Quantum was a heavyweight robot built by Team Robo Challenge, which competed in Discovery Season 4 of the BattleBots reboot.
Quantum was a sleek, four-wheel drive bot armed with a deadly crushing beak weapon boasting 35,000 lbs of force. The beak used an innovative hydraulic system which allowed the jaws to close immediately and clamp down on opponents, and upon making contact, changing pressure to function as a more conventional crusher. The team was comprised of brothers James and Grant Cooper, who had competed as part of Team Warhead and Team Beta respectively. Quantum's powerful drive comes from four brushed LEM motors, which were specifically chosen over brushless equivalents for additional precision.
Its name derives from the James Bond film franchise, specifically the 2008 release "Quantum of Solace". This was also the case with their similarly-designed heavyweight for other televised shows, "Spectre".
- "Names are always tricky, and we never planned on a Bond theme. They just sort of suited what we built!"
- — Grant Cooper on naming Quantum.[1]

Inside Quantum.
A new version of Quantum was set to appear in the 2020 season, but later withdrew due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
Team Robo Challenge then planned to return for Discovery Season 6 with Quantum, but decided against it, partly due to family commitments and partly due to not wanting to show up with the same bot as two years prior. However, the Coopers have outlined their intentions to return for the 2022 season with a new and improved version of Quantum.
Outside of BattleBots, James and Grant Cooper built 30lb versions of Razer and Warhead called Venom and Predator respectively for various UK live events. The Cooper brothers also built the four House Robots for the Robot Wars reboot, which aired from 2016 to 2018. They also operated Basher, a renamed version of Beta, for its unaired 2016 pilot. For more on their involvement in the UK show, see here.
The team behind Quantum also built Spectre for Season 1 of Chinese show King of Bots. It became the first King of Bots champion after beating the Chinese representative Chiyung Jinlun. They also competed in This is Fighting Robots where Spectre won two battles but lost two to Formula and Two BBQ respectively with the latter being in an eight robot rumble. Spectre then attended the 2019 Opening Battle to promote the upcoming second season of King of Bots but it lost its first battle to Two BBQ.
Robot History[]
Discovery Season 4[] |
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Quantum vs Blacksmith ![]() Quantum with a hold on Blacksmith. ![]() Quantum sinks its teeth into Al Kindle's bot. ![]() Quantum and Blacksmith are separated off-camera. When the fight resumed, Quantum bit down again and spun its tires, trying to let go, causing its tires to etch blue circles on the arena floor. Sometime later, Quantum got another bite on Blacksmith and paraded it around the arena. Much like the first time, Quantum couldn't let go, so the fight was stopped and the judges were called in to make a decision. Despite not being able to release Blacksmith, the judges awarded Quantum a unanimous 3-0 decision.
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Quantum vs Lock-Jaw ![]() Quantum threatens to bite Lock-Jaw. |
Quantum vs DeathRoll ![]() Quantum bites down on DeathRoll's weapon mount, snapping a belt. Unfortunately, DeathRoll had a spare weapon belt so this didn't phase them at all. Quantum then found it getting hit and tossed twice by DeathRoll's weapon; once towards the wall, then towards the screws. Quantum had little offense due to a bent up front wedge from one of the two hits, then found it in more trouble as its teeth were bending inwards to each other. Quantum had suffered further, losing its right drive chain and armor, having its left armor dented, its right rear wheel and left drive chain. Quantum was now unable to move and was counted out, giving DeathRoll the win by KO. |
Quantum vs. DUCK! ![]() Quantum takes DUCK! to the screws. ![]() Quantum clamps down on DUCK! once more. |
Quantum vs. Valkyrie ![]() Valkyrie goes for the jugular. |
Quantum vs. Tombstone ![]() Tombstone delivers a crippling shot to Quantum. ![]() The Coopers are presented with the Best Design Award for 2019 by Greg Munson and Trey Roski. At the end of the season, Quantum won the "Best Design Award", which was voted upon by fellow BattleBots teams. |
Results[]
QUANTUM - RESULTS | ||
Discovery Season 4 | ||
Fight Nights 2-2, Won Play-in | ||
Fight Night | vs. Blacksmith | Won (JD) |
Fight Night | vs. Lock-Jaw | Lost (KO) |
Fight Night | vs. DeathRoll | Lost (KO) |
Fight Night | vs. DUCK! | Won (JD) |
Play-in | vs. Valkyrie | Won (KO) |
Top 16 13th seed | ||
Round of 16 | vs. Tombstone (4) | Lost (KO) |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 3
- Losses: 3
Competition | Wins | Losses |
---|---|---|
Discovery Season 4 |
Blacksmith (Undercard Match) DUCK! (Undercard Match) |
Lock-Jaw (Undercard Match) DeathRoll (Undercard Match) |
Faruq Tauheed Introductions[]
"This bots crusher is scarier than Dracula. Its name is half the title of a show with Scott Bakula. I know these rhymes were a bit of a leap, but you know you want them. It's QUANTUM!"
"It looks like a beauty, but bites like a beast. It's come to be our guest, be our guest, put this robot to the test. It's QUANTUM!"
"It's so pretty, it doesn't need makeup, but that bite's so hard, it'll really make you wake up. I'm crushing on QUANTUM!"
"This bot's named for a James Bond movie and like a Bond girl, it's a beauty. Dr. No it's not a mirage, it's an espionage and I spy with my little eye that someone's going to Live or Let Die. The name's Tum... QUANTUM!"
"From the UK, it's the killer ranked at #13 and that's unlucky... for you. He's like the British pound, cash money. It's QUANTUM!"
Trivia[]
- Quantum is the only competing heavyweight robot to start with the letter Q.
- The first robot in BattleBots history to start with a Q was superheavyweight Queen Bee, which ended up forfeiting.
- Outside of this, there were two Robot Wars applicants who failed to qualify for the show's classic era, named Q and Quack Attack.
- The first robot in BattleBots history to start with a Q was superheavyweight Queen Bee, which ended up forfeiting.
- Quantum was one of the heaviest robots in the modern era to still remain under the 250lb weight limit. According to the team, just a few coins would have put Quantum overweight.
- James Cooper rendered the visuals for fellow British team Cobalt in Discovery Season 4.
- Team Robo Challenge and Team Cobalt became good friends over BattleBots and various UK events over the years, with Cobalt's Dave Moulds serving as best man for Grant Cooper's wedding.
- Team Robo Challenge were supplied high grade titanium by Whiplash during the 2018 season.
See Also[]
References[]
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