- "With a simple pyramid design to ensure greater stability and maximum defence. Weighs in at 71.9 kilograms, runs off two electric wheelchair motors, and this is clearly a robot to look out for!"
- — Jonathan Pearce introduces Uglybot
Uglybot was a competitor robot that appeared in Series 1 of Robot Wars. It failed to progress beyond the Gauntlet stage after only setting a distance of 1.65m, the worst run for any competitor in the first series.
Design[]
Uglybot on its statistics board
Uglybot was a triangular-based pyramid-shaped robot painted grey with a mouth and eyes added on the front. Its weapons were a pair of 7" cutting discs at the rear and a static cutting blade mounted on the tip of the wedge, while the robot also featured a flashing amber warning light inside its shell as a 'gimmick'. However, neither Uglybot's weapons nor the warning light were seen in action, as it was eliminated at the Gauntlet stage.
The Team[]

The Uglybot team controlling Uglybot
Uglybot was entered by a two-man team from Gillingham in Kent; Paul Shearwood, a ceiling plasterer by trade from Twydall, and Colin Faulkner, a builder from Sittingbourne, who built the robot over a period of roughly 3 months in their workshop[1].
- "Paul Shearwood, the driver, and Colin Faulkner: future in-laws!"
- — Jonathan Pearce describes the Uglybot team
The two decided to build a robot after finding out about the show at a model engineering exhibition at London Olympia, years before the first series[2]. Paul Shearwood controlled the robot and did the talking in Uglybot's introduction and interviews.
Robot History[]
Series 1[]
- "Hopefully we'll win, who knows? We'll have to wait and see!"
- — Optimism from Paul Shearwood before running the Gauntlet
Shunt rams Uglybot
Uglybot was the last robot to compete in Heat B. In its Gauntlet run, it drove towards the left-hand route when the turntable pointed it towards Shunt, but immediately got stuck on the arena wall and appeared to be unable to drive away from it.
- "Driver Paul collects bonsai trees, in his spare time - ooh, banzai!"
- — Jonathan Pearce as Shunt rams Uglybot against the wall
Shunt rammed into Uglybot plough-first, disrupting its escape and getting underneath it while steering Uglybot away from the wall. Eventually, he rammed Uglybot against the corner, and back towards the turntable as it attempted to drive past him, causing part of the turntable to fold over as Uglybot was forced against it. Uglybot only covered 1.65m during its run and was eliminated from the First Wars.
- "Never mind. Seven months and all them long nights, innit, we don't care! We'll be back next year."
- — Paul Shearwood speaks to Philippa Forrester after Uglybot is eliminated
Results[]
UGLYBOT - RESULTS | ||
Series 1 | ||
The First Wars - UK Championship Heat Gauntlet | ||
Heat B, Gauntlet | 1.65m (6th) | Eliminated |
Series Record[]
Series | Uglybot Series Record |
---|---|
The First Wars | Heat, Gauntlet |
The Second Wars | Did not enter |
The Third Wars | Did not enter |
The Fourth Wars | Did not enter |
The Fifth Wars | Did not enter |
The Sixth Wars | Did not enter |
The Seventh Wars | Did not enter |
Series 8 | Did not enter |
Series 9 | Did not enter |
Series 10 | Did not enter |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Uglybot is one of twenty robots never to fight in robot combat, having only ever reached the Gauntlet or Trial stages.
- Reaching only 1.65m, Uglybot achieved the shortest distance of any Series 1 competitor in The Gauntlet.
- The Uglybot team was the only team from Series 1 to lose in The Gauntlet and not make a subsequent appearance in later series of Robot Wars, despite Paul Shearwood stating his intention to return when interviewed after the Gauntlet, and Colin Faulkner suggesting the team may return in the next series when interviewed for the Medway News[3].
- The Uglybot team were also the only team in Heat B of Series 1 that did not return for another series.
- Aside from appearing in the background of interview segments, Uglybot is the only robot from Heat B to not be referenced in Robot Wars: The First Great War video.
References[]
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