sponsorship, eh?"

Craig Charles: "Are you dissapointed?"

Mik Reed: "Um, a bit, yeah. I mean it was nice to get a little way, but there you go!"

— Post-battle

Series 7

"Number thirteen seeds, unlucky for some..."

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was granted the number thirteen seed placing for the Seventh Wars, for reaching two previous Heat Finals. However, it put on a shaky performance in its first round battle of the heat, where it was placed up against veteran Atomic, recent debutant Terror Turtle and newcomer Cygnus X-1.

Jayne Middlemiss: "The main weapon looks to be, a big..."

Robin Bennett: "A big spinning disc, four wheel drive for pushing, and the jaw for lifting. It's not a flipper, but it just lifts peoples wheels off the ground so you can push them around, because the best weapons in the arena are the House Robots, so we just push them all into all the House Robots and let them do the big damage!"

— Pre-battle interview

Cygnus X-1 and S.M.I.D.S.Y. attack Terror Turtle

Atomic flips Terror Turtle over S.M.I.D.S.Y. and out of the arena

In the battle, S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Atomic both charged across the arena, with Atomic getting behind Terror Turtle and flipping it over, with S.M.I.D.S.Y. in position to push it upon landing. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed past Terror Turtle, then drove into the arena wall, then reversed at Atomic with its rear disc, but Atomic turned and drove away. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and reversed a little, but then drove forwards, and held back from its opponents as Atomic rammed into Terror Turtle again. Atomic pushed past Terror Turtle, and Cygnus X-1 got under it with its flipper. Terror Turtle turned off of the flipper, causing it to miss when it fired, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed into Terror Turtle, knocking Terror Turtle over Cygnus X-1's side. Cygnus X-1 tried to drive away, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed against its side, and as Cygnus X-1 turned to face S.M.I.D.S.Y., Atomic got behind it and got the flipper underneath, flipping it up against the arena wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and Atomic as its flipper closed, getting under the flipper and hitting Atomic's front with its rear disc. S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed against Atomic, pushing it against an angle grinder, and Terror Turtle also came over to try and attack Atomic with its disc.

"Atomic got themselves too close in, which allowed Terror Turtle and S.M.I.D.S.Y. to come in on the attack as well!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. attacks Atomic after it flips Cygnus X-1

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is flipped against the top arena wall by Atomic

Terror Turtle soon turned and attacked the underbelly of Cygnus X-1, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove away from Atomic across the arena. Atomic drove after it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Terror Turtle with its rear disc. Terror Turtle turned away from S.M.I.D.S.Y., but Atomic charged at it, getting under with the flip and throwing them over the fence. Cygnus X-1 had been unable to turn itself over with its flipper, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed it up the arena, but as it neared the top of the arena, Atomic got under the back of S.M.I.D.S.Y. and flipped it up against the arena wall. Atomic pushed S.M.I.D.S.Y. up against the wall using its flipper, leaving it struggling to get down.

"What's happened to S.M.I.D.S.Y.?! The seeded machine on its side? Can Atomic get in and thrust them out of the arena? Could we yet have a surprise? If Cygnus can rock down and get away!"

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. is stranded against the top arena wall

An immobile S.M.I.D.S.Y. descends into the Pit

Atomic got under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front, but did not flip, as it was not in the right position to flip it out of the arena, being in front of some studio lights. Atomic reversed, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. used its lifter to struggle free of the arena wall. By closing its lifter, it was able to push its rear wheel so it could touch the arena wall, and drove down from the wall, but found its path blocked by Shunt, who axed its top a couple of times and pinned it against the top arena wall. Meanwhile, Cygnus X-1 had not been able to push itself free of the arena wall and right itself, and after a failed attempt by Atomic to flip it over the top arena wall, it was left on its back. Refbot came over and began to count it out, and though Cygnus X-1 fired the flipper, it was unable to self-right. Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. managed to push back against Shunt and drive out of the CPZ, and it charged at Atomic. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove up onto Atomic's flipper, which flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. over. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to drive away, but suddenly stopped. Atomic got beside it, but its flipper had lost power, so when it tried to flip, it only managed to flick S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side up a little. Atomic clamped down on S.M.I.D.S.Y. with the flipper and pushed it down the arena, pushing it onto the Pit. Atomic then hit the Pit release button, causing to descend into the Pit, but as Cygnus X-1 had already been counted out, it went through to the next round regardless.

