0:00:02 > 0:00:04The level of challenge involved with building a fighting robot means
0:00:04 > 0:00:07that there is no perfect design.
0:00:11 > 0:00:1440 robot fighting teams...
0:00:15 > 0:00:18..competing for the ultimate prize.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21This year, there will be a lot of things that people won't expect.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26Battling in the biggest...
0:00:28 > 0:00:32..toughest robot fighting arena in the world.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Each week, only the strongest will survive.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Last week, all robots great and small
0:00:41 > 0:00:43smashed their way around our arena.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47But it was the power of Shockwave and the huge axe of Thor that made
0:00:47 > 0:00:49it through the heats.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50The two titans clashed,
0:00:50 > 0:00:55but Thor didn't last and Shockwave powered through to the grand final.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Who will join them this week
0:00:57 > 0:01:00fighting to become the Robot Wars champion?
0:01:06 > 0:01:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:10 > 0:01:13This is Robot Wars!
0:01:14 > 0:01:17And this is the arena where the robots come to fight.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19As you can see, it's filled with hazards -
0:01:19 > 0:01:22spikes, the flipper, the pit and fire.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24And as if taking on each other wasn't hard enough,
0:01:24 > 0:01:28the teams must also contend with giant mechanised anger on wheels,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30designed to pulverise anything that gets in their way.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Or, as we call them here, the house robots.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Behind me is the weapons testing area,
0:01:40 > 0:01:44the last stop for our teams before they take the short but lonely walk
0:01:44 > 0:01:48to the arena. It's the only place where the teams are able to test
0:01:48 > 0:01:51their robots, due to the sheer power of the weapons.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Here in the pits, the teams are busy checking and repairing their robots,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56ready for battle.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Here's a quick heads up on how the show works.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01We start with two huge group battles.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03It's a 50-50 shot if you escape, even from there.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Then the top two robots from each one progress to the head-to-heads
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and, finally, the two robots that score the most points
0:02:10 > 0:02:13in the head-to-heads fight in tonight's final.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16The first group battle will feature...
0:02:21 > 0:02:25OK, I have to say, this I'm very excited about.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27I love a bit of neon. Hello, Team Glitterbomb.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29- Hello.- How are you doing? Are you the dad?- Good.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- Yes, I am.- Are you the boss? - Yes, I am.- Good woman.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35Now, tell me about Glitterbomb.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37How long has it taken to build?
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- Quite a long time and... - How long are we talking?
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Four weeks, but mostly the last week.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Oh, it's been, like, a bit of a crammer?
0:02:45 > 0:02:48- 72 hours straight. - Who chose the colour scheme?
0:02:48 > 0:02:50It's quite unique, it definitely stands out in here.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54I chose the colour scheme and I also chose the design.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56- And what's your name?- April.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59April. And did you choose the costumes as well?
0:02:59 > 0:03:03I chose the logo, but I didn't choose the black.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04Tell us about the design.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07It's a pink robot that's all glittery,
0:03:07 > 0:03:08- with a belt around its waist.- Right.
0:03:08 > 0:03:14And the axe is really spiky, so it can dig into robots.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15Brilliant. And who drives it?
0:03:15 > 0:03:17- My dad.- OK.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Did you have a few goes at this weapon before it was complete?
0:03:21 > 0:03:23We haven't tested the weapon yet.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26- We tested the old version of the weapon...- Right.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29..but since we've put the new parts in, it's not been tested.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31- OK.- But April's controlling the weapon in the arena,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34so if it goes horribly wrong, it's not my fault.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Although, he'll have his finger on my thumb,
0:03:36 > 0:03:38so he's controlling my thumb!
0:03:42 > 0:03:44This is Overdozer and the team from Overdozer.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Can I start with what is the obvious question?
0:03:47 > 0:03:50It seems uniquely to be made out of wood.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Yeah, we went with an MDF armour,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55because it's cheap and really easy to cut
0:03:55 > 0:03:57because we did not have a lot of time to make this robot.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Really? This has been...
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- This is your first attempt as well. - Pretty rushed. Yeah, the first...
0:04:02 > 0:04:04When you arrived in here, you looked around and you didn't see any
0:04:04 > 0:04:07other wooden robots, was there any part of you thinking,
0:04:07 > 0:04:08"This might be a bad idea?"
0:04:08 > 0:04:11We kind of had a thought that it might be quite a bad idea
0:04:11 > 0:04:13right from the beginning.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16It probably will stand up to a lot more punishment than people will
0:04:16 > 0:04:18- give it credit for. - Also, one huge change,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21it's not an electric engine like most of the ones out here...
0:04:21 > 0:04:23- What kind of engine? - We have a petrol engine under here
0:04:23 > 0:04:26- to power our active weapon at the back.- What's your active weapon?
0:04:26 > 0:04:27It's just a spinning blade.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- It's like an outboard motor, essentially, at the back?- Yeah.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32You've made a boat.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34It probably wouldn't float, but, yeah!
0:04:34 > 0:04:36How high do you rate your chances -
0:04:36 > 0:04:39with your petrol engine, which could burn down your wooden boat,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41which has an outboard engine?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Oh...
0:04:44 > 0:04:45A long pause.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I'll take that pause. I'll take that pause and run with it.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49Overdozer, I'm loving this.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53I want your cabinet to win, that's what I want.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55So, King B Remix, quite a smart robot, in every way?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Yes, he is, very much.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00He understands Japanese, actually - only Japanese.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- So I am a commander. - You are the commander.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07And, holding a drill, you look slightly terrifying!
0:05:07 > 0:05:10Amazing. Talk to me about the weapon.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Well, our main weapon is actually to be just fast and powerful.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15We have these spikes, you see. We can get under them and lift them
0:05:15 > 0:05:17and take them all around the arena.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20- You're going to dance around! - Absolutely.- Muhammad Ali style. - Exactly.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I can't wait to see you waltz around that arena.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Brilliant, guys. Thank you. Best of luck.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Now, Dantomkia,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30which is a robot with some heritage as well, isn't it?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32The original owner, Mike,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34he named it after his three children -
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Daniel, Thomas and Kiara.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39He stopped playing with the hobby and then we took over it
0:05:39 > 0:05:40to resurrect it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42And it's an interesting piece of work,
0:05:42 > 0:05:44because the robot itself is a weapon.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45It can be a very powerful weapon.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48The whole thing can spin round and be a very deadly full body spinner,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- if we need it to as well.- You've also got a flipper there as well.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54We're laying on the high-pressure flipper to flip robots over, out,
0:05:54 > 0:05:55in the pit and turn them over.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57By the way, I'm impressed with the
0:05:57 > 0:05:59way you've made it look very sciency... Very good.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03With these completely fake readouts, rolling on a loop.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Are you going to get through this round?
0:06:06 > 0:06:07Confident. We're confident.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10- Can I give you a hint?- Yeah. - Go after the wooden robot.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11That's the one!
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Where's the smoke coming from, by the way?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16- A bad thing hasn't happened? - Not yet.- Fine, good. OK.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Time, then, to put their robots in the firing line.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27Loaded onto their trolleys, the teams must get up to the arena,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29arm the weapons and prepare to fight.
0:06:29 > 0:06:35Our man with a ringside view of the robots is, as ever, Jonathan Pearce.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36Thanks, Dara and Angela.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39The teams are almost ready and our esteemed judges in position.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41Professor Sethu Vijayakumar,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Dr Lucy Rogers and Professor Noel Sharkey.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46If there is no clear winner in each three-minute battle,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49they'll appoint a winner judged on damage, control and aggression.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52'From Falkirk, Scotland - Overdozer.'
0:06:52 > 0:06:56This team of friends with a mutual love of engineering chose their
0:06:56 > 0:06:57robot's wooden armour for its
0:06:57 > 0:06:59flame retardant properties.
0:06:59 > 0:07:00OK, then! Will they get a chance to
0:07:00 > 0:07:02use their outboard motor-driven blade
0:07:02 > 0:07:04before being reduced to sawdust?
0:07:04 > 0:07:05It remains to be seen.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09'From Wolverhampton - Dantomkia.'
