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A 'Robot
Wars' robot - This part of the site relating to the fighting robot is made up of several pages - this robot home page contains general info and then there are the diary pages off of it. Robot D.A.V.E. starts in 2004. SCRAPHEAP CHALLENGE in 2006 & 2007 LIGHTNING INTERCEPTOR 'This is Lightning, just wait for the thunder' |
Robot Sponsor - MANHATTAN COMPUTERS 01708 734333 Click here for our USA Division and Robot CORSAIR
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Huge engineering donations from Richard at WRIGHT ENGINEERING, Rainham, Essex on 01708 554618.
FIGHT RESULTS up to Apr 2004: Robot version (Number of Fights) Wins / Losses / Win Ratio Lightning R1 (2) 1 / 1 / 50% Lightning R2 (2) 1 / 1 / 50% Thunder (2) 1 / 1 / 50% Lightning R4 (14) 12.5 / 6 / 67% All versions (20) 15.5 / 9 / 63% (Note sometimes more than one win per fight - melees etc) Some we have beaten: Tornado, 13 Black, Thor, Mighty Mouse, Barbarous Some that beat us: Tornado, Razor, Gravity, Bulldog Breed, Killer Carrot
Below are shots from Robot Wars and Robots Revenge. |
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show 'Robot Wars' and 'Robots Revenge' as filmed by the Discovery Channel. Laurie Calvert
is the team leader/designer/driver,Richard De Smedt is the
engineer/designer, Albert Schuller is the sponsor/designer and Phil Denyer was the first
engineer. We are from the Elm Park, Hornchurch, Rainham and Bulphan areas
in the UK. We are team Lightning (Interceptor). Named after the first supersonic fighter
in service with the RAF. It kept the peace for 3 decades.
Devastatingly beautiful, spectacularly fast and awesome to behold.No, not me. Presenting the English Electric Lightning. I think the best aircraft ever. All British too. Here is example XM135 at Duxford. We have some act to follow. For more details on keeping these birds going check out:
XR728 XS904 and also the Lightning Preservation Group:
For lots of general information: www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk
The robot's design philosophy is to combine ramming motion with flipping action for maximum devastation. It could self-right using the flipper/s. It may possibly feature interchangeable panels and flipper so that the configuration can change to suit its opponent (rules outlawed this in series 7). The most unique features are the twin flippers operating to the sides, giving the R4 robot a fantastic look. Later this became a single flipper with twice the shove. A pusher flipper designed to pin/place opponents coupled with a fast controlled, good looking machine. Things we have done: We have competed on BBC TV's 'Robot Wars' series 7 (our rookie championship) in Aug 2003 and reached the top 32 robots out of 10,000 in Europe and been in 'Robot Wars Extreme 2' in Oct 2002 and we have competed in a Robot Wars Live event (2001) and been on TV in 'Robots Revenge' (Discovery, 2001) as well as attending many displays. We have been on Techno Games as Thunder robot in the football event. The first version R1 had no flipper and was very fast (20mph). Featured on Discovery TV. Once the front-hinged single flipper was added this became R2 and this competed in Robot Wars Live. R3 couldn't self-right (and was never a completed design) so the design was altered for a twin sideways acting flipper arrangement and this is R4. Later it had just one powerful flipper and this became R4-2 and from here it can be converted back to R4. R1 and R2 exist as body shells, R3 never had a shell so it doesn't exist in any form now and R4 is a fully functional robot utilising the internals of the previous versions. The history/mythology behind the robot is that it was built from the remains of a crashed spaceship by a group of eccentric British scientists, Huey, Dewie and Louie. The ship plummeted into a back garden in Elm Park and caught fire. The alien, Lappal, was rescued by the scientists who lived here and he agreed to have his ship made into a fighting robot as a way of saying thank you. The alien metal alloys are very strong. Lappal (also known as Micky by Earth children) can sometimes be seen piloting the robot on top but usually he is deep inside. Louie
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2002 version of Lightning (R4)
This is the second version of Lightning (R2)
Move your mouse over the robot image (or black box) below to activate its flipper.
This is robot 1 (Lightning R1) with a shorter back (as it appears on Discovery Channel)
This is robot 3 (Lightning R3), which was never fully completed with a body shell.
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| We have many suppliers.
Lots of engineering help from Wright Engineering, Rainham on 01708 554618. It
will have a pneumatic flipper with systems supplied by Rodwell engineering who offer a friendly service
too and have given us much help. Motor spares from DD Discount on 01708 442372.
