Vader

Vader
Participation Information
UK Series	6-7, Extreme 2
Team Information
Team	Team Vader
Team Members	Paul Rose (Series 6 and Extreme 2) Simon Latham Phillip Calthorpe
Robot Statistics
Weight	96kg
Dimensions	0.6m x 1.02m x 0.97m
Clearance	15mm
Top Speed	8mph
Power	2 X 800W Electric Motors
Weapons	Vertical Spinning Disc
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"...looks like it could spell danger for any robot, with that massive spinning disc that towers over smaller bots, and a wide body that has virtually no weaknesses ... the Force may be strong with this one..."

— Robot Wars: The Official Magazine

Vader was a heavyweight robot that competed in Series 6-7 and Extreme Series 2 of Robot Wars.

Vader was created by Team Vader, named after the cyborg Sith Lord Darth Vader from the Star Wars movies. Similarly, the team's other entry, IG-88, was named after a droid bounty hunter from the same films. IG-88 was entered in the main competition of Series 7 alongside Vader.

Design

"If I had a penny for every time a bloke said to me "I've got a magnificent weapon", I would be rich by now!"

— Philippa Forrester meeting Vader

Vader during construction

Vader was a reverse wedge-shaped robot, clad in 8mm transparent polycarbonate sheet armour which was quite resistant to most weapons, despite being thinner to the average thickness of that particular armour. It had been shaved down to fit the weight restrictions which made it especially vulnerable to axes and it could not self-right.

It had a large, 20kg vertical spinning disc at the front in a similar design to 259, which could spin at 850RPM. Additionally, at the base of its wedge were two ramming spikes and scoop. It was able to cause major damage with this arsenal, helping it to reach the Heat Final of Series 6, losing to Wild Thing. The Series 7 model had a lighter disc at 10kg (the 20kg spinning disc had been irreparably damaged during Extreme 2) , and an improved weapon motor along with thicker armour, now 12mm polycarbonate. The weapon motor for Series 7 was estimated to be operating the new disc at around 1,300RPM.

"The biggest weakness we have is against flippers, because our machine isn't particularly low at the front."

— Paul Rose confesses Vader's weaknesses

Qualification

Vader at the Series 5 qualifiers

Vader fighting Dome in its qualifier

Vader previously attempted to enter Series 5, but failed to qualify. In its qualifier, it fought Dome and began quite well, causing considerable damage and even disabling Dome's weapon. However, due to its extremely low ground clearance, it got trapped on the raised floor section of the pit and lost mobility, therefore giving Dome the win. Vader went on to successfully qualify for Series 6.

For Series 7, Team Vader built a new machine, IG-88, and originally did not plan to enter the series with Vader. However, as IG-88 borrowed no parts from Vader, new captain Simon Latham decided to enter the qualifiers with Vader, while the usual Team Vader captain Paul Rose qualified with IG-88. Vader won its qualifier battle in dominant fashion, and was entered into Series 7 by Simon Latham. Paul Rose was still named on the robot's statistics board.

"...I entered Vader separately to Paul Rose who entered IG-88. Whilst I was involved in assisting with the build of IG-88, I never appeared with the machine or was listed on the entry forms. My entry of Vader was a fairly late decision as I was at a loose end and the machine was just sitting in the garage, and then surprisingly during the qualifying "auditions" it was unbelievably dominant in it's heat."

— Simon Latham on Facebook

Robot History

Series 6

Vader rips a wheel from The Stag

Vader attacks Wild Thing in the first round

In the first round melee, Vader was against new robots UFO, The Stag and 9th seeds Wild Thing 2. Vader was tentative in the opening stages, getting its weapon up to spinning speed. The Stag was grappling with Wild Thing 2, however a clever slice from Vader's weapon cut off one of The Stag's tyres, leaving it spinning around in circles. The vertical spinner also bent The Stag's front pincers. With The Stag effectively immobilised, UFO activated the pit release button, but got stuck with its front pincers until Vader knocked it free. However, as the battle progressed, Vader's disc stopped spinning.

"Has Vader's disc stopped spinning? Now what has happened here to the weaponry of Vader? It has stopped spinning. It is 20kg in weight, but that doesn't mean one jot if its not spinning at all!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Vader and Wild Thing duel near the flame pit

Vader stops spinning its disc in the closing seconds

UFO, Wild Thing and Vader spent a while locked together against the arena side wall near the flame pit, but it was evident that Wild Thing's blade was stuck in the armour of Vader. The judges opted in favour of Vader and Wild Thing 2.

Simon Latham has since confirmed that the disc was in fact still functioning at the end of the fight, and was powered down to conserve battery when required, as with the disc motor turned on constantly the run time of the machine was estimated to be very close to the 5 minute time limit and they didn't want it running flat during a bout.

Philippa Forrester: "But Aggrobot, not worried?"

