Wedge of Doom (also referred to as The Wedge of Doom) was a featherweight robot originally built by Tony Buchignani for the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. In its competitive debut, it used its speed, control and high pushing power to win the Featherweight Face-Off championship outright. Wedge of Doom also reached the final of the Featherweight Melee, though a drivetrain malfunction resulted in it losing the tournament to The X-2.[5][6]
A rebuilt Wedge of Doom successfully defended its Face-Off title in the 1997 competition, while also winning the Featherweight Melee outright.[7][8] The robot's ramming-focused design also proved highly influential; a similar shape, ethos and name were adopted by Vector of Armageddon, Adam Clark's featherweight entry for Robot Wars: The First Wars.[9]
Wedge of Doom's 1996 campaign was partially highlighted in the official VHS release American Robot Wars 1996, focusing solely on its Face-Off title victory against Red 2.
Versions of Wedge of Doom[]
1996[]
Wedge of Doom in the arena
As Tony Buchignani's first foray into robot combat, the original 1996 Wedge of Doom was a simple wedged box-shaped robot powered by two Craftsman rechargeable electric drills. Rated at 14.4V each, the drills were attached to a pair of 5-inch lawnmower wheels, working in tandem with a Vantec RDFR 32 speed controller. A top speed of 9.8 feet per second (6.7mph) was achieved with this drive setup, which also incorporated a pair of small unpowered castors at the front. Much of Wedge of Doom's internals were placed behind the wheels to provide as much 'down force' and traction as possible.[3]
Wedge of Doom's construction incorporated a wooden frame and a metal shell predominantly made from aluminum corner bars, steel and aluminum plating. Originally, it was planned for the entire front end and sides to be armored in steel (20 gauge plating), though concerns over weight allowances resulted in the top half of the front end being protected by aluminum instead.[3]
In the absence of active weapons, Wedge of Doom relied primarily on its front wedge shape and drivetrain to push and pin opponents to victory. A set of four static spikes was also attached to the top wedge panel for its official event photo, though these were largely absent during battles. The 1996 incarnation weighed 25.9lbs and cost $1,500 to build.[3]
1997[]
For the 1997 competition, Wedge of Doom underwent a complete redesign, while building on its reputation for pushing power. A taller, but more compact shape was adopted, with a new scoop-like ramming blade forming the front end. Aluminum angle bar, galvanized steel sheets and Lexan provided the robot's armor, sitting on top of a plywood base.[4][10]
Wedge of Doom again adopted two electric drill motors for drive, albeit of an unspecified type, paired with a Vantec RDFR 36 speed controller (placed behind the powered wheels), a 'slip steering' system and NiCad batteries. Six-inch wheels with pneumatic tires were to be attached to the gearboxes using custom axles, made from 1¼ inch thick hardened steel rods and 1½ inch washers. Custom 'pillow blocks' were also made by Buchignani as mounts supporting each drive unit, each comprising of a transparent plastic piece with ball bearings on either side.[4][10][11]
- "I have had the Wedge of Doom 97 running around my apartment and garage for the last two months and have been testing its drive train thoroughly. I have been getting very comfortable driving the robot, although I still crash into a piece of furniture now and then. The increased speed of this year's robot has made it more difficult to drive, so the more practice I get the better. While some of my fellow robot warriors might disagree with me, I think the drive train of any Robot Wars bot should be built first so that all the bugs can be worked out well in advance of the competition."
- — Tony Buchignani, sharing progress on Wedge of Doom's construction and testing in a May 1997 update[12]
The updated internals allowed Wedge of Doom to reach an increased top speed of 14mph; a figure also achieved by a switch to larger and smoother foam-filled tires during the build process. This enabled faster pushing, along with the ability to turn opponents over with its scoop blade. Four rubber shock mounts were attached at either end of Wedge of Doom's base, one on the corner of each aluminum 'side rail'.[4][12]
- "I got the idea of using shock mounts after I saw La Machine and Vlad at last years Robot Wars. They provide a cushion between the inner frame and outer shell. Such a setup is preferable when you are intending to run into things with your robot at high speeds."
