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Enzyme was a competitor robot which appeared exclusively in Series 2 of Robot Wars. It progressed steadily through its Heat, but was beaten by Plunderbird 2 in the Arena Semi-Final stage.

Design[]

"This was originally an electric wheelchair, but we've converted it into a lovely robot. And... basically we kept the original control system from the wheelchair. We cheated a bit and used the servos... and let them straight up to the joystick instead of going through the malarkey of the controls of the box."
— Angus Dunican explains the fundamentals of Enzyme's design and drivetrain (Robot Wars Revealed, Episode 11)
Enzyme

Enzyme in the arena

Enzyme was a black and yellow, two-wheel drive robot converted from an electric wheelchair, itself borrowed by the team from a friend's garden. While preserving the original wheelchair chassis, 12V motors,[2] wheels and control system - the latter three providing the robot with good pushing power - it ran off a servo-based controller assembly and was fitted with a trapezoid-shaped bodyshell with angled sides. The original air-filled tyres were also exchanged for solid equivalents.

Enzyme's weapon was an electric-powered, twin-forked lifter - described as a '100kg forklift' on statistics boards - which was converted from the wheelchair's elevating backrest. Though the lifter could purportedly lift up to 16 stone (approximately 101.6kg) according to Jonathan Pearce's introduction, its capabilities were not fully demonstrated in combat. A high ground clearance of 15mm also left Enzyme vulnerable against robots with wedge shapes and other lifting weaponry.

As decorative touches, hazard tape was applied to either side of Enzyme's front, and a triangular biohazard symbol on its top lid, both reflecting the connotations of its name (see Etymology). The robot cost £100 and took 7 months to build.

Etymology[]

The definition of "Enzyme" refers to proteins that act as biological catalysts and accelerate chemical reactions in cells. According to the team's video diaries - as broadcast in Robot Wars Revealed, Episode 11 - an alternative interpretation is presented, in which an "enzyme" is described as an 'evil', highly corrosive acid. The 'biohazard' symbol applied to Enzyme's top panel more than likely reflects the former definition, however.

Robot History[]

Series 2[]

Enzymegauntlet

Enzyme falls into the pit during the Gauntlet

Enzyme tackled the far route and headed towards The Sentinel. It avoided The Sentinel's arm and a piece of it which had fallen off. Enzyme pushed the piece into the pit and tried to swerve around Matilda, but veered too close to the pit, getting stuck on the edge. Matilda nudged Enzyme, which did not fall into the pit due to the piece of The Sentinel blocking it. Matilda pushed Enzyme again and it was left dangling on the edge, essentially being pitted as its run ended. Enzyme had managed to travel 10.5m, tying it for joint-fourth and it advanced to the Trial stage.

Craig Charles: "What happened then?"
Angus Dunican: "We just couldn't take it, we just couldn't see a damn thing, when we stopped you just start to panic"
Craig Charles: "Mind your language young man!"
Angus Dunican: "Sorry!"
— Post-Gauntlet interview
Enzymetrial

Enzyme survives King of the Castle

In the Trial, which was King of the Castle, Enzyme spun on the spot and hit Dead Metal as the House Robot approached it. Dead Metal attempted to get behind Enzyme, but Enzyme kept it at bay by still spinning. Sergeant Bash bumped Enzyme from behind and temporaily pinned it before backing away. Enzyme then suddenly stopped moving, as mentioned by Angus Dunican, but it still managed to hold its ground. Sergeant Bash tried to push Enzyme around, but its wheels allowed it to keep traction, and Enzyme managed to last the full thirty seconds, enabling it to progress to the Arena stage.

Plunderbird2vsEnzyme

Enzyme is pushed into the PPZ by Plunderbird 2

Enzyme met Plunderbird 2 in the Arena. Both robots charged at each other, but Plunderbird 2 managed to get underneath Enzyme, but Enzyme escaped. Plunderbird 2 scooped up Enzyme again and pushed it into the PPZ towards Sergeant Bash, who spun around and its sawblade glanced off Enzyme, causing minor damage. Pluderbird 2 pushed Enzyme further into the PPZ, with Sergeant Bash using its saw again to create more damage as sparks flew from it cutting into Enzyme's body. Shunt missed an axe blow and Sir Killalot came in from behind and pushed both robots. Enzyme finally got off Plunderbird 2's wedge and Plunderbird 2 got out of the PPZ, but Enzyme was briefly caught between Shunt and Sergeant Bash, Shunt getting underneath Enzyme for a moment. Enzyme finally escaped and joined Plunderbird 2 in the centre of the arena. Both machines lightly tussled as Cease was called for the fight to go to the Judges. The judges voted unanimously for Plunderbird 2, eliminating Enzyme from The Second Wars.

Craig Charles: "Well, it was a fairly even fight, wasn't it young man?"
Angus Dunican: "Yeah, they just hammered us in the end, we just couldn't compete"
Craig Charles: "They seemed to have a bit more power than you in the end, didn't they?"
Angus Dunican: "Yeah, they just kept shunting us into the House Robots and we didn't stand a chance"
— Post-battle interview

Results[]

ENZYME - RESULTS
Series 2
The Second Wars - UK Championship
Heat, Arena Semi-Final
Heat K, Gauntlet 10.5m (4th) Qualified
Heat K, Trial (King of the Castle) Survived (2nd) Qualified
Heat K, Semi-Final vs. Plunderbird 2 Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 0
  • Losses: 1

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

Series Record[]

Series Enzyme Series Record
The First Wars Did not enter
The Second Wars Heat, Arena Semi-Final
The Third Wars Did not enter
The Fourth Wars Did not enter
The Fifth Wars Did not enter
The Sixth Wars Did not enter
The Seventh Wars Did not enter
Series 8 Did not enter
Series 9 Did not enter
Series 10 Did not enter

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

After Series 2, the shell of Enzyme was left in the garage of Angus Dunican's friend, where it began to rust away. The chassis was salvaged and planned to be reused for a second Enzyme, known as Enzyme 2. However, Enzyme 2 would never be completed as other commitments such as school exams got in the way of the team completing it.[3]

Since his appearance on Robot Wars, team member Angus Dunican has become an actor, comedian and writer, having acted in various films and written audiobooks for the Doctor Who franchise.[4]

Trivia[]

  • Enzyme was the first competitor robot to fight any incarnation of Plunderbird in a combat battle.
  • After Enzyme's Gauntlet run, Craig Charles incorrectly addressed Angus Dunican as "Angus Duncan".

References[]

  1. Involved in the team during Enzyme's construction, but unable to appear as he was on holiday in Spain at the time of filming. Credited by Jonathan Pearce in the televised Heat K and appears in video diaries shown in Robot Wars Revealed, Episode 11.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20031201070306fw_/http://freespace.virgin.net/oliver.steeples/series2/robots/enzyme.htm
  3. Twitter exchange between RavenclawDBS and Angus Dunican, 26 June 2023
  4. Tweet from Angus Dunican confirming his identity, 26 June 2023.

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