Techno Trousers was an American competitor robot that fought in Season 2 of Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors as well as Nickelodeon Robot Wars. It reached the second round of the US Championship in Extreme Warriors, but was eliminated in the first round of both the Nickelodeon Annihilator and Mayhem competitions.
Design[]

Techno Trousers in the arena
As its name suggests, Techno Trousers was modeled on a pair of trousers, with a rear box section containing two wheels and a pair of red bands resembling braces, as well as two very long cylindrical sections resembling trouser 'legs' protruding from the front. The left 'leg' also contained the robot's weapon - a lance attached to the end of a truck spring and drawn back by a hydraulic cylinder using a cable. Another lance was added to the right 'leg' of Techno Trousers during the Nickelodeon series, though it was only static. The lance would fire once it was released from a catch lock, hoping to pierce through other robots' armor. Though invertible, Techno Trousers was sluggish, cumbersome and prone to being easily shunted around, as a result of its low pushing power and excessive length. Its underside was also vulnerable due to the robot having no baseplate.
According to Andrew Kurtz, Techno Trousers was initially weighed on a bathroom scale, which prompted concerns within the team about it being overweight upon arrival at filming. Several holes were drilled in its 'legs' and main chassis to keep its weight down, though ultimately the robot as a whole weighed in at 184lbs (185lbs in Nickelodeon series statsboards) - much less than the 220lb (100kg) maximum. Techno Trousers itself received an extra battery as a result of this outcome.
Etymology[]

Techno Trousers in The Pits
The robot's original working name was The Wrong Trousers in reference to the 1993 Wallace and Gromit animated short film of the same name, which features the Techno Trousers.Citation? However, this was changed before filming (possibly for copyright reasons, though this is unconfirmed). The team further reinforced Techno Trousers' theme by wearing tall trousers with red braces throughout their appearances.
Robot History[]
Season 2[]
In Round 1 of Heat E, Techno Trousers fought fellow newcomer Darkness, and Team DreamDroid's new robot MechaDroid.

Techno Trousers is pushes around by MechaDroid

Techno Trousers benefits from MechaDroid's misfortune
It was sluggish moving away from the CPZ, and stayed out of most of the action early on as Darkness and MechaDroid fought each other. It was then shoved by MechaDroid into another CPZ where Sgt. Bash came in to attack. Techno Trousers was pushed out by MechaDroid and Darkness into the Pit release button and another CPZ, where Sgt. Bash grabbed hold of its rear end and dragged it across the arena before letting go, crushing it in the process. However, Techno Trousers survived as Darkness pushed MechaDroid into the Pit a few seconds later.
In Round 2, Techno Trousers faced the experienced Rosie the Riveter 2.

Dead Metal slices into Techno Trousers' 'leg'

Techno Trousers is pitted by Rosie the Riveter 2
It used its actuated spear to knock Rosie the Riveter 2 back but the spike failed to recoil, rendering it useless. Techno Trousers then spent most of the fight being pushed around by its opponent. Rosie The Riveter 2 pushed Techno Trousers into the CPZs where Matilda and Dead Metal attacked it, before ramming Techno Trousers into the Pit trigger. Here, Rosie the Riveter 2 drove under Techno Trousers completely, and carried it over to the edge of the Pit. Techno Trousers did not move away, and Rosie the Riveter 2 dropped Techno Trousers into the Pit, eliminating them from the US Championship.
Nickelodeon[]

Techno Trousers gets involved as Vert-I-Go flicks Joker's link out

Shunt axes Techno Trousers
Techno Trousers first fought in the Mayhem tournament alongside loanerbot Vert-I-Go and Joker. At first, the robot seemed to be having mobility problems, and was uninvolved in the battle bar a light lift from Vert-I-Go, but after Vert-I-Go turned it over, Techno Trousers slowly began moving again. Once Vert-I-Go had immobilized Joker, the two active robots fought, but Techno Trousers was flipped onto a steam vent, and was lifted by Vert-I-Go on several other occasions. Towards the end of the fight, Techno Trousers was pushed into the CPZ and Shunt axed its hydraulic tank, causing it to spill fluid all over the arena floor, and Techno Trousers became immobile. It had survived for long enough to qualify for a Judges' decision, but Techno Trousers easily lost this decision to Vert-I-Go.

Techno Trousers is flung towards Bunny Attack
Techno Trousers also competed in the Annihilator fighting Bunny Attack, Basenji, Hannibal, and The Piecemaker, again falling in the first round. Once the fight started, Techno Trousers was suffering from more technical difficulties and barely moved throughout the bout. It was eventually considered immobilized, counted out and put on the Floor Flipper, landing on Bunny Attack's hammer as it flew in the air. Techno Trousers was therefore eliminated from the Annihilator.
Results[]
TECHNO TROUSERS - RESULTS | ||
Season 2 | ||
US Championship Heat, Round 2 | ||
Heat E, Round 1 | vs. Darkness, MechaDroid | Qualified |
Heat E, Round 2 | vs. Rosie the Riveter 2 | Lost |
Nickelodeon Robot Wars | ||
Annihilator Fifth Place | ||
Round 1 | vs. Basenji, Bunny Attack, Hannibal, The Piecemaker | Eliminated |
Mayhem Round 1 | ||
Round 1 | vs. Joker, Vert-I-Go | Eliminated |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 3
Series Record[]
US Series | Techno Trousers Series Record |
---|---|
Season 1 | Did not enter |
Season 2 | Heat, Round 2 |
Nickelodeon | Entered |
Trivia[]
- Techno Trousers was referred to as The Wrong Trousers in an official souvenir program, a further reference to the Wallace and Gromit series. This program also mentioned it as having a kick in both legs, rather than just the left leg.
- Clips of Techno Trousers being axed by Shunt was used in the show's opening sequence between Dutch Robot Wars: Series 2, Series 6 and 7, and of being sliced by Dead Metal in the Series 6 House Robot introduction and Nickelodeon Robot Wars.
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