Tornado (robot)

Tornado was a competitor on the UK TV series Robot Wars, noteworthy as the champion of the sixth series

The robot

The robot was a basic box-shaped robot with a red frame and clear polycarbonate armor. The robot's main weapon was its impressive spinning disk

Tornado was a competitor on Robot Wars Series 4-7. It never had any really effective weapons, relying on its speed and strength to push competitors into the pit or slam them into the arena walls. Tornado was the champion of the sixth UK series of Robot Wars.

Series 4

Round 1 vs. Kater Killer vs. Gemini

This was one of the best melees. Gemini split at the start, while Tornado rammed Kater Killer. Gemini then tried to flip Kater Killer, while Tornado rammed Kater Killer, at the same time as Gemini flipped it. Tornado re-righted it, and pushed it into Shunt. One half of Gemini flipped it again, while the other half flipped Tornado. Kater Killer tumbled over with its lifter stuck out, and was immobilised. Sir Killalot attacked it and held it over the flame pit, while Tornado pushed Shunt around the arena. Gemini flipped Tornado again, which drove in the pit at the end

Round 2 vs. Beserk 2

Tornado flew into Beserk 2 and rammed it into the arena wall many times. Its speed and power was too much for Beserk 2, which was immobilised

Round 3 vs. Gemini

Gemini had a slow start n this battle compared to Tornado. It flipped Tornado, but the invertable Tornado rammed it twice. There is a rule that states if 50% of the cluster bots are immobilised, the whole robot is out. As a result, Tornado targeted just one half, impaling it onto the arena wall spike. The other Gemini flipped Tornado and tried to rescue its twin, but it was already immobilised. A drive chain fell off Tornado at the end, but that did not matter

Round 4 vs. Wheely Big Cheese

Tornado pushed Wheely Big Cheese's wheel, but Wheely Big Cheese threw Tornado into the air twice. However, Tornado rammed Wheely Big Cheese into a CPZ, and a weld broke, allowing Wheely Big Cheese's wheel to partially come off. Wheely Big Cheese then tried to flip Tornado, which was smoking at the end when the match went to a judges' decision

Round 5 vs. Chaos 2

In reality this battle was fought three times for various reasons, but we only saw the last one on TV. Tornado ran away, but Chaos 2 flipped it twice. Tornado rammed Chaos 2's front, but Chaos 2 managed to flip Tornado onto and over the arena wall, out of the arena

Series 5

In Series 5 Tornado had a small spinning disc.

Round 1 vs. Gravedigger

Both robots quickly on to the attack, with Gravedigger landing a couple of hits with its axe. But Tornado soon took control, and the ramming against the wall was too much for Gravedigger. Sir Killalot got it and that was it. Tornado into the next round

Round 2 vs. Diotoir

See Diotoir for full picture summary of this battle.

Series 6

Round 1 vs. Edge Hog vs. Terror Bull vs. Inshreddable

This fight started off with some massive slams from Tornado. Edgehog axed Terror Bull a few times. Tornado pushed Inshreadable around the arena a bit. Then Tornado and Edgehog pushed Inshreadable into Matilda's CPZ, but it was Edgehog who got a taste of Matilda's flywheel! Edgehog escaped, hit the Pit Button, and just...stopped moving. Refbot bashed his way through the other robots and moved in to count Edgehog out. Terror Bull pushed Inshreadable into Matilda's flywheel. Then Tornado pushed Inshreadable into Dead Metal. Refbot counted Edgehog out as Matilda came in and smacked into Inshreadable with the flywheel, ripping it up! Inshreadable was done...or was it? Tornado immediately pushed Terror Bull down the Pit! Tornado and Inshreadable move on to the next round!