Paul Rose: "Well it's much less worrying than the other one we could have gone up against."

— Pre-Aggrobot battle, Team Vader was much relieved at not having to fight 259 in Round 2

One hit from Vader immobilises Aggrobot 3

Vader's second round battle against the experienced Aggrobot 3 was much less complicated, requiring one hit on Aggrobot 3 to immobilise it - the blow knocked Aggrobot into the air and it flew several feet. Vader attacked several more times before the House Robots took over.

"I would say it was very carefully aimed blow, but I think I'd be lying if I said that."

— Paul Rose after the Aggrobot fight

Vader attacks Wild Thing

Vader met Wild Thing 2 again in the Heat Final, where this time, Vader's disc got stuck in the armour of Wild Thing. Eventually, the House Robots helped to free the pair, but Vader looked to have stopped moving for a little while, but got going again immediately before Wild Thing's disc got trapped in the shell of Vader, in the exact fashion as it did in the first round.

Wild Thing's blade stuck in Vader's armour

Vader and Wild Thing fail to separate

The seeds used this to its advantage this time, though, pushing Vader into Shunt's CPZ. A powerful axe blow stopped the spinning weapon of Vader in an instant, but the stoppage was temporary. Shunt's scoop lifted up Vader, but didn't manage to flip it. A retreating Vader pushed the pit release button, but failed to get its foe down. The judges put Wild Thing 2 in the series Semi-Finals.

"We wanted destructability, boo-hoo they stuck like glue!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Extreme 2

"The Dark Lord cometh..."

— Jonathan Pearce's formidable introduction

Vader joined the ranks of aspiring roboteers hoping to challenge Tornado for the Challenge belt. Vader met Terrorhurtz, Iron-Awe 2 and Barber-Ous 2 in Round 1.

"Hit and hope."

— Paul Rose's "tactics"

Vader attacks Iron-Awe 2

Vader sits outside the arena

Terrorhurtz rapidly began reigning axe blows on Vader but was saved from taking much damage by Iron-Awe 2, who flipped Terrorhurtz on its side before it came down. Iron-Awe 2 was squeezed between the vertical spinners of Vader and Barber-Ous 2, and got flipped over, but self righted speedily. Vader was then hacked by the axes of Terrorhurtz and Shunt and this appeared to be too much for the pyramid shaped machine. Shunt's axe eventually hit a blow directly inside the void beside the spinning disk of Vader, causing Vader's cutting blade to bend and impale itself into the framework of itself. After Refbot counted Vader out of the competition, Matilda's flywheel tossed Vader out of the arena.

Series 7

M2 flips Vader out of the arena.

The first battle of the Seventh Wars saw Vader battle with veterans Tiberius 3 and Shell Shock along with newcomers M2. The new robot started aggressively, getting underneath Vader and flipping it, but not turning it over. Vader's spinning disc made a huge gash in the side of Shell Shock, but M2 then flipped Vader into the air twice, although it managed to land on its wheels both times. M2 then flipped Shell Shock onto its side, while Vader sat motionless by the arena wall after its remote control receiver became unresponsive. After M2 flipped Shell Shock out of the arena, Vader then suffered the same fate at the hands of M2, becoming the first of the previous year's Heat Finalists to fall in the first round. Not shown during the episode was that after landing in the camera run, the relay controlling Vader's weapon motor became jammed on and had to be disabled by the removal of the safety link from the machine.

After the match it was discovered that the receiver batteries had flown loose of their housing during one of the flips.

"I upgraded the weapon motor to a 1.2kw one and used parallel truck relays for series 7 and that was where the problems started (when one of the weapon relays welded closed whilst in the arena at series 7 filming after being flipped onto the camera run, resulting in the link having to be pulled whilst the vertical disc was running full tilt!)"

— Simon Latham on Facebook

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 3

Series Record

• The Vader that failed to qualify for Series 5
• Vader, with its disc replaced with a scoop at a live event

1/2

Main Series	Vader Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Did not enter
The Fourth Wars	Did not enter
The Fifth Wars	Failed to qualify
The Sixth Wars	Heat Final
The Seventh Wars	Heat, Round 1 Entered with IG-88
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

Outside Robot Wars

Vader armed with a scoop at the Debenham Robot Rumble 2002

Vader appeared at the Debenham Robot Rumble 2002, using curved scoops in place of a flywheel due to a ban on spinning weaponry. Vader defeated GBH 2, Behemoth, Lambsy, Knuckles, Velocirippa and The Grim Reaper, but lost in a melee to Dantomkia and Bigger Brother, and was also flipped by Wolverine.

Vader also appeared in an event at Neward Kit Car Show in 2002, again using the curved scoop.

External Links

• Vader website (archived)
• Team Vader's promo (Features clips from their Series 5 qualifier)