- — Tony Buchignani on the use of rubber shock mounts for Wedge of Doom[12]
To address a 'heat problem' experienced with the 1996 incarnation - whose motors often ran hot after full five-minute bouts - a pair of 12V cooling fans was obtained and installed. Silicon wire - of the kind found in radio-controlled cars - was obtained, as it was deemed most suitable for handling the high current expected to be drawn from Wedge of Doom's motors.[13]
During later stages of the build process, a miscalculation resulted in Wedge of Doom weighing 'over 28 pounds' upon its initial completion. To remedy the issue, holes were drilled into the front of its base plates, and an aluminum panel intended to be used for the ramming scoop was swapped for the Lexan equivalent. Additional components were machined with assistance from Dan Danknick of Team Delta, including the axles and a set of new nylon motor mounts. A total of 'over two pounds' was shaved from Wedge of Doom's overall weight, which was finalized at 25.8lbs - just 0.1lb lighter than the 1996 incarnation.[4][14]
Costs for the 1997 Wedge of Doom were $1,600 for raw materials, and an additional $1,000 for construction and development.[4]
Robot History[]
1996 US Championship[]
- "Robot Wars 1996 was the first robotics competition I ever entered. Since I knew that I would be competing against many people with superior engineering experience and talent, I tried not to have unrealistic expectations. My main goals were to have a good time building the robot and to win one or two rounds."
- — Tony Buchignani on his modest Robot Wars 1996 ambitions[15]
The original Wedge of Doom debuted in the 1996 Featherweight Face-Off championship. In the opening round, it fought against UK entry - and future Series 1 stock robot - WYSIWYG. This was one of a number of 'Dual Matches' to take place in the featherweight category, occurring at the same time as Gigan vs KMM.
The battle itself mostly consisted of a straightforward pushing match between both competitors. For the first thirty seconds, both robots pushed each other across the arena, though neither was able to breach each other's ground clearances for some time. This was until Wedge of Doom scooped up, pushed and pinned WYSIWYG against the side wall, eliminating Eric Dickinson's machine at this point in the tournament.[5] [16]
In the second round, Wedge of Doom faced the defending Featherweight champion KMM. Prior to the fight, Tony Buchignani was wary of his opponent's axe and front pincers, along with Rik Winter's driving skills.
- "Ever since I started building The Wedge of Doom, I had been thinking about KMM. I had no idea what would happen if he grabbed my robot with his saw arms. Furthermore, I knew the robot's builder, Rik Winter, was an excellent driver, and would attempt to snare me quickly."
- — Tony Buchignani[5]
Wedge of Doom tentatively approached KMM, which attempted to head along the inner arena perimeter. In the process, the latter got caught by a nearby mousetrap. Wedge of Doom quickly rounded KMM up and got underneath its claws. It began pushing and chasing KMM across the arena, while the latter's axe was flattened and incapacitated by the mousetrap. For several moments, Wedge of Doom rammed and pinned KMM against the lower wall, while taking repeated blows from a nearby arena flipper.[5][17]
Tony Buchignani steered his machine out of trouble, repositioning it to lift KMM upwards from the right-hand side. Wedge of Doom used this opportunity to push KMM into the upper-most wall. While again being whacked repeatedly by the flipper paddle, it succeeded in pinning KMM against the mousetrap mechanism on the same side. Once the minimum thirty seconds was reached, it was declared the victor over the 1995 champion.[5][17]
Wedge of Doom progressed to the quarter-finals, where it faced Kevin Knoedler and Melvin.
Approaching Melvin in the opening moments, it proceeded to scoop up the invertible machine up with a head-on ram. Melvin lost contact with the arena floor as a result. Wedge of Doom kept Melvin on top of itself, pinning it in place for thirty seconds to score a quick victory.[5]
In the Semi-Finals, Wedge of Doom faced Andrew Lindsey's Spike.
- "By the semifinals, I was getting really comfortable with the arena set up. Thus, when the match started, I raced down the floor toward Spike. Spike was a smaller wedge design, with a lifter in the back. I knew that if he could get his lifter under me, it was possible that he could have lifted my wheels off the ground and immobilized me. But fortunately, The Wedge of Doom was a much more maneuverable robot, and the lifter never came into play."
- — Tony Buchignani[5]
Though vulnerable against its opponent's rear lifter, it started the faster and more maneuverable machine. Wedge of Doom's ground clearance proved too low for Spike's lifter to breach, giving it an extra advantage as it pushed and pinned Spike under one of the mousetrap nets. While Spike was able to free itself using its lifter, Wedge of Doom pressed it against the arena wall moments later. Wedge of Doom, as in its previous fights, pinned Spike to emerge as the dominant winner, securing a place in the 1996 Featherweight Face-Off final.[5][18]
The championship final saw Wedge of Doom face Red 2, a smaller invertible machine with another wedge shape. This battle would be the only one from its 1996 campaigns to be highlighted in the American Robot Wars 1996 VHS.
