Overview[]
Nuts is a heavyweight thwackbot, armed with a set of chain flails, which entered Series 8 of Robot Wars. The robot protects its huge wheels with a metal ring around the outside, which the flails are attached to. The ring is able to rotate in order to provide extra mobility and the ability to lift other robots. Like most thwackbots, Nuts can spin on the spot at high speeds for a defensive form of attack, with exceptionally far reach due to the length of its flails. According to the Robot Wars website, Nuts cost around £1,100, making it one of the cheapest robots to construct in the 2016 Series.
Nuts is accompanied by two smaller wedge-shaped minibots, to attempt to impede the movement of opponents by driving underneath them. The team claim that Nuts sacrificed better armour to make its weaponry as strong as possible.
Team Nuts all wear top hats and fluffy waistcoats on the series, and each team member wears a different colour of fur.
Nuts also competed in Series 9 and 10 of Robot Wars as Nuts 2, losing in the first round in Series 9 and finishing in the Top 4 in Series 10 after notably defeating former Grand Finalist Concussion twice and disarming defending Champion Carbide.
Robot History[]
Live Events[]
Nuts during the Live Events
Nuts made its combat debut prior to the TV series at Robot Wars live events, competing at various Robot Wars Live Tour events, albeit with few victories.
Despite this, Nuts performed reasonably well at the Robot Wars World Championships in 2015. Nuts fought Iron-Awe 7, Meggamouse and Weird mAlice in the first round, where it qualified after Weird mAlice was thrown out of the arena by Iron-Awe, and Meggamouse drove into the pit. In the second round, Nuts was drawn against Thunderchild and Apex. Thunderchild’s flipper was not working, so was rendered immobile after being turned over by the floor flipper, leaving Nuts to fight Apex alone. Nuts won the resulting Judges’ decision due to its aggression and damage caused in the battle. Nuts was eliminated in the quarter-finals, after being immobilised by repeated axe blows from Thor destroying the removable link.
After the 2016 series, Nuts was repaired to fighting conditions and fought in an October live event where it beat Gabriel in round one, knocking out Dystopia in round two and beating Photon Storm in its third round.
UK Robot Wars Series 8[]
Nuts in the 2016 Series
Nuts received an extremely tough draw for its first battle, as it was pitted up against Razer, Terrorhurtz and Robin Herrick with his new machine, Kill-E-Crank-E, all three of which had been grand finalists in previous series of Robot Wars. It was targeted for most of the battle by Terrorhurtz, but managed to evade the majority of its opponents' axe blows despite being pushed onto its side a few times. Razer managed to puncture one of the minibots, but Nuts itself remained mostly unharmed. Nuts qualified for the Head-to-Head stage alongside Terrorhurtz after Razer and Kill-E-Crank-E both fell into the pit.
For its first battle in this stage, Nuts went against another veteran, Behemoth. Here, it was able to use its chain flails effectively to keep Behemoth at bay briefly, but was pushed around the arena for the majority of the battle, with Behemoth nearly flipping its minibots out of the arena and Nuts getting one of its flails caught in the floor flipper mechanism at one point. Nuts managed to hold onto a judges' decision, but Behemoth was given the unanimous win.
Nuts was next pitted against deadly bar spinner Carbide. Despite trying to play defensively, an early hit by Carbide caused Nuts' ring and flails to break off completely. Forced onto the defensive, Nuts continued to receive severe damage from Carbide's spinning blade, which ended with one wheel being severely buckled and the other being torn off and flung out of the arena completely. This left Nuts immobile, and Carbide was declared the clear winner.
The team managed to fix Nuts as best they could for its final group match against Terrorhurtz again, although its wheels were still badly bent. Within the first few seconds of the battle, Terrorhurtz managed to break off Nuts' ring and flails again, but this resulted in the former grand-finalist getting caught in the mechanism, hindering its movement for the rest of the battle and giving Nuts a chance to escape. Terrorhurtz eventually hit Nuts with its axe, before driving it into Shunt who landed a blow of its own. Nuts was severely limping by the end of the battle, but just about managed to last the full three minutes after Terrorhurtz got caught on the remaining minibot. The judges decision went in favour of Terrorhurtz, eliminating Nuts from the competition as it had scored no wins during the stage. However, by forcing the fight to go to a judges' decision, Terrorhurtz was also eliminated from the competition, as it failed to score enough points as a result.
