- "The debut for this three-wheeled cylindrical storm-bringer, with the top-mounted axe or spiked arm and front flipper. The skin is armour-plated aluminium."
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Storm Force
Storm Force was a heavyweight robot which competed exclusively in Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars. Appearing in the very first Eliminator battle broadcast in the series, it would lose to then-defending champion Chaos 2.
Design[]
- "The basic objective for STORM FORCE is to build the bot at Zero cost to the team.
To achieve this feet [sic] we needed to be able to beg and borrow all the essentials for the bot. To this end the addition of Colin as a team member was important. He is well known for either having the part in stock, or if not then knowing someone who has.
The next objective was to build a bot that could take punishment with very little damage to the workings of the machine, and at the same time do some serious damage to the competition. the house bots in particular.
However we had to make some compromises in the design in order to meet our original objective. Some features would be left out of this bot, hopefully they will be added in later versions." - — Storm Force website[2]
Official image of Storm Force
Storm Force reverses into the arena
Storm Force was a silver barrel-shaped robot with aluminium checker plate armour, a steel base frame and yellow lightning bolts painted on either side. Its 24V two-wheel drive system was propelled by wheelchair motors and gearboxes,[3] with the back of the machine also featuring a larger, swivelling third wheel to aid with manoeuvrability. An earlier variation of this drivetrain gave Storm Force the ability to pull a Land Rover Discovery and a London Taxi during testing, the latter weighing at 2.1 tonnes.[1][3]
Storm Force from the front
Storm Force's rear axe
Alongside the cylindrical shell - providing the robot with rollover capabilities - Storm Force was armed with a front scoop (often referred to as a "flipper") and a rearward-facing, chain-driven axe concealed within the bodywork. The front and rear panels each incorporated a quartet of small red lights around their outer circumference, with a bigger red light being placed near the top hinge for the scoop. Both weapons, running off a compressed air system,[3] were considered to be powerful, with the scoop capable of lifting a small car, and the red-painted axe capable of chopping bricks in half. However, neither was used to great effect in its only televised battle. Storm Force's stats board also refers to an unused "spike" weapon, which was suggested by Jonathan Pearce to be a spiked "arm" interchangeable with the axe.
An especially unusual design feature was the installation of smoke canisters within Storm Force's main body. Upon activating, these would explode and emit smoke from within the centre of the robot, a feature demonstrated during its initial qualifier against Obsidian, along with its only televised battle.[3]
Etymology[]
Storm Force was originally referred to by the team as simply Storm. However, the word "Force" was added by the team at the last minute, to avoid confusion with another heavyweight competitor and Series 5 applicant of the same name. Despite this, both names were still used on the show. The team called the robot Storm Force and Storm on their website. The name on the robot's flipper was still Storm, though the statistics board and the team's t-shirts said Storm Force. Upon entering the arena, Stuart McDonald introduced Storm Force as "Storm". It is also referred to as such in Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide and the first edition of the Robot Wars Magazine. The name Storm Force was added to the flipper ahead of their Series 6 qualification attempt.
The Team[]
Team Storm Force at the Series 6 qualifiers
Storm Force was entered by a team of engineers from Methley, a village in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The captain was David Bewley, who provided the pneumatics for Storm Force and drove it in its only battle. David was joined by Adam Bodenham, who provided the drive systems, and Colin Carter, the craftsman and fabricator for the robot. A fourth member, Adrian Appleyard, was also part of the team, but did not appear on the show, he provided the control systems. Adrian, however, did drive Storm Force in the Series 5 qualifiers.[1][4]
Storm Force was built in Colin Carter's garage.[1]
Qualification[]
The insides of Storm Force
To qualify for Series 5, Storm Force initially attended the Sheffield leg of the 2001 Live Event tour. There, it fought two battles during the 28 July shows, the first against Obsidian during the afternoon show.[3][5]
- "We had problems in the first fight, our main weapon refused to work. All during testing leading upto the day we never had this problem show, but just when you need everything running it fails. That's life. We did however survive sustaining only slight damage the the outer shell, most caused by SHUNT. WE will remember SHUNT."
