0:00:02 > 0:00:04The level of challenge involved with building a fighting robot
0:00:04 > 0:00:06means that there is no perfect design.
0:00:12 > 0:00:1440 robot fighting teams...
0:00:15 > 0:00:17..competing for the ultimate prize.
0:00:18 > 0:00:22This year, there'll be a lot of new 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.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Each week, only the strongest will survive.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Last week was a battle of the big flippers,
0:00:38 > 0:00:42as Apollo and Eruption tossed their rivals
0:00:42 > 0:00:44into the sky time and time again.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Even the house robots weren't safe.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48But it was Apollo's day,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51as the boys launched themselves into the Grand Final.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Unbelievable!
0:00:53 > 0:00:55Who will join them this week,
0:00:55 > 0:00:58fighting to become the Robot Wars champion?
0:01:03 > 0:01:06CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:10 > 0:01:13This is Robot Wars.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15And this is a bulletproof arena,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19where reputations can be destroyed in the spin of a blade
0:01:19 > 0:01:21and legends created by the swing of an axe.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24If the teams are lucky enough to avoid the clutches of their rivals,
0:01:24 > 0:01:27they can still fall foul of our arena hazards -
0:01:27 > 0:01:31the spikes, the flipper, the pit and fire.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:01:36 > 0:01:40This is the pit, where the teams are all frantically making final repairs
0:01:40 > 0:01:42that they hope will bring them success in the arena.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45The team that emerges victorious from tonight's show
0:01:45 > 0:01:47can look forward to a place in the Grand Final.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50The others can look forward to a place on the scrapheap.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52We'll talk to some of tonight's teams shortly
0:01:52 > 0:01:54but, first, here's how the show works.
0:01:54 > 0:01:59We start with two huge group battles, each featuring four robots.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01The two winning robots from each group stage
0:02:01 > 0:02:03progress to the head-to-heads,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06a mini-league, made up of four teams.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08The top two at the end of this
0:02:08 > 0:02:10are our worthy finalists in today's show.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Tonight's first group battle will feature...
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Very much a feature of this season are things that spin
0:02:22 > 0:02:26and the prime example of that, in some ways, is going to be Pulsar.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30I say that because I was way the other end of this building
0:02:30 > 0:02:32when I heard this god-awful hum start,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36like a fire alarm of something, like some sort of siren.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39- What was it?- It's Pulsar's weapon. - LOUD MECHANICAL HUM
0:02:39 > 0:02:42That's the drum going at its full speed,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44which is, we think, around 9,000 rpm.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46MECHANICAL HUM
0:02:46 > 0:02:48How is it going to go, Dad?
0:02:48 > 0:02:50We're going to wreck everything, including the arena,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- there's no doubt.- Really?
0:02:52 > 0:02:54As a parent, aren't you proud of what he's done?
0:02:54 > 0:02:56I'm proud of the work, the design, the dedication,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I'm proud of all of it.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Here with Chompalot. Who is the boss of this robot?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03You, with this helmet, I'm guessing.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06- No, he's the boss. - OK. So, what do you do?
0:03:06 > 0:03:11Me, I do the shiny sticky-back plastic and this time,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14along with my nephew, Casey, I've programmed the eye,
0:03:14 > 0:03:18- so they've got different sequences. - Well, it looks beautiful.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22- What does it do?- Well, hopefully, it'll be chomping on the opposition.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- OK, with this?- Wherever we can get hold, and then pushing them around.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27That's our usual style.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30OK, let's take your hat off while we talk technology.
0:03:30 > 0:03:31THEY LAUGH
0:03:31 > 0:03:33- It's a hydraulic ram...- OK.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35..which equates to about a ton coming down on the tip.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- OK, so it's going to crush. - We'll see what happens.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39And what about the wings?
0:03:39 > 0:03:42They flap when we activate the weapon to help self-right.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Let's see a further team who have high hopes
0:03:44 > 0:03:48- of getting all the way to the final. Hello, Ironside. ALL:- Hello.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50It's very clear what you're hoping to work with.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54You've got this massive big arm here. Have you tested this yet?
0:03:54 > 0:03:58- No, it's untested at the minute. - Will it stay stable?- We don't know.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01You know nothing about the power and capability of this robot?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03- We know the power... - Thanks for coming along(!)
0:04:03 > 0:04:05It's very beautiful NOW.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- What could possibly damage you? - Nothing can damage us.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11We're worried about the mechanism falling apart when we hit something.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13- Good luck, Ironside 3. - Thank you.- Best of luck.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Thermidor 2.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Right, definitely the brightest robot on the night.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24- We have given it a quick paint job, yes.- What does the damage?
0:04:24 > 0:04:26The damage is done by the flipper at the front,
0:04:26 > 0:04:31- which is full-pressure CO2. - This is upside down?- Yeah.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34- Are you confident? - We're confident of something.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37- What is that?- We're going to lose.
0:04:37 > 0:04:39- Oh, no!- No. No, I mean we're going to win.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41Of course we're going to win.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Prepped, hyped and ready to go to war,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50our four teams must make the anxious walk to the arena.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Time for our first group battle
0:04:52 > 0:04:55and to hand over to the legend that is Jonathan Pearce.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57CHEERING
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Thanks very much. Our judges are in place.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03They are Professor Sethu Vijayakumar, Dr Lucy Rogers
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and, of course, Professor Noel Sharkey.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10Let's meet the robots who are ready to rumble in the first group battle.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12From Derby, Chompalot.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14Chompalot is a 3-ton crusher.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17The team, Simon and Debs, met on a Robot Wars chatroom,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20where their mutual passion for Robot Wars brought them together.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22They've had some test-driving disasters,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25once sending one of their robots into a nearby canal!
0:05:25 > 0:05:27From Nottingham, Ironside 3.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Next-door neighbours team built Ironside 3,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32which has the longest and heaviest spinning bar weapon
0:05:32 > 0:05:35in the competition - 1m long and weighing 35kg.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37That's about a third of its whole weight.
0:05:37 > 0:05:38Their biggest weakness, though,
0:05:38 > 0:05:41is that Ironside 3 has never been tested in battle.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43From Shropshire, Pulsar.
0:05:43 > 0:05:4519-year-old team captain Ellis Ware built Pulsar
0:05:45 > 0:05:48with the help of his mum and dad, Tara and Peter.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50The force from a hit from Pulsar's spinner
0:05:50 > 0:05:52is as hard as a 50-calibre sniper rifle
0:05:52 > 0:05:55and the team say it'll be able to toss opponents into the air
0:05:55 > 0:05:57by force of that weapon.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59From Norwich, Thermidor 2.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03This lobster-shaped robot, with a powerful pneumatic flipper -
0:06:03 > 0:06:07it can lift 2,300kg, the weight of an average rhinoceros -
0:06:07 > 0:06:09has a team of David and Ian,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11who were best men at each other's wedding,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14showing that teams that play together stay together.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17CHEERING
0:06:17 > 0:06:20And introducing the house robot for group battle one, it's Shunt,
0:06:20 > 0:06:23keeping order with his titanium-tipped axe.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26The house robots will only operate in their marked corner zone,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28don't forget. They won't go looking for a fight,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30but if anyone enters that arena, they'll get one.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33Roboteers, stand back!
0:06:33 > 0:06:36CHEERING
0:06:36 > 0:06:40AUDIENCE COUNTS DOWN WITH ANNOUNCER: Three, two, one...
0:06:40 > 0:06:42KLAXON Activate!
0:06:42 > 0:06:47So, here we go. Riotous robotic wrecking, we hope!
0:06:47 > 0:06:50And immediately Chompalot into the CPZ.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Thermidor pushing in there as well.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57But the CPZ is owned by our house robots
0:06:57 > 0:07:01and, by fire, spike, flip or pit,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04or house robot, we will get you!
