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"With a simple pyramid design to ensure greater stability and maximum defence. Weighs in at 71.9 kilograms, runs off two electric wheelchair motors, and this is clearly a robot to look out for!"
Jonathan Pearce introduces Uglybot

Uglybot was a competitor robot that appeared in Series 1 of Robot Wars. It failed to progress beyond the Gauntlet stage after only setting a distance of 1.65m, which was the worst run for any competitor in the first series.

Design[]

Uglybot official image

Uglybot on its statistics board

Uglybot was a triangular-based pyramid-shaped robot painted grey and with a mouth and eyes added on the front. Its weapons were a pair of 7" cutting discs at the rear and a static cutting blade mounted on the tip of the wedge, while the robot also featured a flashing amber warning light inside its shell as a 'gimmick'. However, neither Uglybot's weapons nor the warning light were seen in action, as it was eliminated at the Gauntlet stage.

The Team[]

UglybotTeam

The Uglybot team controlling Uglybot

Uglybot was entered by a two-man team from Gillingham in Kent; Paul Shearwood, a ceiling plasterer by trade from Twydall, and Colin Faulkner, a builder from Sittingbourne, who built the robot over a period of roughly 3 months in their workshop[1].

"Paul Shearwood, the driver, and Colin Faulkner: future in-laws!"
— Jonathan Pearce describes the Uglybot team

The two decided to build a robot after finding out about the show at a model engineering exhibition at London Olympia, years before the first series[2]. Paul Shearwood controlled the robot and did the talking in Uglybot's introduction and interviews.

Robot History[]

Series 1[]

"Hopefully we'll win, who knows? We'll have to wait and see!"
— Optimism from Paul Shearwood before running the Gauntlet
Shunt uglybot

Shunt rams Uglybot

Uglybot was the last robot to compete in Heat B. In its Gauntlet run, it drove towards the left-hand route when the turntable pointed it towards Shunt, but immediately got stuck on the arena wall and appeared to be unable to drive away from it.

"Driver Paul collects bonsai trees, in his spare time - ooh, banzai!"
Jonathan Pearce as Shunt rams Uglybot against the wall

Shunt rammed into Uglybot plough-first, disrupting its escape and getting underneath it while steering Uglybot away from the wall. Eventually, he rammed Uglybot against the corner, and back towards the turntable as it attempted to drive past him, causing part of the turntable to fold over as Uglybot was forced against it. Uglybot only covered 1.65m during its run, and was eliminated from the First Wars.

"Never mind. Seven months and all them long nights, innit, we don't care! We'll be back next year."
— Paul Shearwood speaks to Philippa Forrester after Uglybot is eliminated

Results[]

UGLYBOT - RESULTS
Series 1
The First Wars - UK Championship
Heat Gauntlet
Heat B, Gauntlet 1.65m (6th) Eliminated

Series Record[]

Series Uglybot Series Record
The First Wars Heat, Gauntlet
The Second Wars Did not enter
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[]

Trivia[]

  • Uglybot is one of twenty robots never to fight in robot combat, having only ever reached the Gauntlet or Trial stages.
  • Reaching only 1.65m, Uglybot achieved the shortest distance of any Series 1 competitor in The Gauntlet.
  • The Uglybot team was the only team from Series 1 to lose in The Gauntlet and not make a subsequent appearance in later series of Robot Wars, despite Paul Shearwood stating his intention to return when interviewed after the Gauntlet, and Colin Faulkner suggesting the team may return in the next series when interviewed for the Medway News[3].
    • The Uglybot team were also the only team in Heat B of Series 1 who did not return for another series.

References[]

Navigation[]

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