Appearance and function match the final product, but is made with different manufacturing methods.

Looks like the final product, but is not functional.

Demonstrates the functionality of the final product, but looks different.

A prototype is a preliminary model of something. Projects that offer physical products need to show backers documentation of a working prototype. This gallery features photos, videos, and other visual documentation that will give backers a sense of what’s been accomplished so far and what’s left to do. Though the development process can vary for each project, these are the stages we typically see:

These photos and videos provide a detailed look at this project’s development.

Stretch Goals Unlocked

Infernal Contraption was first featured on Robot Wars in 2002, featuring our current Captain Gary Ewer. Infernal Contraption has always been a drum spinner capable of doing huge amounts of damage to its opponents.

In its historical televised battles Infernal Contraption has been unlucky, falling foul of a few judges decisions. You can find out more about our history here

In late 2016 Infernal Contraption was resurrected in under three weeks to compete in the new Series 1 of Robot Wars (Series 8 for the purists).

The series 8 team

We were once again unlucky as the link in our weapon came loose and we ended up skidding into the pit during the melee.

Infernal Contraption Up and running for Series 8 in 2016

Now we're back with plans for:

New tyres (less sliding around planned)

Upgraded links that can't come out!

40kJ vertical spinning disk that will fling our opponents across the arena

Even with some amazing sponsors we still need your help to make it happen! Just the steel wear plate armour is going to cost us well over £1500 (including a few spares), so we need you to make the Infernal Contraption return a reality.

Our sponsors are:

Cambridge Consultants - Use of their facilities and design tools

Complete Fabrication - Manufacturing some of our more complex parts

GPS PE Pipe Systems - Kindly donating some off cut pipe, used as armour and the base of our tyres

Most people aren't aware, but Robot Wars robots are almost entirely competitor funded and modern robots do not come cheap so we wanted to give all of you the opportunity to be a part of our team. Without our sponsors and without your help this project would not be possible!

So what will your funding go towards? In no particular order:

Motors - Infernal Contraption has 3 separate motors, one for each wheel and one for the weapon. We have one complete system, however we'd like to have at least one spare of each.

- Infernal Contraption has 3 separate motors, one for each wheel and one for the weapon. We have one complete system, however we'd like to have at least one spare of each. Batteries - 6 batteries are required to power up Infernal Contraption.

- 6 batteries are required to power up Infernal Contraption. Specialist materials and manufacturing - We'd love to share more but we can't give everything away....

- We'd love to share more but we can't give everything away.... Hardox wear plate - trust us this stuff is expensive! Our Hardox plate is so thick that it can only be cut by a high pressure water jet.

- trust us this stuff is expensive! Our Hardox plate is so thick that it can only be cut by a high pressure water jet. Electronics - Speed controllers, radio gear etc.

- Speed controllers, radio gear etc. Bearings - Our design features lots of high speed/load bearings, we're not planning for them to end up spread across the arena floor.

- Our design features lots of high speed/load bearings, we're not planning for them to end up spread across the arena floor. Safety Equipment - Many teams don't test their robot until it's time to fight. We'd like to be able to test it in a safe environment. We plan to purchase a disk with no teeth so we can tune Infernal Contraption to cope with the huge gyroscopic forces the disk produces.

- Many teams don't test their robot until it's time to fight. We'd like to be able to test it in a safe environment. We plan to purchase a disk with no teeth so we can tune Infernal Contraption to cope with the huge gyroscopic forces the disk produces. Growing our Community - We want as many people to be part of Infernal Contraption's community, join us by showing your support today.

- We want as many people to be part of Infernal Contraption's community, join us by showing your support today. Education - Help inspire robotics and engineering in schools. We'd love to travel to more trade fairs and educational events.

The more you fund the more we can do!

We'd love to share more with you, but we cannot break our NDA with the production company! Hundreds of hours of work has created a really robust design. You're going to get truly top notch entertainment.

Stretch Goals Unlocked!

£1200 - Choose Our Pose - If we reach £1200 rasied we'll upload a load of possible "hero poses". All backers will get a vote on what we do....suggestions welcome!

£ 2000 - IC Summer Party - Over the summer we'll host an event in Cambridge for all our backers to come and visit Infernal Contraption (and have a drive if it isnt in a bin bag!)

You can check out some other cool projects at http://kickingitforward.org