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For other uses of the name Thor, see Thor (disambiguation).

"Now... Thor's a fairly straightforward robot. It's extremely powerful, which is very scary."
Mark Setrakian, weighing up tactics against Thor prior to their 1995 Heavyweight Face-Off clash[4]

Thor was a heavyweight robot from California which debuted in the 1995 US Robot Wars competition. In its only event on American soil, it used its hydraulically-powered hammer to damaging effect, reaching the finals of both the Heavyweight Face-Off and Heavyweight Melee tournaments. Thor would lose both championships, however, to The Master and La Machine respectively, emerging in the former as runner-up.[6][4] The robot's powerful weaponry and use of hydraulics also enabled it to receive the 'Best Engineering' award that year, an honor shared with Blendo.[7]

Alongside The Master and La Machine, Thor was one of three US competitors invited to take part in the 1995 UK Open Competition - a proof-of-concept for the original Robot Wars television series. The UK Open enabled it to face The Master a second time; a fight which resulted in a second defeat and both robots gaining substantial exposure in media released for the show. Full-length extracts of the battle - often dubbed as the heavyweight final - were included in Heat D of Series 1, plus the VHS releases Robot Wars: The First Great War and American Robot Wars Final 1996.

Design[]

Thor 1995 arena

Thor before its UK Open battle against The Master

Thor was a four-wheeled robot with car-like electric front steering, a 6061 T6 grade, TIG welded aluminum chassis (incorporating front and rear bumpers) and a brown Kevlar bodyshell. The rear wheels were driven by a pair of Rexroth gerotor motors with Moog servovalves; though protected at either end by the aforementioned bumpers, all four were exposed from most angles. The entire robot ran on hydraulics rated at 210 bar of pressure, or 'about 2000-2500psi' according to Team Minus Zero, incorporating custom lines made out of 'hand welded stainless steel tubing'. An air-cooled, 100cc Yamaha KT100 two-stroke engine was used to power the whole system, whose oil reservoir was placed within the main chassis.[5][4][8]

As its main weapon, Thor was equipped with a serrated titanium arm mounted at the front. The arm (referred to by the team as a 'titanium hammer') featured several downward-facing spikes at the bottom of each side plate, along with three downward 'U'-shaped extensions resembling one end of a wrench. This, too, would be powered by hydraulics, allowing the arm to strike and retract very quickly - qualities which gave Thor a reputation as being one of the most damaging and feared competitors in the 1994-1997 era.[5] Such was the force behind Thor's arm, in tandem with the 'suspended' orientation of the back wheels, that the whole robot had a tendency to 'buck like crazy' whenever the weapon was active. The complexity of the design meant that Thor utilized two separate RC control systems for the drive and weapon arm.[8]

As demonstrated in the 1995 US event, the end of Thor's arm could be adapted to sport an optional angled plate, primarily for ramming or flipping opponents. The angled plate would be seen in its later Face-Off and Melee appearances, but is not known to have been used at the 1995 UK Open.[4] A noticeable change for the latter event was the addition of sloped side panels in between the wheels, displaying large decals for sponsor GEC Alsthom.

The Team[]

Thor us insides

The insides of Thor in the pits during the UK Open

Thor was built and entered by staff from Schilling Robotic Systems (alternatively Schilling Robotics or Schilling Development[8]), with company founder Tyler Schilling responsible for its design and drive controls. Schilling was joined by employee Andy Lyons, who would operate its titanium weapon. According to Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, a 'half-dozen' mechanical engineers employed by the company were involved in Thor's construction, the process taking them 'several months' to complete in their spare time.[9]

Initially founded in 1985, Schilling Robotic Systems specialized in producing 'telerobotic manipulator' systems for military, scientific and commercial uses. Among their most notable projects include mechanical arms for undersea Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV) and 'salvage' submersibles, and NASA Space Shuttle craft. By 1997, the company had become a subsidiary of GEC Alsthom, an international power generation and railway rolling stock manufacturer, whose logo was carried by Thor during the 1995 UK Open.[10][11] The latter company would later be renamed to the presently-known Alstom, during the same year in which the original UK Series first debuted.[12]

Robot History[]

1995 US Championship[]

Thor made its debut at the Second Annual Robot Wars in San Francisco, on the weekend of August 19-20 1995. Initially competing in the Heavyweight Face-Off, its first opponent was Merrimac, a multi-sided lifter built by a team representing Industrial Light & Magic.

