Z

Z
Participation Information
US 1994-1997 Events	1997
Team Information
Team	Z Interactive
Team Members	Victor "Vic" Lang Doug Dvorsky
Sponsors	Z Interactive (Z Creatives)
From	Fort Collins, Colorado
Other Entries	Killbborg (1996)
Robot Statistics
Top Speed	18ft/s (approx. 12.2mph)
Power	Custom NiCad battery packs (30 cells; 36V)
Drive	2x power wheelchair motors
Weapons	Cartridge-powered metal spear
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

Z (pronounced "Zee") was a heavyweight robot which competed in the 1997 US Robot Wars competition. Built by Vic Lang and named after sponsor Z Interactive, it was recognized for its high-tech design and pneumatic spike weapon, the latter powered by an unusual and controversial 'rifle cartridge'-based mechanism. Competing solely in the Heavyweight Face-Off, Z reached the Quarter-Final stage, where overheating batteries lead to its elimination by The Mauler, and received the 'Best Design' award for 1997.

The team representing Z Interactive (originally Semborg Corp) previously competed in the 1996 competition with the heavyweight Killbborg, captained by Ken Atkinson.

Design

Z was an invertible, reverse wedge-shaped robot running on two large hand-riveted tracks. Made using aluminum strips and conveyor pulley belts, each track tread was combined with power wheelchair motors and custom, 'fully-moulded' NiCad battery packs. The latter featured a total of 30 cells and a power output of 36V. This drivetrain setup gave Z excellent traction and pushing power across the arena, along with a top speed of 18 feet per second (approximately 12.2mph). The high torque and speed came at a cost, however, as prolonged driving at that speed would often result in the batteries overheating.

A stainless steel chassis and baseplate provided the foundation for Z's construction, which also included extensive use of machined aluminum for frame sections and front impact-absorbing 'bumpers'. The aluminum components, including the 1/4-inch diamond plate top panels, were anodized, providing a distinctive 'bright purple' finish. Z's sides were protected by large Lexan 'domes', each finished in solid black, while both the front and rear 'bumpers' were cushioned by small rubber shock mounts.

"We went through the rules as well as we could to make sure that what we're doing is both safe and legal. But, it definitely is probably going to have... more of a punching power than [what] probably could be orchestrated with standard pneumatics or hydraulics."

— Vic Lang on Z's cartridge-powered spike

Alongside its powerful drive, Z featured a 14-inch pneumatic steel spike as its weapon. Unusually, the spike was powered by a set of .223 rifle cartridges in place of a gas canister, harnessed by an 'automotive coil spring' and hydraulic dampeners. While powerful enough to pierce through 1/2-inch aluminum panels, the spike had major accuracy issues, limited reuses and could easily be damaged in combat. Additionally, the use of rifle cartridges for the weapon mechanism appeared to contradict Robot Wars rules, which explicitly banned explosives and pyrotechnics of any kind. Amidst the ensuing controversy, Z was passed to compete with the spike as originally intended, once the Judges deemed it 'safe enough' for the arena.

During an arena demonstration held at the start of the 1997 event, Vic Lang revealed that Z took around 'three and a half months' to construct at an undetermined budget.

Robot History

1997 US Championship

Before the start of its 1997 run, Z was one of three robots - alongside Alexander and Snake - to perform demonstrations on the first day of the event (Saturday 16 August). With Vic Lang at the controls, the robot drove and spun around in different places across the arena, while host Michael Meehan asked questions about its build time, cost, speed and design. Z concluded the demo by punching through a 2x6, 300lb plate steel panel with its spike, bending the panel out of shape in doing so.

Z, competing exclusively in the Heavyweight Face-Off, first fought Badger in the opening round of the main bracket.

Z fires its weapon at Badger

Z pressures Badger in the arena corner

Starting the faster of the two heavyweights, it was nudged from the front by the fellow newcomer, but attempted to respond with an early spike attack. The spike, however, was at the wrong angle for Z to pierce Badger's front end, instead merely scraping along the surface and bending on contact. With its weapon now unable to retract, Z resorted to pushing Badger into the upper spike trap, right-most flippers and wall, using its wedge shape and powerful drive. A push into the lower-right flipper was enough to turn and leave Badger balancing on its left-hand side.

Badger is side-stranded

Z briefly pinned Badger in place, then retreated to track its movements as it tried to keep driving. From that point onwards, it kept tentatively pushing Badger in order to re-right it; smoke occasionally bursting from behind its compromised spike mechanism. One push sent Badger towards the other side the arena, close to an arena flipper. Z finally shoved Badger back into a fully driveable position while ramming it into the wall nearby.

