Team Ming

Team Ming
Team Ming with Ming 3 in Extreme 1
Participation Information
UK Series	3-7, Extreme 1
US Series	Nickelodeon
Team Information
Team Members	Andrew Cotterell Alexander Cotterell (Series 3-6, Extreme 1) Tim Hurdle (Series 3) Oliver Cotterell (Series 4-7, Extreme 1) Elliot Cotterell (Series 7) Fox Abrahams (Series 7)
Home Town	West Cranmore, Somerset

"We're Team Ming. We're here, fresh from the planet Mongo, ready to wreck havoc on any pathetic Earthlings who get in our way!"

— Extreme 1 introduction

Team Ming was a team of roboteers who were one of the longest-competing entries in the original run of Robot Wars. They competed in Series 3 with Ming; Series 4 with Ming 2; Series 5, 6 and Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1 with Ming 3; and in Series 7 with Ming Dienasty, alongside a robot separate from the Ming series, Zorro. Ming 3 also competed as a UK representative in the International Tag Team event of Nickelodeon Robot Wars, jointly winning the competition alongside partner Rick.

The Team

"Mr Cotterell first decided to get involved after seeing the programme on TV, and being endlessly pestered by his son to build a robot and take part. "We put it off and put it off, but eventually decided to go ahead with it""

— Shepton and District News on the team entering Robot Wars

Team Ming in Series 6, comprising of Andrew, Alexander and Oliver Cotterell

The team was mainly comprised of the Cotterell family, with Andrew Cotterell as captain and his children Alexander, Oliver, and Elliot joining him at alternate points throughout the UK and Nickelodeon series. Tim Hurdle and Fox Abrahams were also members of Team Ming in Series 3 and Series 7 respectively.

Despite entering in five wars, including two entries Series 7, Team Ming had a mixed-to-poor run of results, failing to reach even a Heat Final and falling in Round 1 on four occasions. However, they did jointly win the Nickelodeon International Tag Team Tournament alongside Rick, defeating Series 5 runner-up Bigger Brother in the process.

In Series 7, Team Ming were one of three teams to enter two competitors. Ming Dienasty and Zorro were placed in specific heats which ensured they would not potentially meet until the Grand Final. It would have been impossible for the two robots to be in the arena at the same time, as Andrew Cottrell was the team's only driver. Team Vader and Team Mouse's robots were similarly separated, however both of those teams possessed at least two drivers.

Team Members

Andrew Cotterell

"Andrew is the sort of person who always wants to be doing something productive with his time therefore he combined his engineering background with his love for his boys and got creative! At the time, Robot Wars was their son, Alex’s favourite TV programme and being the pro-active person that Andrew is, he took on the challenge of making their very own robot to compete in Robot Wars. Andrew took the bull by the horns and set about building robots with the boys and in return had a few on-screen moments that he will cherish forever."

— Oracle Magazine on Andrew Cotterell

Andrew being interviewed by Jayne Middlemiss in Series 7

The Team Captain, Andrew Cotterell was the only team member to be present in all of the team's appearances. An electrical engineer by trade, he was responsible for the design and construction of all five of the team's robots.

Throughout the team's appearances, Andrew drove the team's robots, even in Nickelodeon Robot Wars,

Alexander Cotterell

Team Ming in Series 4

Andrew's eldest son, Alexander was present for almost all the team's appearances, the only exception being Ming Dienasty's appearance in Series 7. An avid fan of the show, it was Alexander who persuaded his father to build a robot.

Although he was not present for Ming Dienasty's appearance in Series 7, he was part of the team when they entered Zorro in the same series, where he was team captain.

Oliver Cotterell

Alexander's younger brother, Oliver Cotterell was a regular member on the team. After appearing for the first time in Series 4, Oliver would join the team in each of their appearances, apart from Zorro's appearance in Series 7.

Other

Team Ming in Series 3

Another of Andrew's sons, Elliot, was part of the team when they entered Ming Dienasty.

Tim Hurdle was part of the team in Series 3, but did not making any appearances with the team after that.

Fox Abrahams was part of the team only when they entered Zorro in Series 7, where he controlled the weapon.

Costumes

"At the end of the day, we're from planet Mongo, and they're just pathetic earthlings!"

— Andrew Cotterell, in character as Ming the Merciless, addressing Hypno-Disc and Wheely Big Cheese prior to their Extreme 1 Mayhem

From Series 5/Extreme Series 1 onwards, Team Ming would dress themselves up in outfits to match the themes of their robots. For example, when competing with Ming 3 and Ming Dienasty, they donned black and gold costumes resembling that of the Flash Gordon villain of the same name. This was particularly emphasised in Extreme 1, in which Andrew Cotterell occasionally addressed to the camera in character as Ming the Merciless, the tyrannical ruler of the planet Mongo from the Flash Gordon canon. Segments involving Team Ming introducing themselves and challenging opponents thus inferred that they and Ming 3 had originated from said planet.

This element of the team's Robot Wars persona was gradually deemphasised in later appearances, with only Andrew wearing a full costume in Series 5-7 and the Nickelodeon series. Interviews conducted in The Pits concurrently switched to focusing on their robots' designs, armament and battle draws, as was the case in Series 3-4.

Team Ming with Zorro in Series 7

A similar characterisation was also evident when the team competed with Zorro in Series 7. In this instance, all members wore black hats, cloaks and fake moustaches resembling those of the eponymous fictional vigilante, though its Round 1 interview again focused on the robot's design as well as its limited amount of testing.

Outside Robot Wars

Ming 3 in the pits at the 2002 Debenham Robot Rumble

Ming 3 at Andrew Cotterell's pub, The Bottling Plant in 2021

Team Ming rarely appeared at live events, but Ming 3 is known to have made an appearance at the 2002 Debenham Robot Rumble.