Merrimac vs thor

Thor is controlled by Merrimac early on

Early on, both robots squared off opposite one of the mousetraps, with Thor parked precariously close to the hazard's net. Thor started backing away, but could not avoid getting pushed back towards the wall. Smoke started billowing into the arena as Merrimac nudged and flicked it, taking advantage of Thor's high ground clearance. Thor thrashed its arm in an attempt to get itself free, shooting forwards and driving to the left into the corner. In doing so, it could not avoid the arena flippers, nor another exchange with Merrimac, during which Thor attempted to swat the latter with its arm.[6][13]

Again, Thor ponderously moved out of the corner and across the arena center. A head-to-head collision resulted in it driving up one of Merrimac's lifting flaps as it rose. Thor slipped off before Merrimac - now smoking more copiously - could have a chance to push it back. Another tentative stand-off lead to it repeatedly smashing down on Merrimac's weaponry, as Merrimac responded with another lift and push. Thor pushed Merrimac back in retaliation, continuing to jostle with and smash down on it within the thickening smoke clouds. The onslaught appeared to leave Merrimac temporarily immobilized. Once the latter drove into a mousetrap, Thor reversed up and got stuck on one corner, using its fast-acting hammer to escape.[6][13]

Thor vs merrimac

Thor pounds Merrimac into submission

Thor proceeded to drive into, push and hammer Merrimac several more times. A second countdown clock was initiated for Merrimac, which had now become fully immobile under the other mousetrap. Thor finished the battle with several more hammer strikes on Merrimac, securing a convincing knockout win on its first attempt.[6][13]

In the second round, Thor fought Cyberknight, the second entry from future War of Independence and Extreme Warriors competitors Team Minus Zero.

"Here is our robot being attacked by Thor. We did not do very well in this battle. We were having problems with the robot blowing up our electronics so we lost the ability to stop and steer after a few seconds into the bout. It was just forward or backward."
— Team Minus Zero, explaining Cyberknight's control problems during the opening moments of Thor's second battle[8]

Similarly to the previous fight, the two machines tentatively approached each other from either side of the arena. Blue smoke billowed from Thor's exhaust pipe as it reversed, turned and began violently pounding on Cyberknight's flat top. Repeated blows eventually caused direct damage to Cyberknight's gas motor, disabling the latter's sawblade, which Thor also struck after momentarily driving on top of and around Cyberknight. Thor pushed and again swatted at Cyberknight's motor, removing a component from the top, before retreating to line up another charge and series of hammer strikes.[8][14]

After inflicting further damage to Cyberknight's motor, Thor again briefly retreated into the corner. Once both robots met again, Cyberknight suddenly became immobilized entirely, giving Thor the opportunity to batter its weapon and top armor even further. Further hits to Cyberknight's weapon motor 'destroyed' its protective shroud. The impacts were also sufficient to dislodge the ram chips from within Cyberknight's drive, disabling its onboard microcomputer. Thor was soon declared to have won by knockout for the second time.[8][14]

Thor advanced to the overall Final, where it would fight Mark Setrakian and The Master for the 1995 Heavyweight Face-Off championship. For this crucial match, the tip of the hammer arm was modified to include an angled plate, presumably to lift and ram the returning 1994 axlebot.

Thor vs themaster

Thor destroys The Master's cutting blade

Starting from the left-hand side of the arena, Thor quickly drove towards the weaving Master, thrusting its arm down and attempting to lift it by the axle with the spatula blade. When this proved unsuccessful, it resorted to hammering The Master's left wheel, before hesitating and circling around it, dodging the upper mousetrap in the process. A clash between The Master's saw and Thor's arm resulted in the former starting to fray, then collapsing entirely as it tried to slice through Thor's Kevlar shell. Thor backed up once again, before whacking The Master's other wheel. This would put the Schilling machine at a disadvantage, however, as The Master lifted and pushed it back with its electric lifter.[4][15]

Themaster vs thor hwfinal

Thor smokes, moments after The Master spears through its hydraulic reservoir

Thor, jostled around by The Master's movements, shook itself loose with the hammer and circled across the arena center. In its movements, however, it would be caught by the upper mousetrap, but avoided another lift from The Master. More crucially, its earlier attacks had damaged The Master's left drive motor, leaving Mark Setrakian's machine immobile on one side. After giving the spinning Master another nudge, Thor rammed, nudged and swiped it once more. More nudging between the two competitors followed, during which Thor was caught by the mousetrap once again. At that point, The Master's lifter jabbed through the right-hand side of Thor, whose hammer lowered limply into its fired position as the two machines found themselves caught in a deadlock.[4][15][16]