0:07:09 > 0:07:13This team of friends have the moves like Brucie and the flipper bot
0:07:13 > 0:07:15made of tank-grade armour steel,
0:07:15 > 0:07:16one of the quickest robots in
0:07:16 > 0:07:17the competition.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Aimee Burch's role is team counsellor,
0:07:19 > 0:07:21rehabilitating the rest of the team
0:07:21 > 0:07:23after harrowing robot battles.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27'From Wrexham, North Wales - Glitterbomb.'
0:07:27 > 0:07:30This family team claim their robot can right itself
0:07:30 > 0:07:31from any position with
0:07:31 > 0:07:33its powerful pneumatic axe.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34According to April's dad, James,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Glitterbomb was originally going to
0:07:36 > 0:07:38be black, silver and cool looking.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40April, however, insisted it be
0:07:40 > 0:07:42pink and glittery.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46'From Portsmouth - King B Remix.'
0:07:46 > 0:07:49This flipper-rammer robot has green credentials,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51made of 30% recycled parts.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53The team captain Simon prepares for
0:07:53 > 0:07:54battle at home by pushing
0:07:54 > 0:07:56a wheelbarrow around at high speed.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Simon, the arena is no rose garden.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01In all the matches this evening,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04the competitors will be joined by one of the house robots.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07For this group battle, it's the femme fatale of Robot Wars, Matilda,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10with her fetching pink rear flywheel.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13She'll be guarding her corner patrol zone, and if competitors cross the
0:08:13 > 0:08:17line they'll face the wrath of this metallic mistress.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22So here we go.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25'Roboteers, stand by.'
0:08:31 > 0:08:37'Three, two, one, activate.'
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Wouldn't it be nice if Overdozer survives?
0:08:40 > 0:08:41Get it?
0:08:41 > 0:08:44They will soon. They're straight into the melee, though.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Glitterbomb being pushed away.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50An attack by King B Remix on Overdozer.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52We've lost drive, that's it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57Boarded armaments of Overdozer ruptured.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Pieces, splinters, I dare say, flying off.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Well, they didn't last long, did they, Overdozer?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06We didn't think they would, but we thought they'd be better than that.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07They were rubbish!
0:09:07 > 0:09:11And they will be consigned to the rubbish bin, I should think.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Dantomkia chasing down on Glitterbomb.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16How's that powerful axe, Glitterbomb?
0:09:16 > 0:09:19Got a good blow from that axe in early on.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Oh!
0:09:21 > 0:09:25April went through six different axes before she was happy.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27All that power in that machine is in the axe.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29They have very little manoeuvrability.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32Why is it not working, Daddy?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34More damage on...
0:09:34 > 0:09:35Oh, Overdozer!
0:09:35 > 0:09:38Look at the flipping power out there in the arena!
0:09:40 > 0:09:42Sensational.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47Dantomkia in underneath Overdozer and lifting 86 kilos
0:09:47 > 0:09:49as if it were a leaf.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Now, King B Remix here are being clever.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53They've stayed out of trouble, largely,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55they know those tyres are exposed.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59- Daddy!- I don't think Glitterbomb and little April can get out of that
0:09:59 > 0:10:00trouble now.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02I think they've been immobilised.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07Dantomkia very impressive, the quickest robot out there.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Very manoeuvrable and used the spikes underneath
0:10:10 > 0:10:12the flipper to cause real mayhem.
0:10:12 > 0:10:13And they have done.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Overdozer, you were rubbish, boys!
0:10:18 > 0:10:21We won't build our next robot out of MDF!
0:10:21 > 0:10:23- To come into the arena with... - HE LAUGHS
0:10:23 > 0:10:24KLAXON
0:10:24 > 0:10:27..with a wooden robot! There are splinters out there!
0:10:27 > 0:10:29Oh, dear.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33Mend that one, I don't think so.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35We're out. That's it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37I think we know the winners,
0:10:37 > 0:10:39but let's just look at all the action again.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43Overdozer almost went right from the start.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47You'll see it here, coming forward confidently.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50But King B Remix caused the early damage there.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52That immobilised Overdozer.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55They were out. Glitterbomb got in a couple of blows with the axe,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57but I think that was it.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59And they couldn't really function properly since then.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01King B Remix very clever throughout.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04And Dantomkia destructive.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08Overdozer, so much hope, so little left.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15Dantomkia, congratulations. Very good.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18I thought that actually was quite an awesome performance by you guys.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Were you happy with that? - It was all right. It was good.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23"It was all right." That sounds like a man who thinks there's more in the can.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25We're getting used to it, there's more to come.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30- What is yours built with? - Treated military-style steel. - Treated military-style steel.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Let's bear that in mind as I turn to our other team.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36We've learned an important lesson today, haven't we,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39about the value of MDF as shelving?
0:11:39 > 0:11:42But not... Do you know how long you lasted?
0:11:42 > 0:11:44- Less than 30 seconds.- Not very long. Our drive system went out.
0:11:44 > 0:11:4723 seconds you lasted out there.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Might as well have built it out of biscuit,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51that's how effective wood was.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56You were like the first little piggy of this particular story!
0:11:56 > 0:11:58They huffed and puffed and they blew your house down.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Lovely to have you here, lads.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02An absolute pleasure. Overdozer - a delight.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Glitterbomb, the crowd were behind you all the way.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09And it looked like it was going well,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12but it didn't quite pan out the way you had planned.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14No. No, something went wrong.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16I think we've got a gas leak.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18- That's a bit of a shame. - Was it Dad's driving, April?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20- No.- Good, stand by your dad.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23That's the spirit. Well done.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Guys, I feel like, tactically, you kind of sat at the periphery.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I hope we see a little bit more action
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- in the head-to-heads from you guys. - Oh, we will, we will.- We need to.
0:12:32 > 0:12:33OK, good. Good luck.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Robot Wars can be brutal for the steeliest of competitors.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40So there can be little sympathy for the students from Falkirk
0:12:40 > 0:12:43who opted to build theirs from wood.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47I don't think catastrophic begins to cut it at this point.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51We built a robot in five days and we made it work.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53We really need a step up for next time
0:12:53 > 0:12:55if we want to last longer than 23 seconds.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Watching Overdozer being smashed to smithereens was really quite sad
0:13:03 > 0:13:06in many ways. The hours that must have gone into it.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08But it just goes to show, choosing your materials.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11MDF, great to work with, easy to work with,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13but if you're fighting against military grade robots
0:13:13 > 0:13:17or military grade materials, you've really got to choose
0:13:17 > 0:13:19what you're making its stuff of really well.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Glitterbomb, sadly, it looked like it had a problem with its hammer.
0:13:23 > 0:13:24Didn't come back up.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27We had a tiny leak while we were ramming up
0:13:27 > 0:13:31and, by the time the fight started, our regulator had frozen.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34So we got the two hits that were in the buffer tank and then that's it -
0:13:34 > 0:13:35we had no more gas.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38So it wouldn't self-right, it wouldn't throw the axe over.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41One little tiny leak scuppered us.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45I'm going to come back and I'm going to smash, bash and crash!
0:13:45 > 0:13:48It's time to get on with the second group fixture.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50Battling it out will be...
0:13:54 > 0:13:55Supernova!
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Is everything going to plan?
0:13:57 > 0:13:58No, not quite.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01So, yesterday, the electronics, the brains of the robot,
0:14:01 > 0:14:02went kaput.
0:14:02 > 0:14:04So we've spent the whole of today rewiring,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06and it's been a nightmare.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09- So, from scratch?- Pretty much - rewired the whole robot.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12So first-time test is going to be in the arena in about five minutes.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14You're basically flying blind in there.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- Basically, yeah. - OK, you don't seem too bothered.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19I am, I just hide it well!
0:14:19 > 0:14:22OK, let's have a talk to TR2.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Now, let's get you in here, lads. What age are you, young man?
0:14:26 > 0:14:28- I'm 15.- 15 years old. So this is very much...
0:14:28 > 0:14:29This is your mum and dad here as well.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31OK, so they've drawn you into the family trade.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34It's very much more of a family trade, isn't it?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Who's your great, great four times removed great uncle? - George Stephenson.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- George Stephenson, the father of the railways.- Yep.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Would he be proud if he looked down now,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45to see that the family are creating destructive robots?!
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Is this the legacy that Stephenson wanted?
0:14:48 > 0:14:50All the bodge. All the bodge.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52OK, fine. What will this do?