UK Robot Wars Series 9[]
Nuts 2 competed in Episode 1 just like in the previous series, once again facing Terrorhurtz; but also facing newcomers Rapid and former team member Dave Lawrie's new machine Jellyfish. When the battle began, Nuts 2's minibots spread, but the main robot seemingly displayed control issues, hesitating in its efforts to spin on the spot, uninvolved with the main action. Matilda flipped Nuts 2 to try and bring it into the fray, but stuck on its flails, its movement was limited and only inflicted a glancing blow on Terrorhurtz before the three active robots avoided it again. Nuts 2's white minibot became stuck under Terrorhurtz, and was flipped over, while the red minibot had blown its main fuse. Nuts 2 was slowly turning on the closed pit, when Rapid rushed in and closed its flipper on Nuts 2's flail, trapping it. This allowed Rapid to push Nuts 2 into Matilda, and the House Robot flung it out of the arena using her flywheel. The white minibot remained active, attacking Terrorhurtz and turning itself over again, also being slammed by Rapid while Jellyfish was being counted out, but with the main robot out of the arena, Nuts 2 was eliminated from the competition. Later into the competition, Rapid forfeited during the second round after sustaining heavy damage from Aftershock, so one robot from this melee was given the opportunity to rejoin the competition, but as Nuts 2 was the first robot to be immobilised, Jellyfish was reinstated. Regardless, Rory Mangles and Alex Shakespeare were invited to join Jellyfish's team for its remaining two fights with Terrorhurtz and Sabretooth, helping to repair the robot along the way.
UK Robot Wars Series 10[]
- "It may seem odd, but I think that Nuts 2 is worth watching this series. They have been the clowns of Robot Wars for the past couple of series with their crazy design. Nuts 2 may look just the same as it’s previous version but when you look closer it has a much more robust frame and massively upgraded motors to power those enormous flails."
- — Professor Noel Sharkey
A revised Nuts 2 returned for Series 10, competing in Heat D. Its Group Battle draw saw the Crewkerne machine face newcomer Androne 4000, along with previous series Grand Finalist Concussion. In pre-match interviews, Rory Mangles spoke to Angela Scanlon about the new Meltybrain technology, hoping for success in the arena.
- Angela Scanlon: "So the furry vests, the hats, are they all a kind of decoy?"
- Rory Mangles: "Well, I wouldn't say it's a serious team, but it's got some serious engineering behind it..."
- Angela Scanlon: "Come, on, you're a professional roboteer!!"
- — Angela Scanlon encourages Rory Mangles' career as a full-time roboteer
Nuts 2 held off in the opening stages, in order to reach maximum spinning speed, while Concussion and Androne 4000 fought separately. The minibots briefly harassed Androne 4000 while Concussion engaged Nuts 2, with the latter's flail smashing the former's wheel hub and limiting Concussion's mobility.
- "The flail is up to speed and whirring, oh and Concussion gone on the attack, and I think that's damaged one of the wheels of Concussion!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
The white minibot was flipped upside down by an arena spike. Nuts 2 maintained full spinning speed as it slowly coasted around the arena, while the red minibot attacked Androne 4000, and the white minibot used the floor flipper to right itself. Nuts 2 closed in on Concussion and Androne 4000, striking both with its flails. The white minibot wedged itself under the now-inverted Concussion briefly, while Nuts 2 drove closer to its opponents to start spinning within their proximity. However, at this stage, Androne 4000 drove over the floor flipper while gripping Concussion and broke down, unable to release Concussion, leaving Nuts 2 the winner by proxy. To secure the knockout, Nuts 2 closed in on Androne 4000 and Concussion, spinning its flails along the surface of both robots.
- "Look at him battering it!"
- — Angela Scanlon
Nuts 2 punched a hole in the side of Concussion, and 'cease' was called. Team Nuts were unsure if they had won the fight at this stage, due to Concussion still being mobile within the grip of Androne 4000, and it was unclear if the fight had lasted for three minutes. Dara Ó Briain was the one to break the news of victory to Team Nuts.
- Dara Ó Briain: "I've been waiting three seasons now to tell you this - Nuts is the winners! And actually, it worked!"
- Rory Mangles: "Yes, Nuts wins a fight! It was a little bit slower than we hoped, we've got a new bit of firmware to upgrade it, so hopefully for the next fight, we're gonna get it a bit faster!"