Moments later, Z attempted to ram Badger again while the latter got two of its clawed wheels stuck on a flipper paddle. After this, it proceeded to gently nudge and push James Bloeman's entry across the nearby arena space. Despite some brief resistance, Z pinned Badger between the flipper and the wall, then shoved it once more. However, the custom battery packs onboard Z began overheating, resulting in it becoming immobilized while Badger also struggled for mobility. Both robots survived to a Judges' decision regardless, which ruled Z victorious.

Progressing to the second round, Z faced The Landshark, a new heavyweight entered by returning roboteer Willis Wong.

In the opening seconds, it headed towards the center, while The Landshark moved towards and spun in the upper-left corner. Both robots exchanged a few rams, but without dealing any significant attacks at first. This was until Z spun The Landshark around with its third shove, which was also enough to eject one of its opponent's batteries. Z then found itself colliding with the lower-right walls, while The Landshark veered behind one of the arena flippers.

From that moment, the two robots continued to exchange light pushes, with Z also deploying its spike for the first time before spinning around. Retracting its weapon, Z pushed a struggling Landshark around in a quarter-turn, while trying to spear it a second time. It proceeded to press against and hook The Landshark by the tail, dragging and pushing it around in circles after the latter had lost drive to its left wheel.

Once the duo separated, Z began 'poking holes' through The Landshark's front plate. This was until the spike jammed open once more, forcing Vic Lang's machine to resort to ramming tactics once again. Z eventually pushed The Landshark against the right-most wall, where the latter was unable to drive away from at all. Despite a close encounter with the lower spike trap, it would ultimately be declared the winner by knockout.

Z's Quarter-Final match saw it drawn against a seasoned veteran of past US Robot Wars events - overhead flail spinner The Mauler.

Z spikes and shoves The Mauler

Immediately, it charged spike-first into the spinning Mauler. However, this proved costly for Z, as the impact ruptured the upper dampener for its spike. Hydraulic fluid sprayed everywhere, though Z persisted, firing the spike while pushing The Mauler back into the wall. With the spike sticking open, Z rammed the Tilfords' machine multiple times, though the weapon began bending out of shape as a consequence. Z ultimately pushed The Mauler into the upper spike trap, while both robots left skid marks behind over the now-oily surface.

With The Mauler initially slow to evade, Z kept pushing it into the walls on both sides of the arena, before ramming it once again. Another couple of rams followed, leading into an attack where Z got underneath and shoved The Mauler against the upper-left corner. Carrying The Mauler over its top, Z pushed its helpless opponent backwards into the wall near the lower spike trap. It backed up and rammed The Mauler again, all while its spike continued to be bent further.

As the match entered its final thirty seconds, Z collected and pushed the flailing Mauler once more. However, one of its batteries overheated, causing a malfunction severe enough to immobilize it mid-push. While this would have occurred late enough for Z to avoid a full 30-second countout - thus potentially allowing it to survive to a Judges' decision - Michael Meehan asked for it to show signs of movement with less than fifteen seconds remaining. With Z not responding to Meehan's call, the battle ended shortly after. The Mauler, emerging as the winner by knockout, closed in on Z for a few seconds after. Z was eliminated from the 1997 Heavyweight Face-Off, which would prove to be its only robot combat event. However, its design and weaponry were still recognized, as it would pick up the 'Best Design' award for that year.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 2
• Losses: 1

Series Record

NOTE: This record reflects that of Vic Lang and the Semborg Corp/Z Interactive team.

Events	Z Event Record
1994	Did not enter
1995	Did not enter
1996	Entered with Killbborg
1997	Heavyweight Face-Off, Quarter-Final

Outside Robot Wars

Prior to competing at Robot Wars 1997, Z was first conceptualized as part of an audio-animatronic character created by Z Interactive, an 'interactive robotic technology' company Vic Lang worked for. Named BERTT, the "Semborg" utilized a weaponless 'mobile base unit' with a similar paint scheme, track system and form factor, alongside a bodyshell inspired by 1950s American trucks. Z itself would be converted into a 'character transporter' following its brief combat career, with the spike weapon also being removed in the process.

Other "Semborg" ("Servo-Electrical Mechanically-Based ORGanism") characters developed included the second-generation Cooter, and the more advanced third-generation Jake. Jake would see widespread use in the performance and entertainment sectors by late 1997, with selected clients including AT&T, Discovery Zone and The Comedy & Magic Club.

Another audio-animatronic similar to Jake, Y2K2, was created specially by Vic Lang for the BattleBots Las Vegas Pay-Per-View event, taking place on November 17 1999. Voiced by Lang himself, Y2K2 fulfilled a similar purpose to its immediate predecessor, acting as both a mascot and co-presenter alongside Dan Danknick and Larry Michael. Sadly, Lang passed away shortly after the Las Vegas event concluded; the BattleBots: World Championship home media release of this event would be dedicated in his memory.

External Links

• Z Interactive website (archived)
• Z on the archived Z Interactive website