- "In the Finals, The Wedge of Doom's opponent was Red 2. This robot was one of the most beautifully crafted entries in Robot Wars 1996. Its exterior was made out of anodized aluminum plate. It was a small wedge design with two small wheels in the front, and two larger model aircraft drive wheels in back. But, despite the robot's excellent craftsmanship, it didn't fair well against The Wedge of Doom."
- — Tony Buchignani[5]
Wedge of Doom quickly defeats Red 2
Immediately, Wedge of Doom charged towards and rammed the more sluggish Red 2, pushing the latter across the arena. Steering its overpowered challenger into the wall, it proceeded to push Red 2 into the mechanism for the nearby mousetrap. Red 2 was cornered, and was unable to drive out in time before the mousetrap retracted and pinned it in place. Wedge of Doom secured a rapid win and the 1996 Featherweight Face-Off championship, spinning triumphantly as Red 2 was eventually released.[19]
- "The Wedge of Doom made short work of Red 2 to win the Featherweight finals."
- — Paul Vallis
The newly-crowned Wedge of Doom would also compete in the Featherweight Melee tournament. In its preliminary round, it faced KMM, Melvin, Spike and WYSIWYG again, alongside Black Sheep 2, My Little Pony and The X-2.
All eight robots scrambled towards the center in the opening moments. Wedge of Doom initially concentrated on pushing Black Sheep 2 into the upper-right corner, before momentarily scooping The X-2 up.[6][18][20][21]
- "When the match started, all the robots attacked each other. My Little Pony's tape quickly unraveled, and I made sure to avoid getting caught in it. I then noticed that KMM was driving straight toward me. I turned The Wedge of Doom and charged straight at KMM."
- — Tony Buchignani on the opening moments of Wedge of Doom's preliminary Melee[6]
Driving cautiously around My Little Pony and its tape reels, it pushed Black Sheep 2 again into KMM and the right-most wall panel. At that point, KMM backed into the pair, allowing Wedge of Doom to push and pin it in the lower-left corner. During this stage, Wedge of Doom was attacked by The X-2, starting a back-and-forth shoving match once KMM was deemed to have been eliminated. This momentarily ended with The X-2 driving over Wedge of Doom's wedge shape, with Wedge of Doom finding itself trapped between the arena flipper and KMM. Surviving axe blows from KMM, it resumed its duel with The X-2. Both robots took swipes from the flipper and met Spike, before Wedge of Doom maneuvered The X-2 into the upper mousetrap, lower-right flipper and lower-right corner.[6][18][20][21]
Wedge of Doom kept pressuring Mike Winter's machine, shoving it into the left-most wall. After being nudged and chased across the arena by The X-2, it became snared by the upper-left flipper for a few moments. Wedge of Doom escaped to break up the developing scraps between Spike and The X-2, before proceeding to pin the former against the lower wall. Once Spike had been fully pinned, it resumed its duel with The X-2. Wedge of Doom again proved more dominant, consistently driving underneath and controlling The X-2 around.[6][18][20][21]
During the final twenty seconds, Tony Buchignani's machine held The X-2 in place near the inner perimeter. Wedge of Doom drove The X-2 past the mousetrap - nearly getting swatted itself - and into the wall, seconds after Michael Meehan declared the match to be over. As the last two robots standing, Wedge of Doom and The X-2 automatically progressed to the Featherweight Melee Final, though some sources list Wedge of Doom as the sole victor.[6][18][20][21]
For a chance to claim the 1996 Featherweight Melee championship, Wedge of Doom and The X-2 each fought the only other robot chosen from the preliminary rounds - Slomo 3.
