Skeletal armour refers to a construction method used by certain Robot Wars robots, in which the armour primarily consists of an external framework also doubling as its chassis. This can utilise tubes, bars and mesh to protect the robot, but with significant gaps between them. The bars are often spread around equally, resembling the spaced-out structure of a ribcage or an exoskeleton.
Skeletal armour could be used for aesthetic reasons, such as the cages on House Robots Dead Metal and Sir Killalot, or for weight-saving reasons, such as on Beast, Coyote and Dome. However, it was still rarely used by competitors on the show, as the majority still opted to design their robots with complete armour coverings. Nevertheless, multiple House Robots adopted skeletal frames or armour as a design choice, while still being effective at stopping competitor robots damaging their internals.
Definition[]
Skeletal armour refers to any non-plated armour which covers a robot with significant air gaps between structures. This ranges from parallel pipes and bars, to large lattice structures, sometimes incorporating wires or mesh in between the gaps. Armourless robots are not considered to fall under this definition as they were protected by their exposed chassis. By contrast, skeletal armour is purposefully designed to be non-structural.
Advantages and Disadvantages[]
Advantages
- Due to its nature, skeletal armour can prove to be a cheap and effective type to keep within the weight limit.
- Furthermore, if spaced properly, large weapons will not be able to exploit the exposed gaps in between skeletal armour sections. Thus, it gives this armour type similar strength to full armour plating without the extra weight.
- In the case of Tornado's 'anti-crusher weapon', the extra framework could be used to greatly increase the robot's dimensions without significantly altering the base machine. This proved especially useful in offering the robot added defence against vertical crushers, preventing opponents with these weapons from easily reaching the main chassis and tyres.
- If used correctly, the skeletal sections can be integrated into other areas of the robot's chassis and/or internal structure, increasing rigidity and durability in a similar manner to a roll cage.
Due to the exposed areas in the armour, Ironside3 was able to attack the wheels and other exposed internals of Beast.
Disadvantages
- Due to the design and nature of this armour type, skeletal structures do not offer complete protection for exposed internals such as wheels and motors. Thus, these components are left especially vulnerable to getting damaged by any weapon or object that breaches the exposed spaces where they are housed.
- Skeletal framework is easier to bend out of alignment or break open using certain weapons, especially if the framework comprises simple beams or tubing/pipework.
- Opponents with hook-like attachments can easily get caught in skeletal sections, enabling them to drag and control the affected robots around the arena.
- Skeletal frames are more difficult to make flat against the arena floor, often resulting in clearance issues. On one hand, a raised ground clearance presented an advantage to opponents with wedges, lifters and flippers, making it easier for them to get underneath the affected robot. On the other, a clearance that was too low could prevent the robot from being able to maintain contact with the floor entirely.
List of Robots with Skeletal Armour[]
Robots are listed alphabetically.
DESKTOP MODE ONLY: House Robots are listed with a gold background. Robots competing in the 1994-1997 US competitions are listed with a purple background.
| Robot | Series Appearances with Skeletal armour | Details | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beast | Series 8 | Welded steel frame | Deliberately sacrificed armour for a more powerful flipper mechanism. |  |
| Coyote | Series 10 | Copper Pipe wheelguards |  | |
| Crusher | Series 3 | Steel exoskeleton |   | |
| Dead Metal | Series 1-10, Extreme 1-2, US Season 1-2, German Series, Dutch Series 1-2 | Tubular frame | House Robot; first machine to appear in televised series with this armour type. Evolved in size and design throughout the Classic and Revival runs. |     |
| Destructive Criticism | US Series 2 | Steel wheelguards | US Championship Grand Finalist. |   |
| Dome | Series 5 | Steel hemisphere frame |   | |
| DooMore | 1996 Championship | Armour also served as a sit-and-spin weapon when in battle. |   | |
| El-Mower | Dutch Series 1 | Made from a ride-on mower. |   | |
| Mantis | Series 7 | Minimalist frame over the wheels and rear |   | |
| Mr. Psycho | Series 6-7, Extreme 2, Dutch Series 2, German Series | House Robot. Industrial-esc skeletal design, similar to Sir Killalot. |   | |
| Rawbot | Extreme 2, Series 7 | Frame around wheels |   | |
| REALI-T | Series 1 | Thick wire mesh | First televised competitor with a mesh-type armour. |   |
| Rippa Raptor | US Season 1 | Metal Frame and Metal mesh | Mesh replaced by aluminium after it was damaged. Annihilator runner-up. |   |
| Scarab (UK) | Series 3 | Tubular Steel Body |   | |
| Shunt | Series 1-10, Extreme 1-2, US Season 1-2, German Series, Dutch Series 1-2 | Wheel guards | House Robot; design inspired by industrial bulldozers and railway locomotives. |   |
| Sir Killalot | Series 2-10, Extreme 1-2, US Season 1-2, German Series, Dutch Series 1-2 | Skeletal mesh rear. Converted into a Spinal plate and pipes in the Revival Series. | House Robot; largest robot with a skeletal design. |     |
| The Spider | Extreme 1 | Steel Frame | Acted as supports for the spinning weapons. |   |
| Tornado | US Series 2, Series 6, Extreme 2 | Anti-Crusher Frame | Optional welded steel structure, mounted externally to counter Razer and support a horizontal spinner.[1] Later outlawed under the Series 7 rules. |   |
| Weber | Series 10 | Steel tubing | Robot combat rules in Russia prohibited armoured sheets, leading to Weber's exoskeletal design in the World Series. |   |
| Whirlpool 70 | Extreme 1 | Steel Full-Body spinner | Used an oversized weapon to protect the small main robot. |   |
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