0:07:04 > 0:07:08And Chompalot pushing in on Thermidor 2.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10And Thermidor 2 vulnerable to attack.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13If that outer skin is punctured, they're in real trouble.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- I'm done. I can't move. - PULSAR HUMS LOUDLY
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And you can hear the big siren of Pulsar,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21like a banshee from Robot Wars hell,
0:07:21 > 0:07:24coming in there to hit Ironside 3.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Slammed away, but I wonder what damage that caused Pulsar
0:07:28 > 0:07:33because, to me, they're not truly manoeuvrable.
0:07:33 > 0:07:38Thermidor 2, though the flipper is working...
0:07:38 > 0:07:39The flipper's working,
0:07:39 > 0:07:42but there's no-one else at home and they are smoking now.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46But you can see that Pulsar's in a bit of trouble on the arena centre.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Oh, a big blow there from Ironside 3,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52sending Chompalot towards the house robot.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56That is a hugely powerful weapon. Untested in battle,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58but look at the damage sustained on that arena floor.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02This is a terrific battle to open up this heat.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Who has the better control now,
0:08:05 > 0:08:08between Ironside 3 and Chompalot, to stay out of trouble?
0:08:08 > 0:08:13Pulsar just manoeuvrable enough to get away.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15But will they shove...?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Again, shards of metal flying across the arena floor.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22Will they push Pulsar now towards the pit? They've teamed up.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25- PIT RELEASE SIREN - There goes the Pit Release.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28So now it's a question of whether Pulsar can hang on in there.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Oh, goodness me! Chompalot nearly reversed into doom and out.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34You're not supposed to do THAT, boys.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40Simon and Debs Cook, together. Nearly went down.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43- Can they push Pulsar into the pit? - AUDIENCE CHANT:- In the pit!
0:08:43 > 0:08:47Ironside 3, the strongest of the robots, along with Chompalot,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50if it goes to a judges' decision.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53And I think that Pulsar might just survive.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55- KLAXON Cease!- And there it goes
0:08:55 > 0:08:58to the judges of control, damage and aggression.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Well, we saw plenty of that.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03I think that's where, maybe, Pulsar got the hit.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04We knew that Thermidor 2 was in damage
0:09:04 > 0:09:07from the earlier adventure into the CPZ.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09Chompalot survived - only just!
0:09:12 > 0:09:15All four team captains are here with me now.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Step forward, everyone who thinks they're still in.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Not so fast, Thermidor! You're going nowhere, OK?
0:09:20 > 0:09:24And, for the others, well, it's going down to a judges' decision.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26They've given us a unanimous decision.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29The first team through to the head-to-heads
0:09:29 > 0:09:33is, of course, Ironside 3. CHEERING
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- Congratulations.- Thank you.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39- And Chompalot.- Yes! - CHEERING
0:09:39 > 0:09:42We look forward to seeing you fight in another series of Robot Wars.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44- We'll be back. - You've got something there.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47So, Ironside 3 and Chompalot are through to the head-to-head.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49CHEERING
0:09:49 > 0:09:51The first group battle is complete.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Victors Chompalot and Ironside can now return to the pits
0:09:54 > 0:09:59but Simon is discovering just how brutal the group stages are.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Not looking good. One of the motors is cocked over,
0:10:02 > 0:10:03so that drive's going to be....
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Wheel's all damaged.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- Oh... - HE LAUGHS
0:10:13 > 0:10:17That's just general mayhem, isn't it?
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Despite their impressive technology, it's back to the drawing board
0:10:21 > 0:10:24for the self-taught engineer from team Pulsar.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27So, immediately, within about 15 seconds or something like that,
0:10:27 > 0:10:31we got a big impact from Ironside. That bent it into the wheel
0:10:31 > 0:10:33hard enough to completely smash the wheels,
0:10:33 > 0:10:37so I knew immediately that that was it for us.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40It's a bit gutting, but we'll come back next time good and strong.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44So, it's Chompalot and Ironside who go through to the head-to-heads,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47where they will meet the two winners from the second group battle.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50And the next four teams hoping to join them are...
0:10:56 > 0:11:00Some of these robots look so polished, these robots -
0:11:00 > 0:11:02beautifully machined.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Then you find one that looks like it really was built in somebody's shed.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- Was this built in your shed? - Definitely built in the shed.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Fantastic, because it does look like you just got
0:11:12 > 0:11:15some corrugated floor covering and wrapped it around the ends.
0:11:15 > 0:11:16Yeah, it's like a rat rod.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19We wanted it rusty and rustic, but it's what's underneath
0:11:19 > 0:11:22the 3mm aluminium that's the good stuff.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24You have weapons front and back.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27Yeah, horizontal spinner and a vertical spinner.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- How do you all know each other, by the way?- This is my son.- Right.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- And you're driving today, aren't you?- No, I'm controlling this now.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37- We've changed.- You've swapped over, so you're controlling the weapon.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40- So, you're driving?- I'm now driving. - OK, this is your fiancee?- Yes.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44How far into the relationship did he tell you this was going to be
0:11:44 > 0:11:47- a big part of your life?- Um, about two months ago.- Two months ago?!
0:11:47 > 0:11:51- Wow, how long have you known him? - Oh...five years.- Five years.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55So, four years of not telling her, luring her,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- slowly setting the trap, spinning your web, as it were.- That's it.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02And when you had her, you had the ring on the finger,
0:12:02 > 0:12:04- out comes this.- Yes.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07- And now you're standing in a warehouse in Glasgow.- Love it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:12Crazy Coupe 88, you're one of the less beautiful robots we have,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- but I think you've got heart. - Mmm-hmm.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I think it's fair to say that Gabriel is the biggest
0:12:17 > 0:12:19we've seen on the show so far.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21It's certainly quite a large robot, yes.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24What does it actually do? Toby, can you tell me?
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Basically, when it goes forward, you go backwards,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31- and then it flings a sword. - So, whacks it down on the opponent?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- Yeah.- You're not scared of anyone, are you?- No.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Good luck, team Gabriel.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Gentlemen, this robot, to me, looks like a naked robot.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Everyone else has got, like, Hardox,
0:12:41 > 0:12:44this kind of hardened steel they use on tanks.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45Why does it have no armour?
0:12:45 > 0:12:48We have got some solid steel bars and solid steel sections,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52but we have packed more weight into the flipper, the weapon.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54We've got a massive buffer tank,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57big weapon and we've got to show it off by having no armour on.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59- Best of luck, the Beast.- Thank you.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- This is nice.- Infernal Contraption. - Infernal Contraption.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05- Yeah, it's back. - Talk to me about this contraption.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08We have sewage pipe wheels, all the electronics,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10motors and everything inside the wheels.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12We have three completely separate electrical systems,
0:13:12 > 0:13:14so we've got full redundancy -
0:13:14 > 0:13:16three sets of batteries, three motors,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19- three radio receivers, the works.- In it to win it! What made the spinner?
0:13:19 > 0:13:23Big spinning disc, big spinning drum thing. 16kg drum, 1,000 rpm.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26And what about opponents? Is there anyone you're dreading facing?
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Ooh, we're not quite sure yet. We'll see what comes our way.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- Have you sussed them out? - A little bit, just sneakily.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Good luck, Infernal Contraption.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38So, that's our line-up for the second group battle
0:13:38 > 0:13:40but, of course, only two can go through.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42Over to you, Jonathan.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44CHEERING
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Group battle one was as dramatic as they come.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Can group battle two also live up to the hype?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52From Norwich, the Beast.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Father and son team, John Senior and John Junior,
0:13:55 > 0:13:56are joined by Alex Marler.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Beast's lack of armour leaves it open to a attack,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01that's for sure, but the team think they can win regardless,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05giving themselves a ten out of ten chance for winning the series!