- — The jubilant Team Nuts celebrate their outright victory
Nuts 2 progressed to the Semi-Final stage, and after Androne 4000 and Concussion both won their Robot Redemption Knockouts, Nuts 2 would face Androne 4000 for a second time in its next battle. Alex Shakespeare was confident, knowing that Nuts 2's minibots had previously held Androne 4000 still, allowing Nuts 2 to spin up to speed, which the team wanted to repeat. Angela Scanlon predicted that Nuts 2 would win the battle, based on the damaged state of Androne 4000 following its battle with Tauron Mk 2.
- "If we win here, we go straight through to the Heat Final, which is kind of scary, because you know...it is Nuts, and Nuts isn't supposed to be a good robot!"
- — Rory Mangles
In accordance with their strategy, Alex and Chris Shakespeare drove their minibots into Androne 4000 while Nuts 2 reached a high spinning speed, delivering a huge hit when Androne 4000 reached its opponent. Nuts 2's attack caused Androne 4000 to leak hydraulic fluid, also bending the crushing arm and denting its back armour, although Androne 4000 was able to push Nuts 2 towards Dead Metal, where it quickly escaped. As a result of the earlier attack from Nuts 2, the hydraulic pipes of Androne 4000 had now completely burst, spewing hydraulic fluid across the arena. Nuts 2 spun in place while a panicked Androne 4000 drove over the floor flipper, and due to the loss of hydraulic fluid, Androne 4000 could no longer self-right. A victorious Nuts 2 bumped into Androne 4000 without spinning until 'cease' was called.
- Dara Ó Briain: "Well done Nuts! The wins keep coming!"
- Rory Mangles: "That wasn't quite how I was expecting to win it, but it was good to win it either way! Quite exciting, fighting on an oil slick! Nuts is very difficult to drive as it is, but with oily wheels, it becomes very undriveable, very drifty."
- Dara Ó Briain: "It's actually becoming quite a threatening machine."
- Rory Mangles: "Yeah, I mean, you can still be silly and crazy, and kill things!"
- Dara Ó Briain: "What a wonderful motto that is to take away on Sunday evening entertainment! Silly and crazy, but kill things! It's touching."
- — Dara Ó Briain talks to Rory Mangles after the battle
Having reached the Heat Final, Nuts 2 entered another rematch, this time against the drum spinner, Concussion. To defend against the spinning flails, polycarbonate panels were added to the side of Concussion, appropriately named the 'Nut Busters', to protect its wheels from the initial blows of Nuts 2.
- "A win here, and these jokers will finally be taken seriously!"
- — Angela Scanlon
Unopposed by the Nuts 2 minibots, Concussion charged straight into the spinning Nuts 2, with its wheels protected. However, the pressure of the flail spinner led Concussion to drive onto the floor flipper, where it was thrown into the spinner. Nuts 2 landed successive blows onto Concussion, which drove onto the floor flipper again, and was turned over. In its advantageous state, Nuts 2 continued to spin in place, even throttling its own red minibot, while Concussion struggled to drive while inverted due to the addition of its polycarbonate sides. The white minibot had also been immobilised at this stage after suffering a direct hit from Nuts 2.
- "Taking out his own teammates, there!"
- — Dara Ó Briain
Nuts 2 edged towards Concussion, which was trying to use gyroscopic forces to turn itself back over, and caused more damage. Concussion was left near Shunt, which took away the power of the drum spinner with an axe blow, and Nuts 2 struck the side of Concussion, then ripped away a 'Nut Buster' with its next attack. The red minibot pressured Concussion, which was immobile on one side, stuck on the arena spikes. The red minibot attempted to block the turning of Concussion, as Nuts 2 landed another hit. Although Concussion still had an active wheel, the damage exerted by Nuts 2 on the weakened machine led Dorset Roboteering Team to voluntarily cease the movement of their machine, and Nuts 2 was awarded the win by knockout, sending it through to the Grand Final.
- Angela Scanlon: "Nuts, the 'joke robot', the supposed joke robot. And you have the last laugh!"
- Rory Mangles: "Yeah, undefeated, in the Grand Final now! With almost no damage! I'm not quite sure what's happening, or why, or how, but I'm not gonna complain!"
- — Team Nuts celebrate their heat win
In the Grand Final, Nuts 2 was drawn against two robots which defeated it in Series 8, Behemoth and Carbide. Nuts 2 entered with the red minibot used in Series 9, and the minibot with forked wedges, with Behemoth also sporting its anti-spinner plough.
