Robots

Building robots is where KHYEC all started. In 1999 Richard and Andy were two-thirds of a team in the BBC 'Robot Wars' series III with their mean machine 'Eye of Newt'. Whilst only a minor TV celebrity (it came fourth out of eleven in the pinball competition), the Newt became well known as a visitor to several local schools, in particular at Stoke Climsland where the staff were kind enough to allow the playground to be used for driving practice. A top panel from the Newt is still proudly displayed in the school corridor.

From another school visit Richard and Andy learnt about a spin-off competition from 'Robot Wars', 'Rex's Robot Challenge'. Designed for school children aged 10 and upwards, and run by the national Young Engineers' Clubs, the aim was to build 12kg radio controlled fighting machines. Apart from the lower weight limit, the only changes from the competition's big brother were the restrictions on some weapons - flame throwers and cutting discs were not allowed! - and the fact that the wheels had to be powered by windscreen wiper motors.

So in 2002 the then Stoke Climsland Young Engineers' Club was formed to build its first robot - Scorpion King. This featured two jaws powered by an electric window winder motor, wheels from an old lawnmower with the tyres cut off to save weight, a body built from scrap perspex, and the Newt's old radio control. It was designed to be flip-proof by having the wheels poking through the top so that it could run either way up. The team successfully negotiated the first round obstacle course, and were victors in their first battle, but were defeated in the next round by an excellent flip against the arena wall by the robot who was to eventually win the entire national competition that year - Quack Attack.

Undeterred, the club went back to the drawing board for their next robot for this challenge - Assassin. This is a seriously scary machine, wielding a massive bungee-powered axe. Yet another windscreen wiper motor winds the axe back, before an ingenious (if we say so ourselves) cam mechanism releases and lets it fly down. The wind back drive is geared down through a belt drive, yet another bit of Newt. This machine fought through to the final of the 2004 challenge, where it was narrowly defeated thanks to the excellent driving skills of the winning team from Ireland - only fair really since Assassin had absolutely smashed that machine's top panel in an earlier round!

With that national second place the club has temporarily retired from fighting robots, but we still have boxes full of motors - including several more bits of Newt - so watch this space...