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Well, on the front end we've got a full pressure flipper,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57and on the back we've got a deadly axe that we'll hopefully do some damage with.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00- A deadly axe, that's that triangle of metal here?- Yeah.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02- Yeah, OK.- Panic stations at Orte.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Somebody's been sent to run to get a receiver.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06- What's happened?- The antenna's fallen off our receiver here.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- Oh, no.- It means it won't receive our signals.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11- So it'll be just sitting... - A lump of metal.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13Nightmare. Will you be able to fix it?
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- How long will it take? - About five minutes.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17- Well, there's a confident response! - Maybe less.
0:15:17 > 0:15:18Not quite panic stations.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20One team with great hopes is Big Nipper.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23Hello, Big Nipper. How are you? Are you doing well?
0:15:23 > 0:15:24- Yeah, we're doing well.- Fantastic.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27This is an interesting one because you have not just one,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- but two weapons, am I right?- Yeah, we've got interchangeable weapons, depending on who we're fighting.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33So which one is the most destructive one?
0:15:33 > 0:15:36This weapon that's on the robot now. It's a vertical spinning weapon.
0:15:36 > 0:15:37It spins at about 4,200 rpm.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39We've cranked it up to ten seconds,
0:15:39 > 0:15:41that's as much as we dare crank it up for.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43- It's that dangerous. - What happens at 11 seconds?
0:15:43 > 0:15:45It could destroy itself.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47- Are you going to win this? - Of course we're going to win it!
0:15:47 > 0:15:49- Lovely stuff. - It's the toughest robot here.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52Even to itself! That's how tough it is.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56So it's off to war for our teams as they head up to the arena.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Taking us through every destructive detail to their treasured robots is,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02of course, Jonathan Pearce.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05Thanks, Dara. It'll be interesting to see who can keep the gremlins
0:16:05 > 0:16:08at bay, then, during the chaos of this second group battle.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12'From Leeds - Big Nipper.'
0:16:12 > 0:16:14A family team of engineers who're
0:16:14 > 0:16:16responsible for this eight-wheeled machine.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Its interchangeable weapons are a
0:16:17 > 0:16:19very high pressure crushing jaw,
0:16:19 > 0:16:20or a vertical spinner.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22The team are very confident.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23They've rated their chances
0:16:23 > 0:16:25of winning as 11 out of 10.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28'From Gateshead - TR2.'
0:16:29 > 0:16:32It's a family affair with mum and dad putting full confidence in
0:16:32 > 0:16:3515-year-old Alex's driving skills.
0:16:35 > 0:16:36Of course, it's also got a weapon
0:16:36 > 0:16:38capable of flipping a small car
0:16:38 > 0:16:39at its disposal.
0:16:39 > 0:16:40The team are worried about the
0:16:40 > 0:16:42quality of dad Clive's welding.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43Let's hope they hold it together.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'From Brighton - Orte.'
0:16:46 > 0:16:48A team of teachers and students have
0:16:48 > 0:16:49a double-skinned steel
0:16:49 > 0:16:51and titanium armour.
0:16:51 > 0:16:52The team described their machine
0:16:52 > 0:16:53as a nightmare in metal
0:16:53 > 0:16:55and as having no weaknesses.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Captain Ian's been behind lots
0:16:57 > 0:16:58of robot building projects,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01including a robot that eats crisps.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04'From Wallington, Surrey - Supernova.'
0:17:04 > 0:17:07This bot boasts a mighty spinning disc
0:17:07 > 0:17:08which rotates at 2,500 rpm.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10Captain Suren, who works in the gas
0:17:10 > 0:17:12and oil industry, and his team
0:17:12 > 0:17:13promise that Supernova
0:17:13 > 0:17:15will be a crowd pleaser.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16But its disc is so powerful it could
0:17:16 > 0:17:19easily damage itself if used incorrectly.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Overseeing this fight from the corner patrol zone for this
0:17:22 > 0:17:24group battle, Sir Killalot.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28At 750 kilos, what he lacks in speed he makes up for in damage.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35'Roboteers, stand by.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:53'Three, two, one.
0:17:53 > 0:17:54'Activate!'
0:17:54 > 0:17:58Supernova... Oh, getting a slam on the right-hand side.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02This is like taking a driving test at the Monaco Grand Prix!
0:18:02 > 0:18:04And they're being nudged towards Orte.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Have they repaired their aerial problems?
0:18:06 > 0:18:09They're stuck on the arena sidewall straightaway.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Slammed in there by Big Nipper.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14We know all about Big Nipper's weaponry.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17They have the ability to pick up an
0:18:17 > 0:18:19opponent weighing 300 kilos and carry
0:18:19 > 0:18:21it around the arena floor.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Supernova back in the action and slamming in on Big Nipper.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25Well done, Supernova.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28And if they can get that full spinning potential up,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31it's much faster than most other robots of its type.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35TR2 with a little bit of a push and a shove in there on Supernova.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39Meanwhile, Big Nipper staying out of trouble and comes in behind TR2.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41The flip over the axe of the back -
0:18:41 > 0:18:43the team from Gateshead, on Tyneside.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Oh, head-to-head there!
0:18:46 > 0:18:48The power of Supernova and Big Nipper.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Orte long gone, by the way.
0:18:50 > 0:18:51Literally out of the picture.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53And TR2 there and
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Big Nipper teaming up on Supernova!
0:18:55 > 0:18:59Very nearly in the pit. Oh, and Big Nipper nearly went down as well!
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Well, how difficult is it to control these machines, I wonder.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Very difficult if you've got a gyroscopic effect
0:19:08 > 0:19:12created by a 2,500-rpm spinning disc there
0:19:12 > 0:19:15for Suren in charge of Supernova.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- May be powerful... - HE LAUGHS
0:19:17 > 0:19:18..but he couldn't control it.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23They couldn't control Big Nipper, it would seem!
0:19:23 > 0:19:26TR2 now, closing in on Supernova!
0:19:26 > 0:19:28They've finally gone.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34- KLAXON - They couldn't stay out.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38And Supernova disappear into the big black hole.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Oh, what a shame, they'd done so well.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45Terrific contest, this.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50We wondered about Orte's control because of the aerial.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54And Supernova, largely untested, and Big Nipper doing the damage there.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56You can see it had it in the link coming out.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Meanwhile, goodness me, how close that was for Big Nipper.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02But Supernova didn't take the hint.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05And although they came in and may have caused some damage to TR2,
0:20:05 > 0:20:07they got the flipper underneath.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11They carried them, and that's when Supernova went down and out.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Thank you very much.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15TR2 survive with Big Nipper.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17That was fantastic, you looked really powerful out there.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Yeah, well, we had a bit of a problem from the start,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23we didn't have the flipper and the axe working. We had no pneumatics.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25So you just drove them and smashed them and that was all it took?
0:20:25 > 0:20:28- Yep.- How good are you going to be when it goes head-to-head?
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Who knows, hopefully better! - That's fantastic.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33And you, winners as well.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36This is... What a happy room this is for once.
0:20:36 > 0:20:37But could have gone terribly wrong.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Oh, yeah. We nearly went in the pit. Too near.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44There was a point that you skimmed the very edge of it. How did you manage to stay out?
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Because we've got four wheels and only one went in the pit.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- The other three drove us off, just! - Listen, well done to both of you.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Two winning teams. This is the winners' room.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Supernova, it looked like you were managing to keep it on track.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04I mean, nearly got chucked in the pit, on your sides,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06everything was looking good.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09It was looking good. It felt like TR2 were really gunning for us.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Just didn't see that pit, and they just pushed us into it.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Why do you think they were gunning for you?
0:21:14 > 0:21:16Because it's such a destructive weapon.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18So I guess a good hit could disable them.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22- So do you think they were going for you before you got a chance to get them?- Yeah.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Before this fight we hadn't tested the drive or the weapon.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And the fact is, they're both still working right now.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- It's just we got the pit. - I'm sorry, hard luck.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Now, Orte, you hardly got out of the blocks. What happened?
0:21:33 > 0:21:35One fatal blow, it seemed.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37Something fell off, we think the link fell out.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39The safety link that all robots have to have.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- We think it fell out.- How did you feel at the steering wheel?
0:21:42 > 0:21:47- It was good.- Yeah?- Yeah.- You gave it your best shot, didn't you?
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- Yeah.- Yeah, well done.- Good man. - Yeah.- Well done.- Thank you.