Surviving audience member footage of this battle indicates that the former two competitors were slower to start. Wedge of Doom, having been initially approached by Slomo 3, was pushed from the right-hand side upon engaging with The X-2. Turning sharply, it responded by scooping The X-2 up, though the Robot Action League machine escaped by driving over the top. Wedge of Doom proceeded to push Slomo 3 into an arena flipper, before doing the same to The X-2. It next collected and rammed Slomo 3 into the wall, before briefly flicking The X-2 upwards with another drive. Slomo 3 responded by breaching Wedge of Doom's front ground clearance, only for The X-2 to push both competitors away from each other.[6][22]
Wedge of Doom pushed The X-2 into another flipper, only to lose full forward drive and be left spinning around in the corner. The forces placed on its internals in previous battles stripped a drill screw on the right-hand side, leaving Wedge of Doom partially immobilized. While being surveyed by its two fully-mobile opponents, Wedge of Doom's shape was still able to breach Slomo 3's ground clearance. Once The X-2 flipped Slomo 3 over, Wedge of Doom was lifted multiple times by Mike Winter's entry until the battle concluded. In their assessment, the Judges considered the 'mechanical failure' affecting Wedge of Doom's mobility. This proved especially decisive, with The X-2 ultimately being declared the 1996 Featherweight Melee champion. Wedge of Doom, by virtue of being immobilized before Slomo 3, ended the competition as the unofficial third-place finisher.[6][22]
1997 US Championship[]
Entering the 1997 Featherweight Face-Off as the defending champion, the redesigned Wedge of Doom initially fought Bob Smith in the opening round. Alongside Red-Green vs Destructomatic, this was one of the first two battles to take place in the entire event.
Wedge of Doom rams Bob Smith across the arena
Wedge of Doom immediately approached and brushed the right-hand side of Bob Smith. It proceeded to ram Will Wright's machine against the lower wall, slaloming across the arena upon completing this attack. This dominant form would be maintained, as Wedge of Doom repeatedly slammed Bob Smith into the arena walls and flippers. Though unable to turn its opponent over, the impacts caused the hinged tail assembly of Bob Smith to start bending out of shape.[7][23][24][25]
- "As I quickly learned, this robot was one of the most difficult to disable because it could run upside down and had foam covering most of its exposed surfaces (even the wheels)."
- — Tony Buchignani on Wedge of Doom fighting Bob Smith[7]
As the battle approached the two-minute mark, one of Bob Smith's wheels detached. Wedge of Doom thus exerted greater control over Bob Smith as it continued to push and chase it across the arena. Weathering multiple blows from Bob Smith's tail, it eventually immobilized the latter after pushing and pinning it against the bottom-left flipper. Wedge of Doom pressured Bob Smith, then performed a victory spin amidst overwhelming applause.[7][23][24]
Following the battle's conclusion, Tony Buchignani found that Wedge of Doom's shell received multiple dents from Bob Smith's tail, and that both of its side hinges had been bent. Additionally, the impacts with the tail briefly immobilized the whole robot, as it stopped responding to Buchignani's transmitter inputs for a few seconds.[7]
Wedge of Doom next fought C3, which exchanged its top shell for an extra battery to match its speed and pushing power.[25][26]
Both robots weaved past each other in the opening seconds. Wedge of Doom quickly bumped, then rammed C3 at high speed against the wall, the impact flinging the latter over the upper-right flipper. It pressed its opponent against the 'curb' following this attack, though C3 responded by denting and piercing its shell multiple times with its spear. Wedge of Doom kept exploiting C3's ground clearance, ramming it into the walls and one of the flipper hazards. The force of its rams would be significant, as they helped dislodge C3's servo battery from its mountings.[7][26][27]
Another shove from the upper-right flipper to the lower spike trap allowed Wedge of Doom to temporarily immobilize C3, whose internals were exposed to overhead attacks from the latter hazard. It proceeded to scoop up and ram C3 into the flippers twice more, then into the left-most wall at high speed. Battering C3 in the corner, Wedge of Doom's rams were eventually enough to remove the former's battery entirely. Wedge of Doom flipped the now-immobile C3 over onto the 'curb' to an ever-rapturous applause from the crowd.[7][26][27]
Wedge of Doom progressed to the Quarter-Finals, which only featured a total of seven qualifying robots instead of the usual eight. A bye was given to Tony Buchignani's machine at this point in the tournament, enabling it to secure a place in the Semi-Finals without needing to fight. Wedge of Doom's next battle was thus against Dough Boy, which achieved a four-second knockout over Bob Smith to reach this stage.[7][28]
Wedge of Doom sends Dough Boy flying
A tentative early exchange saw Wedge of Doom buffeting and pushing Dough Boy into the upper-left corner, while weathering blows from the blade of Lisa Winter's entry. It shoved and pinned Dough Boy into the wall near the upper spike trap, before a drive up its scoop blade caused the latter to turn over. With Dough Boy unable to self-right, Wedge of Doom turned away and performed a victory spin, before proceeding to repeatedly nudge Dough Boy into the wall immediately surrounding the trap.[7][29][30]
Wedge of Doom, surviving two attacks from the spike itself, caused Dough Boy's front plate to jam under the wall. More nudges and shoves followed, until it steered Dough Boy into the right-most wall bumper. Another ram was enough for Wedge of Doom to flip Lisa Winter's machine back over. Wedge of Doom pushed Dough Boy off the upper-right wall, at which point Dough Boy stopped moving entirely. It continued to pressure Dough Boy across the arena for some time, until it was finally declared the winner.[7][29][30]
With a successful title defense almost complete, Wedge of Doom faced Red-Green - an invertible lifter built by Jim Sellers - in the Featherweight Face-Off Final.
