Tetanus

Tetanus
Participation Information
UK Series	5-7, Extreme 2
Other Names	Tetanus 2 (Series 6, Extreme 2) Tetanus Booster (Series 7)
Team Information
Team Members	Paul Snook Conrad Snook Luke Angell
Other Entries	Flip Flop Fly (Series 3)
Robot Statistics
Weight	95kg
Dimensions	0.26m x 1.34m x 0.86m
Top Speed	18mph
Power	3 x 30amp motors
Weapons	Spinning drum
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"It's a robot made of rusty old scrap. I wouldn't touch it too much, you might catch something."

— A warning from captain Paul Snook in Series 5

Tetanus was a series of three robots from Shropshire that competed from Series 5 through 7 of Robot Wars. Although they shared the same name, the three robots were very different from one another. The team also entered Series 3 with the axlebot Flip Flop Fly.

The robot's name came from the disease of the same name. This name was chosen because Tetanus is often caught by handling scrap metal, and Tetanus was made from scrap metal.

Versions of Tetanus

Tetanus

"Combines a crusher, a lifter and spikes, and looks like an exit ramp, a desk lamp, and an insect. The "scissor-action" weapon is meant to lift other bots in the air, therefore immobilising them. Presumably, it then gives them a tetanus jab!"

— Robot Wars Magazine

Tetanus in Series 5

The original Tetanus competed in Series 5 and was built from scrap metal. It was a reverse wedge-shape with a unique clamping weapon on the front. This clamping weapon consisted of a series of fixed claws, two on top and two underneath acting as wedges, and an additional lifting spike, powered by a 1 ton ram and capable of hoisting a camper-van, which operated to lift and crush its opponents at once, as well as self-righting the machine.

"It's a very, very simple machine, it's tractor technology!"

— Paul Snook

Tetanus II

"Strong, big, steel armour, multi-functional weapons with the forklift and spike crusher, two wheel driven, but it's slow, too slow."

— Jonathan Pearce describes Tetanus 2

Tetanus 2 in Series 6

Tetanus 2 with the mesh attached in Extreme 2

The second incarnation, Tetanus 2 (styled as Tetanus II), was a completely different body-shape, as well as being two-wheel driven, considerably larger and upgraded with steel armour. Tetanus 2 now featured only a single top-mounted claw and unlike Tetanus, it was this that was powered as opposed to the bottom clamp, which was switched from claws to forklift-style wedges. The claw came down with over a tonne of pressure. Tetanus 2's wheels were now fully protected, powered by 2 wheelchair motors.

Tetanus 2 competed in Series 6 and Extreme 2. In the latter, the weaponry was changed to three lifting forks, with a large rollcage behind the robot to improve its self-righting. However, the weapon operated very slowly, and the robot did not perform as well as it did with the claw weaponry.

Tetanus Booster

Tetanus Booster in the pits

The final robot in the series was Tetanus Booster, a completely new design which competed in Series 7. It was an invertible four-wheel driven, box-shaped robot with a small spinning drum on the front. This version was the strongest, simplest, least expensive and most successful of the Tetanus robots, reaching the Heat Final, whereas the other versions lost in Round 2. Whilst appearing unreliable because of large outbursts of smoke, in reality, Tetanus Booster had small rubber wheels to power the larger rubber wheels. As a result, every time it changed direction, or started to move, the friction between both rubber 'rollers' caused the smoke, which had nothing to do with engines burning out.

Robot History

Series 5

Tetanus was placed against Onslaught in Round 1 of the Fifth Wars.

"Tetanus just the heavier, Onslaught very quick around the arena, always has been"

— Jonathan Pearce weighs up the competition at the start of the battle

Tetanus turns Onslaught over

Tetanus started by driving at Onslaught, but its opponent was much too fast, and drove away before Tetanus could get close. It drove around its opponent, over the flames, circling Tetanus, before driving down the arena, then turned around, drove around Tetanus again, turning over the flames and charging straight at Tetanus, getting under it with the scoop and pushing it back. Onslaught fired the lifter, but this caused Tetanus to fall off the lifter as it continued pushing. Onslaught drove onto the raised pit, but bumped on the edge, then reversed into Tetanus. Tetanus pushed Onsluaght, but its spike got caught on the edge of the pit, and Onslaught got away. Tetanus reversed off of the pit, and Onslaught charged at the front of Tetanus, pushing it against the bottom arena wall, but got itself up on the wedge front, allowing Tetanus to flip Onslaught onto its side and push back. Onslaught fired the lifter in an attempt to free itself, and as Tetanus turned around whilst pushing it, Onslaught fell onto its back. Tetanus pushed it to an angle grinder, and Onslaught self-righted just as it reached the grinder, but landed on the arena wall, so rolled over onto its back again. It briefly struggled to close its self-righter, but when it did close it, Tetanus was in front of it, so it could not self-right. Tetanus pinned Onslaught on its side against the arena wall, and Onslaught tried to fire its lifter to get free, to no avail.