"If they do meet again in this Heat, have to be the Final of course now, there could be bad blood, if S.M.I.D.S.Y. is fit to fight again. They've been craftily positioned on the pit by Atomic and there's very little life left in S.M.I.D.S.Y. there. Thank goodness for them Cygnus and Terror Turtle went before them. S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Atomic through, S.M.I.D.S.Y. only just!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Atomic pits S.M.I.D.S.Y.

In the second round of the Heat, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was drawn up against another newcomer, Mean Streak.

Jayne Middlemiss: "We have seen a lot of seeds go out this year! Why do you think that is?"

Robin Bennett: "There's a lot of very good new robots!"

Jayne Middlemiss: "What's your tactics gonna be in this round?"

Robin Bennett: "We reckon we can probably push them, the disc might do some damage, I don't know, their armour looks pretty good. We'll just have to try and push them into the House Robots again."

— Pre-battle interview

Mean Streak hits the side of S.M.I.D.S.Y., causing sparks

S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged straight at Mean Streak as the battle started, getting underneath, and pushed it up the arena, raising its lifter, but Mean Streak slid off of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s front, and managed to slash S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side with its front discs. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, but Mean Streak turned to avoid it, hitting the front with its discs, then cutting into the side. Mean Streak turned for another attack, but this allowed S.M.I.D.S.Y. to get behind it and started pushing it down the arena, but Mean Streak turned, getting side-to-side with its foe. The two competitors turned around together, and reversed apart. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned to get at Mean Streak's side, and pushed against it. Mean Streak tried to get away, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. kept pushing, keeping at their side, until it eventually let Mean Streak go.

"But S.M.I.D.S.Y. looks to be the more controlled. ... Very experienced this team, this the fifth time they have fought a wars campaign, and pushing Mean Streak very nearly into Sgt. Bash."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Mean Streak around

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Mean Streak into Sgt. Bash's CPZ. Note Mean Streak's drive chain is hanging off

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed and turned around, but as S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to use its disc, Mean Streak drove away. Mean Streak turned away from Sgt. Bash, which allowed S.M.I.D.S.Y. to hit its side with its rear disc, but it then backed into Sgt. Bash's CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove out of the CPZ before the House Robot could attack, then drove down the arena. Mean Streak had lost drive on one side, leaving it unable to steer. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at it as it turned back and forth, getting under the front and pushing it into Sgt. Bash's CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed off as Sgt. Bash tried to get its jaw around Mean Streak, and as Sgt. Bash turned and reversed, S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at Mean Streak, slamming it against the corner.

"A great bash by S.M.I.D.S.Y.! Getting in underneath the ground clearance of Mean Streak. 4 centimetres, that ground clearance, I said at the start of the programme I thought that would be exposed!"

— Jonathan Pearce

S.M.I.D.S.Y. tips Mean Streak onto its side

S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around, hitting Sgt. Bash with its rear discs, and drove out of the CPZ. Mean Streak however, could not drive out of the CPZ, and it turned back and forth, as Sgt. Bash tried to get its front jaw around it, and blasted it with his flamethrower. S.M.I.D.S.Y. came back, pushing Mean Streak against the top arena wall, then reversed for another charge, ramming into Mean Streak's side, turned it around, and pushed it down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. eventually managed to push Mean Streak into Mr. Psycho's CPZ, and backed off as Mr. Psycho pinned it against the wall and hammered it.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushing Mean Streak towards the pit, towards the angle grinder there! Good control, into the CPZ..."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Mean Streak down the arena