0:21:52 > 0:21:58Supernova started off very well, had a massive attack taking out Orte.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02But then, in trying to run away from Sir Killalot, it fell into the pit.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We must have hit someone really hard, and it sheared the bolts,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11and this blade basically was embedded into the arena wall.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14So we actually sheared ten bolts off.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16It was amazing, it was an amazing fight.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18We performed quite well, we were a bit unlucky.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21But it was good fun and we'll definitely be back.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25After another merciless group battle,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Big Nipper and TR2 are through to the head-to-heads.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31But victory has come at a price.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34This should be straight. It's twisted all over there.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36It's come out of where it slots in...
0:22:36 > 0:22:39The disc isn't working, we might have just pulled some wires out,
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- because it's come out. - Supernova.
0:22:41 > 0:22:45Well, I think we ran into him, and it did that.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Father-and-son team TR2 know they have work to do.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51For some reason we haven't got the flipper working.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53So that's what we're going to do now,
0:22:53 > 0:22:55is find out why that failed and hope to have
0:22:55 > 0:22:57it working for the next fight.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00These two valves here are what fire the weapon.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03The gas comes through, stops there until we fire those two,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06which then fires the ram in the piston.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Luck was on our side that time, next time it might not be.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15With the group rounds complete, the four qualifying robots...
0:23:18 > 0:23:21..will now fight each other in one-on-one battles.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Our first head-to-head is between King B Remix and Dantomkia.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32King B Remix, is the commander feeling confident?
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Yes, I think we are more confident after the first battle.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37Why do you feel more confident?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Because you did nothing in the group battles, so you're unscathed.
0:23:40 > 0:23:45Well... He was too gentle and I talked to him, so he'll be...
0:23:45 > 0:23:48- Gave him a little pep talk? - Yeah.- What did you say to him?
0:23:48 > 0:23:49- Yare. Yare.- What does that mean?
0:23:49 > 0:23:51That means kill him.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55On that note...
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Now, Dantomkia, you came through that group battle,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00I wouldn't say unscathed.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02You have a rather large puncture hole.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06And also it's been signed, "And first of many by King B Remix,"
0:24:06 > 0:24:08who you are fighting in the next battle.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Are you going to stand for that?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11No, they crept in to sign it and
0:24:11 > 0:24:13they are going out of the arena for it now.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Amy, you are very much the counsellor for this evening,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18how would you describe their emotional state at the moment?
0:24:18 > 0:24:21They've had a few moments with getting the robot fixed and sorted
0:24:21 > 0:24:23and ready for battle, but they're pretty cool.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26You're saying they were down. You're saying they're brittle emotionally
0:24:26 > 0:24:29and it wouldn't take much for them to break again,
0:24:29 > 0:24:31- is that what you're saying? - No, we're Dantomkia, we're strong.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33- That's what I'm taking from this. - No, we're strong.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36Even the thing itself is exhaling in its own environment.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39- He's ready. He's roaring, ready to go.- Really?- Yeah.- OK, cool, fantastic.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Listen, the best of luck, Dantomkia.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44Dantomkia arrive with smoke effects and digital displays.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48But they'll need to prove themselves as fighters in the arena.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50My name's Shane, I'm from Mablethorpe.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I'm team captain and driver.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54We are from all walks of life.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57I'm an arcade manager. Kevin and Amy, they're bar managers.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Stu, he's a managing consultant.
0:24:59 > 0:25:01Our robot is Dantomkia.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03We're not from a technical background,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06but robot building itself, what it's taught us is to weld,
0:25:06 > 0:25:10it's taught us electrics, it's taught us gearbox ratios,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12pneumatics, it's taught us a lot.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16And we make a good team now, so all good.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Dantomkia has two key features.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20It's tail keeps the robot pointing to the ground,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23and its flipper, lots of flips.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25The thing I love about robot fighting
0:25:25 > 0:25:28is watching other people lose.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30Their faces, it's great.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31You're not going to beat us,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34just go and play with your little robot and dream on.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Heading into the all-important head-to-heads,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43King B Remix weren't really tested in the group stage,
0:25:43 > 0:25:47so this could be a rude awakening for the Portsmouth team.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I'm Simon. I'm the team captain and designer and builder
0:25:50 > 0:25:53for King B Remix team, from Portsmouth.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56My day job is actually a power electronics engineer,
0:25:56 > 0:25:59so big electrical systems is my thing.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Martin's also a technical guy.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Grant is also into technical sales.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07And Natsuko, well, who knows what Natsuko gets up to!
0:26:07 > 0:26:11I have taken my experience from work which is power electronics.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15We build this whole robot on the fact that we can pump a lot of power
0:26:15 > 0:26:18into the motors, into the system, and keep it under control.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Sometimes though we have been known to overclock it a bit,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24and we set fire to motors. That's our only problem, really.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26We're all about attack.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29But if Natsuko was driving, we wouldn't stop.
0:26:29 > 0:26:30But to take it all the way to the end,
0:26:30 > 0:26:34if the robot gods are smiling, it'd be amazing.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40So here it is, Dantomkia versus King B Remix.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43Faster flipper versus powerful pusher.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45In the arena with our competitors for this fight,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Matilda and Dead Metal.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52'Roboteers, stand by.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00'Three, two, one...
0:27:00 > 0:27:03'Activate.' KLAXON
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Dantomkia quick off the mark.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Can get up to 22mph.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Good driving by King B Remix.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15And they come in on the attack with those front spikes.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Dantomkia forgot about the floor spikes.
0:27:18 > 0:27:23Now he loves to watch the others lose, says Shane Swan,
0:27:23 > 0:27:24the captain and driver.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Will his team be the winning team,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30or will he have to take a long look at himself?
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Well, he's in underneath. King B Remix there!
0:27:32 > 0:27:35And they're wedged in there.
0:27:35 > 0:27:41Well, one mistake by King B Remix to open themselves up to the blip,
0:27:41 > 0:27:44and they are not going to get out from there.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48That is brilliant driving by Dantomkia.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52And now, of course, King B Remix can be flipped out by Matilda.
0:27:52 > 0:27:54KLAXON
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Good start, I felt, by King B Remix.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Confident. Dantomkia with the initial mistake.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10But once they had recovered from that,
0:28:10 > 0:28:12they got in underneath King B Remix.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15From then on, one outcome likely.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19That was brutal.
0:28:19 > 0:28:24And this, of course, was the coup de grace from Matilda.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Great performance by Dantomkia.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30They showed perfect control, precision, great aggression.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33And the way it flipped it in behind the tyre,
0:28:33 > 0:28:35you couldn't have done better.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Rushing their robot back to the pits,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40King B Remix need to find out as soon as possible
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- how bad the damage is.- Bad.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45We broke it by just giving it too much...
0:28:45 > 0:28:49If it can't be fixed, then if something very strange is going on,
0:28:49 > 0:28:52then I'm panicking when it all starts going to pieces.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55That's it. Thank you very much.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59We have clean snapped the chain...
0:28:59 > 0:29:01with power.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04I whizzed up the power to maximum.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07And that's what happened. That's like 1.6 tonnes
0:29:07 > 0:29:10breaking force on that chain.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- Wow.- That was a bit easy, wasn't it?
0:29:13 > 0:29:14Shame, shame on them.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Shouldn't have put a hole in my robot.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21At the end of the first head-to-head,
0:29:21 > 0:29:23Dantomkia take the lead with three points,
0:29:23 > 0:29:25with King B Remix on zero.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29Next up, it's Big Nipper versus TR2.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33Since their group battles,
0:29:33 > 0:29:36teams have been fixing and repairing damage.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37There you go, mate.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43TR2 have now sorted their weapon firing system
0:29:43 > 0:29:46and are feeling confident about the competition.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49The best machine will win.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53- Hope it's us.- After limited success with their spinning disc,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57Big Nipper have decided on a weapon change and will be using their
0:29:57 > 0:29:59crushing jaws in the next battle.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01The jaws are for lifting and crushing.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04They can lift the robots up with a crushing power of about
0:30:04 > 0:30:08three and a half to four tonne, so they tend to pick up the robots.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10We can sustain a lot of a lot of damage,
0:30:10 > 0:30:12so face power with power.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Big Nipper make the daunting walk to the arena.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18If they can crush rivals TR2 and take the full three points,
0:30:18 > 0:30:20they'll go joint top of the league.
