Clockwork L'Orange (pronounced with a French ʒ sound) was a robot designed by Ray Scully of Team Wetware with the intention of competing in BattleBots World Championship II.
The robot had a strong steampunk theme. However, its design was fundamentally different as it was equipped with a spinning bar housed inside the robot.[1] The top of the robot was designed to look like a large clock fitted with hands and roman numeral graphics, and the weights at each end of the bar were machined to look like clocks too. The robot also featured several unique features that would have addressed some of the weaknesses traditionally associated with full-body and overhead spinners.[2]
First, the robot featured an independent 'worm drive' system on top of the robot that would be able to move the bot around and prevent it from being immobilized if flipped. Second, in the event the weapon or primary drive system of the robot were to be disabled, a portion of the drive system could be independently operated and exit from underneath the robot, in theory allowing the robot to continue to fight on even after heavy damage. This functionality can be seen on the builder's t-shirt produced for that season.
- "I didn't keep close track of their team... but all I ever recall seeing at their pit was a pile of aluminum channels. Parts for Ray's proto-quick frame system."
- — Veteran competitor Micah Leibowitz describes the state of Clockwork L'Orange at filming[3]
Although the team were accepted to compete in the 2016 competition, they showed up with a largely incomplete robot and were subsequently forced to withdraw from the competition, with team captain Ray Scully believing they were replaced by Yeti. Despite this, an early design of the robot was seen on the official BattleBots t-shirt for the 2016 season. Clockwork L'Orange would never compete in BattleBots, but several team members joined fellow steampunk-themed robot Deviled Egg for the following season. Clockwork L'Orange is reportedly still in mostly one piece, however with most of the electronics removed.
Team Wetware, who also went by Team ArtiFist ahead of the second ABC season, have a long history in the sport, most notably entering Long Beach 1999 and early seasons of Comedy Central BattleBots with Abbatoir and Mr. Bonestripper. However, both robots had a habit of having to forfeit fights, and Team Wetware lost all but one of their BattleBots fights as a result.
Outside BattleBots[]
The team also registered for the 2017 edition of RoboGames with a heavyweight build of Abbatoir and an unknown middleweight, but ultimately did not compete with either.[4]
Results[]
| CLOCKWORK L'ORANGE | ||
| World Championship II | ||
| 2016 Championship | ||
| NOTE: Clockwork L'Orange withdrew from the competition and as such, did not compete. |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 0
- Losses: 0
| Competition | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| World Championship II | None | None |
Trivia[]
- Despite not competing, Clockwork L'Orange still featured on official BattleBots t-shirt designs.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/teamartifist/videos/522997931202024
- ↑ Direct correspondence with Ray Scully
- ↑ Correspondence between SFCJack and Micah Leibowitz
- ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/battlebots/comments/5kbpkw/team_artifistwetwareabattoirclockwork_lorange_has/
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