Mean Streak is almost flipped out of the arena by the Floor Flipper

Mean Streak managed to turn and reverse out of the CPZ, but it still couldn't drive effectively, only turning back and forth by the pit. S.M.I.D.S.Y. opened the Pit, and Mean Streak was just about able to turn off of the Pit as it opened. Mean Streak turned into the arena centre, where S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into its side and rammed it across to the arena wall, slamming it against the wall. Backing off for another charge, S.M.I.D.S.Y. rammed back against Mean Streak's side, getting the lifter under the side and turning Mean Streak up onto its side, leaving Mean Streak.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. has the lifter. They're trying, trying, to lift 99 kilos out of the arena. It's {Mean Streak} on its side, it won't get down from there, S.M.I.D.S.Y. have won this! No way back for Mean Streak, they won't be able to self-right from there. It's an invertible machine anyway, not technically a self-righter."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. lifts Mean Streak onto its side

Mean Streak was counted out by the Refbot, and then finished off by the House Robots, with Mr. Psycho picking it up and putting it on the Floor Flipper. S.M.I.D.S.Y. got behind Mean Streak and pushed it towards the Pit, but Sgt. Bash grabbed onto Mean Streak's side and crushed it with his jaw, buckling the chassis. However, Sgt. Bash then broke down, and Refbot had to push him towards the Pit to dispose of Mean Streak, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. gave Mean Streak a final push as it went over the edge.

Craig Charles: "You've always flattered to deceive before, really"

Robin Bennett: "No no, it's just always been rubbish before!"

Craig Charles: "So why the big improvement, what have you done?"

Robin Bennett: "The big difference is we armoured the jaw really hard, because we knew there are lots of big spinners this year. We only let them hit us once on the side, we weren't quite fast enough, and they put a gash that long {indicates the size of the gash with his hands} in the side, but they couldn't get through the jaw armour!"

Craig Charles: "You've got a good assortment of wepaons this time around, are they working the way you want them to work?"

Robin Bennett: "Um... the disc is outclassed this year, it's... alright but it didn't really do any great damage. It's the first time we've ever got the jaw to work!"

— Post-battle interview

This put S.M.I.D.S.Y. through to the Heat Final, however, it had to fight Atomic again.

Jayne Middlemiss: "How are you feeling?"

Mike Flemming: "Nervous, but we're looking forward it it!"

Jayne Middlemiss: "You are up against Atomic, okay what's your tactic against Atomic because Atomic are a flipper and they're a pretty powerful flipper!"

Mike Flemming: "We've studied them carefully, what we've decided is we're gonna be using airport services so when they flip us out, we'll be able to just swoop back in again, take them from behind!"

Jayne Middlemiss: "That sounds fabulous but I've gotta feeling that's not correct you haven't actually fitted that, you're just trying to bamboozle me with science! I caught you out!"

Mike Flemming: "Pah!"

Jayne Middlemiss: "What are you doing?"

Mike Flemming: "Well, we're just going to try and evade the flipper as much as possible and go to shove them into the CPZ."

— Pre-battle interview

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is turned over by Atomic

The two robots charged forwards, deliberately avoiding each other. As Atomic drove towards the side of the arena, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into the arena centre and turned to face Atomic. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove towards Atomic, but turned, driving past its flipper. It drove away, bumping into an angle grinder, then turned to face Atomic. As S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove at Atomic, Atomic drove past, so S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove after it. As Atomic turned around, S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove into its side, but Atomic turned, getting the edge of its flipper under S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to turn away, but Atomic flipped it up, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. toppled over.

"S.M.I.D.S.Y. needs to dodge, turn, dodge, turn, run, draw Atomic towards the pit, towards house robots. This is how grave I feel for the seeded machine, you can see why! Atomic flipping! But don't forget S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s invertible, can run both ways up, so normal flipping won't cause major damage if the electronics are well protected."