Round 2 vs. Thor

Tornado was too awesome for Thor. They just kept pushing Thor all around the arena. Thor pressed the Pit Button, and then Tornado came in and ripped one of Thor's side panels off. Tornado then pushed Thor towards the CPZ where Growler came FLYING out. Thor grabbed hold of Tornado were their bent claws, but Tornado escaped. Thor nearly drove into the Pit, but Tornado pushed them into the CPZ, where Growler came flying in once again and dug his jaws right into Thor! Thor escaped, but they were too close to the Pit. Sgt. Bash grabbed hold of Thor's hammer and shot his flamethrower at Thor. Thor was blown away by Tornado. The abuse was too much. Cease was called. Tornado won on a judges' decision.

Round 3 vs. Anarchy

Tornado had replaced their spinning disc with a large piercing spike that just arrived. Tornado used their spike well, pushing the 167 kg robot all around the arena. But Anarchy fought back, flipping Tornado over and over. Anarchy tried to flip Tornado again, but the #12 Seeds faked them out and dug the spike right into Anarchy! Anarchy recovered and Tornado pressed the Pit Button and dug the spike into Anarchy's backside again! Tornado tried to push the heavy robot into the Pit, but were flipped once again. Tornado slammed Anarchy into the arena side wall, where Dead Metal came in and buried his saw into Anarchy. It was no use. Anarchy was too big. Cease was called and it went to the judges. Tornado wins!

Round 4 vs. Dominator 2

The two robots drove quickly at each other. Tornado drove straight into the pit release. Then Dominator 2 put its axe into Tornado. Dominator 2 dragged Tornado into matilda's CPZ. Matilda then hit Tornado with her 27 kg flywheel. Tornado went flying into the air and almost landed in the pit! Dominator 2 then drove away and drove into the pit! Tornado were very lucky to get through to the grand final!

Round 6 vs. Firestorm 4

Tornado had been working hard to fix their robot after their "affair" with Matilda. When Phillipa interviewed them, they were ready. In the fight, it seemed evenly matched. Tornado pushed Firestorm around the arena for a bit. Firestorm was having trouble getting under Tornado because their scoop was so low to the ground. Eventually they pushed Tornado into Shunt and Tornado got axed by the House Robot. Firestorm wedged Tornado into the wall. Tornado's wheels started smoking as they then pushed Firestorm back. Firestorm then got under Tornado again and pushed THEM around for a bit. Tornado was beginning to falter as they pressed the Pit Button. Tornado then got under Firestorm and slammed them into Shunt. After axing Firestorm, Shunt axed Tornado, nearly hitting the receiver. Firestorm flipped Tornado over. Tornado's scoop was now ineffective...until Firestorm flipped them again. Tornado then got under Firestorm and slammed them into the Pit Button. This was close for the judges to call, but before time could run out, Tornado got under Firestorm and pushed them into the Pit! The #12 seeds are through to the last round of the Championship!

Round 7 vs. Razer

Tornado had met Razer in battle before in the All-Stars final of Robot Wars Extreme. They had been defeated relatively easily, as their robot's design made it easy for Razer to grapple them with their crushing arm, but they were determined not to let this happen again. And so, right before the battle began, they unveiled their up-to-this-point secret fourth weapon, a large metal frame with a lawnmower blade attached. Created specially for this fight, should it have occurred, this frame made it impossible for Razer to reach the inner parts of Tornado. It was a shock, and considered to a degree unfair, but the judges allowed it, and the fight was started as planned.

Tornado slammed into Razer. Razer then tried to use his horn to grab onto Tornado's "Anti-Crusher Weapon", but Tornado then slammed into Razer again. Razer was able to grab onto the cage, but then Tornado smacked into them again. Tornado's lawnmower blade broke, but forget it! Tornado still has the cage! The Anti-Crusher Weapon was so big that Refbot had to be forced into the CPZ! Tornado slammed Razer into the disc button. The Disc was activated, but it was hardly involved in this fight. Razer was stuck behind the disc button, allowing Tornado to come in and add insult to injury!! Refbot tried to free Razer, but then Tornado slammed into Razer again. Razer got unstuck, but there was no escape. Razer was then pushed into the CPZ and Dead Metal buried his saw into Razer's srimech. Tornado then pushed Razer into Shunt, who axed and lifted Razer up. Tornado pressed the Pit Button. Poor Razer was losing fast...until, they were finally able to grab hold of Tornado's cage and raise them up! Now Razer had to push Tornado down the Pit, but the Anti-Crusher Weapon was too big. Tornado just hovered over the Pit. Jonathan Pearce called Tornado's Anti-Crusher Weapon an Anti-Pit Device! Cease was called after this fantastic fight.