0:14:05 > 0:14:08From Barnsley, Crazy Coupe 88.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12Crazy Coupe 88 is festooned with weaponry,
0:14:12 > 0:14:13with a front and rear spinner.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Captain Tyrone's been fighting robots at amateur events
0:14:16 > 0:14:18for 15 years.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20From Grove, Oxfordshire, Gabriel.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Captain Craig is a member of MENSA, with an IQ of 156.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26He's deferred the driving duty to son Zack,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28who'll be attacking opponents
0:14:28 > 0:14:31with one of Gabriel's three interchangeable weapons.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33From Cambridge, Infernal Contraption.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Captain Gary is an electromechanical engineer,
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Douglas Young, electronics engineer,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Alex Gee is a mechanical engineer
0:14:41 > 0:14:43and Jashan Bhoora is a software engineer.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46The house robot for this battle is Dead Metal.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Its circular saw and pneumatically-driven pincers mean
0:14:49 > 0:14:53none of our robots will want to enter its Corner Patrol Zone.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Roboteers, stand by.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59CHEERING
0:14:59 > 0:15:03AUDIENCE COUNTS DOWN WITH ANNOUNCER: Three, two, one...
0:15:03 > 0:15:05KLAXON Activate!
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Buckle up - this could be smashy and not too nicey.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13Infernal Contraption got a bit of a wayward start there, pirouetting.
0:15:13 > 0:15:16They're worried because they haven't had much practice fighting
0:15:16 > 0:15:18in the arenas.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22There's Gabriel with a big tyre the size of a washing machine there.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Oh, and a little flip for Crazy Coupe,
0:15:25 > 0:15:28the rusty and rustic robot, built in a shed.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Flipped there by Beast.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33We know that can flip another competitor ten feet in the air,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36they say. Down comes the mighty axe of Gabriel.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39They have four interchangeable weapons.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Crazy Coupe 88 in with the house robot.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43I think they've been immobilised.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46Good speed across the floor from Infernal Contraption.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48It's the lightest robot out there by some 13 kilos.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52That is a worry. Good control by Beast.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Lacking protection but it IS causing damage.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58And, meanwhile, what's Infernal Contraption doing?
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Ooh! Up on one wheel.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02- PIT RELEASE SIREN - But Gabriel... Down goes the pit.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04They're peering to see what's happening.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Infernal Contraption away and dancing with Beast.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Oh, and they're down and out!
0:16:11 > 0:16:18- They had the brawn, they said they had the brains...- Yeah, really?
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Out go Infernal Contraption.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25And I can't see too much life in Crazy Coupe either.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27They got too near Dead Metal earlier on.
0:16:27 > 0:16:29- I think that's caused the damage. - KLAXON
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- Cease!- We'll wait and see. - CHEERING
0:16:33 > 0:16:39Gabriel. Whimsical name, but wild as they come in there!
0:16:39 > 0:16:41- CHEERING - They loved it.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- It was bouncing around the place. Happy, Toby?- Yeah.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Good! How did it go?
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Well, I thought, generally, the fight went incredibly well for us.
0:16:49 > 0:16:50It was all down to Zack.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I wasn't going to say earlier cos I didn't want to shake your confidence
0:16:53 > 0:16:56but those wheels, the rubber round them looked a bit DIY.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59I mean, in there, it was fierce! You're through to the head-to-heads.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03- Do you think people are going to be fearful now of Gabriel?- Definitely.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06- After they've seen our performance there, for sure.- Absolutely.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Good luck, guys. Not such a happy story over this side.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11- But they liked it.- Disappointed.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- Really disappointed because you got in there to get the pit open.- Yeah.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17- It kind of backfired.- Yeah, it did.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19You had been sizing up your opponents beforehand.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22- What did you think of this lot? - I don't know. I didn't see.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- I was looking at OUR robot.- OK, well, maybe that was the problem.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27- Yeah.- Thanks.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31I expected so much and then you got beaten by a robot
0:17:31 > 0:17:35built by the dad from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. What went wrong?
0:17:35 > 0:17:40We were all right until we went a little bit too close to Dead Metal
0:17:40 > 0:17:45and the slam from Dead Metal just took the drive or something out,
0:17:45 > 0:17:46and we were just immobile.
0:17:46 > 0:17:50- Really?- Yeah.- You're a victim of the house robot.- Yes.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52- Listen, I'm sorry to see you go. - No worries.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54Crazy Coupe 88, ladies and gentlemen.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56CHEERING
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Beast did very, very well.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01By the way, did you think anyone was going to find a way
0:18:01 > 0:18:04to kill an 8-foot tall robot with a 16-foot high spike?
0:18:04 > 0:18:06Cos no-one seemed to be getting near Gabriel.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09I went after the other two first and then I tried that one
0:18:09 > 0:18:10but it's pretty difficult.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13A bit of a lucky break that one of them committed hara-kiri
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- and ran into the pit on his own? - Yeah.- Nice work. That's brazen.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19You're through anyway. Well done, Beast, ladies and gentlemen.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21CHEERING
0:18:21 > 0:18:25The final group battle's over and winners Beast and Gabriel have time
0:18:25 > 0:18:27to assess and repair any damage from the fight.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Flipper wasn't coming back down
0:18:29 > 0:18:30as fast as we wanted it to,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33so need to find out the problem and fix it for the next fight.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Fine-tuning to be done.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37We came out on top, so that's all that matters really.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- Can you see anything on the other side?- No.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43- It's just scrapes, isn't it? - There's one there.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47- I think it's fair to say we got away scot-free.- Yeah, we really did.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Four battle-hardened teams are now into the head-to-head stage...
0:18:55 > 0:18:59They'll now fight each other once in brutal one-on-one battles,
0:18:59 > 0:19:01scoring three points for a knockout victory
0:19:01 > 0:19:03and two points for a judges' decision.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04The two teams with the most points
0:19:04 > 0:19:07will square up in tonight's final.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10But that final must seem very far off for team Chompalot,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13after the brutal damage from their fight.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18It's a huge repair job, especially within the allotted two-hour window,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21but one that even their rivals are happy to take on.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26The wheel's jammed on the battery mounting-plate at the moment,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29- so we're just trying to relieve that.- It's jammed from underneath.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32The jaws have gone off to be welded and straightened,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34but we'll see what happens then.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36In stark contrast, Ironside,
0:19:36 > 0:19:40whose brutal spinning blade did so much of that damage to Chompalot,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42are in rude health.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Just going to change the drive belt.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It's just getting a little bit slippy.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Now we know the gearboxes are good,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52we can put a bit more tension on the belt so we can spin up quicker,
0:19:52 > 0:19:55hopefully hit just as hard, if not harder,
0:19:55 > 0:19:57cos we're only at 90% at the minute as well,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59so we can go up if we want to.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Team Gabriel, who had a near-faultless start
0:20:01 > 0:20:05in their campaign, have no repairs, so plenty of time to plan tactics
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and tailor weapons for the battle ahead.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10We're deciding whether to change the weapon or not.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14We've got a few in the bank, so we might, er...
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- We might change it.- We might change it for a pickaxe.- Yeah.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Surprisingly, despite having no armour,
0:20:20 > 0:20:23there are few repairs needed for team Beast.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26Want to get these few niggles sorted out and then we'll be ready
0:20:26 > 0:20:27for the next fight.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Time, then, for our first head-to-head.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36For Chompalot just to be able to get back into the arena is a testament
0:20:36 > 0:20:40to the incredible engineering brains of the team that helped rebuild it.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46- I think that's good to go, really, isn't it?- I think, to be honest...
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Hey!
0:20:47 > 0:20:50I don't think we'll have all the body panels on
0:20:50 > 0:20:51because there's just not time,
0:20:51 > 0:20:56but we'll be mobile, we'll have some jaws but not much.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59But Robot Wars is no place to get sentimental,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03as team Gabriel have plans to finish it off for good.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06We believe that Chompalot is fairly weak on the upper panels
0:21:06 > 0:21:11and we're fairly confident that he can't actually get the beak
0:21:11 > 0:21:13high enough to actually crush us at all.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17So we can get up close and personal and really whack it good and hard
0:21:17 > 0:21:18and that's the plan.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22Team Chompalot know that their heavily damaged robot
0:21:22 > 0:21:26is even more vulnerable to attack, so could this be their swansong?
