T-Bone

T-Bone
T-Bone
Participation Information
UK Series	5
Team Information
Team	Team Butcher
Team Members	Paul Gibbs Angela Gibbs John Findlay
Robot Statistics
Weight	98kg
Dimensions	0.29m x 0.99m x 1.19m
Power	24V wheelchair motors
Weapons	Spinning disc
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Will this 24V wheelchair motor driven hunk of 'botic beef give us something to get out teeth into, or will the 2000RPM spinning disc moooove into the next round?"

— Jonathan Pearce introducing T-Bone

T-Bone was a T-shaped robot with a spinning disc which was entered by Team Butcher in Series 5 of Robot Wars, a combined project from neighbours John Findlay and the builders of Eco Warrior. It lost in the first round to 8645T, a robot built by the team's friends, on a Judges' decision, as it was unable to cause damage when its spinning disc jammed.

Its name was a reference to the shape of the robot, and T-bone steak.

Design

Official shot of T-Bone

T-Bone was an invertible, yellow T-shaped robot with a horizontally mounted disc, and a small scoop on the back. The scoop was added when the team found they had leftover weight to use. The robot was constructed from Polypropylene Mains Gas Pipe-line with a mild steel inner frame, and cost just £50 to build, with the team using many parts from their older machines, Banana-R Armour and Eco Warrior.

The slogan "Aye up, me duck!" written on the back of the robot, and graphics of a butcher and a cow were also printed on the robot, as a reference to its name.

Qualification

Team Butcher with T-Bone at the qualifiers

Team Butcher attempted to qualify for Series 5 with two robots, T-Bone and R.I.P.P.E.R. Paul Gibbs captained T-Bone, whilst John Findlay captained R.I.P.P.E.R.. The two had previously met at the Series 4 qualifiers.

In T-Bone's first battle, it used its disc to rip apart Kiss of Death, and in its second qualifier, defeated Bangalore Bertie. These back-to-back victories earned T-Bone a place in Series 5.

Robot History

Series 5

An unsuccessful flip from 8645T

T-Bone fought 8645T in its opening battle. The two machines began their bout slowly, until T-Bone finally slammed into 8645T's side. This caused some damage to 8645T, but bent T-Bone's disc teeth in the process, leaving it with no means of offense.

"The disc has stopped spinning. That is a major worry for Paul Gibbs...T-Bone has been somewhat filleted"

— Jonathan Pearce

8645T axes T-Bone

8645T responded by lifting T-Bone off the ground and letting it fall, doing this twice. T-Bone drove away and activated the pit release, before 8645T and T-Bone engaged in a shoving match, with T-Bone stuck on 8645T's axe and dragging it around the arena, unable to pit its opponent. 8645T won the judges' decision, eliminating T-Bone from the competition.

"While the Judges were reaching their decision, Craig Charles asked the audience to choose a winner by cheering when he called the names of the robots. The Team were delighted when the audience cheered louder for T-Bone ... they thought it was in the bag ! However the judges said it was a very close contest, but they had chosen 8645T as the winner. The Team could only think that when they were pulling 8645T towards the pit, that it must have looked as though T-Bone was being pushed !!!"

— The Roaming Robots Website (archived)

Results

Wins/Losses

• Design sketch for T-Bone
• T-Bone during construction
• Team Butcher in the pits with T-Bone
• T-Bone fighting R.I.P.P.E.R. in a practice battle
• T-Bone with John Findlay in 2001
• T-Bone in 2012

1/6

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 1

Series Record

• Series 1-3: Did not enter
• Series 4: Failed to qualify with Eco Warrior and Banana-R Armour
• Series 5: Heat, Round 1 and Failed to qualify with Ripper
• Series 6: Failed to qualify with Ripper
• Series 7: Entered with Ripper
• 2016 Series: Did not enter

Outside Robot Wars

T-Bone's chassis was sold in 2012 to Tony Smith, the builder of Pod, who also owns the latest version of Ceros. Due to Pod and Ceros being greater priorities, Smith has listed T-Bone's chassis on eBay.

Trivia

• T-Bone was nicknamed "The Pride of Carlton" by the team.
• T-Bone originally had four spinning blades, but during testing the team found that having two blades allowed the disc to spin faster, and also meant they had two spare blades.

External Links

• History of T-Bone from Roaming Robots website (Archived)