For other uses of the name Vortex, see Vortex (disambiguation).
Vortex was a heavyweight robot from Austria built with the intention of competing in German Robot Wars. However, it would never end up appearing on television due to unknown circumstances.
Design[]
Vortex was a long trapezoid shaped, invertible robot armoured in checkerplate steel, armed with a large, 80cm diameter, 25kg flywheel which could spin up to 1,500rpm. Vortex was driven by two 40cm diameter pneumatic wheels with defensive saws on either side of an equal diameter. The pressure on these tyres could be increased or decreased for the saws to have more or less contact with the floor, depending on traction needs.
Qualification[]
The circumstances of Vortex's qualification are as of yet unknown, although two posts on the German Roboteers Association forum suggests that Vortex had drive problems[1] concerning its speed controllers[2] which could have contributed to its failure to qualify. The first mention of Vortex on the forum was in August 2002 which would have been partway through the filming of German Robot Wars, meaning that Vortex may not have been finished in time for the auditions.
Series Record[]
| German Series | Vortex Series Record |
|---|---|
| German Robot Wars | Failed to qualify |
Outside Robot Wars[]
Team Crashlab would compete at various German events in the early to mid 2000s with various robots. These included: Elektra, a Featherweight four-wheel drive rammer armed with a large spike and hinged wedge which ended up winning the 2003 Cold Wars III event in Bochum. R.A.P.Thor, a Raptorweight thwackbot armed with a spiked club. Xerxes, a tracked Raptorweight armed with two blades from a meat slicer. Devil Toy, a Raptorweight armed with saw blades and Drilobite, another Raptorweight armed with a drill that was based off of a Trilobite.
Trivia[]
- Vortex was the first heavyweight robot to have come from Austria, pre-dating fellow competitor Mechaniac.