- — Storm Force website on its initial Series 5 qualifier[3]
Storm Force encountered problems from the outset, with its axe not being able to function at all due to a servo issue. Regardless, it engaged in a 'bumping and pushing' match against Obsidian, while surviving blows from the latter's own axe weapon. Storm Force is suggested by the Team Obsidian website to have attempted to flip its opponent, but without success, before driving into a CPZ and being attacked by Shunt. Once it escaped, Storm Force kept exchanging rams and shoves with Obsidian, which pushed it onto the Flame Pit. At that moment, it deployed its hidden smoke canisters, tricking Team Obsidian into believing that it had suffered a terminal internal fire.[3][5]
Ultimately, both robots survived the full duration and the battle went to a Judges' decision, ruling Storm Force to have lost. Alongside the damage inflicted by Obsidian and Shunt's axes, it was found that the servo powering Storm Force's own axe was only travelling at '50% of its full movement'.[3][5]
Storm Force and its team were later asked by the Live Event showrunners to compete in the evening show. Following the necessary work required for its weapon mechanisms, it would fight its second battle against a currently-unidentified opponent. On this occasion, Storm Force succeeded in getting its axe working and immobilising its opponent for the required 30 seconds. To make up for the earlier attacks by Shunt, it would spend the rest of the fight attacking and attempting to pit the House Robot. This grudge would be settled once Shunt turned Storm Force over, then pinned it to stop it from self-righting.[3]
- "During this time we decided to get our own back on SHUNT. Almost got him in the pit, but our driver turned the wrong way. He took quite a few blows from our axe, and we took some more from him too. In the end he turned us over, then during our self righting move he somehow got himself wedged on top of us, total immobile. What a fight.
The audience in Sheffield loved the whole episode. So did we, fair to say that we were disappointed with the first contest, but the performance in the second contest was 100% better. Some modifications will be required. We need more speed. The power isn't bad, but we are too slow." - — Storm Force website on its second qualifier, and attempt to earn vengeance over Shunt[3]
Needless to say, Storm Force won the qualifier and would be selected to compete in the televised Fifth Wars. Alongside damage repairs, its drivetrain would be upgraded with new batteries and a maximum voltage of 24V, to address the team's concerns with it lacking speed across the arena.[3] According to a video documenting its testing and preparation for the show, Storm Force would finish among the 'top 100' competitors from the qualifier stages.[1]
Storm Force (top-right) at the Series 6 qualifiers
Following its appearance in Series 5, Storm Force would undergo major internal upgrades ahead of a planned return for Series 6. Among the changes included an 'uprated' wiring loom, more powerful CO2-based pneumatics systems for the weapons, and a new pair of 24V hydraulic pump motors for drive. The latter would be incorporated into a modular 'cradle' assembly for ease of adjustments and maintenance. While these changes immediately proved beneficial - giving Storm Force a top speed of 25mph and significantly more damage potential in testing - reliability and responsiveness issues prompted the team to switch from relays to a speed controller setup. This, in turn, would introduce its own share of reliability issues, though not severe enough to prevent Storm Force from attending the Series 6 qualifiers. While documented to have been photographed in The Pits near Bulldog Breed, Storm Force would not qualify for the televised series.[3]
Robot History[]
Series 5[]
Storm Force's run in The Fifth Wars took place in Heat A. In the Eliminator stage, it faced a tough draw against first seed and defending two-time UK Champion Chaos 2, in what would be the first battle aired for this series.
- "We had a plan to wait, allow Chaos to throw us around a bit allowing our self righting to work, while he ran out of gas, whilst staying away from the arena sides."