Tyres and advice came from Rayleigh Karting
and wheels from Zoom. Radio gear from Reeves Models on 01708 740522, and
it will be powered by two Bosch 750 motors supplied by Ellis components. Speed controllers
from 4QD. Batteries from DMS who have offered an
excellent service and also Aesir Power. I
highly recommend them. More great service from the following suppliers: Reliable Fire Services in supplying the CO2
cylinder, chains and sprockets from BSL, valves from Technobots, badges and gift ideas from Promotion Ideas, metal sheet advice from Ultimet Alloys, Solid tyres from Wheel
Solutions 01213 521042 and foam from Jim Hayes, Romford Market. If you go to
any of our suppliers, please mention we sent you. Many thanks to these people and the two
schools who made testing possible, Ayloff and Abbs Cross, both in Elm
Park.
Computer generation of Lightning R4
To find out what events are going on and general robot news: www.fightingrobots.co.uk To find links to other robots and companies: www.robotcombat.com/links.html Why not visit the UK Robots Wars site: www.robotwars.co.uk for tickets etc (whilst it is running). To link to Steel Avenger, our Tag Team partner in Robot Wars Extreme 2: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jwrobots/ To link to Team Roobarb and send a Lightning postcard: http://www.teamroobarb.co.uk/ecards.htm Cyber Dave robot is at: www.cyber-dave.co.uk
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Alien Lappal made by Nigel Booth prosthetics special effects expert. Nigel has been nominated for BAFTAs. Check out his web site to see what he has worked on.
Here is the 1/3rd scale model of the robot and its first design: This has now been converted into a blue working model called 'Lightning Junior' and at 1.6Kgs it is a featherweight robot. It has run on display at Lakeside shopping centre & the London Expo Sci-fi Event.
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The TEAM: Laurie Calvert: Team leader, driver, overall concept designer. Richard De Smedt: Chief engineer, flipper designer. Albert Schuller: Chief sponsor, the man who made it happen. Phil Denyer: Chief engineer on early versions and electronics. Special help and advice from: Friends Peter Barrett, Dave Stan and Richard from Rodwell engineering, all extended team members. And special thanks to our families.
'Lightning' Specs: AKA Thunder Type Heavyweight Version R1 R2 R4 Weight(Kg) 60 94 97 Length(mm) 1000 1430 1250 Width(mm) 1050 1050 1200 Height(mm) 320 320 340 Normal (mph) 20+ 10 10-15 Motors 2 x 24 volt Bosch 750s Armour Special 4mm Ally alloy Carriage 2 x Treaded Kart tyres Weapons 2 x 20 bar Flippers - side operating (R4) + Wedge. Flipper & wedge (R1 & 2) or 1 x 15 bar. Info TV star
'Lightning Strike' Specs: AKA Robofighter Type Middleweight Weight(Kg) 31 Length(mm) 870 Width(mm) 830 Height(mm) 340 Normal (mph) 3 Motors 2 Windscreen wiper motors Armour 1 mm Steel Carriage 2 tyres & 2 castors Weapons Wedge shape Info Battles against the other Area 51 types
'Lightning Junior' Specs: AKA Starfighter Type Featherweight Weight(Kg) 1.6 Length(mm) 460 Width(mm) 430 Height(mm) 120 Normal (mph) 2 Motors Robodrive toy Armour 1 mm Ally Carriage Robodrive wheels Weapons Wedge shape Info Demos at Lakeside, never fights
'Lightning Spark' Specs: AKA Spark Type Antweight Weight(g) 27 Length(mm) 85 Width(mm) 105 Height(mm) 25 Normal (mph) 1 Motors Micro car Armour Plasticard Weapons Wedge shape Info Fought several fast fights with Silver Thunder
'This is Lightning, just wait for the thunder' Incidentally, for other shows the robot will be painted silver in colour and called 'Thunder'. This gives a whole new meaning to our catchphrase.
Please e-mail me from the Calvertfilm home page if you want a free 'CFL' (calvertfilm) CD of some of my films as Real Player movies. Includes my films, rocket cars and robots. You will need Real Player to play them from www.real.com Click HERE for a list of films on the CD. Remember to send a postal address of some kind for me to post it to. While stocks last.
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Below is a 1/10th scale paper version of Lightning R4-2 you can download it HERE. Print using the best quality, cut it out, and glue it. After about 1/2 hour you'll have a model. You might have to enlarge the tabs, otherwise glue them very carefully. You can even stick it to a micro R/C car and have your own Ant version. As you can see you can make your own models of other robots and make a 4ft arena. They have so much speed that below is Lightning overturning Panic Attack. They can even push each other out of the arena.
Mike Onslow (Plunderbirds) has made a fantastic resin kit of R4-2 that we can sell to you for a modest price. It is resin and 1/10th scale. Cost is £10. You will need to paint and glue it and it is not recommended for under three year olds. e-maill me for further details. We also have other items for sale such as posters, badges and some videos/DVDs. While stocks last.
Laurie
Richard
Albert
Phil
How many times do you think people can misspell Lightning? Quite amusing really. Well here are some I have seen: Lighting, Lightnin, Lightening. Any more? |
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| Other stats: digits.com
for your counter. |
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Record Holder for 35 meter
runs.
