Roadblock (robot)

Roadblock is a robot built to compete in the BBC television series of "Robot Wars". The robot won Series 1 in 1998cite book |title=Fighting Robots: A Guide to Radio-Controlled Combatants |last=Benson |first=Michael |year=2002 |publisher=Citadel Press |isbn=0806523727 |pages=pp. 149-150 ] and competed in Series 2 finishing third. The robot had a wedge made from a road sign with a petroleum powered circular saw attached. It was constructed by technology students Hender Blewett and Chris Kinsey of Bodmin College along with their teacher Peter Kinsey. The robot was originally named "Roadrage" but later renamed upon the show's request. The robot was succeeded by "The Beast of Bodmin".

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It won its semi-final with help from its circular saw and the house robots, who ganged up on Nemesis. The Roadblock team kept a piece of Nemesis' fur on the robot from then on as a trophy. The wedge shape saved it from Killertron in the final - if Killertron had not been turned on its side, Roadblock would not have survived the pick-axe.The Grand Final had a wide variety of designs - two wedges, a hammer robot, a flipping robot, a robot that could be flipped, and a robot that pushed. Cunning Plan was the only featherweight in a field of heavyweights. After much pushing between different robots TRACIE went up Cunning Plan and got wedged there due to low ground clearance - this made both robots retire. The other robots started attacking Recyclopse which eventually retired with a broken chain. Robot the Bruce drove too far on top of Roadblock and was tipped onto its side. Bodyhammer and Roadblock were still running after the time had run out, and the judges awarded the win to Roadblock, as it had been more aggressive.

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The reigning champions almost went out in the trial, after only knocking down 34 barrels, but it got through thanks to Limpet. It pushed Killerhurtz into the 'pit of oblivion' to win its semi-final, and won the final because Onslaught broke down.

RoadBlock went first in the Semi Gauntlet, and went for the Sentinel because of its width. After attacking it with its circular saw, RoadBlock was trapped and blocked by the Sentinel.RoadBlock took the route that most robots did in the Pinball - it started by attacking the blocks (5 points) and the barrels (10 points). It pushed the sphere in the pit for 20 points, and pushed Matilda into the pit. It was picked up and dropped by Sir Killalot, before getting more barrels.In the Semi Final arena, RoadBlock managed to get under King Buxton, but was then pushed around by it. Both robots had encounters with the House Robots, and both escaped. King Buxton caught fire after being attacked by Sgt. Bash. It was immobilised, and RoadBlock attacked it with the circular saw, destroying one of King Buxton's wheels. In the first round of the Grand Final, both Roadblock and Cassius drove straight at each other, but RoadBlock got under Cassius and pushed it into the PPZ. Cassius got stuck on the side of RoadBlock, but fell off after driving round in circles. Cassius escaped, but was then turned over by Sir Killalot. It the used its magnificent self-righting flipper to get back onto its wheels. Meanwhile, RoadBlock had got stuck in the PPZ. Cassius came in and flipped it.Finally, Roadblock faced off against Killertron again(Who had been beaten by Panic Attack earlier) in order to decide Third Place. It was a very even match, but eventually, Roadblock got underneath Killertron and dropped it into the pit to claim third place.

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The team created a new robot called Beast Of Bodmin, named after the infamous creature of folklore. In addition to the saw from Roadblock, Beast Of Bodmin also had a lifting tusk and two large animated eyes (complete with blinking eyelids) on the back. Convincingly beating Crusher (breaking its tracks off), Onslaught (overturning it after it drove up the front wedge) and Inverterbrat (leaving it for dead in the CPZ) in their heats, it up-ended Blade in the Semi-Final, but lost to Steg-O-Saw-Us after breaking down. After this, the Roadblock team retired.

References

incumbent series
Preceded by:
"None (first champion)
UK Robot Wars Reigning Champion (Series 1)
Succeeded by:
Panic Attack

incumbent series
Preceded by:
"None (first best newcomer)
UK Robot Wars Best Newcomer (Series 1)
Succeeded by:
Panic Attack