- "Like many of the other featherweight robots, Red-Green could run upside down and I knew that in order to win I would have to either ram it so hard that it broke, or throw it out of the arena. Red-Green also had a lifter that could potentially get under my robot and flip it over. So, when the match started, I carefully positioned the Wedge of Doom in order to ram Red-Green very hard."
- — Tony Buchignani[25]
Wedge of Doom throws Red-Green upwards from a ramming attack
A slow start by both competitors lead to them ramming each other in the center of the arena. Wedge of Doom was spun around by the impact, which also dented its front plate badly enough for it to begin 'scraping the ground'. Wedge of Doom's maneuvrability was inhibited for the rest of the battle. Nevertheless, it persisted by nudging Red-Green a few times, taking advantage of the latter's own struggles to land an effective attack. Colliding with the lower-right flipper, it kept exchanging light shoves with Red-Green, its scoop also causing Red-Green to lift onto one side at one point. Wedge of Doom repeatedly pushed and followed Red-Green across the arena, as the latter strayed into the bottom-left flipper and Cambot.[7][31][32]
One shove turned Jim Sellers' machine completely over. Wedge of Doom followed up by slamming Red-Green into the flipper. As Red-Green struggled to drive clear of the walls and surrounding hazards, it drove under and pinned the former against the 'curb', before proceeding to ram it several more times. Wedge of Doom briefly found itself in peril, as Red-Green briefly got its 'green' jaw underneath for an attempted lift. Red-Green, however, could not lift Wedge of Doom in time, allowing it to escape. Wedge of Doom maintained its aggressive assault by steering Red-Green into a spiked bumper. Though Red-Green pushed Wedge of Doom back, Wedge of Doom kept ramming and pinning it, the latter again unable to use its jaws to good effect.[7][31][32]
Wedge of Doom scooped up and pushed the inverted Red-Green towards the upper spike trap, though Red-Green quickly escaped. It continued to shove Red-Green around in circles during the closing moments, avoiding a last-second clamping attempt by the latter. Both robots survived the full duration, with the Final initially going to a Judges' decision. Deeming the battle to be 'too close to call', the Judges at first declared a draw, before two audience votes were subsequently cast. Receiving the loudest applause from the crowd in the second vote, Wedge of Doom was declared the Featherweight Face-Off champion for the second year running.[7][31][32]
As in the previous year, Wedge of Doom returned for the Featherweight Melee tournament, with the aim to make up for its late 1996 defeat. In its preliminary round, it fought C3 for the second time, alongside Bayou Bengle, Bot Will Eat Itself, Gorange and TKO.
Immediately, Wedge of Doom collided with Bayou Bengle at high speed, then proceeded to shove C3 into the right-most wall. It next confronted TKO, the four machines subsequently entering a tussle between themselves, before shepherding and throwing an aggressive Bayou Bengle against the upper wall. After this, Wedge of Doom slammed into Gorange and C3, the impact leaving it spinning into the path of the upper-left flipper. Regaining its bearings, it began pushing C3 again, past TKO and a struggling Bot Will Eat Itself, before separating from F.J. Crandell's entry.[8][33][34]
Moments later, Wedge of Doom attacked C3 and Gorange further, pushing the former into the lower-right flipper. Spinning around near the lower-right corner, it bumped Gorange aside, then circled around its sparring opponents for some time. These tentative moments were interrupted when C3 backed into Wedge of Doom, prompting Wedge of Doom to push C3 into the lower wall and hold it on its front scoop for several seconds. Following a separation, it delivered a slowing C3 into the upper-left corner, with Tony Buchignani aware of the former's electrical issues. Wedge of Doom bumped into its surviving opponents as it again retreated; moments later, it would push and flip Bot Will Eat Itself onto its side against the same wall.[8][33][34]
For the remainder of the Melee, Wedge of Doom kept chasing and ramming Gorange. It also cornered an otherwise evasive TKO near the upper spike trap, before all three machines exchanged rams until time ran out. As the last robots still mobile, Wedge of Doom, Gorange and TKO would automatically progress to the Semi-Finals.[8][33][34]
Alongside Gorange, Wedge of Doom would face past opponents Bob Smith, Dough Boy and KMM at that stage.