Thor 95 smoking

Thor, engulfed in more smoke, is pushed around by The Master

In a dramatic turn of events, the back end of Thor was gradually enveloped in a cloud of thick white smoke. The collision with The Master pierced through a 'weak spot' in its chassis, allowing the latter's lifter tip to puncture its hydraulic reservoir.[17] Smoke and hydraulic fluid continued pouring out of Thor as the crowd erupted into applause, and The Master slowly pushed it into the wall beside the opposite mousetrap. With its onboard systems now damaged and incapacitated, Thor was powerless to avoid a knockout pin, which awarded The Master the 1995 Heavyweight Face-Off title. Schilling Robotic Systems and their machine would thus settle for the runner-up finish. A clip of Thor's defeat would later be featured in the VHS release American Robot Wars 1996, explaining The Master's status as a then-defending champion.[4][15]

Later on, Thor was repaired to compete in the Heavyweight Melee tournament, maintaining the arm configuration seen in the Face-Off Final. In its preliminary rumble, it fought Merrimac for the second time, the duo being joined in the arena by Painful Wedgie and Spirit of Frank.

Starting on the same side of the arena as Painful Wedgie, Thor shuttled back and forth in its effort to attack the former within the opening seconds. However, it was otherwise slow to engage, until it whacked the much smaller Spirit of Frank as both robots met near the center. Thor proceeded to drive past the mousetrap and into Merrimac, both robots exchanging attacks with their weaponry. No sooner had they separated, it tried to flip, then bludgeon a seemingly-immobile Painful Wedgie. When Merrimac tried to separate the pair, Thor proceeded to slam its arm down on it multiple times.[18]

With Merrimac seemingly immobilized, Thor again attempted to flip Painful Wedgie. When this again failed, it turned towards and resumed its attacks on Merrimac, which responded by lifting Thor once again. This pattern would be maintained for the next few moments. Thor, the most active out of the four robots at that point, encountered Merrimac again inside the corner, but largely stayed out of the fray as Merrimac turned Spirit of Frank onto its side. The two largest machines resumed their duel, prompting Thor to again billow a large quantity of smoke. Hydraulic fluid leaked from beneath the chassis as it pulled up alongside the side-stranded axlebot, then reversed as the latter self-righted through the kinetic energy acting on its weapon.[18]

Thor remained in the corner, crawling and smoking in place while Merrimac again flicked Spirit of Frank over. When it next attempted to hammer Merrimac, it could only do so limply, as Merrimac pushed and flicked it in response. More weapon exchanges followed, before Thor was released, heading towards, stopping short of and backing away from the mousetrap. It, Merrimac and Spirit of Frank all continued to demonstrate movement during the match's conclusion, ending with Thor getting flicked, then landing a final hammer blow on the former. All three machines would automatically qualify for the Melee Final.[18]

For overall Melee honors, Thor, Merrimac and Spirit of Frank were joined by The Master, setting up a potential rematch against the two Face-Off finalists. As a last-minute addition, recently-crowned Middleweight champion La Machine joined the battle as well, with Trey Roski from the Impact Media team wanting to prove its performance against the quartet.[19]

Lamachine vs thor

La Machine pushes Thor across the arena

Thor again started from the left side, tentatively shuffling back and forth with Merrimac nearby. At one point, it slammed its arm down onto the top of La Machine, though this did not stop La Machine from ramming it in response. During the same scuffle, The Master charged in to bring its flexible Lexan 'whip' into use; Thor weathered strikes from the former's chains as it exchanged more rams with both Merrimac and La Machine. Some time passed before Thor eventually tried to hammer The Master again. Eventually, it succeeded in pushing Team Sinister's machine over an arena flipper, where it got caught by its own 'whip' chains.[4]

"Again, Thor put up a great fight, but was outmaneuvered and overpowered."
Paul Vallis as Thor is pushed by La Machine and Merrimac, American Robot Wars 1996

Ultimately, Thor found itself under more pressure from the lighter La Machine. La Machine shoved it into the walls, a smoking Merrimac and across the arena (an exchange later highlighted in American Robot Wars 1996), at one point lifting Thor upwards against the latter. Thor thrashed around with its arm, but could not drive away before being delivered into and away from Cambot. With Merrimac joining the chase, it was pressed against the access doors, finding itself hooked on the flipper in front.[4]

Thor flipperstuck melee

Thor begins to shake itself loose from an arena flipper, after being placed there by La Machine

