Tantrum

Tantrum
T2
Participation Information
UK Series	2-3
Other Names	T2 (Series 3)
Team Information
Team Members	Rupert Weeks Chris Weeks Ken Frost (Series 3)
Robot Statistics
Weight	71.4kg
Dimensions	0.52m x 0.91m x 0.72m
Clearance	0.02m
Top Speed	15mph
Power	2 x 24v Wheelchair Motors
Weapons	Lifting mechanism
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Tantrum was a series of robots that entered the second and third series of Robot Wars.

Versions of Tantrum

Tantrum

Tantrum

Tantrum was a red boxed shaped robot from Series 2 of Robot Wars. It had 8 wheels, with 6 front wheels in a pyramid configuration, similar to Trident. Its weapons were a sharpened steel flail, 25mm in diameter, that spun at 1000RPM, and a spring loaded rear ramming bumper. Tantrum cost 500 pounds and 200 hours to construct.

T II

T2 in the arena.

For Series 3, it re-entered as T2 (Tantrum 2, but it was stylised as T II), a similar robot with a rounded front that vaguely resembled an Old Western Locomotive but with a tank-steering mechanism and a cowcatcher as its lifter which the team claimed could lift 300lbs, although the figure stated on the statistics board was 13 stone (or 182lbs). It was described by Philippa Forrester as "Thomas the Tank Engine with a punk-rocker haircut". It was capable of travelling at 15mph.

The team also revised T2, painted it orange with black spots, gave it an axe and renamed it T2 R Special, however it failed to qualify for the Fourth Wars, after a defeat at the hands of future semi-finalist Tornado.

Robot History

Series 2

Tantrum completes the Gauntlet

Tantrum competed in Heat B. Tantrum was quick in the Gauntlet. It sped through the barrels, up the see-saw and past Sergeant Bash to complete the course in the fastest time.

Tantrum is pulled into the pit

However, in the Tug-of-War Trial, it did not have enough grip or power and was pulled into the Pit by Dead Metal in 16.15 seconds, just two seconds behind Wheelosaurus, eliminating it from the competition.

"Tantalising, teetering, tottering, toppling, toppling, Tantrum... totalled!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Dead Metal pulled Tantrum into the pit in the Trials

At the end of the series, the team was nominated for the Sportsmanship award, but lost out to Plunderbird 2.

Series 3

T2 rams an immobile Vector

T2 falls into the pit, but goes through anyway

In its first round, T2 faced newcomers Vector, which never got going. Having immobilised Vector by shoving it into the wall, T2 reversed away from Matilda, but reversed too far and drove into the pit. However, the judges ruled that Vector had been immobile long enough to be considered out before T2 drove into the pit, therefore T2 progressed into the next round instead.

"Let's be honest, Vector didn't do anything-I think that's key. See I think Vector was immobilised right from the start, therefore T2 should go through."

— Jonathan Pearce's opinion

T2 Shoves the Darke Destroyer

T2 gets too close to Dead Metal

In the next round, it faced another newcomer in Darke Destroyer. T2 was able to control Darke Destroyer by pushing it into the CPZs several times, though it did take damage by driving into a flame jet and also took damage from Darke Destroyer's blade, including buckling its front ram. T2 pushed into Darke Destroyer, raising its own front off the ground, but its rear-mounted wheels allowed it to push Darke Destroyer into the side walls and almost overturn its opponent. When this failed, T2 pulled away, only just escaped Dead Metal, and pushed Darke Destroyer around, taking one blow that caused it to jump slightly. When cease was called, a split and controversial decision put Darke Destroyer through, prompting some boos from the audience.

"It came through mainly on aggression, on the fact that their weapon was much more aggressive - and we did talk before, about you not having any weapons."

— Philippa Forrester to T2 after the battle

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 1
• Losses: 1

NOTE: Tantrum's Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record

• The chassis of Tantrum during construction.
• T2 R Special, which failed to qualify for Series 4.
• Smash N' Grab, the team's Techno Games entry.
• The team with T2.

1/4

Series	Tantrum Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Heat, Trial
The Third Wars	Heat, Round 2
The Fourth Wars	Failed to qualify as T2 R Special
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
The Sixth Wars	Did not enter
The Seventh Wars	Did not enter
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Trivia

• Team member Chris Weeks used to build pine beds which always collapsed.
• Tantrum had internal fans to prevent the speed controllers overheating.
• Tantrum is the first-ever robot to fall into the pit.
• Originally, Tantrum was supposed to have tracks, but the team found they made the robot difficult to control.

"...they at first went for an ingenious and ambitious drive system including caterpillar tracks and a freely spinnning triple-wheel assembly mounted on the front of the robot, to allow it to climb over obstacles. The tracks, made from pieces of car tyre, caused the robot to be far too difficult to control, so they were removed in favour of two large rear drive wheels (powered by two 50-watt wheelchair motors), although the front mounted triple wheel assembly was retained. The entire robot had been designed around the track system, so when the tracks were abandoned, the strength of the front wheel assembly had to be increased by using heavy duty castors"

— The Robot Wars Technical Manual

Outside Robot Wars

The Team entered Techno Games 2002 with a robot called Smash N' Grab, which competed in the Assault Course and in the football competition as Celestial Terror's team mate but they lost in round 1. It beat Quadsey in round 1 of the Assault Course but lost to Big Bro in round 2.

After retiring from Robot Wars, team member Rupert Weeks set up his own online robotics shop called Gadgetnet, which sold robot kits and toys.

Honours

Nominations

• Sportsmanship Award - Robot Wars: The Second Wars

Links

• The Tantrum Website (archived)
• Gadgetnet, Rupert Weeks online shop (archived)