Immediately, it turned into the side of Dough Boy and rammed it into the lower-left flipper. After pushing Dough Boy into the opposite side of the arena, Wedge of Doom approached and began pressuring KMM, which drove into Bob Smith while Dough Boy and Gorange clashed. In response, KMM tried to grasp Wedge of Doom from the side, but without success. Wedge of Doom proceeded to scoop under and ram Gorange into the upper-right corner, then push Bob Smith into the lower-right flipper. Seconds later, it charged towards Dough Boy and KMM, with the former taking the brunt of its ram. This began a sequence where Wedge of Doom pushed KMM into multiple opponents, before holding it in place. Another heavy ram allowed it to flip KMM over.[8][35]
With KMM left struggling to self-right, Wedge of Doom approached the spinning Bob Smith, tanking further hits from the tail of Will Wright's machine. It shoved Bob Smith across the arena, continuing to pressure it and Gorange while the latter two engaged in their own ramming match. At that point, Dough Boy turned into Wedge of Doom's scoop; Wedge of Doom pushed Lisa Winter's machine into the upper-left flipper, only for both robots to be momentarily pinned by Gorange. In retaliation, Wedge of Doom flipped the invertible Gorange, the collision almost resulting in the latter being thrown over the left wall bumper. Both robots took further whacks from Bob Smith's tail, prompting Wedge of Doom to push the latter into Dough Boy.[8][35]
As Bob Smith, Dough Boy and Gorange proceeded to fight each other, Wedge of Doom closed in, pushing Dough Boy into its opponents and towards the lower-right corner. Similarly to its earlier Face-Off Semi-Final, the momentum in its shoves was enough to turn Dough Boy over; Dough Boy was unable to self-right and subsequently eliminated. Wedge of Doom slammed into and began pushing Bob Smith around once again, before shunting Gorange into Dough Boy and the right-side wall bumper. With Gorange's batteries severely depleted, it then resumed its pushing attacks on Bob Smith for some time.[8][35]
Wedge of Doom, in an effort to conserve its own drivetrain and battery life, attacked less frequently as the Semi-Final reached its closing moments. Following a final shove on Bob Smith, the end bell rang, As the last two robots to maintain full mobility, Wedge of Doom and Bob Smith qualified for the Featherweight Melee Final together.[8][35]
Alongside Bob Smith, Wedge of Doom faced Red-Green for the second time, alongside No Love and Spike II - the latest, now invertible incarnation of Andrew Lindsey's electric lifter.
In the opening moments, it pushed and flipped No Love over the bottom-right flipper, leaving the latter wedged on top of the 'curb'. Wedge of Doom, having vanquished Kenneth C. Rose's entry at this very early point, next pushed Red-Green into the flipper. In a separate attack, it shoved Jim Sellers' machine against the lower spike trap wall, before buffeting Bob Smith and Spike II aside. Wedge of Doom scooped and pushed Bob Smith into the upper-left corner, before duelling with the pursuing Spike II. This resulted in it flipping Spike II over with a ram, before the pair again congregated with Bob Smith near the center.[8][36][37]
Another collision allowed Wedge of Doom to flip Spike II a second time, shortly after the latter self-righted using its drive system. Bob Smith whacked both machines at once, with the trio continuing their scraps past the two-minute mark. Following a temporary pause - to free Red-Green from the wall - Wedge of Doom was rammed by Red-Green as the match resumed. It responded by shoving Red-Green back into the lower-right corner, while also flipping Spike II over for the third time and forcing it to perform another self-righting 'wheelie'. A further head-on collision saw Wedge of Doom throw Spike II onto one side. Wedge of Doom proceeded to flip Red-Green over, before ramming Bob Smith as the latter duelled with Spike II once again.[8][36][37]
Wedge of Doom continued battling with Spike II, pushing and momentarily leaving it stranded against the wall. Once Spike II escaped using its lifter, it flipped Andrew Lindsey's machine back upright with yet another ram. Wedge of Doom turned its attention towards Red-Green, shoving it into the upper-left corner before the end bell rang. All robots except No Love were deemed to be still active, therefore surviving to the initial Judges' decision. An audience vote was cast, with Wedge of Doom once again receiving the loudest applause. Wedge of Doom was thus declared the 1997 Featherweight Melee champion, concluding its immensely successful US Robot Wars career.[8][36][37]
