Robot Wars Wiki
Register
Robot Wars Wiki
(Undo revision 361250 by Nononsensecapeesh (talk))
Tag: Undo
(Undo revision 361251 by Nononsensecapeesh (talk))
Tag: Undo
Line 113: Line 113:
 
**He also joined Peter Bignall for [[Inverterbrat|Inverterbrat's]] Pinball run in Series 4.
 
**He also joined Peter Bignall for [[Inverterbrat|Inverterbrat's]] Pinball run in Series 4.
 
*Peter Gibson was cited as instrumental in the creation of [[Kater Killer]]. Keith Williams cited Gibson as his personal hero.
 
*Peter Gibson was cited as instrumental in the creation of [[Kater Killer]]. Keith Williams cited Gibson as his personal hero.
  +
*Wheelosaurus covered the most distance of all the robots that failed to complete the Gauntlet.
   
 
==Honours==
 
==Honours==

Revision as of 17:13, 13 March 2021

"From an ancient age comes Peter Gibson's magnificent creation. The wheels come from a Victorian pram. The chassis, what little there is, comes from a scaffolding pole, and its gyro stabilising device comes from a helicoptor. It can spin and turn very quickly."
Jonathan Pearce introduces Wheelosaurus in Series 2

Wheelosaurus was a robot which competed in Series 2 and 4 of Robot Wars, getting to the Heat Arena Semi-Final and Round 2 of its Heat respectively. Peter Gibson, one of only a few one-person teams to compete in Robot Wars, often affectionately referred to Wheelosaurus by the name Grunge-Bot.

Wheelosaurus was also visible in the background of some shots during Series 3, although it is unclear why Wheelosaurus was present without competing in any battles.

Initially, Wheelosaurus was a reserve robot for the Second Series, ranked behind Panda Monium and Griffon, but when Minotaur withdrew from the main competition, it was elevated into Heat B.

Design

WheelosaurusOriginal

Wheelosaurus as it appeared at the auditions before the Second Wars

"In designing his robot Wheelosaurus, Peter Gibson wanted to move away from the wedge and box shapes beloved by so many roboteers. Despite their success, he felt that there were far too many of them. Using this strategy he ended up with one of the most original designs seen in the Wars. His primary concern was that his robot wouldn't fall over, which renders the majority of machines utterly helpless. Peter decided to opt for very large wheels, mounted on either side of a basic mild steel pole chassis. This gave the main body of his robot an almost spherical profile, dominated by the two large wheels, which are actually salvaged from an old Victorian pushchair."
— The Robot Wars Technical Manual on Wheelosaurus
Wheelosaurus series 2 arena

Wheelosaurus in the arena during Series 2

Wheelosaurus was built from two large Victorian pram wheels. It was made predominantly from recycled parts- its chassis was scavenged from a scaffolding pod and featured a gyro-stabiliser from a helicopter, enabling it to spin and turn quickly, whilst its wheels were protected with aluminium dustbin lids. The wheels also featured spikes on them for protection.

"It's wheels, as we were reminded every time we saw it, were off a Victorian pram with dustbin lids to protect it. It's main weapon consisted of spikes on an arm which could be lifted up and down."
— Oliver Steeples on the Series 2 version of Wheelosaurus[1]
WheelosaurusBlades

Wheelosaurus and its interchangeable blades in Series 4

RWMWheelosaurus

Wheelosaurus in Series 4

Wheelosaurus was an axlebot, a type of robot where the body and weapon were built directly around the wheel axle. Wheelosaurus was the very first type of axlebot seen in Robot Wars, but one of few not to feature a torque reaction style weapon system. In Series 2, its only weaponry was a set of spikes on the end of a pole, but when it was entered into Series 4, it was armed with a spinning blade powered by a strimmer engine, which had interchangeable blades; a cutter with three blades, a circular saw, and one with four points.

Qualification

"I first saw Wheelosaurus at the preview where it was working until it went round a corner, at which point it fell over. Originally Wheelosaurus was a 3rd reserve behind me and Panda Monium but Minotaur backed out so Wheelosaurus got it's big chance. Oh, by the way the stability question was fixed by adding a gyro which worked very well."
— Oliver Steeples on Wheelosaurus' audition[2]

Wheelosaurus first auditioned for Robot Wars in Series 2, where it performed well in its obstacle course until it took a corner too tightly and fell onto its side. On the back of this, Wheelosaurus was selected to be a reserve robot in Series 2, behind Griffon and Panda Monium in priority. Once Minotaur withdrew, Wheelosaurus took its place.

Wheelosaurus was seen in the background of the Third Wars, suggesting it was once again a reserve or in attendance for side events only, but Wheelosaurus ultimately did not compete in any battles or events of Series 3. Instead, Wheelosaurus successfully qualified for the Fourth Wars after defeating Max Damage in its qualifier battle.

Robot History

Series 2

Wheelosaurus competed in Heat B of the Second Wars as a reserve entry replacing Minotaur.

Wheelosaurusgauntlet

Wheelosaurus is caught by Dead Metal

Wheelosaurus Sergeant Bash

Wheelosaurus hits Sergeant Bash's flamethrower

Wheelosaurus tackled the middle route of the Gauntlet and after getting through the barrels and over the see-saw it got pinned by Sergeant Bash. While flailing around it managed to knock off Sergeant Bash's flamethrower, which caused an evacuation of the building.[3] Wheelosaurus did however achieve 11.7m, placing it fourth and qualifying for the Trial.