Following their retirement from robot combat, Andrew Cotterell began running his own pub in Plymouth called The Bottling Plant, of which Ming 3 is on display there.

On 20 March 2024, Andrew has scheduled to host an independent event at the pub revolving around his time on Robot Wars along with discussions and showcases of the Ming robots.

Robots R US

The standard Robots R US Robogeddon RCV, used as the basis for Zorro and Ming Dienasty

Robogeddon RCV with its internals displayed

In 2002, shortly after the end of Extreme Series 2, Andrew Cotterell, along with Ian Lewis and Simon Scott came together to form a company called Robots R US. They conceptualised a series of robot kits and touring arenas for leisure and educational use under the Robogeddon brand (not to be confused with the Series 3 competitor), the former known as RCVs, Radio Controlled Vehicles or Cyber-Raptors.

Once completely assembled, each RCV weighed 70kg (alternatively 80kg) and was a box-shaped, four-wheel-drive robot with customisable bodyshells and a full-body bumper to absorb impacts. They were also equipped with an electric lifting arm which could turn opponents over and enable the robot to self-right. Kit and pre-built versions of the RCV were available to purchase individually, costing £2,800 and £3,400 respectively according to the 2007 Robots R US online shop.

Mobile Robogeddon arena set up in an outdoor venue

Mobile Robogeddon arena and RCVs in action

A promotional poster for Robogeddon

As well as these, a set of four RCVs was included as part of a larger Robogeddon arena. Available as transportable Mobile or permanent Static versions, this arena type was intended to be set up at venues including theme parks, shopping centres and holiday resorts, as well as being hired out for corporate events and parties. A typical arena game involved guests defending their RCV's marked areas while fighting and scoring as many points as possible within the time limit (usually between two and four minutes). This was done by hitting "point bumpers" located at their opponents' corners. Competitors had the freedom to disrupt their opponents by flipping and forcing them to self-right using the lifting arms equipped on every RCV. The Robogeddon arenas and game formats could be adapted to suit the needs of the venues operating them, with additional equipment for the Mobile version including an inflatable, water-resistant canopy (branded the 'Robodome') protecting the whole arena, RCVs, operator and guest drivers from adverse weather conditions.

Ming Dienasty (bottom), compared to a standard RCV kit (top)

Mobile Robogeddon arena at the 2014 Robot Wars (Roaming Robots) Santa Pod event

To showcase Robots R US' products while respecting rules on sponsorship in the UK Robot Wars, Andrew Cotterell converted two RCVs to form the basis of his new competitors for Series 7: Zorro and Ming Dienasty. Each was equipped with a tri-bar spinner and an arm-mounted drill respectively, which in the case of Ming Dienasty allowed it to self-right in the same manner as a standard RCV.

The Mobile Robogeddon arena was first introduced in July 2004 as part of an event held at the Legoland Windsor theme park, during which Razer and Mute were in attendance on the 24th alongside Philippa Forrester.

In 2014, John Findlay of Team Roaming Robots acquired the Robogeddon brand from Andrew Cotterell, essentially transferring it to become part of his Roaming Robots company. Along with being used at the company's own events such as the former Robot Wars-branded live tour, the Mobile Robogeddon arena was made available for hire as was the case under the brand's original creators. For a time, an individual RCV unit (simply named Cyber Raptor) was also used as one of the available robots for Platinum VIP ticket-holders to drive, occasionally being used in Extreme Robots fights as well. Since the 2018 Extreme Robots tour, Cyber Raptor has been rebuilt with a tracked system, ramming scoop and flamethrower for use as a featherweight house robot, retaining its top shell and name (alternatively spelt as Cyber Rapter).

A single Mobile Robogeddon arena - complete with four RCV units - is also currently owned by Mechatrons, primarily being hired for parties and events. The most recent public showing of the arena setup occurred at a BOC event in August 2023.

Robots

Name	Weight Class	Series
Ming	Heavyweight	Series 3-7, Extreme 1, Nickelodeon
Zorro	Heavyweight	Series 7

Ming (Series 3)

Ming 2 (Series 4)

Ming 3 (Series 5)

Ming 3 (Series 6)

Ming Dienasty (Series 7)

Zorro (Series 7)

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 6
• Losses: 8

Series Record

UK Series

Main Series	Team Ming Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Heat, Round 1 with Ming
The Fourth Wars	Heat, Round 2 with Ming 2
The Fifth Wars	Heat, Round 1 with Ming 3
The Sixth Wars	Heat, Round 2 with Ming 3
The Seventh Wars	Heat, Round 1 with Ming Dienasty Heat, Round 1 with Zorro
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Entered with Ming 3
Series 2	Did not enter

US Series

US Series	Team Ming Series Record
Season 1	Did not enter
Season 2	Did not enter
Nickelodeon	International Tag Team Champion with Ming 3

Trivia

Andrew Cotterell appears on Watchdog

• In March 2005, Robogeddon became a featured item on the 17th March edition of Blue Peter, wherein presenters and guests controlled RCV robots in arena battles set up inside the main studio.
• In 2012, team captain Andrew Cotterell appeared on the BBC One trading standards show Watchdog. The former driver of the Ming robots had been contacted by short-term loan provider Wonga.com requesting payments on loans taken out in his name, despite the fact that he had never heard about the company prior to receiving two letters from Wonga asking for over £400. It turned out that someone else had accessed Andrew's details and this fraudulent request had passed Wonga's security checks. Luckily, when Andrew contacted Wonga about the error, they corrected the mistake.
• Having made six attempts in five series (including their double entry for Series 7), Team Ming hold the dubious distinction of having entered the most Robot Wars UK Championships without reaching a Heat Final.

External Links

• Team Ming website (Archived)
• RobotsRus website (Archived)