Results[]
| WEDGE OF DOOM - RESULTS | ||
| 1996 US Championship | ||
| Featherweight Face-Off Champion | ||
| Round 1 | vs. WYSIWYG | Won |
| Round 2 | vs. KMM | Won |
| Quarter-Final | vs. Melvin | Won |
| Semi-Final | vs. Spike | Won |
| Final | vs. Red 2 | Won |
| Featherweight Melee Final | ||
| Melee | vs. Black Sheep 2, KMM, Melvin, My Little Pony, Spike, WYSIWYG, The X-2 | Qualified |
| Melee Final | vs. Slomo 3, The X-2 | Lost |
| 1997 US Championship | ||
| Featherweight Face-Off Champion | ||
| Round 1 | vs. Bob Smith | Won |
| Round 2 | vs. C3 | Won |
| Quarter-Final | vs. No opponent | Bye |
| NOTE: Wedge of Doom received an automatic bye into the Face-Off Semi-Finals. | ||
| Semi-Final | vs. Dough Boy | Won |
| Final | vs. Red-Green | Won |
| Featherweight Melee Champion | ||
| Melee, Round 1 | vs. Bayou Bengle, Bot Will Eat Itself, C3, Gorange, TKO | Qualified |
| Melee, Semi-Final | vs. Bob Smith, Dough Boy, Gorange, KMM | Qualified |
| Melee Final | vs. Bob Smith, No Love, Red-Green, Spike II | Won |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 13
- Losses: 1
NOTE: Wedge of Doom's 1997 Face-Off bye is omitted from the Wins tally.
Series Record[]
| Events | Wedge of Doom Event Record |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Did not enter |
| 1995 | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Featherweight Champion (Face-Off) Featherweight Melee, Final |
| 1997 | Featherweight Champion (Face-Off & Melee) |
Outside Robot Wars[]
Following its dominant 1997 run, Tony Buchignani intended to update Wedge of Doom for the proposed 1998 US Robot Wars event. Planned upgrades included a 'beefed up frame and shell' for increased durability, along with a possible switch to the lightweight class depending on time and cost limitations. Ultimately, the cancellation of the 1998 event meant that neither this incarnation, nor further developments, would be seen in any later Robot Wars competitions.[38]
The featherweight incarnation, however, would make a further combat appearance in 1999, at the inaugural BattleBots event in Long Beach. In lieu of dedicated featherweight tournaments, it was paired up with an updated version of Andrew Lindsey's Spike to form the lightweight multibot Spike of Doom. At Long Beach, Spike of Doom lost its first Kilobot division battle against The Missing Link, but recovered with two victories against RACC and Rasta in the losers' bracket. However, issues with Wedge of Doom's Vantec controller resulted in a second loss against Endotherm, eliminating Spike of Doom from the tournament. Spike of Doom also took part in the Kilobot Rumble, but was eliminated partway through after suffering more 'Vantec lockouts'.[39]
Between 2001 and 2002, a larger and significantly redesigned Wedge of Doom would compete in the final three seasons of the Comedy Central BattleBots TV series. This took the form of a low box-shaped lightweight, featuring four (Season 3.0) or six-wheel drive (Seasons 4.0-5.0) and a lifting arm as its main weapon. The lightweight Wedge of Doom achieved consistent success, never failing to reach the quarter-finals of its main category division. Its final appearance in Season 5.0 also marked its best performance in BattleBots, finishing the lightweight division runner-up to Dr. Inferno Jr.[40][41][42]
In 2000, Tony Buchignani joined fellow US Robot Wars and BattleBots competitors Team Delta, becoming one of the team's drivers.[43] Alongside the lightweight Wedge of Doom, he became especially notable for his Comedy Central-era middleweight entry Hazard. Built in collaboration with Dan Danknick, Hazard was armed with a large overhead spinning bar, capable of inflicting significant damage to opponents. Competing in four televised seasons, it won the main middleweight division in Seasons 1.0, 3.0 and 4.0, with a 17-1 match record by the end of its Season 5.0 campaign. Hazard's engineering and successes resulted in it being inducted into The Combat Robot Hall of Fame upon its foundation in 2003.[44]
Other competitors entered by Team Delta during this period include:
- Agrippa - A heavyweight that fought in the Long Beach 1999 event where it lost in the second round to Razer.