"...They're in trouble here Onslaught, because Tetanus turned them turtle early on and are preventing them from self-righting."

— Jonathan Pearce

Tetanus breaks down over CO₂ vent

Tetanus turned Onslaught into Sergeant Bash, which fired its flamethrower at Onslaught, as Tetanus continue to hold its opponent down, preventing it from self-righting or getting away.

"Paul Snook, a musician by trade, and on song and in tune here with Tetanus."

— Jonathan Pearce

Tetanus pushed Onslaught away from the side wall, still impeding its attempts to self-right. The team tried to push Onslaught onto the flame pit, but Tetanus drove onto a Co₂ vent as it attacked Onslaught, and Co₂ seeped through a gap in Tetanus' baseplate, causing it to become immobile. With both robots immoblised, Refbot counted them both out, meaning the judges' had to decide which robot had won. The judges' went for Tetanus, putting them through to the next round.

"There's a hole, about 5 inches diameter, on the bottom of the robot, which has a castor in it, and no doubt the Co₂'s gone into that, and I don't know what it does to it, but it seems to have coated everything, probably the speed controller, inside the robot itself."

— Paul Snook explains why Tetanus stopped moving to Craig Charles

Tetanus was drawn against the 8th seed 3 Stegs To Heaven in Round 2.

"We hope we're going to meet loads of people, and kill them!"

— Paul Snook's pre-fight banter, which according to Jonathan Pearce, after a word from Refbot he clarified he meant "kill robots", not people

Tetanus lifts 3 Stegs to Heaven. Note the severed prong

Both robots started slowly, with 3 Stegs to Heaven turning around to get its disc into play, whilst Tetanus initially held back. 3 Stegs to Heaven reversed towards Tetanus, but stopped and started turning one way and another, so Tetanus drove in, getting under the side of 3 Stegs to Heaven, pushing it back across the arena. 3 Stegs to Heaven managed to turn itself of the spike of Tetanus, hitting it with the disc, but this caused no damage. The two robots span together, both trying to get their weapons in a good position to attack. Tetanus got its spike under 3 Stegs to Heaven, but 3 Stegs to Heaven turned and used its disc to get off the spike. However, Tetanus was still able to push 3 Stegs to Heaven back against an angle grinder.

"Difficult to see what damage that disc of 3 Stegs can do, because you see the side brace there on Tetanus to protect its armour"

— Jonathan Pearcece

Tetanus lifted 3 Stegs to Heaven up, but 3 Stegs to Heaven fell off the lifter as Tetanus tried to turn away from the wall. 3 Stegs to Heaven tried to attack the front of Tetanus with the disc, but the disc stopped on impact, and Tetanus pushed it over the flames. 3 Stegs was spinning on one wheel against the arena wall, and Tetanus pushed it up the arena and into the wall. Tetanus pinned it against the wall and lifted it up, but as it turned its opponent, 3 Stegs to Heaven's disc hit one of the top spikes, ripping it off. Tetanus was still able to hold 3 Stegs to Heaven against the arena wall.

"...and it's balanced very delicately, the machine and the battle I would say!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Tetanus holds 3 Stegs to Heaven up

Tetanus is pitted by Sgt. Bash

Tetanus dropped it, before using the lifter to pin 3 Stegs to Heaven down. However, one of Tetanus' prongs became caught under 3 Stegs to Heaven, so Refbot had to separate the two. 3 Stegs to Heaven moved away, albeit on one wheel, but Tetanus had stopped. 3 Stegs to Heaven used its disc to grind at Tetanus, and Refbot counted it out.

"...and Tetanus being counted out, after a bright start. They didn't get the jab in, and their needle was blunted. 3 Stegs got the needle, and put them out!"

— Jonathan Pearce

The House Robots came in, with Matilda ripping of one of the wheel guards with her flywheel, before Sgt. Bash pitted Tetanus.

"We tried to lift them up, and we was doing okay, but out lifter got on top of them, we tried to push 'em down, it bent our tines down at the front, so then we had less traction, because of the oil, and we couldn't really move forward, and when you can't move forward in this game, well you're soon to be eaten, aren't you?"

— Paul Snook explains why Tetanus became immobilised

Series 6

"Ooh, now this is a mean-looking machine!"