Thor repeatedly shook itself forwards to break free, smoking and twitching as it headed back into the center. Bumping into Merrimac, it continued to smoke as it maneuvered past the stationary ILM entry, the clouds thickening and more problems with its hydraulics emerging. In the official 1995 highlights, Thor was last seen crawling back and forth through its smokescreen, ultimately losing the battle and the overall Heavyweight Melee championship to La Machine.[4][7][20]

In addition to its strong combat run, Thor also collected the 'Best Engineering' award for 1995, an accolade jointly shared with Blendo.[7]

1995 UK Open[]

In November 1995, Thor was one of three US robots - alongside The Master and La Machine - to be invited to take part in the 1995 UK Open Competition. Serving as a proof-of-concept and filmed pilot for the UK Robot Wars series, the UK Open involved multiple combat and non-combat events featuring the trio, plus a selection of UK and international competitors.

One such event involving Thor was an 'Obstacle Race', recollected by future technical consultant and Judge Mat Irvine in Issue 1 of Robot Wars: The Official Magazine. The event pitted at least two competitors against each other in an obstacle course-style challenge, combining elements later seen in the Gauntlet and Stock Car stages from the televised show.[21]

"I remember in particular that the small robot I'd bought along... although by far and away the smallest competitor (it was technically classed as a Featherweight), had the advantage in the obstacle race that it was fastest off the line."
— Mat Irvine recollects his participation in the 'obstacle race'[21]

Irvine's account suggests that, as part of a run recorded for the pilot, Thor competed against an unidentified featherweight he built and entered himself. Thor proceeded to win this run, at one point driving over Irvine's robot after it suffered control issues and turned over at the first corner.[21] Though the UK Open was extensively highlighted in Robot Wars: The First Great War, Thor's Obstacle Race would not be one of the events showcased.

"And now it's time to strap yourselves in and cry mercy, as we leave you with the ultimate robotic confrontation!"
Craig Charles in Robot Wars: The First Great War

At a later stage, Thor fought a head-to-head battle against The Master; the third time in which both robots had met each other in combat. This would be by far the most highlighted event of the entire 1995 UK Open. A substantial full-length clip would appear in Heat D of The First Wars, with an extended version concluding The First Great War and the Robot Wars Club-exclusive American Robot Wars Final 1996. In the latter, this battle was labelled as the 'Heavyweight Final'.

"We'll revisit the 1995 UK Robot Wars Championships in London, featuring two of the most powerful robots in the world today! The Master, built by Mark Setrakian, and Thor, designed by Schilling Robotics, both from America. What a night it was!"
Jonathan Pearce introduces highlights of the 1995 UK Open "Final" (Series 1, Heat D)
The Master vs Thor

Thor's shell gets an early cut from The Master

A tentative start by both robots saw Thor weaving slowly towards, but then shuffling back and forth a short distance away from The Master right away. With its hammer lowered, it briefly brushed one of the spherical wheels of Mark Setrakian's machine, maintaining its cautious approach throughout the first thirty seconds.

"Here comes the saw, and that's the first hit! And he's carving into it, now! Oh, they're locked in a deadly embrace!"
Dominik Diamond as Thor is first sliced by The Master (original audio, American Robot Wars Final 1996)

Thor would then be subjected to a side-on attack, with The Master's saw riding over and 'carving' into its Kevlar shell multiple times. During the subsequent 'deadly embrace', Thor dragged The Master and thrashed its arm in response, sparks flying once both weapons made contact. Both robots separated, with Thor's steering and large turning circle compounding its struggle to line up a direct hammer attack. Hydraulic fluid began leaking from beneath the machine as it reversed, and was bumped by The Master. A smoke cloud emitting from Thor began to thicken as it again tried to approach, then attempted to strike down on one of The Master's wheels.

"And Thor will be severely damaged, and severely limited after that! I think I can see hydraulic fluid already pumping out - OH, comes back down, though, with the hammer blow, onto the top of the saw! There's also already been bludg- AND THERE IS THE HYDRAULIC FLUID! Pouring out and SPLATTERING! The floor of the arena's GETTING SKIDDY AND SLIPPERY!"
— Jonathan Pearce spots Thor's hydraulic leaks as The Master continues to inflict damage (Series 1, Heat D)
The Master vs Thor 2

Thor's shell causes The Master to grind its own disc down

Mere seconds later, another head-to-head exchange began, when The Master charged into and started cutting into the front-right of Thor's shell. Thor responded by hammering The Master's spinning saw, while briefly using the same arm to get underneath and push it back. In doing so, however, it exposed itself to another sawblade attack from The Master, sending splinters of Kevlar flying everywhere, along with hydraulic fluid deposited by its hammer mechanism. The exchanges left Thor with pieces of its shell ripped off, plus The Master's saw losing fragments of its own, with both robots briefly finding themselves in the left-most corner.