- Evil Fish Tank - A lightweight based on Hazard's original running chassis, armed with a front pneumatic lifter. Season 2.0 quarter-finalist and 2000 BotBash 25kg (heavyweight) champion; later rebuilt into Wedge of Doom's lightweight incarnation.[45][46][47]
- War Machine - A ten-wheel drive superheavyweight with a ramming scoop, utilizing DeWalt 18V drill motors for each wheel. Season 2.0 semi-finalist.[48]
With Comedy Central declining to renew BattleBots after Season 5.0, Wedge of Doom continued to fight at live events between 2003 and 2005. Documented appearances include Steel Conflict in 2003 and 2004; the Robot Fighting League Nationals in 2004; and the 2004 and 2005 ROBOlympics (now RoboGames).[49]
Honours[]
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ Team 'Hazard's Robots', Tony Buchignani website (archived)
- ↑ 'ROBOT WARS ® 1996 WINNERS', US Robot Wars website (archived 2 May 1997)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 'The 1996 Wedge of Doom's Design', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 'The 1997 Wedge of Doom's Design', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 'Pictures of the 1996 Featherweight Faceoff.', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 'The 1996 Featherweight Melee', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 'Pictures of the 1997 Featherweight Face off.', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 'The 1997 Featherweight Melee', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'Cunning Robots: Cunning Plan [VECTOR OF ARMAGEDDON]', Oliver Steeples website (archived)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 'March Status', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'April Status', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 'May Status' Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'June Status', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'July-August Status', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'The 1996 Wedge of Doom', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived)
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Dual Match 4', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded 16 December 2018
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 'Robot Wars 1996 - KMM vs Wedge of Doom', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), July 25 2008
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 'The Story Of Spike', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1996: Red 2 versus The Wedge of Doom (Featherweight Final)', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 9 2019
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Melee 3', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 10 2019
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 'Robot Wars 1996 - Featherweight Melee 2', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded July 20 2008
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 'Robot Wars 1996: Featherweight Melee 6', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), January 15 2019
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight Dual Match 1', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded April 14 2021
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 'MATCH: THE WEDGE OF DOOM VS BOB SMITH', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 'Pictures of the 1997 Featherweight Face off.', Nolex/Wedge of Doom website (archived)
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 'MATCH: THE WEDGE OF DOOM VS C3', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight match: Wedge of Doom versus C3', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded April 20 2021
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight match: Bob Smith versus Doughboy', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 6 2021
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight match: Doughboy versus The Wedge of Doom', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 8 2021
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 'MATCH: THE WEDGE OF DOOM VS DOUGHBOY', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight finals: The Wedge of Doom versus Red-Green', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 9 2021
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 'MATCH: THE WEDGE OF DOOM VS RED-GREEN', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight Melee 1', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 10 2021
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 'FEATHERWEIGHT MELEE ROUND 1', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 'Robot Wars 1997 Featherweight Melee 5', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 11 2021
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Final Featherweight Melee', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded 11 May 2021
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 'FEATHERWEIGHT MELEE ROUND 6', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1998', Wedge of Doom/Nolex website (archived February 6 1998)
- ↑ 'TEAM SPIKE GOES TO BATTLEBOTS', Team Spike (fiberia.com) (archived)
- ↑ 'The 2001 Wedge of Doom - Season 3', Tony Buchignani website (archived May 25 2006)
- ↑ 'The 2001 Wedge of Doom - Season 4', Tony Buchignani website (archived May 25 2006)
- ↑ 'The 2002 Wedge of Doom - Season 5', Tony Buchignani website (archived May 25 2006)
- ↑ 'Team Delta 2000', Team Delta website
- ↑ 'The Combat Robot Hall of Fame ®', Team Run Amok website
- ↑ 'The Evil Fish Tank! '00', Tony Buchignani website (archived February 22 2006)
- ↑ 'Evil Fish Tank! - Part 1', Team Delta website (archived)
- ↑ 'Evil Fish Tank! - Part 2', Team Delta website (archived)
- ↑ 'War Machine', Tony Buchignani website (archived May 25 2006)
- ↑ 'The 2003-5 Wedge of Doom', Tony Buchignani website (archived May 25 2006)
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