0:21:28 > 0:21:30- Hi, I'm Debs.- And I'm Simon.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34I'm a geometric controller in the aerospace industry.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36I'm a freelance writer.
0:21:37 > 0:21:41We met in a sci-fi chatroom, got to know each other.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43After a while, he says,
0:21:43 > 0:21:47"I'm building this robot and I'm going to go on Robot Wars."
0:21:47 > 0:21:48I was, like, "Oh, hello!"
0:21:51 > 0:21:54- We do work as a team.- We're a team. - But, at the end of the day,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58if I say, "I have spoken," that's it, it's done.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00That's the way it happens.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Cos somebody's got to be in charge, otherwise it's chaos!
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Family team Gabriel have created a robot
0:22:08 > 0:22:11that's incredibly difficult to attack,
0:22:11 > 0:22:13but is that enough to go all the way?
0:22:13 > 0:22:17I'm the team captain and the rest of the team are my sons -
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Mark, who's the pit crew, Zack, who's the driver,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22and Toby, who's the apprentice.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25My training is actually in engineering,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29so I've got a lot of experience in cutting and working with metals
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and also other materials.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34As in most cases, with a family situation,
0:22:34 > 0:22:38you actually do things by consensus, and do it by mutual respect.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I don't want to be a totalitarian kind of a person.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43It's not my style.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46My sons are such nice characters that we get on so well
0:22:46 > 0:22:49that it works as a family.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54What advice do I give people who think they can beat us? Fear us.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00Our first head-to-head.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03The patched-up Chompalot goes against the giant Gabriel.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05KLAXON Activate!
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Can Chompalot get hold of Gabriel's mighty wheels?
0:23:08 > 0:23:11They didn't think they could do, but I think they've got a grip.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15They have! Gabriel doing all the pushing into the CPZ,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18a danger there for Chompalot. They need to get out quickly.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20But they certainly had a grip there on Gabriel.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- PIT RELEASE SIREN - The Pit Release has been signalled
0:23:22 > 0:23:25by the huge Gabriel with that swinging axe.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27- AUDIENCE CHANT:- In the pit!
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Chompalot against the arena wall,
0:23:29 > 0:23:32pinned between an axe and a hard place.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35And takes another slam as well.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37Well, they said they were good to go,
0:23:37 > 0:23:41but I think the damage to the drive units is too much.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43They don't look greatly manoeuvrable.
0:23:43 > 0:23:45Spinning on one wheel only.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50Trying to dodge and dodging very well, by the way, the axe blade.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53That is very good driving by Chompalot.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55Simon and Debs - what a romantic Simon is.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57He invited Debs to join the team
0:23:57 > 0:24:02by sending her one of Chompalot's bolts in the post. Ah...
0:24:02 > 0:24:04There's no place for romance in the arena, though.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06And we know that from Gabriel,
0:24:06 > 0:24:10but this is a tougher battle than it first looked to be.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13On the edge of the arena and the Floor Flipper!
0:24:13 > 0:24:16I think it might be it too for Chompalot.
0:24:16 > 0:24:21There is smoke coming out from the innards.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23- No!- Please. - That's the batteries gone.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Well, it's not dry ice, I can tell you that.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28KLAXON
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- Cease!- Oh, that's the death knell for poor old Chompalot.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34And they fought so hard to get back into it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36CHEERING
0:24:36 > 0:24:43Gabriel's axe was a factor, but Chompalot steering away until then.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Chump-a-rump from the Floor Flipper. Over and out.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49Chompalot is smoking at the arena.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52It's going to need to be stretchered out.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- It wasn't quite the vision you had in mind.- Not quite.- No.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00- We did our best, didn't we?- Do you reckon structurally it's...curtains?
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- No, I'm sure we can... - We can patch him together again.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- Just need some more gaffer tape. - A little bit of gaffer tape.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09AUDIENCE ROARS
0:25:09 > 0:25:15- Oh, my God!- It's on fire. It is actually on fire.- Oh, my God.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19The lithium batteries that power Chompalot have caught fire.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22The safety team are on hand to make the robot safe
0:25:22 > 0:25:25before removing what's left of the fiery dragon from the arena.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33It's gone bang, pouff, there's smoke
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and there's fire. It's what dragons are supposed to do
0:25:36 > 0:25:39but not in that way.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Well, I think we were lucky to get him together for the last fight.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53I think it's game over for this series.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00Team Chompalot's decision to withdraw from the competition
0:26:00 > 0:26:02means that the judges must choose a replacement
0:26:02 > 0:26:04from the same group stage.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07So, it's a second chance
0:26:07 > 0:26:08for either Thermidor or Pulsar.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12We've had to choose an alternative.
0:26:12 > 0:26:17And the only thing we could really look at was the fight in the arena.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22Thermidor 2 didn't really do much. We had to choose Pulsar.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27- We're here to tell you you're back in the game.- No!- Seriously?
0:26:27 > 0:26:29- Yeah.- Yeah.- That's amazing news!
0:26:29 > 0:26:32- Well done.- Absolutely amazing. Thank you so much.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Good luck for the rest of the competition.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41Pulsar was very well engineered.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44It had an interesting weapon and we think it will be worthwhile
0:26:44 > 0:26:48- to have a look at it again. - That is an original weapon.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50It's unusual to see something that's completely different
0:26:50 > 0:26:53from anything else that's been before.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Pulsar will join the competition,
0:26:55 > 0:26:56starting on no points
0:26:56 > 0:26:58and with only two fights left
0:26:58 > 0:26:59to secure a place in the final.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Gabriel scores 3 points
0:27:01 > 0:27:03and takes the top spot.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Our next head-to-head is Ironside 3 versus Beast.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11Team Beast's technical gamble was to use their weight allowance
0:27:11 > 0:27:15on their weapon, at the expense of any armour. But will it pay off?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18I'm John Lear, manager of team Beast.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Teamworking in Beast is very important.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I'm the main man - I've built it all -
0:27:23 > 0:27:27Alex is the driver and John is on the weapons
0:27:27 > 0:27:30and they've got a free-for-all in the arena.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34I get very nervous because of all the hard work I've put in
0:27:34 > 0:27:39and it can fail because of a fuse, a little wire come off,
0:27:39 > 0:27:44a link come out - it really is... You do need a lot of luck.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49Ironside are an experienced team with a brand-new robot.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Can they continue to destroy all opposition?
0:27:52 > 0:27:54On the team, it's me,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56there's the team captain, Trevor,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58there's Louise and there's Patricia.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00The boys are engineers. I'm a production engineer,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Trevor's a machinist and the girls are an essential part,
0:28:03 > 0:28:05with logistics and planning.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07Having Trevor on the team is brilliant.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10He's an absolute veteran of Robot Wars. His experience is invaluable.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13We wanted to do something new, different, exciting.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Cos it's a brand-new machine, we're not sure what it's going to do,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19but we're happy it will be quite dangerous, if it works as it should.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22The ultimate dream for Ironside 3 is it goes in the arena
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and it works exactly how we hope it does,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27just so we can show off what a good machine it is.
0:28:29 > 0:28:35It's the second head-to-head - Beast against Ironside 3.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38The house robots are Shunt and, for the first time today,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40lord of the robot's death dance,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Sir Killalot.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45AUDIENCE COUNTS DOWN WITH ANNOUNCER: Three, two, one...
0:28:45 > 0:28:48KLAXON Activate!
0:28:54 > 0:28:56In the group battle,
0:28:56 > 0:29:00Ironside 3 had plenty of time to get the spinner up to full speed.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Beast needs to get on the attack straightaway
0:29:02 > 0:29:03to stop them doing that.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06Look, chasing Ironside 3 to deny it the opportunity
0:29:06 > 0:29:09to get that blade up to full speed, and that's good driving by Beast.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15They control that flipper well, Beast.
0:29:16 > 0:29:22Ironside 3 turns to come again. Moves across the arena floor.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Good control by Beast, nearly getting in underneath again.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Ooh, what's happened here?