- — Storm Force website on the team's strategy against Chaos 2[3]
Storm Force is rolled over by Chaos 2
Smoke suddenly erupts from Storm Force
Starting in the reverse position, Storm Force drove past Chaos 2 as both competitors manoeuvred across the centre of the arena. Turning around, it was pursued by George Francis' machine, before unsuccessfully trying to lift it as the latter drove over a nearby flame jet. Chaos 2 instantly threw Storm Force end-over-end, though Storm Force was able to roll back onto its wheels through its cylindrical body.
- "Storm Force, the first to test the powerful flipper - even more powerful they tell us these days - of Chaos 2! And there we can see that the champions are back, and mindful of the business in hand."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Storm Force axes Chaos 2
Chaos 2 flips Storm Force into Matilda's flywheel
This pattern would be sustained throughout the full fight, with the Storm Force team aiming to let Chaos 2 deplete its own gas supply. In the next televised clip, Storm Force was thrown sideways, landing upright with a crash. Firing both of its weapons, it turned into, but was again unable to inflict a meaningful attack on Chaos 2. Storm Force was next seen hesitating near the centre, before being nudged and thrown into a 360-degree roll towards the Flame Pit. As it reversed away from the flames, it turned to face Chaos 2 once again, just as a bright flash and a plume of white smoke emerged from its front and top.
- "Storm Force, scarcely a storm-bringer. And smoking, it would see to me. In trouble, internally. Chaos 2 already has this Eliminator in its grasp!"
- — Jonathan Pearce, perceiving Storm Force's smoke canisters as a sign of a malfunction
Likely having deployed its smoke canister, Storm Force reversed and turned around near the right side wall. Firing its scoop and axe into thin air, it was held and nudged by Chaos 2 once again. A second head-to-head exchange enabled Storm Force to finally attack Chaos 2, striking its axe against one of the latter's polycarbonate top covers. Chaos 2 instantly responded by throwing Storm Force into another full spin. Storm Force veered into Sgt. Bash's CPZ in retreat, now resorting to luring Chaos 2 across the perimeter. As it moved, it again exposed its left side to Chaos 2's flipper, leaving it vulnerable as it was rolled over twice into Matilda's CPZ.
- "You have to say, it's resilient, and it's showing a cold front to Chaos 2 there, before tumbling away again."
- — Jonathan Pearce as Chaos 2 keeps tossing Storm Force around
Storm Force (left) survives a run-in with Matilda
The second flip ended with Storm Force inverted and taking damage to its scoop from Matilda's flywheel. A shove from the House Robot had the effect of rolling it back onto Chaos 2's flipper lip; Chaos 2 threw Storm Force against the wall as Matilda smashed into the defending champion. Both competitors escaped, with Storm Force turning gingerly towards the centre.
- "We quickly made our escape, but during our dash for safety we got caught by Chaos 2, he turned us over (again), but unfortunately we still had power on one of the motors when we came back onto our wheels. This stripped the helical gear in one of our gear boxes. This dropped us to only one drive motor.
We battled on , inflicting damage to Chaos in the process. He slowed dramatically and following a another serious flip, with drive still on our one remaining motor the landing burst the flange mounting the gearbox to the motor, and we lost all drive." - — Storm Force website, on internal damage not mentioned in the televised battle[3]
In moments not shown on television, Chaos 2 kept flipping and rolling Storm Force around, causing internal damage that would affect Storm Force's mobility in later stages. One flip stripped a helical gear, as Storm Force landed with one of its motors still running. Another heavy landing sheared the flange connecting its remaining gearbox and motor. Up to that point, Storm Force was claimed by its team's website to have damaged Chaos 2 further, to the point that the latter was suggested to have lost drive power as a result.[3] Storm Force's drive, however, had been fully incapacitated by its opponent's counter-attacks, the robot only able to fire its weapons aimlessly as Chaos 2 began rolling it towards the closed Pit panel.