— Jonathan Pearce after Atomic flips S.M.I.D.S.Y. the first time

Both robots collide head-on

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Atomic with its disc, causing sparks, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. backed over the flipper. Atomic drove to the side of the arena, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged at it, driving onto the flipper, riding up its flipper and over the side. S.M.I.D.S.Y. fell back down, and Atomic tried to get under the side, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and drove away down the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove towards the arena centre and turned to face Atomic, which charged at it, getting underneath and tossing it over.

"The more aggressive, Atomic, certainly! Look at this - bang! But if S.M.I.D.S.Y. can hold on, how long can the high pressure flipper remain working to its full potential? I wonder if that's a tactic S.M.I.D.S.Y. will use? Keep running away, wear Atomic's energy down."

— Jonathan Pearce as Atomic flips S.M.I.D.S.Y. over again

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is flipped out of the arena by Atomic

Atomic continued charging down the arena, hitting the arena wall. S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove after it, and Atomic turned around and drove past S.M.I.D.S.Y., keeping close to the arena side as it drove up to the top of the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. tried to drive after it, but Atomic was much faster, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove up the arena, Atomic drove into the arena centre. Atomic drove past S.M.I.D.S.Y., and the two competitors turned to face each other. S.M.I.D.S.Y. charged, but narrowly drove around Atomic. As Atomic turned to face it, S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and drove away before Atomic could get the flipper underneath. S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned around and charged back at Atomic, driving past the side again. Atomic turned to face it, and S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed at Atomic, backing up onto the side of the flipper. Atomic fired the flipper as S.M.I.D.S.Y. drove over it, but only managed to lift it up a little.

"Of course, the Judges will be marking Atomic high, and at this stage, S.M.I.D.S.Y. low. Another thrust, all the work being done by Atomice!"

— Jonathan Pearce on S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s lack of aggression

S.M.I.D.S.Y. sits outside the arena after its final battle in Robot Wars

S.M.I.D.S.Y. reversed around Atomic, but then drove into Refbot. Refbot reversed, and as S.M.I.D.S.Y. turned and tried to get away, Atomic got under its side. Getting S.M.I.D.S.Y. on top of the flipper, Atomic charged towards the arena side wall and flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y., throwing it against the side wall, and it flipped over the wall.

"OH, it's all over! A very, very good display by Atomic, and the seeds have fallen. Always on the cards. S.M.I.D.S.Y. had to keep dodging and ducking and diving, and they took the big dive instead! Very experienced, but they simply couldn't last with Atomic."

— Jonathan Pearce as S.M.I.D.S.Y. is flipped out of the arena

As a result, S.M.I.D.S.Y. fell at the Heat Final stage for a third time. S.M.I.D.S.Y. did not appear in the All-Stars tournament, making this the team's final appearance.

Craig Charles: "S.M.I.D.S.Y., Sorry Mate I Didn't See Ya..."

Robin Bennett: "We've been taking flying lessons!"

Craig Charles: "You didn't see that coming, did ya?"

Robin Bennett: "Oh, we did! They almost did it to us in the first round!"

Craig Charles: "I know, what a fantastic robot it's become!"

Robin Bennett: "We were about two yards from the arena wall when they started flipping us and it just, just flew!"

Craig Charles: "I don't think it's landed yet!"

Robin Bennett: "We were going to put wings on it and try and bank round and come back into the arena!"

Craig Charles: "Seriously though, how did you think you were gonna win the fight, what was the plan?"

Robin Bennett: "Uh, the plan was to sneak round the back and then shout "Fire, abandon the building!" halfway through!"

Craig Charles: "So there was no real plan, you weren't confident going into the bout?"

Robin Bennett: "They've got really strong armour, so we didn't think the disc could touch them. If we were really lucky, we could of got round the neck and pushed them a bit."

Craig Charles: "Well I thought you'd go straight for the pit release, get that open and then try and maneuvre them in that way."

Robin Bennett: "Yeah, but then they're not incompetent drivers, so they weren't likely to drive into the pit!"