0:29:28 > 0:29:31I thought, for a minute, Ironside 3 had been immobilised,
0:29:31 > 0:29:34but moving again. Moving at full speed.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Can they get that blade up to full speed?
0:29:36 > 0:29:41Look at the damage caused to the unprotected tyres of Beast.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43We warn you and we warn you -
0:29:43 > 0:29:47do not come into the Robot Wars arena with exposed tyres.
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Just away from the flipper.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53And I think that's actually the power of the spinning bar
0:29:53 > 0:29:56that led Ironside 3 to appear to dance.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59They're trying to get themselves going, Beast.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01There is power in that flipper.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04There is no movement. Immobilised.
0:30:04 > 0:30:08And Ironside 3 dancing a victory jig.
0:30:08 > 0:30:11- KLAXON - Ironside 3 the winner.- Cease!
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Well played, guys. - Oh, well, I've lost a wheel.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Good contest. Good control.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Damage to the front flipper,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22but that was the main cause of the problem for Beast.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23They couldn't move after that.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27Ironside, with its long and heavy spinner,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29used it very intelligently,
0:30:29 > 0:30:31by running away, getting it up to speed
0:30:31 > 0:30:35and making the attack at the right precise moment. We like that a lot.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Here's how the table is looking.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Remember, Pulsar has yet to compete,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49since replacing the retired Chompalot.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Sethu, the robots we have here, I suppose,
0:30:52 > 0:30:55lack one thing that we will expect to see in robots in the future,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58which is a degree of autonomy for them to make decisions themselves.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00That's correct. Bottom line is,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03you might have a really nice well-engineered machine,
0:31:03 > 0:31:05but if the human driver is not up to scratch,
0:31:05 > 0:31:08then the robot's not going to perform as it should.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11This is something we know - if you drive a car, YOU put on the brakes,
0:31:11 > 0:31:13you know when the brakes have to be put on,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16but the car often manages the way the brakes are applied.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Is that kind of shared decision-making
0:31:18 > 0:31:19- the future for robotics?- Indeed.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22This is a new concept called shared autonomy,
0:31:22 > 0:31:26where you are basically devolving significant levels of control
0:31:26 > 0:31:30to the robot or the device that you're controlling, but still,
0:31:30 > 0:31:33the higher-level decision-making still lies
0:31:33 > 0:31:35within the person who is using it.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38Let's have a look at a prosthetic hand that we actually built.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42So, this is how the hand would be, ignoring my hand entirely in this.
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Where, then, is it taking information from?
0:31:44 > 0:31:47So, these are a bunch of EMG sensors.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50These are sensors that measure the activity of my muscles.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53EMG sensors should read open and close signals
0:31:53 > 0:31:56that I'm trying to pass on to the hand.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59What we're going to try and do is, if I can pass you this bottle...
0:31:59 > 0:32:02So, I'm going to look away. When you tell me, "Close",
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I'm going to close and the decision
0:32:05 > 0:32:08on when the robot arm is going to stop closing
0:32:08 > 0:32:10is completely devolved to the machine here.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13OK, you send the information to close,
0:32:13 > 0:32:15- but it will decide how much pressure to put on.- Exactly.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18- Well, look away.- Ready? - OK, so close your arm.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25That's incredible. There's no squirting of water,
0:32:25 > 0:32:28it hasn't crushed it too much. Could this thing hold an egg, for example?
0:32:28 > 0:32:31I think, in software, you can adjust the amount of grip force
0:32:31 > 0:32:34that is required to actually manipulate this.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36It's incredible. Thank you very much, Sethu.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40The next head-to-head is the long axe of Gabriel
0:32:40 > 0:32:45versus lethal spinner Ironside, and the teams are planning ahead.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48We're just changing the weapon, ready for the next battle.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50We're up against Ironside,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54which is probably the most formidable and scary
0:32:54 > 0:32:56bar spinner here today.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59What we're trying to do with this particular weapon here,
0:32:59 > 0:33:03which is a battle-axe, is to actually try and jam up the bar.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05It's the only thing we've got, so we're going to go for it.
0:33:05 > 0:33:10- We're fighting Gabriel next.- I was going to ask you about Gabriel.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11What do you think?
0:33:11 > 0:33:15We're not sure what the wheels are made of, so we're not sure
0:33:15 > 0:33:17if we'll go straight through it or if we'll crack it.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21Gabriel versus Ironside 3 for our third head-to-head.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23KLAXON Activate!
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Will the change of weapon to that battle-axe suit Gabriel?
0:33:27 > 0:33:31Slammed aside by Ironside 3's power.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36So far, Ironside 3 the most impressive machine we've seen,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38getting in underneath Gabriel.
0:33:38 > 0:33:44That's good control and aggression early on by Ironside 3.
0:33:44 > 0:33:48Gabriel trundles but cannot get that axe low down
0:33:48 > 0:33:51because of Ironside 3's speed.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Ooh, in towards Sir Killalot.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57You can see a puncture mark on the wheel of Gabriel
0:33:57 > 0:33:59and onto the fire pit now.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02They need to get out of the clutches of Killalot very quickly.
0:34:02 > 0:34:06Look at the design, though, so difficult to hold on to.
0:34:06 > 0:34:11It's wibble-wobble, wibble-wobble, jelly on a plate.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Almost on a plate for Ironside 3.
0:34:13 > 0:34:17But that mighty destructive power of Ironside 3's spinning bar
0:34:17 > 0:34:20doesn't seem to be causing that much trouble
0:34:20 > 0:34:25because of the...the "wobbliness" of Gabriel.
0:34:25 > 0:34:27That's all I can describe it.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30But Gabriel's spinning and onto the fire pit. Just away.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Look at the damage caused to the tyres, though.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35They knew they were exposed.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38The wheels could be an easy point of attack, they said.
0:34:39 > 0:34:44And Killalot has Gabriel in its grip.
0:34:44 > 0:34:50And suddenly, it looks like a giant, white...dying...swan.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52That is NOT what I wanted to do.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57I think it's trapped by burning rubber onto the fire pit...
0:34:58 > 0:35:00..and can't get out.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05And in goes Ironside 3.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09That's not the most sensible move, to get underneath on that fire pit.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11AUDIENCE COUNTS DOWN
0:35:11 > 0:35:16I think they're counting Gabriel down and out, in THIS bout anyway.
0:35:17 > 0:35:20KLAXON Cease!
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Well done, well done. Brilliant.
0:35:26 > 0:35:28Well, not quite the battle we envisaged,
0:35:28 > 0:35:32because Ironside 3 came into the attack
0:35:32 > 0:35:35and then danced away repeatedly.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37That's where Gabriel sustained the most damage.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41That could count massively against them.
0:35:41 > 0:35:43Gabriel, bent, battered and, frankly,
0:35:43 > 0:35:47bullied around the arena by Ironside 3. That wasn't the plan, was it?
0:35:47 > 0:35:50No, we definitely took some big hits.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Ironside 3, that looked like it went pretty seamlessly for you guys.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57- Are you happy?- We weren't sure how hard we could actually hit him
0:35:57 > 0:35:59cos he just takes the shock away
0:35:59 > 0:36:01by the fact that it just moves and dances around.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Now, obviously, it was not a knockout,
0:36:03 > 0:36:05so it did go to judges' decision.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09And the win and the 2 points goes to Ironside 3.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13- CHEERING - Well done, lads.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16The first three seconds when Ironside 3 was spinning up
0:36:16 > 0:36:19was an ideal time for Gabriel to come in and attack,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22but as soon as Ironside 3 was spinning, it came in,
0:36:22 > 0:36:25hit Gabriel, knocked the wheels off.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27It then looked like Gabriel lost some of the control,
0:36:27 > 0:36:30so it then was just carrying on hitting.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Gabriel couldn't really get its arrowhead in there
0:36:32 > 0:36:34to do any damage to the spinner.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38We thought we might do a bit more damage,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40but it just shows how resilient that machine is.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43On the wheels, we have a torque limiter system.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46One of the hits loosened the torque limiter
0:36:46 > 0:36:49so, in effect, the hub span in the wheels and we lost drive,
0:36:49 > 0:36:53and so we couldn't get the speed we needed to operate the weapon.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55So, with Gabriel's defeat
0:36:55 > 0:36:56in the third head-to-head,
0:36:56 > 0:36:58the scores are looking like this.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Pulsar have yet to fight.