0:30:20 > 0:30:24I'm Graeme, we're from Lancashire and our robot is Big Nipper.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27My day job is a toolmaker,
0:30:27 > 0:30:30my brother is an electronics engineer,
0:30:30 > 0:30:32my dad is a weaver.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36We like the idea of a crusher but we wanted to build something different
0:30:36 > 0:30:40so we thought, if it could pick the robots up, it would be a good idea.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44We got all the materials from the local scrapyard, mostly titanium.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48That's what you need to build a strong robot.
0:30:48 > 0:30:51- And we've got these for both sides of the disc as well. - You've got six bolts...
0:30:51 > 0:30:53Being a toolmaker has helped a huge amount
0:30:53 > 0:30:57for building the robot because I know how to use the machines,
0:30:57 > 0:31:00I can use CNC machines and lays and spark eroders.
0:31:00 > 0:31:01Without that experience,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04I would have never have been able to build the robot as it is.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07The strategy that we have in the arena is
0:31:07 > 0:31:10go full speed and attack, attack, attack!
0:31:12 > 0:31:16TR2 may have the youngest driver in the head-to-heads but he's proving
0:31:16 > 0:31:20himself to be as good as any we have in the competition.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22I'm Alex from Newcastle and my robot is TR2.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Robots and rugby, they're my two main hobbies, definitely.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31I couldn't split them. I really couldn't split them.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34I'm the captain of Team TR2 and also the driver,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38my dad is the engineer and builder and my mum supplies the tea.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40We just started going to live events
0:31:40 > 0:31:44until we got into building robots and there we were.
0:31:44 > 0:31:46I was just fascinated by it.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Being a geek, it sort of really intrigued me
0:31:48 > 0:31:51and inspired me to have a go at that myself.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54I'm not worried about anything going wrong on the robot.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57It's tested over three years, 50 fights a year.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59We know it works. If anything is going to go wrong,
0:31:59 > 0:32:01it's going to be Dad's welding.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06With a place in the final at stake, over to you, Jonathan.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08So prepare for punishment.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Head-to-head two. Big Nipper against TR2.
0:32:10 > 0:32:12One tonne of flip against four tonnes of crush.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15The house robots are Dead Metal and Matilda.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21'Roboteers, stand by.'
0:32:23 > 0:32:24No flip on the first fight for TR2.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29No-one in charge, apparently, for Big Nipper.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33'Two, one. Activate.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:35Here we go. TR2 coming in from the right,
0:32:35 > 0:32:40trying to get away there from the clutching, gripping claws
0:32:40 > 0:32:44of Big Nipper and getting in underneath and ready to flip.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Big Nipper! And over goes 110 kilos.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51The heaviest machine in this heat of Robot Wars.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54Simply tossed up into the air, as Matilda watches on.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59And, again, Big Nipper is thrown by TR2.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02They've repaired the CO2 supply.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05Have they got enough of it to keep up this punishing pace
0:33:05 > 0:33:07in the Robot Wars arena?
0:33:07 > 0:33:11Big Nipper into the clutches of Dead Metal and down comes a
0:33:11 > 0:33:14circular saw onto that armament.
0:33:14 > 0:33:18Between seven and ten millimetres of grade five titanium in that armament
0:33:18 > 0:33:21and they've survived to make this a good battle
0:33:21 > 0:33:24but TR2 on the offensive. Good steering there.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28Big Nipper getting away and trying to draw them into the CPZ.
0:33:28 > 0:33:29But TR2 having none of that.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31KLAXON
0:33:31 > 0:33:33- AUDIENCE:- In the pit!
0:33:33 > 0:33:36And the last moment of this for Big Nipper!
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Sure to go now!
0:33:38 > 0:33:42And down they go and, in the end, they made it easy for TR2.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44SIGHING
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Tea for two, a cream tea.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51It was that easy in the end for TR2.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56But certainly TR2, the better machine getting in underneath
0:33:56 > 0:33:59Big Nipper there with a slam into the side walls.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04Imagine the damage caused, perhaps to the drive system.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06I wonder if it was fully working.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10There! As they got so near the pit it made it an easy task for
0:34:10 > 0:34:13TR2 to simply shove them home.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21The weapon seem to be lacking a bit in power,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23but that could be because it's so cold today.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28It didn't work in the first fight, so anything's an improvement.
0:34:28 > 0:34:29We're happy.
0:34:29 > 0:34:32This is one of the five where we saw the house robots really get into it.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Saw Dead Metal really cause some damage.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Dead Metal saw us come down and just scratched all the way up here.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43For some reason, we didn't have enough power
0:34:43 > 0:34:45so we need to look at that
0:34:45 > 0:34:48but I think what we'll do is put the other weapon on.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Dantomkia and TR2 are both
0:34:50 > 0:34:51on three points,
0:34:51 > 0:34:53with King B Remix and
0:34:53 > 0:34:54Big Nipper yet to score,
0:34:54 > 0:34:57leaving this competition wide open.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03I'm here with one of our judges - renowned mechanical engineer Dr Lucy Rogers.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06We've been talking, Lucy, about how accessible robotics is and this is
0:35:06 > 0:35:08also true for animatronic robotics.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12Indeed. Here's a replica of an eight-metre dinosaur
0:35:12 > 0:35:14that is at a theme park down on the Isle Of Wight.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16I can take this small one...
0:35:16 > 0:35:19- Yep.- ..into a school, they can program it on their desk
0:35:19 > 0:35:21and I can then take the card,
0:35:21 > 0:35:23put it in the main ones at the theme park
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- and they can control them. - And this is the kind of program
0:35:26 > 0:35:28kids are being taught in schools these days,
0:35:28 > 0:35:30which you program it as a flow chart, so you can make
0:35:30 > 0:35:33- very easy requests...- Yep.- ..to make something very direct happen.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- Yep.- So, presumably, this is incredibly encouraged.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38- Kids love this, I presume.- Yeah. - And what can you make it do?
0:35:38 > 0:35:43Well, I've got it nodding and also wagging its tail.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46But I've also got a sensor.
0:35:46 > 0:35:47ROARING
0:35:47 > 0:35:50And it knows when its mouth's open and when its mouth's closed.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53So I can program it to roar with its mouth open.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56- ROARING - Fantastic. Brilliant.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59- Isn't he good? She, it's a she. - She? It's a she?
0:35:59 > 0:36:00- She.- You can sex a dinosaur?
0:36:00 > 0:36:03You can sex a replica animatronic dinosaur?
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Half of all dinosaurs were female.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07I'll give you that. The odds are not quite in your favour
0:36:07 > 0:36:10but I'll give you that.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Next to face each other in the head-to-heads,
0:36:12 > 0:36:16it's the top-of-the-table clash between Dantomkia and TR2.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21Dantomkia make final adjustments to their robot in the knowledge that
0:36:21 > 0:36:23a victory here could put them through to the final.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25It stopped about there. Needs to come down a bit more.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27I think it's just catching on the side.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29So take this off. Wind it down.
0:36:31 > 0:36:33We sustained one tiny little bit of damage.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35Other than that, we're pretty much unscathed.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37We're ready to go the whole distance.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43All they need to do is defeat the undefeated TR2.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47Quietly confident now, but not cocky.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49- That's the thing. - We've got to remain composed.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Got to stay in the zone.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Alex is doing well, he's driving well.
0:36:54 > 0:36:56We've got a chance now of getting through.
0:36:56 > 0:37:00Three crucial points up for grabs here which would propel either team
0:37:00 > 0:37:03into a strong position to make it through to the final.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06Over to you, Jonathan.
0:37:06 > 0:37:09Dantomkia versus TR2, two powerful flippers.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12Precision and control will really count here.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14- ALL:- Activate!
0:37:14 > 0:37:15KLAXON
0:37:15 > 0:37:17"We're ready to go all the way," says Dantomkia.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20"We're quietly confident," say TR2.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24They very nearly got in under the side there of Dantomkia and, again,
0:37:24 > 0:37:28go for an assault on the side of that big mean yellow machine.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32Dantomkia using the weaponry to self-right.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37And, of course, one of the first ever self-righting
0:37:37 > 0:37:40srimech system we saw in Robot Wars,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43using the weaponry and they've done it again well there.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Slammed onto the arena wall,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48but bounce up they come again, like Tigger.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49GASPING
0:37:51 > 0:37:52Oh!