— Post-battle interview

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 8
• Losses: 9

Series Record

Main Series	S.M.I.D.S.Y. Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Heat, Round 1
The Fourth Wars	Heat Final
The Fifth Wars	Heat Final
The Sixth Wars	Heat, Round 2
The Seventh Wars	Heat Final
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Entered
Series 2	Entered

Gallery

Official shot of S.M.I.D.S.Y. in Series 3

S.M.I.D.S.Y., circa 1999-2000

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s chassis for Series 3

The insides of the Series 3 S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Official photo for Series 4

A charred S.M.I.D.S.Y. during the Pinball

S.M.I.D.S.Y. during the Series 4 Sumo

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the pits for Series 4

The chassis of S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2001

S.M.I.D.S.Y. unpainted and with no top, in 2001

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the pits during Series 5

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the arena during Series 5

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s chassis for Series 5

The Series 5 S.M.I.D.S.Y. without its top

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the arena in Extreme 2

S.M.I.D.S.Y in the pits during Series 7

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the arena during Series 7

S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s cooling system

Robot Wars Live Events

After being restored that year, S.M.I.D.S.Y. made an appearance at the Robot Wars live event at Guildford in 2016, but due to the robot's speed controller being on full current and burning out the drive, S.M.I.D.S.Y. never managed to fight.

In 2017, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was present for the Gloucester event where it was scheduled to fight Rattler and ACE, however after entering the arena, its battery started to smoke, resulting in S.M.I.D.S.Y. being taken away and replaced with Donald Thump.

Outside Robot Wars

Techno Games

S.M.I.D.S.Y. as Sprocket at Techno Games 2002

Sprocket in 2003

S.M.I.D.S.Y. was renamed Sprocket for Techno Games in 2002 and 2003 In 2002, it competed in the Football, Tug of War, Sumo and Assault Course. In the Football, it fought alongside Storm Chaser, and together they beat Technomoth and Ravioli 7-2 in Round 1, then beat Big Bro and British Bulldog, before winning 5-0 in the Final against Kat's Whiskers and Snowstorm. Sprocked also finished runner up in the Tug of War, beating Hell Bound and Big Bro, before ironically losing to its Football teammate Storm Chaser. Sprocket was less successful in the Sumo and Assault Course, losing in Round 1 in both to Big Bro.

In 2003, it fought in the Sumo and the Football again. It competed with Storm Chaser again, under the name 'The Four Wheeled Warriors'. They won through the first three rounds, winning 3-0 in each match, against Golden Balls and Shed Slammer, Tin Tackler and Thunder, then Technomoth and Tigermoth, but lost in the final 1-3 to Team BB, Big Bro and British Bulldog. In the Sumo, it beat BRUISER in the first round, but was disqualified because it used his lifter to lift BRUISER off the platform.

Antweights

RANT, Team Ixion's first antweight

VAGRANT at AWS7

Loonie

PAC-2

VACANT at AWS 7

VACANT, as it appeared at AWS 9

Team Ixion also created a number of antweights, none of which were entered into Robot Wars, instead being used to fight at IXION meetups or in Antweight World Series.

• RANT, an antweight built by Robin Bennett. RANT was deliberately very simple, being built to learn how to build antweights.
• VAGRANT, a two-wheeled wedge. Vagrant appeared in AWS (Antweight World Series) 6 and AWS 7 where it lost in the first round both times.
• Loonie, another two-wheeled wedge, a development of Vagrant's design. Built by a Team Ixion member originally from Canada, the robot featured a decorative Canadian flag, and the name comes from a slang term for the Canadian 1 dollar, which features a Loon bird on the rear.
• PAC-2, a four-wheeled antweight, built from a battery powered buggy kit from Toys 'R' Us.
• VACANT, a development of VAGRANT's design, originally armed with a 5g disc, later changed to bludgeoner. VACANT fought at Antweight World Series 7 and 9, and managed to win some battles, reaching the third round and second round respectively.