This was a very close decision. It took nearly 45 minutes for the judges to decide who would be the next UK Champion. Later, the teams were brought up to Craig's box. After looking at style, control, damage and aggression, the judges decided that the winners are...

TORNADO!

Razer were gutted, but all winning streaks have to end eventually. Tornado had been seeded the lowest in the 6th Wars. Now they are seeded the highest! Phillipa came into the box and handed the Tornado team their trophy.

Tornado are the new UK Champions!

Series 7

Round 1 vs. Saw Point 2 vs. Ewe 2 vs. Devastator

Tornado pushed Devastator straight into Mr. Psycho in the CPZ, and when it escaped, chased them to the top of the arena, and pushed them towards Matilda. Devastator got stuck in another CPZ with both House Robots whilst Tornado went after Saw Point. Ewe 2 hit the Pit Release button, and after a few attempts, pushed Saw Point in. Then Ewe 2 and Tornado teamed up to push Devastator in on top of Saw Point.

Round 2 vs. Leveler 2

Leveler 2 was patched up after the first round, and only really got one flip in on Tornado. Tornado was always in control and Leveler eventually drove into the pit.

Round 3 vs. Tetanus Booster

Tornado pushed Tetanus Booster all around the arena, but they put up a good fight, fighting back with their spinning drum weapon, actually breaking the electronic lifter so it couldn't lift, so Tornado could only ram with it. Tornado, sensing victory, hit the Pit Release button, fairly early on, but tetanus Booster kept managing to escape the pit at the last moment when Tornado pushed them towards it. Tornado then let the House Robots do the work, and pushed them into Sir Killalot, then chasing them when they escaped into Cassius Chrome. When Tetanus Booster escaped this time, Tornado got in underneath and finally got them down the pit.

Round 4 vs. Raging Knightmare

Tornado, with their spinning disc, got underneath Raging Knightmare and slammed them against the wall in the CPZ. Raging Knightmare tried to use the flipper to self-right, but Tornado kept pounding on them until Shunt came in and axed Tornado. As we are watching this happen on the Shunt Cam, all of a sudden, it falls onto its side. This means that Raging Knightmare has flipped Shunt! As Dead Metal came to Shunt's aid, Tornado slammed Raging Knightmare into another CPZ wall and started pounding on them and ramming them hard. Raging Reality was stuck upside-down. Tornado pressed the Pit Button and pushed Raging Knightmare down the Pit! Tornado moves on to the next round!

Round 5 vs. Gravity

Gravity had underestimated Tornado. Armed with a scoop and spinning chain, Tornado pushed the Dutch machine into the guardrail, and then into Sir Killalot. Tornado then continued pushing Gravity around the arena until Gravity got behind Tornado and gave them a massive flip!! However, Tornado was inverable, but now they making a run for it. Gravity chased Tornado, but now both their tires were flat. Tornado pushed Gravity onto the flame pit. Gravity flipped Tornado again. Tornado recovered and pressed the Pit Button and shoved Gravity into the opening pit! The Dutch robot went down, and Tornado, the champs, move on to the Grand Final!

Round 6 vs. Storm 2

If Tornado hit Storm 2, Storm 2 hit them back harder. Twice Storm 2 rammed Tornado so hard that it bounced off the arena wall and flew across the floor. Storm 2 got underneath Tornado and used their lifter to flip them upside down, rendering their scoop useless. Tornado lost any real kind of offence with their push from now on. Refbot then hit the Pit Release button, and just as he did, Storm 2 pushed Tornado onto the pit, but they just managed to drive off in time! It went to the judges, and they gave it to Storm 2. Tornado's reign is over.