0:37:52 > 0:37:55And Dantomkia getting in underneath.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56Very nearly flipped TR2 there.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02But it's flipped. This is a really good contest, isn't it?
0:38:02 > 0:38:05It's flipping fantastic for me.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Over they go again.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09And now they come in for the kill, TR2.
0:38:09 > 0:38:11And I wonder what's happened there to Dantomkia.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12What's happened?
0:38:12 > 0:38:15That final flip I think immobilised him.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- Yeah, we're dead.- They cannot move, it seems to me.
0:38:18 > 0:38:20Something's come loose.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21KLAXON
0:38:21 > 0:38:24And TR2, the winners here.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Yes!
0:38:27 > 0:38:29What damage sustained by Dantomkia, I wonder.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Titanic tussle here.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38Right from the start, they went almost head-to-head.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41There's the flip by the arena wall.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44The self-righting mechanism of Dantomkia working there,
0:38:44 > 0:38:49but don't forget, they're draining themselves of power with each flip.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53TR2 on the offensive, and again and again.
0:38:53 > 0:38:56Trying to get underneath the side, getting in behind...
0:38:57 > 0:39:00..and that was the final flip.
0:39:02 > 0:39:03- What happened there?- I've no idea.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Can you repair, do you think, in time for your last battle?
0:39:06 > 0:39:09- We'll see. - Because the last battle is vital. You have to win this last battle.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13- I'm sure... It's normally something simple. Fingers crossed, you never know.- Yeah.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- We'll see.- TR2, congratulations. - Thank you!
0:39:16 > 0:39:19That's a fantastic victory, it really is.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22It was, kind of, an unusual manoeuvre at the end though
0:39:22 > 0:39:24because you knew he was done for and then you
0:39:24 > 0:39:27just started backing your bum towards him in a very aggressive...
0:39:27 > 0:39:30You were basically flaring yourself at him like a baboon.
0:39:30 > 0:39:32We've got the yellow and green axe on the back,
0:39:32 > 0:39:34- so we tried to hit him with that. - You have a bum axe, of course.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36And then you just get him with the bum axe.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38It's the first time we've been able to
0:39:38 > 0:39:41use the bum axe on anybody, so...
0:39:41 > 0:39:45Killed by a bum axe. Yes.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49When I first started, the robot didn't seem itself, anyway,
0:39:49 > 0:39:50and it was like a slippery slope.
0:39:50 > 0:39:52It got worse and worse and worse and then died.
0:39:54 > 0:39:55Which points to batteries,
0:39:55 > 0:39:57but I just really don't know at this moment.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02What do you do? What do you do?
0:40:03 > 0:40:05I've got just the tool to fix it.
0:40:05 > 0:40:06OK.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Damn you! Damn you!
0:40:09 > 0:40:12TR2 take a commanding lead
0:40:12 > 0:40:14with six points.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Dantomkia lose ground and stick on three,
0:40:17 > 0:40:19whilst Big Nipper and King B Remix
0:40:19 > 0:40:21are still to score.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30Next up, it's Big Nipper versus King B Remix.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32The two teams who have yet to score.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34You guys need three points to get through, right?
0:40:34 > 0:40:37- We desperately need three points, yes.- Are you confident?
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Relatively, mildly, not at all.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42One of those.
0:40:42 > 0:40:47- This is do or die.- Yeah, we're going for it.- Definitely.- Good luck.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49With Big Nipper.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52- Now, Big Nipper, you've changed your weapon a number of times.- Yep.
0:40:52 > 0:40:53Which is looking less like versatility
0:40:53 > 0:40:55and more a lack of strength
0:40:55 > 0:40:57and a lack of belief in your rotating weapon
0:40:57 > 0:41:00because you came out with a gripper, which was like a little pincer thing
0:41:00 > 0:41:02and it didn't really get to grips with anything at all.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05The lifter didn't work properly, so we couldn't lift them up.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09You couldn't lift it up and you couldn't do anything with it. You've changed now to what?
0:41:09 > 0:41:11- Our better weapon. - Your better weapon which...
0:41:11 > 0:41:13- Spinning wheel.- Your spinning wheel, which goes 4,000 rpm.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- What are you going to do to him? - He's going home in a bin bag.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20He's going home in a bin bag. Yeah, OK.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Going home in a bin bag,
0:41:22 > 0:41:25write that in huge letters as you watch this battle.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28Big Nipper, get their bin bags ready!
0:41:32 > 0:41:34King B Remix against Big Nipper.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36Big Nipper sporting their deadly spinning disc
0:41:36 > 0:41:39against the pushing power of King B Remix. Here we go!
0:41:39 > 0:41:41# Home in a bin bag
0:41:41 > 0:41:43# You're going home in a bin bag, yeah! #
0:41:43 > 0:41:45We'll wait and see.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47- AUDIENCE:- In the pit! In the pit!
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Good speed on the arena floor by both.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56Onto the floor. Oh, the floor spike and pin there!
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Momentarily, it seemed to me.
0:41:58 > 0:42:02King B Remix, we haven't seen anything really of that
0:42:02 > 0:42:0620 kilo spinning disc. Get it started!
0:42:06 > 0:42:07Get it causing damage!
0:42:07 > 0:42:10This is what we want to see!
0:42:10 > 0:42:13And I think it is causing damage now!
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Yes, the spinning disc is working and it's cutting through the front
0:42:16 > 0:42:18of King B Remix!
0:42:18 > 0:42:22They're into the corner there now and I don't think they'll get out.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28Oh, yes, look at the shards there of the armament coming away!
0:42:29 > 0:42:30Almighty power, there.
0:42:32 > 0:42:37And the big spinning disc and I think King B Remix have gone.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40They have done. They're spinning now.
0:42:40 > 0:42:42Spin to win.
0:42:42 > 0:42:47Big Nipper. Well done. Very good display.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Good battle. There's the winner.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51'Cease.'
0:42:56 > 0:43:00Always going to be a question - could they get the weaponry working?
0:43:00 > 0:43:05Wasn't working there as King B came on the attack.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08You just see it starting to spin.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11And once that spinning disc gets up to speed there,
0:43:11 > 0:43:14that's when the shards started to fly all over the arena floor.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17Looked like dandruff! And that was the final blow.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20Brilliant stuff by Big Nipper.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22Well done.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29What let us down is, as in Robot Wars always, the link came out.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31We got two links. We've got the one we've got on the top
0:43:31 > 0:43:34but we've got a second link under there. Unfortunately, it...
0:43:36 > 0:43:39- Came out.- It came out. And that was that.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41We really did want to do some damage to him,
0:43:41 > 0:43:45but his link came out before we got a chance to do the damage, really.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49After the fourth head-to-head, TR2
0:43:49 > 0:43:51are still leading with six points.
0:43:51 > 0:43:53Big Nipper join Dantomkia in
0:43:53 > 0:43:55second place with three points,
0:43:55 > 0:43:57whilst the initially laidback team
0:43:57 > 0:43:59from Portsmouth, King B Remix,
0:43:59 > 0:44:00have yet to score.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13Next to face each other, it's top and bottom of the league,
0:44:13 > 0:44:15TR2 versus King B Remix.
0:44:16 > 0:44:19King B next. Four-wheel drive.
0:44:19 > 0:44:22Not sure how much push he's got.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25So don't open the pit...
0:44:25 > 0:44:28- Yep.- ..until we know how much push he's got
0:44:28 > 0:44:30because if it can help push us...
0:44:30 > 0:44:32- He could put in the pit. - It can pit us.
0:44:32 > 0:44:36Use the arena hazards if we can.
0:44:36 > 0:44:38TR2 is a great robot but let's show we are too.
0:44:38 > 0:44:40Let's give them a real battle.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42Yeah, I mean, I've seen this machine can do better
0:44:42 > 0:44:44and I think we should do better.
0:44:44 > 0:44:46We'll do our best.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54King B Remix versus TR2 here.
0:44:54 > 0:44:57King B didn't fare well against the flipper of Dantomkia.
0:44:57 > 0:44:59Will they have any success here?
0:45:01 > 0:45:03'Three, two, one.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07'Activate!'
0:45:07 > 0:45:09KLAXON
0:45:09 > 0:45:10They have to win it.