Live Events and new owners

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2010

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2011

S.M.I.D.S.Y. under rebuild by Team Troublesome in early 2012

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2012, now without its disc weapon

S.M.I.D.S.Y at Gloucester in 2017

S.M.I.D.S.Y. rarely fought at live events during the original run of Robot Wars, with one of its only appearances being at Robo Mania 2001, where it lost to Terrorhurtz.

After Series 7, Team Ixion were planning to rebuild S.M.I.D.S.Y., with new NiCd batteries, which could be run at 36 volts as opposed to 24, and were smaller, allowing the team to reduce the size of the wheelbase. However, after the show was originally cancelled, S.M.I.D.S.Y. only took part in one event, Brighton Model World in 2003, where it lost to Mute and Kronic the Wedgehog.

Whilst Robot Wars was in its 12-year hiatus, Team Cylon bought S.M.I.D.S.Y. and completely rebuilt the robot in 2008 and fought with it in many live events, including the Roaming Robots tournaments, however results were very poor. Its first event with its new owners was at the Roaming Robots event Royal International Air Tattoo in 2009. It fought in two melees, the first being against Kan-Opener, Tough as Nails and Envy, the second being against Tilly 2 Evo and Weird Alice 2, but S.M.I.D.S.Y. lost both of them. That same year, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was entered into the Fighting Robots UK Championships tour, but lost all three of its qualifiers, losing to Maelstrom at Guilford, losing a melee with Iron-Awe 5, Thor and Ripper Evo at Portsmouth, and losing a melee against Thor and St. Hammer at Maidstone.

After another appearance at a Royal International Air Tattoo Roaming Robots event, where it lost to Toon Raider and Scorpion, Team Cylon then sold S.M.I.D.S.Y. to Team Roaming Robots in late 2010.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. in 2016

S.M.I.D.S.Y in 2017

In 2011, Team Roaming Robots sold S.M.I.D.S.Y. to Team Troublesome. Later that year, S.M.I.D.S.Y. was sold onto Matthew Pearman of "Team Avenger", who rebuilt it back into its former condition. To acquire S.M.I.D.S.Y., he had sold The Grim Reaper. He then sold S.M.I.D.S.Y. to Gary Cairns of Team Typhoon in 2012, albeit without the rear disc weapon and motor, so he could buy Bulldog Breed. However, due to a lack of time Cairns couldn't take S.M.I.D.S.Y. on as a project so in 2016, it was sold once more to Team ACE who planned to rebuild it, looking to restore it to fighting condition. Team ACE then revealed the similar HIGH-5, but this was a separate build only based upon S.M.I.D.S.Y.

The remains of S.M.I.D.S.Y at Extreme Robots in November 2018

Team ACE passed on S.M.I.D.S.Y. to a newly formed team who then took S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the Extreme Robots Gloucester event in October 2017, having given the robot a new drum spinner weapon. The team also competed with S.M.I.D.S.Y. at Extreme Robots in Manchester, in April 2018, but lost in the first round to Fenrir. It also fought 2point0 and the heavyweight version of Luna-Tic in a melee, but did not move, and was pitted by Major Damage. The team also brought S.M.I.D.S.Y. to the Cheltenham Extreme Robots event in November 2018, where it was knocked out of the main competition after losing its head-to-head against Donald Thump, and the seven-way Losers' Melee to TR3. In a whiteboard battle against Tauron and Apex, S.M.I.D.S.Y. took considerable damage from the spinners, leaving the arena with a bent frame, missing components, damaged armour, and a tyre removed.

An antweight S.M.I.D.S.Y. built by Alex Shakespeare of Team Nuts

Aside from working on the heavyweight robot, Team ACE also commissioned Alex Shakespeare of Team Nuts to create an antweight version of S.M.I.D.S.Y. with five variants of the design built by Team ACE being given away at a charity raffle in Bristol, in September 2016, to raise money for Cancer Research UK. One of these antweights is owned by Anthony Murney, who entered it into his YouTube web-series Antweight Anarchy.

Sadly, it was revealed in 2018 that team captain Mik Reed had passed away following an illness.