0:37:05 > 0:37:06But that's all about to change,
0:37:06 > 0:37:09as it's nearly time for their first head-to-head -
0:37:09 > 0:37:11a fight they know they must win
0:37:11 > 0:37:13to have any chance of making it to the final.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15My name is Ellis, I live in Shropshire,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17and my robot is called Pulsar.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22I just turned 20 and I've got no engineering qualifications.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26I taught myself how to use all the machines to make robots.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29My dad deals with things like soldering and electronics
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and my mum is in charge of organisation and admin
0:37:32 > 0:37:34to get parts in in time for Pulsar.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36Absolutely everything else is my work,
0:37:36 > 0:37:38so I've designed and specc'ed every element
0:37:38 > 0:37:42and made everything else, so this is kind of my baby.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Yeah, it's good. It might not set.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49The trims might be off, so I'll have to check that on the fly.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52'I think I'm coming from a completely fresh palate,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54'so I don't have any preconceptions'
0:37:54 > 0:37:55about what might or might not work,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58so that allows me to think outside the box with my design.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01I hope Pulsar will be remembered as a really feisty little underdog.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04It's really small and it's going to hit really hard,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06so I'm hoping people will be surprised by it
0:38:06 > 0:38:07and that will stick in their minds.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15Beast also need the maximum 3 points here
0:38:15 > 0:38:18to have any chance of survival in the competition.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22CHEERING
0:38:22 > 0:38:25- Three, two, one... - Beast against Pulsar.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28- It's win or bust for both.- Activate! KLAXON
0:38:28 > 0:38:33Sluggish start by Pulsar. In comes Beast, with that powerful flipper.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36But, lacking armament,
0:38:36 > 0:38:39we know that they need to dodge away from Sir Killalot.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41PULSAR HUMS
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Pulsar - you can hear the siren rising.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47- They're trying to get the speed up. - It's not driving.- You're joking.
0:38:47 > 0:38:52But is the drum fully functioning? Yes, it is!
0:38:52 > 0:38:56They came in underneath Beast. Beast, here, is in real trouble.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59It's immobilised. This will be a turn-up for the books.
0:38:59 > 0:39:03Pulsar reinstated because Chompalot had to go out.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05They got it over and done with very quickly.
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- They're out to make up for lost time.- Cease!
0:39:08 > 0:39:12CHEERING
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Well, how about this? That was the moment it got in underneath.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19Sparks flew. Pulsar's beauty against the Beast.
0:39:19 > 0:39:20Little machine, big heart.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26It was good. Obviously, it went in our favour.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29There was a bit of an issue which was a bit worrying for next time,
0:39:29 > 0:39:31when it was quite intermittent on the drive.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33It wasn't driving quite as expected.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36Of course, though, we got the win, so super-chuffed with that,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39and we'll be really ready for the next one.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Frustrated with their recurring technical problem,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44team Beast have still to score.
0:39:44 > 0:39:49We was having a bit of an issue driving, cos it wasn't going fully.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Just don't know. That's electronics for you.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56The force of the impact caused a link to come out,
0:39:56 > 0:39:58then we lost power.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Oh, well, gutted. Never mind.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05So, at the end of head-to-head four,
0:40:05 > 0:40:07Ironside are still leading the table.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17Our next head-to-head is Gabriel versus Beast.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23So, you guys came up against Gabriel in the group battles.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- Yeah.- Is there anything you learned from that
0:40:25 > 0:40:27that you're going to bring to them?
0:40:27 > 0:40:30It's very difficult to fight, so we've really got to up our game.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- Immobilise.- Immobilise, pit, flip out, whatever.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36- We'll try everything.- Brilliant. Best of luck, guys.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- Give it up for Beast! - CHEERING
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Here, with one of the crowd's big favourites, Gabriel.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46Gabriel, you've gone through a number of different iterations.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48You evolved into having a wonky hammer for a while there.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Why do you think the sword will work out well here?
0:40:50 > 0:40:54I think the sword should work well because the robot we're fighting
0:40:54 > 0:40:56has got exposed tyres and we're hoping
0:40:56 > 0:40:58to actually sort of do a bit of sushi on them.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01Fabulous! I'm looking forward to seeing that.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04- Do you know what result you have to get here?- We need to knock them out.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06You need to knock them out, cos to get through,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08you have to win within the three minutes.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11Judges' decision isn't good enough for you. Are you going to do it?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13- Yeah.- Fantastic. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Gabriel!
0:41:13 > 0:41:15CHEERING
0:41:15 > 0:41:17So, for our penultimate head-to-head,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19- it's Gabriel versus Beast. - KLAXON
0:41:19 > 0:41:21- Activate!- Gabriel must get a win by knockout
0:41:21 > 0:41:23to secure a definite place in the final.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Down comes the big battle-axe.
0:41:25 > 0:41:28We know that Beast has a problem with armament.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31Oh, goodness me! That's a severe blow.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Can Beast survive that? Is Beast still moving?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Gabriel sensing it can finish it early here.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39Needs to finish it, needs to get the knockout win, don't forget.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41- Doesn't want it to go to judges. - PIT RELEASE SIREN
0:41:41 > 0:41:44They've released the pit activation.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47They don't want to be on the fire pit.
0:41:47 > 0:41:49We've seen what damage that can cause.
0:41:51 > 0:41:56And I think Beast here wants Gabriel to come in again
0:41:56 > 0:41:59and try and get them activated with another blow.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03But what's going through the minds of the Gabriel team here?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06I think it's... Do you want us to hit your robot?
0:42:06 > 0:42:09- Yes, that's it - they want them to hit the robot...- Hit the robot.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11..to get it activated again. That's interesting.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13I thought that was the case.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18But will Gabriel really want to go and finish them off?
0:42:19 > 0:42:22They want to be the good guys of Robot Wars, not the bad guys.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25Leave it, leave it. I don't want to damage his robot any more.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Well, no, you have to get a knockout blow here.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30You have to win by knockout.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32You cannot leave it for the judges.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34You're spinning, you think you're winning.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38Gabriel, you need to be more punishing here.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Well, if it goes to the judges, it might not be enough.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44- KLAXON Cease!- We'll have to wait and see.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48- No killer instinct in Gabriel. - OK, can you drive to the exit?
0:42:48 > 0:42:51This, by the way, is killer instinct.
0:42:51 > 0:42:55That's what you need to do. That's lovely!
0:42:59 > 0:43:01Well, it was all Gabriel on the offensive.
0:43:01 > 0:43:06And that was the blow that caused all the damage to Beast's controls.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Couldn't get going. And there was the stand-off. No finishing power.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13That was interesting.
0:43:13 > 0:43:17The thing was, we felt that Beast had actually been immobilised
0:43:17 > 0:43:22and it didn't seem proper for us to continue any gratuitous violence,
0:43:22 > 0:43:24just for the sake of it.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27- So, you showed some mercy. - LAUGHTER
0:43:27 > 0:43:31Very well-behaved. Beast, they were kind to you. What happened?
0:43:31 > 0:43:34It all went wrong, quite frankly.
0:43:34 > 0:43:37The gas system was misbehaving, as you saw at the start.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39So, we went in with no flipper.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41And then our wheels, our drive packed up,
0:43:41 > 0:43:43- so we were a sitting duck. - We've been here before.
0:43:43 > 0:43:45Yeah, it's one of those, really.
0:43:45 > 0:43:50So, even though the time ran out, the judges have reviewed the footage
0:43:50 > 0:43:55and it's been decided that Beast were immobile for over ten seconds,
0:43:55 > 0:44:01so the win and the crucial 3 points have been awarded to Gabriel.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03CHEERING
0:44:05 > 0:44:08We were trying to identify at what stage
0:44:08 > 0:44:12effective control on Beast went away.