0:45:10 > 0:45:14TR2 with that low ground clearance floor flipper will
0:45:14 > 0:45:16get in underneath whenever they can.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23And they're already on to the arena sidewall.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27TR2 can flip a one tonne car, don't forget.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30And TR2, I think, the most impressive robot we've seen
0:45:30 > 0:45:32in this heat so far.
0:45:35 > 0:45:38And there goes another flip on King B Remix.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40Pointless in the competition so far.
0:45:40 > 0:45:42But still full of heart.
0:45:44 > 0:45:47I think TR2... Oh, they've manoeuvring them towards
0:45:47 > 0:45:50the arena side gate and trying to get them out of the arena.
0:45:50 > 0:45:52Oh, they need to get out of the CPZ.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54Down goes the pit.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58All TR2 needs to do is stay out of trouble because King B Remix
0:45:58 > 0:46:01is a beaten robot. He's just a plaything...
0:46:01 > 0:46:04Oh, no. Surely not, no.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07Not the flame pit, please!
0:46:07 > 0:46:09That's cruel. That's horrible.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11I'll tell you what, we love it.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15Oh, are you allowed out, Killalot? Are you allowed out, Killalot?
0:46:15 > 0:46:18Are you? I'm not going to argue, Killalot.
0:46:18 > 0:46:22Get back, get back, get back. I'm certainly not one to argue with you.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24TR2, I wouldn't argue with that machine either.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26- AUDIENCE:- In the pit! In the pit!
0:46:26 > 0:46:29Very impressive over all the battles tonight, really,
0:46:29 > 0:46:32considering they had one or two problems.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34Oh, and down go King B Remix!
0:46:34 > 0:46:38And as soon as they got that flipper working, they have been devastated.
0:46:42 > 0:46:44King B Remix driving on.
0:46:44 > 0:46:48Little bit suicidal that, but you've got a flipper with this power.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51And they can also use that axe when it comes into play.
0:46:51 > 0:46:56Haven't seen a lot of that, we won't see much more of King B Remix.
0:46:56 > 0:47:03And, eventually, they went down the pit with TR2 coming in,
0:47:03 > 0:47:07almost like, "Come on, matador," said the bull of King B Remix.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09And the matador had the final say.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13So what happened? You didn't turn something on?
0:47:13 > 0:47:17- No, actually I thought...- Sorry, was that you?- Yeah, I did turn it on.
0:47:17 > 0:47:18I think I'd switched it off for a while.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20There's a kill switch to make it safe.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22But as it turns out, now I've looked at it,
0:47:22 > 0:47:25I think actually it was the repair we had to quickly do last night.
0:47:25 > 0:47:28- When you see the robots that are out there now, in the pits, it's scary.- Yeah.
0:47:28 > 0:47:31It's incredible technology nowadays.
0:47:31 > 0:47:33So King B buzz out of the competition
0:47:33 > 0:47:36after failing to score a single point.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40But TR2 head to the final on the back of a winning streak.
0:47:40 > 0:47:42Whoever's got the best drive system
0:47:42 > 0:47:45and the best driver is going to do well.
0:47:45 > 0:47:47Now, I think Alex is proving that he's got the skills
0:47:47 > 0:47:49to drive this machine well.
0:47:49 > 0:47:52We started off the new boys. We think we're now, sort of,
0:47:52 > 0:47:54holding our own, we're joining the big boys now.
0:47:56 > 0:47:58TR2 score the maximum nine points,
0:47:58 > 0:48:01winning all of their battles.
0:48:01 > 0:48:02Dantomkia and Big Nipper are in
0:48:02 > 0:48:03second place on three points
0:48:03 > 0:48:05and must now fight it out
0:48:05 > 0:48:07to see who will join TR2
0:48:07 > 0:48:08in the final.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17Big Nipper have now settled on a winning formula.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20They're sticking with their spinner weapon and are primed
0:48:20 > 0:48:21for their do or die battle.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24Hopefully, with the amount of steel that he's got,
0:48:24 > 0:48:27we should be able to get good grips. Hopefully, we'll trash him.
0:48:27 > 0:48:31Dantomkia are more than happy to up the ante for this key battle.
0:48:31 > 0:48:33We're going to go for it, hell for leather.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35It's full-on from now on.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37End of story.
0:48:37 > 0:48:41For one of these teams, this will be the last long walk into the arena.
0:48:41 > 0:48:44One of them will be going through to the final.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46One of them will be going home.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48Over to you, Jonathan.
0:48:48 > 0:48:49Thanks very much.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52Big Nipper head-to-head with Dantomkia now.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56The winner here will face TR2 in the heat final,
0:48:56 > 0:49:01the house robots, the mighty Sir Killalot and there's Dead Metal.
0:49:01 > 0:49:03Oh, horrible!
0:49:03 > 0:49:07'Three, two, one.
0:49:07 > 0:49:10'Activate!' KLAXON
0:49:10 > 0:49:12Dantomkia...
0:49:13 > 0:49:14..against Big Nipper.
0:49:17 > 0:49:24And Dantomkia slamming Big Nipper in on the arena sidewall.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27Just there looked to me as if the wheels getting up to speed
0:49:27 > 0:49:32even though they were tossed onto the arena wall.
0:49:32 > 0:49:3720 kilos of spinning disc that can reach 4,000 rpm.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Killalot has them slammed, Killalot has them pinned,
0:49:40 > 0:49:44Killalot has them pinched, Killalot has them raised.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47He signals to the crowd.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50Will it be thumbs down from the crowd?
0:49:54 > 0:49:56They're now trying to get in, I think, behind Dantomkia
0:49:56 > 0:49:58and come for a frontal assault.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00That's not the right way to do it
0:50:00 > 0:50:03because Dantomkia can flip and push from there.
0:50:03 > 0:50:07Into the CPZ. They've got out very, very quickly,
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Big Nipper can get up to 20mph.
0:50:09 > 0:50:13Good speed and manoeuvrability but again shoved back in to the horrible
0:50:13 > 0:50:17CPZ, where Sir Killalot can end many a...
0:50:17 > 0:50:19What's happened to Sir Killalot there?
0:50:19 > 0:50:20Oh man, you're in a jam!
0:50:20 > 0:50:23You're stuck onto the arena wall, Sir Killalot.
0:50:23 > 0:50:26Wham, bam, you need to get out of that jam
0:50:26 > 0:50:28and have another attack on Dantomkia.
0:50:28 > 0:50:32The winner goes through to the heat final.
0:50:34 > 0:50:38Dantomkia well on top, getting in underneath the flip again.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42Look at the sheer power of that flipper robot out there
0:50:42 > 0:50:46and of course it can spin so quickly at a rate of 500 rpm
0:50:46 > 0:50:49to come again and have another attack
0:50:49 > 0:50:52and that's what they're doing on Big Nipper repeatedly here,
0:50:52 > 0:50:55in what has been a terrific battle.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58Big slam! Massive slam!
0:50:58 > 0:51:01Bang! Smash!
0:51:01 > 0:51:04- Crash go the hopes and dreams. - AUDIENCE:- Ten, nine, eight...
0:51:04 > 0:51:07They're counting them down to a judge's decision.
0:51:07 > 0:51:11Brilliant, brilliant skill to stay out of trouble
0:51:11 > 0:51:13- by Big Nipper in the end. - KLAXON
0:51:13 > 0:51:17They're alive, only just. Dantomkia - superb display.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21Well, the judges have to decide on control, damage and aggression.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23They're working over the facts and figures.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25Let's just give them a clue.
0:51:25 > 0:51:28Dantomkia very quick out of the traps to take on Big Nipper.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32There you can see the grinder of Big Nipper up to speed,
0:51:32 > 0:51:34might have caused damage there.
0:51:34 > 0:51:36It did on the side. Was it superficial?
0:51:38 > 0:51:41The aggression was dominated by Dantomkia.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44Big Nipper just survived but only just.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48For me, it's Dantomkia. I don't judge.
0:51:48 > 0:51:50Oh, but that big blow could be decisive.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55Well, they look pensive. This could be closer than we thought, Dara.
0:51:55 > 0:51:57What do you make of it all?
0:51:57 > 0:52:00Well, can I thank both of you for what was an excellent bout.
0:52:00 > 0:52:03It really was. You, at one stage, I thought were delightful.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05You - pick on someone your own size - went after Killalot.
0:52:05 > 0:52:08- Yeah!- And he picked you up and carried you around like a rag doll.
