Robot Wars Wiki
Register
Robot Wars Wiki
(Adding categories)
No edit summary
(41 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
  +
{{disambig}}
'''Thwackbot''' is the term for any robot that is designed to attack by spinning in place, striking a heavy blow to an opponent's side, should it come within range. This type of design was popular in Robot Wars, but was not considered to be an active weapon. As such, thwackbots were not allowed to participate in Series 7 after a requirement for all robots to have active weapons was instated. Thwackbots can be divided into two basic catergories; '''Sit-and-Spins''' and '''Axlebots'''.
 
  +
[[File:Stinger.png|thumb|Stinger, a famous and highly successful thwackbot]]
  +
'''Thwackbot''' is the term used to describe robots which are designed to attack by spinning on the spot ('''Sit-and-spin''') or using kinetic energy from a swinging weapon ('''Torque reaction'''). Essentially, the difference between these two types are that sit-and-spin weapons are horizontal, while torque reaction ones are vertical. Some thwackbots are capable of attacking through both methods, with the intention of striking and causing damage to opponents as they drive within close range of them.
   
==Sit-and-Spins==
+
*'''[[Sit-and-spin]]'''
  +
*'''[[Torque reaction]]'''
A '''Sit-and-Spin''' refers to any robot whose only means of attack is to spin on its own axis. Most sit-and-spin robots consisted of an arm with a sharp or blunt weapon on the end, but others featured a round body with spikes or blades around the sides. Sit-and-spins seem like a desirable kind of weapon because they work under the same principle as a [[Rotating Blades#Full Body Spinners|Full Body Spinner]]- a heavy spinning object that makes contact over a small surface area- in theory a sit-and-spin would be just as powerful.
 
  +
{{Weapon Types}}
 
However in practice, there are several pitfalls of this design. While it is potent, a sit-and-spin cannot move and attack at the same time; to attack it must spin on the spot. Spinning in place is not considered to be agressive behavior, a fact that the judges will note if a match winner is to be chosen based on points. In addition, if its wheel or drive becomes damaged, not only will its locomotion be crippled, but its weapon will too, since a Sit-and-Spin uses its drive system to attack.
 
 
Sit and spins waned in popularity as more advanced weapons took to the stage. Recently though, a builder in the US discovered a way to allow Sit-and-Spins to move and spin at the same time. Dubbed "Meltybrain" technology, it involves equiping a Sit-and-Spin robot with LED's and a detection sytem, allowing it to automatically figure out its position at any given moment.
 
 
[[File:Lizzard.jpg|thumb|left|Dutch Wars runner-up Lizzard used a whiplike tail in place of a rigid arm.]]
 
===List of Sit-and-Spin Robots===
 
Robots are listed alphabetically. Robots that aren't heavyweight are listed with a green background.
 
{|class="wikitable"
 
!Robot
 
!Series Appearances as Sit-and-Spins
 
!Notes
 
|-
 
|[[Abaddon]]
 
|Series 3
 
|Whipping tail
 
|-
 
|[[Brawler]]
 
|US Season 2
 
|
 
|-
 
|[[Crasha Gnasha]]
 
|Series 3
 
|Whipping tail
 
|-
 
|[[Lizzard]]
 
|Dutch Series 1-2
 
|Whipping tail
 
|-
 
|[[Spin Doctor (Series 2)]]
 
|Series 2
 
|First Sit-and-Spin design. Managed to rip off one of Matilda's tusks
 
|-
 
|[[T-Wrecks]]
 
|Series 7
 
|Qualified for Series 7 despite not having an active wapon.
 
|-
 
|[[Wizard]]
 
|Series 2
 
|
 
|}
 
 
==Axlebots==
 
 
[[Category:Weapon Types]]
 
[[Category:Weapon Types]]
 
[[Category:Thwackbots]]
 
[[Category:Thwackbots]]

Revision as of 22:16, 7 May 2019

Stinger

Stinger, a famous and highly successful thwackbot

Thwackbot is the term used to describe robots which are designed to attack by spinning on the spot (Sit-and-spin) or using kinetic energy from a swinging weapon (Torque reaction). Essentially, the difference between these two types are that sit-and-spin weapons are horizontal, while torque reaction ones are vertical. Some thwackbots are capable of attacking through both methods, with the intention of striking and causing damage to opponents as they drive within close range of them.