Storm Force sinks into the Pit
Moments before the second flip, Storm Force fired its axe. This had the effect of stopping the rotation of Chaos 2's flip, allowing it to roll back towards the latter. Storm Force remained powerless, however, as it was eventually positioned over the Pit, and began descending with the panel once Chaos 2 pressed the release tyre.
- "The pressure is descending for Storm Force! They're out!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Storm Force is pitted
Storm Force, axe flailing, was officially eliminated from The Fifth Wars, in what would prove to be its only televised Robot Wars appearance.
- "As Storm Force dropped the axe wave good bye, or was a wave of help to the crowd. So that was it our first attempt at Robot Wars, and what a way to go out. To the current champion, and with luck to the next champion."
- — Storm Force website on its Series 5 exit[3]
Results[]
| STORM FORCE - RESULTS | ||
| Series 5 | ||
| The Fifth Wars - UK Championship Heats, Round 1 | ||
| Heat A, Round 1 | vs. Chaos 2 (1) | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
Series Record[]
| Series | Storm Force Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Did not enter |
| The Second Wars | Did not enter |
| The Third Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Fifth Wars | Heat, Round 1 |
| The Sixth Wars | Failed to qualify |
| The Seventh Wars | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Did not enter |
| Series 9 | Did not enter |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
Gallery[]
Outside Robot Wars[]
Storm Force fighting Cherub, Batterbot and Apocalypse in a Roaming Robots event in Barnsley 2011
Storm Force at an event in 2013
Storm Force on display at the Scot-Bots event in 2013
Storm Force in February 2022 following its restoration
Storm Force at RoboNerd in September 2022
In 2007, Storm Force was sold to John Findlay of Team Roaming Robots, where it was brought out of retirement at a Robot Rumble event, managing to defeat Dantomkia in its sole battle before going on to the compete in the 2007 Roaming Robots Winter Tour. During these battles, drivers such as Tom Kane and WJ Dijkstra alternated driving roles as John Findlay was too busy to take on Storm Force as a project. At the end of 2008, Storm Force was sold on to Liam Bryant of Team Bud, along with Jason Marston with a newly improved Thor and Shane Swan from Team S.Tek with his newest machine Envy. Storm Force would compete sporadically in events hosted by Roaming Robots and Robots Live! over the following years and would receive a paintjob change in which the robot's lightning bolt design and axe were both repainted to black to make up the matching colours for Team Bud which was silver and black. Storm Force would also appear on display at various events before and after its retirement.
In February 2022, Liam restored Storm Force to its original state, repainting the lightning bolt back to its original yellow colour and the axe and flipper blade were repainted to red again.[6] The restored Storm Force would make appearances at RoboNerd 2022 and 2023 as a static display piece alongside Corkscrew, with both also attending Extreme Robots Newcastle in July 2023.
Team member Adrian Appleyard appeared at Extreme Robots Doncaster in April 2024 as a VIP backstage guest.[7]
Robot Wars Live Events[]
Storm Force made its first appearance at the Robot Wars live events at Barnsley in February 2013. It took part in a whiteboard fight against Toon Raider and St. Hammer, in which it lost after its batteries died. It also suffered from the same bad luck at Widnes in May 2013 when it fought in the team challenges. Storm Force subsequently retired from combat after this event.
Trivia[]
- The robot's scoop read Storm during Series 5, however it was changed to Storm Force ahead of its qualification attempt for Series 6 to coincide with its new name.
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 'Robot Wars', Adrian Appleyard (YouTube), uploaded 13 March 2024
- ↑ 'Home Page1', Storm Force website (archived)
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 News page, Storm Force website (archived)
- ↑ 'Home Page1', Storm Force website (archived)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 'Obsidian - Vs Storm Force'. Project Obsidian website (archived)
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/liam.bryant.142/posts/10227342309124165
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02s9RjXMMShd3BjVnmJq6CG5iVRZD3g42GiyeK2U99jivjyLm41sT8exsLfFzexHuUl&id=100083112531626