The Master vs Thor 3

Thor's exposed wheel is targeted by The Master

Thor attempted to drive away, heading back toward the center with The Master still in pursuit. As the battle reached one minute and 30 seconds, The Master once again cut behind Thor's arm, sending sparks and another Kevlar chunk flying. Thor swung its arm helplessly as it was pushed back in a half-circle, still leaking fluid from the top. During the exchange, a final series of blows from The Master's saw left Thor to crawl to a stop, and its arm to suddenly drop down. Thor attempted to push The Master back after the latter rode up its front end, but stopped moving entirely, taking a gash to its front-right wheel from the retreating Team Sinister axlebot.

"AND Thor doesn't seem to have too much left to offer except vital engine blood and guts and gore! And he's out of it!"
— Jonathan Pearce as Thor is completely immobilized (Series 1, Heat D)

While the final attack caused The Master to grind down the remains of its saw, Thor lay immobile near the center, and was deemed to have lost. Following this appearance, it would not fight in any Robot Wars event again.

Results[]

THOR - RESULTS
1994-1997 US Competitions
1995 US Championship
Heavyweight Face-Off
Runner-up
Round 1 vs. Merrimac Won
Round 2 vs. Cyberknight Won
Final vs. The Master Lost
Heavyweight Melee
Final
Melee vs. Merrimac, Painful Wedgie, Spirit of Frank Qualified
Melee Final vs. La Machine, Merrimac, Spirit of Frank, The Master Lost
NOTE: La Machine competed in the Heavyweight Melee Final as a middleweight entry.
UK Series
Robot Wars 1995
1995 UK Open Competition
Battle aired as part of Series 1, Heat D
Obstacle Race vs. Unknown Mat Irvine featherweight Victorious
Final vs. The Master Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • 1994-1997 US Wins: 3
  • 1994-1997 US Losses: 2
  • 1995 UK Open Wins: 0*
  • 1995 UK Open Losses: 1*
  • Total Wins: 3*
  • Total Losses: 3*

*1995 UK Open record incomplete; Thor's run in the Obstacle Race is omitted.

Series Record[]

Events Thor (1995) Event Record
1994 Did not enter
1995 Heavyweight Runner-up (Face-Off)
Heavyweight Melee, Final
1996 Did not enter
1997 Did not enter

Thor also competed in the 1995 UK Open Competition.

Outside Robot Wars[]

Following its 1995 UK Open appearance, Thor was retired and initially placed into storage at Schilling Robotic Services' headquarters. According to Tyler Schilling, it was deemed to have taken up 'too much of his employees' time' to build, maintain and compete.[22] In 2019, it was acknowledged by BattleBots that Thor was still existing in one piece, claimed to reside in a workshop where parts of 2019 season competitor Kingpin were built.[23]

Honours[]


References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Brad Stone (2003), Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.53
  2. 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos', US Robot Wars website entry on Thor (archived May 2 1997)
  3. ibid, p.72
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 '1995 Robot Wars (part 2)', Marc Thorpe (YouTube), uploaded March 26 2011
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 'Schilling Robotic Systems Inc. "Robot Warrior"', Schilling Robotic Systems website (archived)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 'Robot Wars 1995 San Francisco California (Part One)', Marc Thorpe (YouTube), uploaded March 26 2011
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos -- 1995 Winners', US Robot Wars website (archived 2 May 1997)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 'Second Annual Robot Wars 1995', Team Minus Zero website (archived)
  9. Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.53
  10. 'Schilling Robotic Systems Inc. "Company Information"', Schilling Robotic Systems website (archived)
  11. Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.53
  12. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/ap26977/gec-alsthom-limited
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 'Robot Wars 1995 - Thor vs Merrimac', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded August 8 2008
  14. 14.0 14.1 'Robot Wars 1995 - Thor vs Cyberknight', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), August 9 2008
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 'Robot Wars 1995 - Thor vs The Master', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded September 8 2008
  16. Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, pp.60-61
  17. ibid, p.61
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 'Robot Wars 1995 - Heavyweight Melee 2', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded October 6 2008
  19. Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, pp.64-65
  20. ibid, p.65
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 'Robot Wars: The Beginnings', Robot Wars: The Official Magazine, Issue 1, pp.14-18 (p.17)
  22. Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.72
  23. 'Kingpin (2019) – BattleBots', Battlebots.com

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