The Trial was Tug of War, where Wheelosaurus competed against the House Robot Dead Metal.

Wheelosaurus tug of war

Wheelosaurus is tugged into the pit

Driving forwards to resist the pull of the House Robot, Wheelosaurus managed to survive 18.11 seconds, after some wheel spinning at the start to the end with Dead Metal almost toying with it. Wheelosaurus again finished fourth, so went through to the arena.

At the Arena stage, Wheelosaurus faced the 6th seed, Chaos.

Chaos wheelosaurus

Chaos pushes Wheelosaurus around

At the start of the battle, it was pushed into the PPZ where Sergeant Bash attacked with the flamethrower, and Matilda went for the wheels with her chainsaw. Wheelosaurus was then pushed into the corner against the angle grinders, and was pinned in by both Shunt and Matilda, Shunt getting in multiple blows with the axe. Cease was called, and Wheelosaurus was eliminated.

Series 4

"This is the machine which took the bash out of the Sergeant in Series 2, puncturing its gas cylinder. The pram wheels are spiked. The main weapon normally used for cutting wood. Wouldn't it be nice for Bash to get revenge?"
— Jonathan Pearce

Wheelosaurus was placed in Heat H of the Fourth Wars, and was drawn up against Prizephita MK2 and the number fifteen seed Wheely Big Cheese in the first round melee.

ShuntPrizephita

Wheelosaurus on the edge of the pit

ShuntWheelosaurusPit

Shunt pits Wheelosaurus

In the battle, Wheelosaurus was immediately flipped twice by Prizephita MK2, as Wheely Big Cheese went straight into the CPZ to attack Sir Killalot. Wheelosaurus then span around the arena before carelessly driving into the arena side wall, getting stuck. Wheelosaurus eventually came off the arena side wall, but was immediately attacked by house robot Dead Metal. Wheelosaurus was dragged away, but then tried to use its weapon on the half-immobile Prizephita MK2, along with Shunt. The pit of oblivion descended, with all three competitors being pitted by the house robots, and Wheelosaurus went in last. A judges' decision followed, and Wheelosaurus and the seeded Wheely Big Cheese were put through to the next round of the heat.

In the second round, Wheelosaurus were drawn up against the number thirty-two seeds Suicidal Tendencies, although before the fight began, Peter Gibson admitted that the robot was in a very bad way and was unlikely to be able to do anything.

"Peter, you are totally to blame for it. Peter, it's your fault. Peter, move the thing."
Jonathan Pearce at the start of Wheelosaurus' second battle
Wheelosaurus vs Suicidal Tendencies

Wheelosaurus is pushed onto the flame pit by Suicidal Tendencies

After activate was called, Wheelosaurus failed to move, and was pushed around the arena by Suicidal Tendencies. Petrol then began to leak from the back of the robot, and as it was pushed onto the flame pit, it fell on its side and the petrol strimmer motor caught fire, and Wheelosaurus was deemed immobilised. Cease was eventually called, eliminating Wheelosaurus from the competition.

Results

WHEELOSAURUS - RESULTS
Series 2
The Second Wars - UK Championship
Heat, Arena Semi-Final
Heat B, Gauntlet 11.7m (4th) Qualified
Heat B, Trial (Tug of War) 18.11 seconds (4th) Qualified
Heat B, Semi-Final vs. Chaos (6) Lost
Series 4
The Fourth Wars - UK Championship
Heat, Round 2
Heat H, Eliminator vs. Prizephita MK2, Wheely Big Cheese (15) Qualified
Heat H, Semi-Final vs. Suicidal Tendencies (32) Lost

Wins/Losses

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 2

NOTE: Wheelosaurus's successful Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record

Series Wheelosaurus Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Heat, Arena Semi-Final
The Third Wars Unused reserve
The Fourth Wars Heat, Round 2
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

Outside Robot Wars

Sprintfish

Sprint Fish, Peter Gibson's Techno Games entry

Peter Gibson also entered Techno Games, competing in the Internal Combustion Sprint event of 2001 with Sprint Fish, which failed to complete its run after falling over. It was beaten by Miss Struts and Ulysses.[4]

Trivia

  • Wheelosaurus was visible in the pits during Series 3, noticeably appearing behind Cassius 2 in a televised shot (pictured). It is currently unknown whether Wheelosaurus withdrew from the competition, was enlisted as an unused reserve, or if it was intended to compete in one of the cancelled side events.
  • At 100 years old, the Pram wheels on Wheelosaurus were the oldest components ever used in Robot Wars.
  • Wheelosaurus fought a seed in every battle it fought in.
    • Two out of those three battles were head-to-heads with the lowest seed in that series, which it lost to. Both of the seeds that beat Wheelosaurus lost their next battle.
  • Peter Gibson was originally a member of the Whirling Dervish team, before leaving to enter his own robot. Despite this, he was still credited on the stat board for Whirling Dervish.
    • He also joined Peter Bignall for Inverterbrat's Pinball run in Series 4.
  • Peter Gibson was cited as instrumental in the creation of Kater Killer. Keith Williams cited Gibson as his personal hero.
  • Wheelosaurus covered the most distance of all the robots that failed to complete the Gauntlet.

Honours

Nominations

References