Tantrum

Tantrum
Participation Information
UK Series	2-3
Other Names	T 2 (Series 3)
Team Information
Team Members	Rupert Weeks Chris Weeks Ken Frost (Series 3)
From	Worthing, West Sussex
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 which entered Series 2 and 3 of Robot Wars, the latter as T 2. In Series 2, the original incarnation reached the Tug of War Trial stage before being eliminated. In Series 3, T 2 improved on its predecessor's performance, reaching the second round of its heat before losing a controversial Judges' decision to The Darke Destroyer.

Versions of Tantrum

Tantrum

Front view of Tantrum

Tantrum was a red box-shaped robot powered by wheelchair motors, and featuring an unusual eight-wheeled configuration. The robot had a set of six small front wheels arranged on triangular-shaped mounts, similarly to those later found on Series 3 competitor Trident, as well as two larger wheels at the rear. Tantrum's weapons consisted of a 25mm diameter sharpened steel flail, rotating at 1,000rpm and a spring-loaded rear ramming bumper. It cost £500 and took 200 hours to construct.

T II

T 2 in the arena

For Series 3, Tantrum was replaced by its successor, T 2 (short for Tantrum 2, and stylised as T II), a grey two-wheel drive robot which reused the original robot's chassis and much of its electronics. Amongst the improvements carried out, the most significant changes over the original Tantrum included a tank-steering mechanism and a design loosely resembling a steam locomotive. T 2's weapon took on the form of a front-mounted pneumatic lifter modelled on a locomotive cowcatcher, which was claimed by the team to be capable of lifting 300lbs (13 stone (182lbs) according to its statistics board). T 2 also featured a set of red eyes and a mohawk on its top-rear armour; these, along with the robot's shape, lead to Philippa Forrester describing it as "Thomas the Tank Engine with a punk-rocker haircut". The robot was quoted as having a top speed of 15mph.

Qualification

T 2 R Special

Tantrum and T 2 qualified for Series 2 and 3 respectively through attending the auditions.

Following the filming of the Third Wars, the team revised T 2, initially installing an axe weapon. It was later painted orange with black spots and renamed T 2 R Special. T 2 R Special attended the qualifiers for Series 4, and was drawn in a battle against future semi-finalist Tornado. T 2 R Special lost the battle, and subsequently failed to qualify for the main competition.

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

T 2 falls into the pit, but goes through anyway

In its first round, T 2 faced newcomers Vector, which never got going. Having immobilised Vector by shoving it into the wall, T 2 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 T 2 drove into the pit, therefore T 2 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 T 2 should go through."

— Jonathan Pearce's opinion

T 2 shoves The Darke Destroyer

T 2 gets too close to Dead Metal

In the next round, it faced another newcomer in The Darke Destroyer. T 2 was able to control The Darke Destroyer by pushing it into the CPZ's several times, though it did take damage by driving into a flame jet and also took damage from The Darke Destroyer's blade, including buckling its front ram. T 2 pushed into The Darke Destroyer, raising its own front off the ground, but its rear-mounted wheels allowed it to push The Darke Destroyer into the side walls and almost overturn its opponent. When this failed, T 2 pulled away, only just escaped Dead Metal, and pushed The Darke Destroyer around, taking one blow that caused it to jump slightly. When cease was called, a split and controversial decision put The 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 T 2 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
• Overhead view of T 2
• T 2 in the Robot Wars Magazine
• T 2 and its team
• The team with T 2 in Series 3

1/5

Series	Tantrum Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Heat, Trial (Tantrum)
The Third Wars	Heat, Round 2 (T 2)
The Fourth Wars	Failed to qualify (T 2 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

Outside Robot Wars

Smash N' Grab, the team's Techno Games entry

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 teammate but they lost in the first round. It beat Quadsey in round 1 of the Assault Course but lost to Big Bro in the second round.

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

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 spinning 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

External Links

Official Series 3 photo

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

Honours

Nominations

• Sportsmanship Award - Robot Wars: The Second Wars