— Jonathan Pearce introducing Tetanus 2

Tetanus 2 traps Weld-Dor 3 against the angle grinder

In Round 1 of the Sixth Wars, Tetanus 2 fought Cyrax, Weld-Dor 3 and Ruf Ruf Dougal. The Tetanus team had fought the Cyrax team's previous entry Wild Willy in Series 3. Tetanus 2 immediately clamped onto the most experienced of its three opponents, Weld-Dor 3. Weld-Dor 3 drove at Tetanus 2, allowing Tetanus 2 to get under it easily and push it into Ruf Ruf Dougal, which was being lifted by Cyrax. Tetanus 2 closed its crushed, but failed to puncture Weld-Dor 3, which was venting CO2 without the flipper firing. As Tetanus 2 raised the crusher, Weld-Dor 3 tried to get away, but could not get of the front tines of Tetanus 2, so Tetanus 2 pushed it up the arena. Tetanus 2 pinned Weld-Dor against the Refbot and brought the crusher down. It still could not puncture the top, but did have a good grip on Weld-Dor 3, and pushed it across the arena, pinning it against an angle grinder.

"Tetanus 2 is doing a lot of aggression, should this go to a judges' decision, that could prove decisive. Tetanus 2, for me, looks very good..."

— Jonathan Pearce

Tetanus pits Weld-Dor 3

After this, Tetanus 2 reversed and manoeuvred Weld-Dor 3 onto the flame pit, before pushing it into the wall, then letting it go and reversing away. Weld-Dor 3 drove back at it, but missed with the flipper, having bounced back on contact. Tetanus 2 got hold of Weld-Dor 3 again, and pinned it against the wall again. Weld-Dor 3 managed to escape as Tetanus 2 turned to attack its side. Tetanus 2 followed it to the other side of the arena, getting under it with one of its tines and pushing it into Dead Metal's CPZ, which grabbed Weld-Dor 3 and cut into it with his saw.

"This is a very good display by Tetanus 2. ... I like the look of this machine."

— Jonathan Pearce

As Dead Metal attacked Weld-Dor 3, Tetanus 2 drove down the arena and opened the pit. Whilst the camera was focusing on Cyrax fighting Ruf Ruf Dougal, Tetanus 2 got under Weld-Dor 3 again. It finished the Northern Irish machine off by pushing it into the pit. It then attacked Ruf Ruf Dougal, pushing it onto the flame pit. Ruf Ruf Dougal was still moving, and drove off the flames, so Tetanus 2 pushed it into Dead Metal's clutches just before "cease" was called. The judges' were needed to decide which of the remaining remaining three robots would be eliminated, and they chose to eliminate Ruf Ruf Dougal.

Tetanus 2 was drawn against Raging Reality in Round 2.

Philippa Forrester: "...did you see their first battle? Razer tried but couldn't ever get hold of them, so how is Tetanus going to get hold of them?"

Paul Snook: "Well, we're big, aren't we?"

— Pre-battle interview

As Tetanus 2 closed in on its opponent, Raging Reality tried to get around to its side. However, Tetanus 2 turned to face Raging Reality before it could flip, so Raging Reality reversed. Tetanus 2 pushed Team Knightmare's machine back, and Raging Reality reversed away, but Tetanus 2 followed it, eventually getting the tines under it and pushing it into the pit release button. Raging Reality managed to get off Tetanus 2's tines as it turned, and escaped, but drove into a CPZ, where Tetanus 2 caught up with it, pinned it into the corner, and started to close the crusher. However, as it did so, Growler rammed into it, loosening its grip on Raging Reality. Growler rammed into Raging Reality, pinning it in the corner. Tetanus 2 reversed out of the CPZ, then started driving at the side of Growler. Growler moved away, and Tetanus got under Raging Reality, which was not moving by the side wall. As Tetanus 2 closed the crusher on the flipper of Raging Reality, Growler drove to the other side and grabbed it in his jaw. As Tetanus 2 pulled Raging Reality out of the CPZ and towards the pit, Raging Reality tried firing its flipper to get free of Tetanus 2's crusher, but the flipper became caught on the crusher.

"Raging Reality though, is at this moment in time, very close to defeat. Tetanus 2 knows only a shove is needed..."

— Jonathan Pearce

Tetanus being thrown out of the arena by Raging Reality

Tetanus 2 pushed Raging Reality against the arena wall, where Raging Reality was able to close the flipper, but it was stuck on the prongs of Tetanus 2, which had stopped moving. Refbot bumped into the two robots to try and separate them, but then reversed into the pit. After this, Raging Reality managed to get free of Tetanus 2 by firing the flipper again and again. It drove up the arena, before coming back and flipping Tetanus 2 over. As Tetanus 2 tried to self-right, Raging Reality got the flipper under it and flipped it over the wall.