0:52:08 > 0:52:11It was impressive. It came to a judge's decision
0:52:11 > 0:52:16and it was a unanimous decision that the team to compete
0:52:16 > 0:52:17in the final is...
0:52:19 > 0:52:22..Dantomkia.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28It was worth it just for that coordinated dance move.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33Are you happy to be facing TR2 again?
0:52:33 > 0:52:36Well, yeah, we've got to face TR2 again. He's a difficult robot but,
0:52:36 > 0:52:39you know, we're treating every fight as our last fight now and just going
0:52:39 > 0:52:41hell for leather, what the hell.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44So, congratulations to Dantomkia and TR2
0:52:44 > 0:52:46on making it through to tonight's final.
0:52:49 > 0:52:53We ended up going too close to Sir Killalot a lot of times,
0:52:53 > 0:52:55so I think that made us lose, really.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57Massively exciting fight.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01Dantomkia had a very clear strategy of pushing Big Nipper into the hands
0:53:01 > 0:53:05of the house robots and this is the first time we actually saw
0:53:05 > 0:53:08Sir Killalot come really alive.
0:53:08 > 0:53:12You could see the power, you could see him lift the robot up
0:53:12 > 0:53:15and toy it back in. Great fight.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18So we have our finalists.
0:53:18 > 0:53:22It's the battle of the flippers - TR2 versus Dantomkia.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25Dantomkia has been a powerhouse since the beginning
0:53:25 > 0:53:27of the tournament, taking out Glitterbomb
0:53:27 > 0:53:30and Overdozer in the group stages.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35And taking no prisoners in the head-to-head.
0:53:35 > 0:53:36First against King B Remix,
0:53:36 > 0:53:39and then putting Big Nipper well and truly in their place -
0:53:39 > 0:53:42the victory that confirmed their spot in the final.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47The undefeated TR2 has become the robot to beat.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49After an issue with CO2 in their group battle,
0:53:49 > 0:53:52they fought weapon free, relying purely on strength
0:53:52 > 0:53:54and driving skills.
0:53:55 > 0:53:57They also proved to be a tour de force
0:53:57 > 0:54:00in the head-to-heads when it came to shaming Big Nipper
0:54:00 > 0:54:04and King B Remix, claiming their rightful place in the final.
0:54:05 > 0:54:08When they first met it was a well matched battle as the two powerful
0:54:08 > 0:54:10flippers went head-to-head.
0:54:10 > 0:54:15TR2 had Dantomkia on the ropes but not for long.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17Scooping the opposition time and time again,
0:54:17 > 0:54:20before delivering the knockout blow.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23Both robots have fought tooth and nail to get here,
0:54:23 > 0:54:27so can TR2 continue their amazing unbroken run
0:54:27 > 0:54:30or have Dantomkia held enough back to take the fight?
0:54:33 > 0:54:36It's TR2 versus Dantomkia.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38Up for grabs is a place in the grand final.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Yes, get ready for some hot flipper-on-flipper action.
0:54:41 > 0:54:43For the last time tonight, it's over to Jonathan.
0:54:45 > 0:54:49Thank you very much. Competing now in the final, TR2 and Dantomkia.
0:54:49 > 0:54:51The winner here will go through to the grand final
0:54:51 > 0:54:54with Dead Metal and Matilda in the CPZ.
0:54:54 > 0:54:58Who will flip, flap, fly or flop?
0:54:58 > 0:55:00Because as good as the first battle between the two,
0:55:00 > 0:55:02this could be sensational.
0:55:02 > 0:55:04KLAXON
0:55:04 > 0:55:07And TR2's straight on the aggressive.
0:55:07 > 0:55:10Down goes the pit. TR2 doing the pushing.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13Dantomkia the heavier and quicker machine
0:55:13 > 0:55:16but they do have that vulnerable ground clearance.
0:55:16 > 0:55:20But there's a hit from the floor flipper on TR2 and has
0:55:20 > 0:55:24that caused damage? It nearly got pinned by Matilda and her gruesome
0:55:24 > 0:55:26tusks in there. And the Matilda flywheel comes out,
0:55:26 > 0:55:29nearly saws into Dantomkia.
0:55:29 > 0:55:32And they stay out of that CPZ. Oh, this is a worthy battle.
0:55:32 > 0:55:36This is worthy of the grand final itself and the winners go through
0:55:36 > 0:55:37to that grand final.
0:55:37 > 0:55:42And it's TR2 on the offensive, again getting in underneath Dantomkia
0:55:42 > 0:55:46and every lift, every shove, surely is causing damage.
0:55:46 > 0:55:49There's the horrible pink rear end of Matilda
0:55:49 > 0:55:54that no-one wants to see - even in their wildest dreams, I can tell you.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57And I've had a fair few about Robot Wars.
0:55:57 > 0:55:58What a battle this is!
0:55:58 > 0:56:01Flipper against flipper.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Good control and oh,
0:56:03 > 0:56:05that's a mighty bash by Matilda there!
0:56:05 > 0:56:07Dantomkia get away again.
0:56:09 > 0:56:10Are they venting?
0:56:10 > 0:56:15Can we see gas being vented from Dantomkia, I wonder?
0:56:15 > 0:56:18Spinning wildly to try and get away from TR2.
0:56:18 > 0:56:21At 500 rpm that spin,
0:56:21 > 0:56:24TR2 might have got a bash from the floor flipper but, I tell you what,
0:56:24 > 0:56:28Dantomkia certainly did and now I don't think there's enough power
0:56:28 > 0:56:30in Dantomkia to self-right.
0:56:30 > 0:56:33I wonder if we did see gas is being vented.
0:56:33 > 0:56:35I wonder if that's the end of their power
0:56:35 > 0:56:39and for all their tank, armour, grace, steel armaments,
0:56:39 > 0:56:42they're not going to withstand any pressure here.
0:56:42 > 0:56:44- 'Cease.' - Cease called.
0:56:44 > 0:56:47Brilliant heat final. Brilliant.
0:56:47 > 0:56:49Worthy winner for me, TR2.
0:56:50 > 0:56:52Terrific stuff.
0:56:52 > 0:56:56Shane Swan and Dantomkia, great, great competitors.
0:56:56 > 0:56:58Right from the start.
0:56:58 > 0:57:01Turned, flipped, back again, crashing down.
0:57:01 > 0:57:03TR2 not bothered.
0:57:03 > 0:57:05Nearly got themselves into trouble, there.
0:57:05 > 0:57:09Careless steering by TR2 but you can see the repeated flicks,
0:57:09 > 0:57:13and in the end Dantomkia had to self-right once too often, I think.
0:57:13 > 0:57:18They tried to spin away, Dantomkia, but there caught the floor flipper
0:57:18 > 0:57:21and I think that was the ultimate damage.
0:57:21 > 0:57:24Yes. Giving it up for TR2... Stop that. Giving it up for TR2.
0:57:24 > 0:57:27No, it's too late to trash talk, you've lost the battle.
0:57:27 > 0:57:29It's a boring doorstop. Look at it.
0:57:29 > 0:57:32- How did that win?- You can't now suddenly start picking on them in a
0:57:32 > 0:57:36verbal battle. Robots is where we fight, my friend.
0:57:36 > 0:57:39Listen, what went wrong, what went wrong?
0:57:39 > 0:57:42- Matilda, really, I think.- Basically lost your weapon entirely there.
0:57:42 > 0:57:46Huge holes and gashes all over poor old Dantomkia.
0:57:46 > 0:57:49You've given us so much. One last time, one more Brucie for good luck.
0:57:51 > 0:57:53Sweet.
0:57:53 > 0:57:55Storming their way into the grand final,
0:57:55 > 0:57:57make some noise for TR2!
0:58:02 > 0:58:05That was awesome!
0:58:05 > 0:58:08Flipper on flipper. This flipper got involved as well.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11- Did it go the way you planned?- Yeah, following from the fight earlier on,
0:58:11 > 0:58:13every fight's won by knockout so far.
0:58:13 > 0:58:15Undefeated. Keep confident but not get cocky.
0:58:15 > 0:58:18OK, that's the plan. Wonderful. Give it up for TR2, please!
0:58:18 > 0:58:21CHEERING
0:58:21 > 0:58:23That's it for this week.
0:58:23 > 0:58:26From all of us here at Robot Wars, goodnight!