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Challenger was a pair of robots which competed in Series 2 and 3 of Robot Wars. Neither version of the robot achieved much success, with the Series 2 version being eliminated in the Joust Trial, and the Series 3 version, Challenger 2, reaching the second round of its Heat before losing to Panzer there.

Driver Steve Dove also controlled one of the stock robot, Eubank the Mouse in Series 1, as well as joining Team Joint Effort in Series 6 when they entered GBH 2.

Versions of Challenger[]

Challenger[]

"With its sleek lines and Ferrari dashing red, waspish yellow-and-black stripes, Challenger's weapons include an angle grinder disc, stainless steel spikes. Driven by its own customised gear box, weighs in at 74 kilos, second lightest in the round - will that be costly?"
Jonathan Pearce introduces Challenger
Challenger

Challenger in Series 2

The original Challenger was a two-wheel drive, box wedge-shaped robot with a triangular profile. Externally, it was finished in a "Ferrari red" paint scheme and yellow and black hazard stripes, with a yellow flag fixed to the top-rear panel. Challenger featured a custom-built gearbox as part of its internals, along with two 12V wheelchair batteries, a 24V industrial motor[1] and a multitude of different weapons.

At the front, it was armed with a set of four stainless steel spikes fitted on a shock-absorbing assembly, itself cushioned by a spring from a Formula 3 racing car to prevent any shocks going into the robot's chassis. In addition to this, Challenger employed a milling cutter on the front-left corner with three carbide inserts, and a 3,000rpm tungsten carbide saw at the rear, mounted on the end of an arm operated by a rotating crank. On the robot's statistics board, the spinning weapon was simply referred to as an 'angle grinder'. The original incarnation took three months to build.

Challenger s2 side bludgeonerdrills

Challenger's milling cutter

Challenger rear saw

The crank-powered arm mechanism for Challenger's rear saw

"Challenger had lots of weapons that consisted of spikes at the front shock mounted, a milling cutter in the middle and a 3000rpm tungsten carbide cutting disk at the back and all it was wasted. Challenger had underpowered motors driven through a home made gearbox."
Oliver Steeples on the design shortcomings of the original Challenger[2]

Challenger was powered by two 12 volt batteries from a wheelchair, and had a custom built gearbox, but only had a top speed of 4mph. It also had a high ground clearance of 25mm, which caused it to get beached in the Gauntlet, and Matilda was easily able to get underneath it in the Trial.

Challenger 2[]

Challenger 2 outside

Challenger 2 minus the top panel

Although Challenger 2 was largely the same robot in terms of design and structure, it was more easily distinguished by the addition of silver spiked sections along the top, loosely resembling a mohawk hairstyle. Changes were also evident in the robot's weapons, including a more prominent 100rpm cutting blade, driven by a motorcycle starter motor, and lifting spikes to impale opponents. Additional spikes were added, in front of the wheels and one on each side of the drum, to hold other robots in place while attacking, along with bladed wedges surrounding the drum-type blade. The robot was powered by a motorcycle starter motor, and cost £300 to build. The new Challenger still had a high ground clearance like the original, but had some small side skirts by the wheels and along the front section to prevent opponents getting underneath. This version of Challenger was narrowly over the weight limit for heavyweight robots at the time of Series 3.

The Team[]

Challengerinsides

The team show the insides of the Series 2 Challenger

Challenger2TeamS3

The Challenger team in Series 3

Challenger was built by Steve Dove, a roboteer who had previously appeared in Series 1 whilst driving the Stock Robot Eubank the Mouse. This made Challenger the first heavyweight robot built by Steve Dove, and he was the team captain and driver. In Series 2, he was joined by Andy Byrne and Peter Rose, while for Series 3, his new teammates were his sons Chris and Andy Dove. Steve Dove drove the robot in Series 2, but in Series 3, he left the driving to his son Andy.

Philippa Forrester: "Who designed this?"
Andy Dove: "Err, my dad did!"
Philippa Forrester: "Was it all you, Steve?"
Steve Dove: "Well, they helped. They came up with the wild ideas basically, and I just had to put it into a bit of metal!"
— Discussing the design of Challenger 2

Three series after Challenger's final appearance on Robot Wars, Steve Dove joined Team Joint Effort to compete in Series 6 with GBH 2.

Robot History[]

Series 2[]

Challengergauntlet

Challenger becomes stuck on the bricks

Challenger was the first to run the Gauntlet in its heat and started by trying to smash through the brick wall. After taking several attempts to break through, Challenger then got stuck on the ramp and the house robots came in to inflict damage. Challenger did however cover enough ground to just get through as Griffon failed to travel as far, putting it through in fifth place.

Matilda challenger joust

Challenger is pushed back by Matilda

Next was the Trial stage where the robots were up against Matilda in the Joust, Challenger started badly by driving into the side of the ramp, Matilda then came in, pushing Challenger back past the start and cease was called, Challenger was eliminated as it had travelled -0.1 metre.

"Steve Dove, take a breathalyser for goodness sake!"
— Jonathan Pearce commenting on Challenger's driving

Series 3[]

"Dad Steve Dove flutters back to the wars after fighting with Challenger in the last series! The rotating lifting device is key here, with its fearsome spikes. "Come and get me!" is the challenge!"
— Jonathan Pearce introduces Challenger 2
Challenger 2 pushes Atlas

Challenger 2 shoves Atlas across the arena

The new robot Challenger 2 fought its first battle against newcomer Atlas. Both Atlas and Challenger drove into each other at the start, before Challenger 2 pushed Atlas around the arena. Challenger's weapon buckled the armour of Atlas. Atlas was stuck on the arena wall, and was attacked by the House Robots.

Challenger 2 pitted

Challenger 2 is pitted

Shunt axes Challenger 2

Challenger 2 is axed by Shunt

"Challenger 2's weaponry - vastly superior!"
Jonathan Pearce, comparing Challenger 2 to Panzer

With that victory, it met Panzer. However, the design of the robots meant that Panzer kept driving over Challenger, unable to get pushing power, and Challenger's top spikes failed to hold its opponent on top. Challenger took defensive action, and fled from Panzer. After being unable to attack Panzer effectively, Challenger 2 was pushed into the pit from behind by its opponent. Whilst it was in the pit, Challenger 2 got attacked by the house robots, in particular being hit by Shunt's axe before cease was called.

Results[]

CHALLENGER - RESULTS
Series 2
The Second Wars - UK Championship
Heat Trial
Heat C, Gauntlet 5.3m (5th) Qualified
Heat C, Trial (Joust) Backwards 0.1m (5th) Eliminated
Series 3
The Third Wars - UK Championship
Heat Semi-Final
Heat L, Round 1 vs. Atlas Won
Heat L, Round 2 vs. Panzer Lost

Wins/Losses[]

  • Wins: 1
  • Losses: 1

NOTE: Challenger's Gauntlet and Trial runs are not included

Series Record[]

Series Challenger Series Record
The First Wars Entered with Eubank the Mouse
The Second Wars Heat, Trial
The Third Wars Heat, Round 2
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

NOTE: Steve Dove joined Team Joint Effort to enter GBH 2 into Series 6.

Gallery[]

Outside Robot Wars[]

Challenger vs chaos 2

Challenger 2 and Chaos 2 fighting at a charity event

Challenger took part in the Bordon Charity Event in 1999[3].

Challenger 2 took part in the Charity Events at High Wycombe[4] and Sevenoaks [5].

Trivia[]

Challenger 2 made a cameo appearance in the Series 6 House Robot introduction as a clip of Shunt buries his axe into it in the Pit is used.

References[]

Navigation[]

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