"...and Raging Reality, from looking on the brink of oblivion, the brink of defeat - HAS TOPPLED TETANUS OUT OF THE ARENA!"

— Jonathan Pearce, as Tetanus 2 is flipped out of the arena

Tetanus 2 was eliminated, at the same stage as the team's previous two appearances.

Craig Charles: "You might be happy that you lost, because these guys have next got to go and fight Razer!"

Paul Snook: "Well, we'd have been a good match for Razer, but our worst fear was a flipper."

Craig Charles: "We'll see if we can get a grudge match going on one time!"

— Post-battle interview

Extreme 2

Killer Carrot 2 pits Tetanus 2

Tetanus 2 competed in the Minor Meltdown in Extreme Series 2, where it fought Rick and Killer Carrot 2 in Round 1. Its claw weapon was removed and replaced with a mesh net, this was used for self-righting. In the battle, it had to self-right on only one occasion, even there it was very slow. Tetanus 2 then hunted down Killer Carrot 2 and pinned it up against the arena wall, but was lifted up by Killer Carrot 2 and couldn't self-right in time before Rick pressed the pit release, and Killer Carrot 2 pushed the upended machine into the pit. Cease was called and Rick and Killer Carrot 2 went through.

Series 7

"Given the needle in past wars, could give the championship a real shot in the arm though"

— Jonathan Pearce

Tetanus throws Leveller 2 over

In Round one of Series 7, Tetanus Booster came up against Leveller 2, Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit and Thunderpants. However, Thunderpants withdrew before the battle, and almost immediately after the start of the battle, Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit immobilised itself whilst attacking a heavily battered Leveller 2. This meant Tetanus Booster was already through to the second round, but it still managed to break off the rear panel of Leveller 2 whilst Barber-Ous was being counted out, and flipped Leveller 2 over.

Tetanus Booster attempts to push Ewe 2

Tetanus Booster and Ewe 2 pursue each other

Tetanus Booster causes external damage to Ewe 2

Tetanus Booster is pushed back by Ewe 2

In Round 2, Tetanus Booster met Ewe 2. Both robots started slowly, but eventually Tetanus Booster attacked Ewe 2 with its spinning drum, inflicting minor damage. Ewe 2 kept getting in position to use its flipping weapon, but the attack never came, and it continued to take damage from Tetanus Booster. Eventually, Ewe 2 activated the pit release button and tried to push Tetanus Booster, but Tetanus caused decisive damage to Ewe 2, as a piece of bodywork flew across the arena. Ewe 2 continued to get underneath Tetanus Booster but seemed unable to use its flipper and simply tried to push it around the arena, but the two were evenly matched. Eventually, Tetanus Booster slowed down considerably and its spinning weapon stopped moving, so Ewe 2 was able to push into the arena walls and one of the angle grinders before pushing into into the CPZ. Ceased was called and the judges controversially gave the win to Tetanus Booster.

Craig Charles: "What were the judges thinking, tell me, I don't understand it!"

Team Tetanus: "I'll give them the money now!"

— Justification of a controversial victory

Tornado gets underneath Tetanus Booster

Tetanus Booster is pitted

This put Tetanus Booster through to the Heat Final against reigning champions Tornado. Tornado very quicky got underneath Tetanus Booster and pushed it around the arena, slamming it into the arena walls several times. Tetanus Booster tried to escape, but Tornado caught up with it and rammed it into Cassius Chrome, then an angle grinder, then the other CPZ, where Shunt attacked it. The pit was opened and Tetanus Booster tried to run away, but Tornado caught up with it and slammed it into the arena wall again and then into the CPZ. Tetanus Booster kept trying to escape but Tornado continued to attack and pushed it around the arena, eventually pushing it right onto the edge of the pit and finally nudged it down into the pit of oblivion, eliminating Tetanus Booster from the competition.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 4
• Losses: 4

Series Record

Main Series	Tetanus Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Entered with Flip Flop Fly
The Fourth Wars	Did not enter
The Fifth Wars	Heat, Round 2 as Tetanus
The Sixth Wars	Heat, Round 2 as Tetanus 2
The Seventh Wars	Heat Final as Tetanus Booster
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Entered as Tetanus 2

Trivia

• Tetanus was also the team name used by the Sumpthing team.
• Strangely, every time either Flip Flop Fly or one of the Tetanus machines lost a battle in the main competition, the robot who beat it would eventually lose to that series' runner-up.
• Tetanus 2 is the only crusher-wielding robot to be Thrown Out of the Arena by another competitor.