Flextreme

Flextreme
Participation Information
Dutch Series	1
Team Information
Team	Team Flextreme
Team Members	Niels Schotten Babeth van Son Wim Schotten
From	Heerhugowaard
Robot Statistics
Weight	96kg
Dimensions	1.2m x 0.83m x 0.35m
Power	2 x 24V Electric Motors
Weapons	Circular Saw & Skewers
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Team Flextreme, mean fighting machine!"

— Niels Schotten (translated from Dutch)

Flextreme was a tracked robot that competed in the first series of Dutch Robot Wars. Despite being the only mobile robot at the end of both battles it fought in, Flextreme lost its two fights to El-Mower and Enderbot.

Design

"It’s a very nice saw, it does a great job. I tested it at the crafting table at work, that got turned to shreds."

— Team Flextreme describe their circular saw (translated from Dutch)

Front view of Flextreme

It was shaped like an inverted trapezoid, and equipped with a circular saw. Its odd shape, aluminium frame and clear, 8mm polycarbonate, outer shell gave it the appearance of a large fish tank, so the team placed several fish keychains on the inside, and a plastic frog on the outside - strategically placed to protect the link guard. The team had planned to give Flextreme a more adventurous appearance, but ran out of time and entered largely with transparent visuals. The robot's inverted trapezoid shape was done in an effort to make Flextreme harder to turn over. However, Flextreme suffered from traction and clearance problems.

"Flextreme! It looks like a mechanical Snow White in her glass coffin."

— Eric Corton (translated from Dutch)

Niels Schotten originally had the idea of having interchangeable weapons on Flextreme, though this did not come to fruition.

Etymology

The name Flextreme is a portmanteau of flex and extreme. "Flex" was chosen as the tracks were provided by sponsor Flexlink, with the team being asked to use part of that brand name in the robot's name.

The Team

Flextreme and its team in the pits

Team Flextreme was a Dutch team captained by Niels Schotten, joined by his father Wim Schotten and his acquaintance Babeth (Elisabeth) van Son. The captain Niels Schotten would later compete in Dutch Series 2 on the team of Alien Destructor 2, and joined Team RCC some time after Dutch Series 2.

Team member Babeth van Son was actually part of Team Mad Science, the team that entered Project One (which battled Flextreme in the losers' melee), but did not appear with the team due to the three member limit. She would appear again in the second Dutch Series as a member of Project Two: Hex'em.

Robot History

Dutch Series 1

Bridget Maasland: "What can it actually do?"

Team Flextreme: "Uhhh, not all that much, it only has this nice circular saw. We didn’t have much time to turn it into a pretty work of art, as we planned, sadly."

— Pre-battle interview with Bridget Maasland (translated from Dutch)

Competing in Heat D, Flextreme fought El-Mower in the first round.

"A bit dull, all this. Sesame Street versus a greenhouse."

— Eric Corton on the battle (translated from Dutch)

Flextreme is hit by El-Mower's blade

Flextreme is attacked by Shunt

Flextreme found it difficult to meet El-Mower head-on and bring its saw into play. It was struck by El-Mower's blade several times, but stood up well to the punishment. In the last few seconds, it managed to catch El-Mower from behind and attempt to cut into it, with little success. El-Mower had also become immobile at this stage, but it was not counted out, and the battle was sent to a decision by the Judges, who voted in favour of El-Mower, despite its immobilisation.

Bridget Maasland: "Flextreme, who have protested once before, because you guys were not in agreement before, were you?"

Niels Schotten: "No we were not all in agreement, we did way more damage, but alas."

Bridget Maasland: "And it didn’t work out?"

Niels Schotten: "No, they didn’t listen."

Bridget Maasland: "So this time you’ll just have to do it with your own brute robot force."

Niels Schotten: "Yes, well from what I can see, these two are hopping around on their last legs, so I think it’s going to work out just fine. We’re gonna go for it."

— Team Flextreme's distaste with the previous Judges' decision is revealed, alongside confidence for the next fight (translated from Dutch)

Although this decision proved unpopular with Team Flextreme, who believed they should have been awarded the win, Flextreme nevertheless moved on to the losers' melee where it fought Project One and Enderbot.

"There we have Flextreme, the invincible coffin that lost somehow anyway."

— Eric Corton (translated from Dutch)

Project One axes Flextreme

Flextreme initially took a passive role. It was lifted by Project One, so Flextreme attacked Enderbot. Flextreme was hammered by Enderbot and axed by Project One, but once again stood up well to the punishment.

"The disc on Flextreme is spinning, but it doesn’t seem to be spinning very fast. So Sgt Bash is attempting to set the whole lot on fire now."

— Eric Corton during the battle (translated from Dutch)

The flat top of Flextreme is struck by Enderbot

Project One was largely unable to steer properly and spent most of the bout fighting with Sir Killalot, so Flextreme and Enderbot continued pushing one another. Eventually, Enderbot lost mobility under pressure from Flextreme, but it was not counted out during the battle, which was sent to a decision by the Jury.

"That was very very complicated, I could say who I think won, but then I would end up in a heated debate with the Jury, so let’s see what they make of it!"

— Rob Kamphues (translated from Dutch)

Despite Flextreme being potentially the most mobile robot at the end of the battle, the Judges voted in favour of Enderbot via split decision. It is unclear whether the additional vote from the Jury was for Flextreme or Project One, but nevertheless Flextreme was eliminated here in similar circumstances to its first controversial defeat.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 0
• Losses: 2

Series Record

The internals of Flextreme

Dutch Series	Flextreme Series Record
Series 1	Heat, Round 1
Series 2	Entered with Alien Destructor 2 (Niels Schotten) Entered with Project Two: Hex'em (Babeth van Son)

Outside Robot Wars

Flextreme in the pits at the Dutch Robot Games in 2001

Flextreme fighting ODT-001 and The Lethal Swan

After Dutch Series 1 had been filmed, Flextreme competed in the Dutch Robot Games later in 2001. It was successful in the Dutch bracket, avenging its televised loss to Enderbot and reaching the final by beating Arena Killer before finally losing to Alien Destructor for a second-place finish. It also fought in two rumbles outside of the main competition, losing both to Dantomkia and The Lethal Swan.

Trivia

• In each of Flextreme's losses, it was the only robot fully mobile at the end of the battle, but still lost via Judges' decision on both occasions.