Wonderbug was a lightweight robot which appeared exclusively in the 1996 US Robot Wars competition. It competed in both the Lightweight Face-Off and Lightweight Melee tournaments, but clearance issues prevented it from moving across the arena floor in either of its battles. The ensuing mobility issues were severe enough for Wonderbug to be disqualified from the Face-Off tournament alongside its opponent - The Eviscerator - on the grounds of lacking controlled movement.[2][3]
Design[]
As its name suggested, Wonderbug had an insectoid design with a compact dome-shaped body made from fiberglass. The overall effect was of a multicolored beetle; the paint scheme depicting the 'beetle' with a black and brown 'body', 'legs' and 'mandibles'; silver-gray 'elytra' (wingcases) with red, blue and golden-yellow markings; and green and yellow spots. Metal strips representing 'legs' and twin 'mandibles' lined the sides, back and front respectively, with the potential purpose of breaching other robots' ground clearances from all angles. Rows of inward-facing spikes were attached to each 'mandible', presumably to snare and inflict damage to opponents.[2]
Wonderbug was reported to have a flat base and a low ground clearance itself, though the latter characteristic resulted in its wheels 'barely touching' the arena floor. Along with low drive power and an uneven concrete surface, this would contribute to the robot having significant mobility issues in each of its battles.[2]
Robot History[]
1996 US Championship[]
Wonderbug first competed in the 1996 Lightweight Face-Off competition, where it fought The Eviscerator in the opening round. Due to a combination of its clearance issues and low drive power, it was unable to move at all from its starting position. The Eviscerator was also unable to approach or attack Wonderbug due to its own mobility issues, caused by radio interference from its circular saw weaponry. At some point, the battle was stopped and Wonderbug inspected in the arena. The Judges eventually chose to disqualify both robots, as neither was felt to have demonstrated enough controlled movement throughout the match.[2][3]
Wonderbug returned for the Lightweight Melee tournament, facing Gator, Snickers, Test Toaster One and The Enforcer in its preliminary battle. In the early moments, it moved only a small distance from the bottom-left corner, during which time it was briefly pressured by The Enforcer. Wonderbug displayed very little movement from that point forward, remaining in virtually the same place as its opponents fought each other around it. Ultimately, the Melee was won by The Enforcer, and Wonderbug was not chosen to compete in the Lightweight Melee Final alongside Al Kindle's machine.[4]
Result[]
| WONDERBUG - RESULTS | ||
| 1996 US Championship | ||
| Lightweight Face-Off Round 1 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. The Eviscerator | Disqualified |
| NOTE: Both competitors were disqualified by the Judges for a lack of controlled movement. | ||
| Lightweight Melee Round 1 | ||
| Melee | vs. Gator, Snickers, Test Toaster One, The Enforcer | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 1
- Draws: 1
Series Record[]
| Events | Wonderbug Event Record |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Did not enter |
| 1995 | Did not enter |
| 1996 | Lightweight Face-Off, Round 1 Lightweight Melee, Round 1 |
| 1997 | Did not enter |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos', US Robot Wars website entry on Wonderbug (archived May 2 1997)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 'WONDERBUG', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 'Robot Wars 1996: The Eviscerator versus Wonderbug (Lightweight)', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded December 17 2018
- ↑ 'Robot Wars 1996: Lightweight Melee 2', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 13 2019
External Links[]
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