0:44:12 > 0:44:18Although Beast was still mobile on one of the wheels,
0:44:18 > 0:44:20it basically was not going anywhere.
0:44:20 > 0:44:25That was loss of control, loss of mobility and we decided,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28even though it lasted the whole three minutes,
0:44:28 > 0:44:32the whole 3 points for knockout should go to Gabriel.
0:44:32 > 0:44:33The maximum 3 points for the win
0:44:33 > 0:44:35takes their total to 6
0:44:35 > 0:44:37and confirms Gabriel as our first finalist.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40They'll now face the winner of our next head-to-head.
0:44:41 > 0:44:43Ironside have swept aside their rivals so far
0:44:43 > 0:44:47and go in as the clear favourites against the late replacement Pulsar.
0:44:47 > 0:44:49I've got Ironside next, who are very consistent,
0:44:49 > 0:44:51very strong and a big weapon.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53The thing is, I'm a vertical spinner,
0:44:53 > 0:44:54so I spin upward very quickly,
0:44:54 > 0:44:57and they're a horizontal, so what happens when those two collide
0:44:57 > 0:44:59is very difficult to predict.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01If I hit their bar as it comes round,
0:45:01 > 0:45:04they'll go absolutely flying, but if they hit my drum,
0:45:04 > 0:45:05it could cause serious damage,
0:45:05 > 0:45:08emphasised by the fact this is going round.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11So, in any case, it'll be a huge bang and it'll be amazing.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13It's the final head-to-head here.
0:45:13 > 0:45:15It's vertical against horizontal spinner
0:45:15 > 0:45:19and to get into tonight's final, Pulsar need a clean win here.
0:45:19 > 0:45:21Activate! KLAXON
0:45:21 > 0:45:24It'll be all about the driving skill of Ellis Ware,
0:45:24 > 0:45:27who's been a Robot Wars fan since he was four.
0:45:27 > 0:45:32Oh, and that's a brilliant use of the drum by Ellis!
0:45:32 > 0:45:34And Ironside 3 - well, they tell us they have
0:45:34 > 0:45:38a self-righting mechanism, but they need to get it working quickly.
0:45:38 > 0:45:41If they can't within ten seconds, they'll be immobilised.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44Just think they're trying to get up and over,
0:45:44 > 0:45:46but they're into Sir Killalot now
0:45:46 > 0:45:49and this could be the end of Ironside 3.
0:45:50 > 0:45:54Is there life in Ironside 3? Pulsar has a nudge.
0:45:54 > 0:46:00They have to get moving, otherwise the judges will rule them out.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02PULSAR HUMS
0:46:02 > 0:46:05Oh, and they ARE moving! Sir Killalot helped them out!
0:46:07 > 0:46:10They're away and flying. Well, where did that come from?
0:46:10 > 0:46:15Maybe Killalot helped out rejuvenate Ironside 3.
0:46:15 > 0:46:19But I can't see the blade spinning at all,
0:46:19 > 0:46:21so they're going for another tactic.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24- PIT RELEASE SIREN - Release the pit
0:46:24 > 0:46:26to try and shove Pulsar down into the pit.
0:46:26 > 0:46:30Ironside 3 just the heavier machine, only just - couple of kilos in it.
0:46:30 > 0:46:36But who will go down? Pulsar - is there movement in Pulsar?
0:46:36 > 0:46:39I don't think so. And I think...
0:46:39 > 0:46:41Goodness me, what a battle this has been!
0:46:41 > 0:46:45Slowly, slowly, inch by inch...
0:46:45 > 0:46:48Oh! They've taken themselves out!
0:46:48 > 0:46:51KLAXON Cease!
0:46:53 > 0:46:56What about this? What a fight!
0:46:56 > 0:46:59Brutal power.
0:47:00 > 0:47:05Pulsar there, flipping Ironside 3 over, and well on top at this stage,
0:47:05 > 0:47:08even though they don't seem to be moving
0:47:08 > 0:47:12as cleanly as they might want to. Driving though.
0:47:12 > 0:47:18And there, Killalot belches Ironside 3 back into life.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20No spinning blade, but plenty of control...
0:47:20 > 0:47:22until there!
0:47:22 > 0:47:25This is a toughie for the judges to decide.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29An incredible fight and a very complex one to make a ruling on,
0:47:29 > 0:47:31because you both ended up in the pit at the end.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34Went to the judges and they've examined the footage
0:47:34 > 0:47:37very, very carefully, and they've made a ruling.
0:47:37 > 0:47:42Based on the fact that Ironside was immobile for more than ten seconds
0:47:42 > 0:47:46in the middle of the bout, the victory goes to Pulsar.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48Congratulations, Pulsar.
0:47:48 > 0:47:50APPLAUSE
0:47:51 > 0:47:53What was so exciting about this match
0:47:53 > 0:47:56was we had two spinners working together,
0:47:56 > 0:47:59with the horizontal spinner and the vertical spinner.
0:47:59 > 0:48:03So, when Pulsar hit Ironside, Ironside got the full impact
0:48:03 > 0:48:07and it threw it up in the air and it's lost its link to its weapon.
0:48:07 > 0:48:10But, clearly, Pulsar was the most successful robot
0:48:10 > 0:48:12we've seen in there.
0:48:12 > 0:48:15They didn't really give us a fair chance to self-right.
0:48:15 > 0:48:16No, I'm slammed against a wall,
0:48:16 > 0:48:20I'm trying to self-right and then they go, "You're out." I don't know.
0:48:20 > 0:48:24And before we got chance, the house robot came in and he picked us up,
0:48:24 > 0:48:27then dropped us, and we happened to land on our wheels,
0:48:27 > 0:48:29and nobody called "Cease", so we carried on.
0:48:29 > 0:48:33But... That's the way it goes, I suppose.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Personally, I think it is the right decision,
0:48:36 > 0:48:39although I love the Ironside guys, they're great people.
0:48:39 > 0:48:40It's just that they were upside down
0:48:40 > 0:48:43and their self-righting arm was fully up
0:48:43 > 0:48:45and then it was Sir Killalot turned them over.
0:48:45 > 0:48:49So, it is a difficult decision to make, it's gone in our favour.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52We lost drive at the end. We're not entirely sure why.
0:48:52 > 0:48:55But that was all after all the self-righting had happened,
0:48:55 > 0:48:57so we need to figure that out, be ready for the next one.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59So, at the end of the head-to-heads,
0:48:59 > 0:49:01we now have our finalists,
0:49:01 > 0:49:03both scoring 6 points -
0:49:03 > 0:49:04Pulsar and Gabriel.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07A very close Ironside scored 5
0:49:07 > 0:49:09and poor old Beast failed to score.
0:49:09 > 0:49:13For a team who were initially knocked out in the group stages,
0:49:13 > 0:49:16it's been an incredible journey for Pulsar.
0:49:16 > 0:49:19A huge hit by Ironside in the opening group battle
0:49:19 > 0:49:22caused drive problems that initially knocked them out.
0:49:22 > 0:49:24But Chompalot's dramatic spontaneous combustion,
0:49:24 > 0:49:28followed by the judges' decision to give them a precious second chance,
0:49:28 > 0:49:31meant they could rise from the ashes to rejoin the competition.
0:49:31 > 0:49:33We're here to tell you you're back in the game.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35- That's amazing!- Well done.
0:49:35 > 0:49:39So, the 220mph horizontal spinning teeth were back
0:49:39 > 0:49:41and soon made short work of Beast,
0:49:41 > 0:49:47before taking a judges' decision and the full 3 points against Ironside.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49The robot has impressed our judges,
0:49:49 > 0:49:52but can it overcome reliability issues to finish the job?
0:49:52 > 0:49:54Team Gabriel is by far
0:49:54 > 0:49:57the strangest-looking robot in the competition,
0:49:57 > 0:50:00but the ingenious design is all based on
0:50:00 > 0:50:02the science of fighting robots.