3rd Place Playoff vs. X-Terminator

Tornado pushed X-Terminator into Matilda in the CPZ, and her disc knocked them onto their front so their disc, spinning at full speed, carried them across the floor and into the wall. Tornado then pushed X-Terminator into the bottom-right CPZ (bottom-left from the teams' point of view), but then X-Terminator's disc clipped Sir Killalot's arm, and he began leaking fluid onto the floor. X-Terminator was then immobilised in the CPZ, and Tornado hit the Pit Release button, but they couldn't then push X-Terminator towards the pit, as the CPZ was soaked with fluid from Killalot, and they couldn't get anymore traction on the slippery floor, as their tyres were now soaked in it. There was nothing else to do but to count out X-Terminator and call "Cease". Tornado finishes third in the last UK Robot Wars.

e pushing power, although in the course of the series it also used a variety of weapons including spikes, plows, and saws. Perhaps its most interesting weapon was a large metal frame with a lawnmower blade built for the specific purpose of allowing the robot to fight Razer, another very dangerous contestant armed with a destructive crushing arm.

The robot was also invertible, although this did have the drawback of leaving its tires exposed. In addition the robot was easily flippable if they were fighting an experienced driver who could avoid their slamming attacks.

Battle history

Series 4

UK Championship

Round 1 vs. Kater Killer vs. Gemini - Qualified

Round 2 vs. Beserk 2 - Won

Round 3 vs. Gemini - Won

Round 4 vs. Wheely Big Cheese - Won

Round 5 vs. Chaos 2 - Lost

Series 5

UK Championship

Round 1 vs. Gravedigger - Won

Round 2 vs. Díotóir - Lost

Series 6

UK Championship

Round 1 vs. Edge Hog vs. Terror Bull vs. Inshreddable - Qualified

Round 2 vs. Thor - Won

Round 3 vs. Anarchy - Won

Round 4 vs. Dominator 2 - Won

Round 6 vs. Firestorm 4 - Won

Grand Final vs. Razer - Won

Series 7

UK Championship

Round 1 vs. Saw Point 2 vs. Ewe 2 vs. Devastator - Qualified

Round 2 vs. Leveler 2 - Won

Round 3 vs. Tetanus Booster - Won

Round 4 vs. Raging Knightmare - Won

Round 5 vs. Gravity - Won

Round 6 vs. Storm II - Lost

3rd Place Playoff vs. X-Terminator - Won

Noteworthy battles

Tornado versus Kater Killer vs. Gemini

Tornado's first appearance.

Tornado versus Gemini

A victory for Tornado, allowing them, for the first time, to reach the semi-finals. Also noteworthy as the first time a clusterbot (Gemini) was ruled immobile when one half of the machine was declared to be so.

Tornado versus Díotóir

A shocking upset as Díotóir, widely considered one of the less powerful contestants in Robot Wars, managed to manuver Tornado into the pit for a surprise victory.

Tornado versus Razer

Tornado fought a total of three battles with Razer, all three of which were significant.

The first was in Robot Wars Extreme Series 1. This battle was the final of the All-Stars tournament, ending in a clear victory for Razer as they managed to get their crushing arm weapon into Tornado to cause imobilizing damage.

The second was the final of the sixth series. This battle featured the debut of Tornado's controversial anti-Razer frame weapon. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to attack the frame itself, Razer began to drag Tornado to the pit in a final bid for victory. However, the frame made the robot too big to fit completely into the pit, and a judges decision was required, which ultimately went to Tornado.

The third fight had Razer using a special hook attached to their crushing arm allowing them to lift the robot, in its anti-Razer frame, off the ground. The robot proceeded to do so, but burnt its motors out before it could dispatch Tornado to the pit. A subsequent judges decision awarded victory to Razer.

Tornado versus Storm II

Storm II was a newer robot, also with strong pushing power. When the two clashed, Storm II ultimately proved to be the more powerful, outmanuvering Tornado, slamming it into the arena wall multiple times and nearly pushing it into the pit.