Trivia

• The original team was formed over the internet. Indeed, in Series 5 and Extreme Series 1, the announcer would state that S.M.I.D.S.Y. came from Cyberspace. Every other war, however, stated it came from Kent.
  • The team is credited as being from Kent, Sussex and Yorkshire in Robot Wars: The Official Robot Guide.
• In Series 3, Mik Reed was referred to as Mike Reed. However, he was referred to by his correct name in all other series he was part of the S.M.I.D.S.Y. team.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. has the most losses out of all of the robots from Kent.
• Three of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s four first round losses were in battles that also contained Sumpthing, including two tag team partnerships.
• One of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s appearances in Extreme was not in the same episode as Sumpthing which was also the only Extreme episode where S.M.I.D.S.Y. won a battle.
• In the Series 4 Sumo Basho, the S.M.I.D.S.Y. team put salt in their robots jaws so that they could spread it like real sumo wrestlers.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. was profiled in Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. was one of six robots to never win a heat in any of the series in which they were seeded (not counting robots who were only seeded once). The others were 101, Behemoth, Gemini, Suicidal Tendencies and Team Hurtz.
  • S.M.I.D.S.Y. was the only one of the six not to appear in any merchandise - this either being made into a toy or appearing in a video game.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. is one of three robots to lose three heat finals, the other two being Behemoth and Thor.
  • S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Thor are also the only robots to reach three Heat Finals without winning any of them, although Thor did receive a Wild Card to reach the Grand Final in Series 8. This does not include Thor's win in the New Blood Heat Final.
  • S.M.I.D.S.Y. was the only one of the three to never reach a Grand Final.
• All four robots that beat S.M.I.D.S.Y. in the main competition from Series 4-7 lost in the second round of the semi-finals.
• The only House Robot which never shared the arena with S.M.I.D.S.Y. was Cassius Chrome.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. is one of eleven robots to have fought in 5 or more series of Robot Wars during its original run, having fought in Series 3 through 7. It shares this pattern with X-Terminator, Bulldog Breed, Team KaterKiller, Team Big Brother, Team Ming, Team Scutterbots, and Thermidor 2.
• Team Ixion are one of three teams to be flipped out of the arena three times, the others are Team Vader and Team Iron-Awe. However, the second instance of S.M.I.D.S.Y. being thrown out of the arena was untelevised.
  • S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Rick are the only two robots to be flipped out in a side competition and not be eliminated. S.M.I.D.S.Y. is the only one of the two to be sent out in Round 1 of said side competition by a competitor, not in the final after a unfair House Robot attack.
• Both televised instances of S.M.I.D.S.Y. being flipped out of the arena resulted in the record for most consecutive Out of the Arena flips being set or matched (by Chaos 2 and Atomic respectively).

The model S.M.I.D.S.Y. template from Team Ixion's website

• S.M.I.D.S.Y. is one of three machines to fight axe-wielding robots twice in a row in a main series heat, the other two being Major Tom and Inshredable.
  • S.M.I.D.S.Y. was the only one of the three to reach a Heat Final.
• Along with Chaos 2 and The Steel Avenger, S.M.I.D.S.Y. appeared in both the first episode of Extreme Series 1 and the first heat of Series 5.
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. had a locking pin in its removable link to prevent it accidentally falling out during battles, a problem that immobilised many other competitors.
• In 2001, Team IXION considered building a new robot, a walker armed with a spinning body, and an axe on a movable turret, but this idea was dismissed in favour of upgrading S.M.I.D.S.Y. for the next series.

"However we thought it wouldn't be very interesting to watch."

— Team Ixion website on dismissing plans to build a walker

• The team's website featured a template to build a model of S.M.I.D.S.Y. which is still available to print and/or download.
• The only Judges' decision that S.M.I.D.S.Y. won was its group battle in Series 4. Coincidentally, Panic Attack (the robot it went through with) also only won Judges' decisions when it was in a group battle.

References

S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Sumpthing's shared statistics in Extreme 2

External Links

• The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website (archived)
• S.M.I.D.S.Y. Website