0:50:05 > 0:50:09Proving their point, as they despatched all in the group stages,
0:50:09 > 0:50:12before finishing off Chompalot in that dramatic head-to-head.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19The spin of Ironside delivered their first defeat.
0:50:23 > 0:50:25But after taming the Beast,
0:50:25 > 0:50:28they had secured enough points to put them in the final.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35Pulsar's late re-entry in the competition
0:50:35 > 0:50:39means that these two have never fought one on one, so who will win
0:50:39 > 0:50:42when they go head-to-head for the very first time?
0:50:44 > 0:50:48It's Pulsar versus Gabriel. At stake is a place in the Grand Final.
0:50:48 > 0:50:51It's a battle between the very short and the very tall, but who will win?
0:50:51 > 0:50:54Over to you, Jonathan. CHEERING
0:50:54 > 0:50:57Dara and Angela, our own Robot Wars saints.
0:50:57 > 0:50:59KLAXON Activate!
0:50:59 > 0:51:04The Robot Wars Angel Gabriel against the rising star of Pulsar.
0:51:04 > 0:51:08Immediately in underneath that very awkward design of Gabriel
0:51:08 > 0:51:12to get anything onto. But if Pulsar can get the drum up to speed...
0:51:12 > 0:51:16- PULSAR HUMS - Can you hear the hum of the drum?
0:51:16 > 0:51:19..then the tyres of Gabriel will be suspect.
0:51:19 > 0:51:22Down comes the big battle-axe of Gabriel.
0:51:22 > 0:51:26Pulsar needs to dodge that, of course, and get away.
0:51:26 > 0:51:29The wheels of Pulsar exposed -
0:51:29 > 0:51:32only thick plastic armour to protect them.
0:51:32 > 0:51:36But getting away from Gabriel's blade is the key.
0:51:36 > 0:51:40Can they get underneath and maybe flip it towards the fire pit
0:51:40 > 0:51:45or our own flipper or the spikes, or the house robots?
0:51:45 > 0:51:48Tentative at the moment and tactical.
0:51:48 > 0:51:51Again, they're dodging that blade magnificently here.
0:51:51 > 0:51:56Pulsar, with some driver - young Ellis, a Robot Wars fanatic.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59Ooh, and up on its side goes Gabriel,
0:51:59 > 0:52:01but we know they can self-right from there.
0:52:01 > 0:52:04We also know those wheels are an easy point of attack.
0:52:04 > 0:52:06And we know that Killalot is waiting.
0:52:06 > 0:52:08Oh, what's happening to Pulsar?
0:52:08 > 0:52:11Ooh, they just got going within the time limit,
0:52:11 > 0:52:13or they'd be deemed immobilised.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16They have had problems with their drive.
0:52:16 > 0:52:19PULSAR HUMS
0:52:19 > 0:52:22And, again, just superb swerving away from Gabriel.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25- PIT RELEASE SIREN - Up onto the side.
0:52:25 > 0:52:28The wheel spins, no traction.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31There it goes, and self-rights brilliantly.
0:52:31 > 0:52:35And gets away, as well, from Sir Killalot.
0:52:35 > 0:52:36Down goes the pit.
0:52:36 > 0:52:39At the moment, I'd say Pulsar on top, but Gabriel fighting valiantly
0:52:39 > 0:52:43and can still cause damage in a split second.
0:52:43 > 0:52:47What a heat final this is. Misses, hits. No, missed again!
0:52:47 > 0:52:51Comes in for a killer blow. Pulsar in trouble! Pulsar can't move!
0:52:51 > 0:52:55Nudged towards the Flame Pit by Killalot
0:52:55 > 0:52:58and just out of reach, therefore, of Gabriel's axe.
0:52:58 > 0:53:02And Gabriel comes in onto the house robot. Ill-advised.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Take on the minnow, not the mighty.
0:53:07 > 0:53:11- They've lost the drive, it seems, again.- Hit it like that.- Oh, dear!
0:53:11 > 0:53:14- That's it. Keep going. - Pulsar at the moment...- Keep going.
0:53:14 > 0:53:20No! They are the victims of Gabriel's fury. And away they go.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23Well, I cannot predict what's going to happen next.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25One moment you think one of these machines is out
0:53:25 > 0:53:29and the next minute, they come back in on the offensive. Wibble-wobble.
0:53:29 > 0:53:30Back in they come.
0:53:30 > 0:53:35Bang! Smash! Crash! No end product.
0:53:35 > 0:53:37Oh, what went flying off there? That nearly hit ME!
0:53:39 > 0:53:41Thank you very much for THAT!
0:53:41 > 0:53:43Gabriel in the corner, gets out.
0:53:45 > 0:53:47This is a huge fight!
0:53:47 > 0:53:52- AUDIENCE COUNTS DOWN - Tenacity, durability. One last blow!
0:53:52 > 0:53:54Off the floor.
0:53:54 > 0:53:57But managed to self-right again.
0:53:57 > 0:53:59- I cannot choose between these two. - KLAXON
0:53:59 > 0:54:01- Cease!- That is a magnificent final.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06- Great stuff.- Yeah, well done. - Well done, guys.
0:54:11 > 0:54:14Oh, great camaraderie, but there can only be one winner,
0:54:14 > 0:54:16judged on control, damage and aggression.
0:54:16 > 0:54:20Good control there by Pulsar - all the way through, actually, I think -
0:54:20 > 0:54:22to dodge the blade.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25Oh! Into the CPZ, got out again.
0:54:26 > 0:54:29There's the damage caused to the wheels of Gabriel.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33That could prove crucial. Self-righting from Gabriel.
0:54:33 > 0:54:38Pulsar, for me, the more aggressive. Ooh, have they edged it?
0:54:38 > 0:54:40APPLAUSE
0:54:40 > 0:54:45Pulsar, I mean, even to look at, these machines are wildly different.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47Was there a strategy, going into this?
0:54:47 > 0:54:50Basically, all I could do was be as aggressive as possible
0:54:50 > 0:54:53and hope that I caused some damage and I think that pretty much went
0:54:53 > 0:54:55- exactly to plan.- You went for it! - I didn't hold back.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58I know we had to and, again, against this machine,
0:54:58 > 0:54:59it's impossible to fight.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02- You can't have tactics against this machine.- Dad, were you happy?
0:55:02 > 0:55:03I thought it was a great fight,
0:55:03 > 0:55:07never mind that we were involved. I just thought it was an epic battle.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Well done, well done. Yes, it was.
0:55:09 > 0:55:11It was an epic and truly bizarre battle,
0:55:11 > 0:55:14that looked like an angry ferret fighting a giraffe
0:55:14 > 0:55:16for large sections of it. LAUGHTER
0:55:16 > 0:55:18You left this behind, by the way.
0:55:18 > 0:55:22That is a centimetre-thick piece of steel that came off at one stage.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24It was an unusual battle to try to engage though.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27It's a very difficult robot to fight and very robust.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29I hope the crowd here really liked it.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31Hear, hear. Very good. Lovely stuff.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:55:33 > 0:55:36There was no clear winner, but it's gone to a judges' decision
0:55:36 > 0:55:39and the judges' decision is based on aggression,
0:55:39 > 0:55:42control of the robot and damage done.
0:55:42 > 0:55:44But they've made a unanimous decision
0:55:44 > 0:55:46and the team that wins this battle
0:55:46 > 0:55:49and goes through directly to the Grand Final...
0:55:52 > 0:55:54..is Pulsar, ladies and gentlemen. APPLAUSE
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Congratulations to them.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59- My commiserations. - No, it was a good fight.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01It was a good fight and you fought beautifully
0:56:01 > 0:56:05throughout the entire show. Thank you very much. Well done to Pulsar.
0:56:05 > 0:56:09That's it for this week. From all of us here at Robot Wars, good night.
0:56:09 > 0:56:11CHEERING AND APPLAUSE