In the battle, Nuts 2 took up its usual tactic of immediately spinning on the spot, while its minibot with forked wedges was immediately disabled. Carbide and Behemoth ignored Nuts 2 at first until the other minibot pressed the pit release button just as Behemoth was over it, causing Behemoth to instantly descend. Carbide then attempted to engage Nuts 2, but the latter's flail precisely nailed Carbide's weapon chain, breaking it and rendering the champion defenseless. Nuts 2 was thrown by the floor flipper as Carbide attempted to reverse into the flails, but this didn't seem to work as the minibot was shoving it away.
- "Nuts 2, a very very difficult machine to get close to, to push. You get close to Nuts 2, and you're gonna be destroyed!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Carbide pressed the Dial of Doom, activating Rogue House Robot. Sir Killalot shoved both competitors around briefly before returning to his CPZ. Nuts 2 then pressed the Dial of Doom, activating the Fog of War. After it dissipated, Carbide became stuck on top of the minibot, and was almost counted out before managing to drive away with only one second left on its countdown timer. Carbide continued to move around the arena with no answer to Nuts 2 while the latter continued attacking, hammering Carbide's body and leaving dents and scratches all over it, eventually shearing part of its wheel. Time ran out and the judges unanimously awarded the win to Nuts 2, over the defending champion.
- "To be honest, I don't think I should be interviewing [Rory Mangles], I should be interviewing whoever drove the tiny robot. The tiny, baby robot."
- — Dara Ó Briain praises Alex Shakespeare's performance driving the minibot
Nuts 2's victory in the Group Battle put it straight through to the semi-final, where it faced Carbide again. For this battle, Carbide added a piece of metal scavenged from Rapid known as 'Nut Guards' to protect its weapon chain, and Nuts 2 replaced its broken minibot with a blue wedge.
- Angela Scanlon: "It must feel quite nice, having Carbide try and protect themselves against Nuts!"
- Rory Mangles: "It's little comfort!"
- Alex Shakespeare: "The downside is, you're in a fight against Carbide!"
- Angela Scanlon: "I don't like that attitude!"
- Rory Mangles: "Well, you know, it is Carbide, and he knows what's coming this time!"
- — Angela Scanlon encourages Team Nuts
As the battle began, Carbide charged straight for the spinning Nuts 2 but was deflected away twice. Unlike Concussion's protective add-on, however, Carbide's worked very well and successfully blocked Nuts 2's flails. Nuts 2 wobbled around and its ring dipped low enough to be partially sheared off by Carbide's bar. With only one flail and half its ring left, Nuts 2 still managed to spin but was hit by Carbide again. The minibot activated the Fog of War, after which Carbide hit Nuts 2 again. Nuts 2 drove erratically into the wall, with only one wheel working and its insides exposed. Nuts 2 continually moved around in uncontrolled spurts, so Carbide held off and performed a victory spin while Nuts 2 was eventually counted out, once the robot fully stopped moving. Unseen on television, Nuts 2 was then picked up by the ring by Sir Killalot, who proceeded to hold it over the Flame Pit before dropping it into the pit; seconds later, the blue minibot was thrown by the Floor Flipper after being placed there by Shunt. With this, it finished Series 10 joint-third overall.
- Angela Scanlon: "You were the joke robot coming into the competition. You beat the reigning champion once - I don't care, most people haven't managed to do it, ever. So, take heart, and come back."
- Rory Mangles: "Oh, we will."
- — Angela consoles the team after their defeat at the hands of Carbide
Results[]
| Series | Event | Round | Opponent(s) | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK Robot Wars Series 8 | Episode 1 | Group Battle | Kill-E-Crank-E Razer Terrorhurtz |
Qualified |
| Round Robin | Behemoth | Lost by Judge's Decision | ||
| Carbide | Lost by KO | |||
| Terrorhurtz | Lost by Judge's Decision | |||
| UK Robot Wars Series 9 | Episode 1 | Group Battle | Jellyfish Rapid Terrorhurtz |
Eliminated |
| UK Robot Wars Series 10 | Episode 4 | Group Battle | Androne 4000 Concussion |
Won |
| Semi-Final | Androne 4000 | Won | ||
| Final | Concussion | Won | ||
| Grand Final | Group Battle | Behemoth Carbide |
Qualified | |
| Semi-Final | Carbide | Lost | ||
| Fighting Robots | UK Championships 2019 | Group Battle | Eruption Meggamouse |
Qualified |
| Round of 16 | Sandstorm | Lost | ||
| Robots Live! | K2 Crawley 2023 | Group Battle | Audacious & Backflip Behemoth Hunterbird 1 |
Qualified |
| Quarter Final | Toxic 2 | Lost |
- Wins: 7>
- Losses: 7>
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