Polar Opposite[1] (Chinese: 正负极, romanized as Zhèng fù jí, directly translating to Positive and Negative) was a multibot entry from Shenzen, China, which competed exclusively in the one-off 2018 series This is Fighting Robots.
Entered by a father-and-son team - who had previously finished fourth in King of Bots Season 1 with the similarly-designed Thunder and Lightning - it endured a more turbulent run than its predecessor. Polar Opposite, despite the team's success, was initially not chosen during the 'blind selection' process made by all four celebrity team managers. Though surviving to the end of its preliminary group battle, it was not selected at that stage either, forcing Polar Opposite to be eliminated early on. A reprieve came when Wu Chun selected Polar Opposite to take up an open space in the Red team, completing his line-up.
Under Chun's captaincy, Polar Opposite delivered a controlling performance in its Freestyle Combat round, but lost the subsequent Judges' decision to South Korean undercutter Stealth. However, it would recover by defeating Ninja in a head-to-head battle, with one half of the multibot being driven by Chun himself. This safeguarded Polar Opposite's place ahead of the main 1v1 stage, where it lost a rematch to Ninja and was eliminated a second time. Later on, Chun nominated Polar Opposite as one of his machines for the eight-way 'Revive' rumble. Weathering more destructive attacks from Megabyte along the way, Polar Opposite won the Rumble on a Judges' decision, ultimately being eliminated in a Quarter-Final Qualification melee won by Tungsten.
Design[]
Polar Opposite in the pits
Statistics board for Polar Opposite; note the bar spinner/wedge configuration on Positive Charge (left)
Polar Opposite was a direct evolution of the design adopted by Thunder and Lightning, taking the form of a multibot with two equally-sized halves running on two wheels. Each half was individually named Positive Charge (turquoise/sky blue) and Negative Charge (orange)[2] respectively, following a similar convention to their predecessors.
In later rounds, Positive Charge was generally considered to be the 'parent' robot, with Negative Charge - driven by Liu Kunfeng's 12-year-old son - the 'child' robot. This convention was seemingly reversed in Episode 9, where it was indicated that the driving roles had been swapped round and Positive Charge considered the 'son' robot.
Both segments of Polar Opposite were invertible, with a chassis shape incorporating an angled plough profile into the front end. As weaponry, they were designed to accommodate a range of interchangeable vertical spinners and wedges at the front. Spinner types included single-toothed flywheels and a chunky bar spinner, with twin and quadruple front forks also being available.
Other noticeable differences over Thunder and Lightning included the general chassis design for each half, which now featured more open spaces on either side of the wheels to accommodate the new interchangeable modules. The diameters of the disc/bar spinners for Polar Opposite were also noticeably larger than the equivalent flywheels used by Thunder and Lightning.
Robot History[]
This is Fighting Robots (Season 1.5)[]
NOTE: This article presumes that the turquoise half of the machine is named "Positive Charge".
Polar Opposite entered This is Fighting Robots with semi-finalist pedigree from its King of Bots predecessor Thunder and Lightning. Despite this, it was not initially selected by any celebrity team managers during the 'blind selection' stage, with Sa Beining even questioning its use of chain drives for the weapon systems instead of belts. This required Polar Opposite to fight in the preliminary group battles, competing against American machine Blue, plus fellow Chinese compatriots Wall Breaker and Saber II. Both halves of Polar Opposite would be equipped with their vertical discs.
Before the match began, Green team manager Zheng Shuang revealed that she had provisionally chosen Polar Opposite to be added to her roster. This sentiment was anticipated by Sa Beining and Wu Chun, the latter also describing its entry as 'heartwarming and adorable'.
Negative Charge is hammered by Blue
Polar Opposite causes armor to fall from Blue
Polar Opposite, particularly Negative Charge, came under immediate pressure from the swinging axe of Blue and the flamethrower of Wall Breaker. Negative Charge began spinning on the spot while avoiding repeated axe attacks from the former, with Positive Charge similarly being able to dodge its opposition while being close to them over the battle rings. A succession of hammer blows on Negative Charge from Blue set up a pincer counterattack by both Polar Opposite halves; Positive Charge clipped Blue's left side before dislodging one of the front armor layers of the Bots FC machine. Negative Charge proceeded to lift and drive its disc underneath Blue, while also weathering an attack from Wall Breaker, which exposed the latter to a powerful flip from Saber II.
Both halves of Polar Opposite remained in the center of the action as the newly-selected Saber II then tossed Blue and Wall Breaker over simultaneously. After a brief period in which both segments checked their inverted opponents, Positive Charge then came under pressure once more from a recovering Blue, driving precariously close to a nearby mace in the process. Meanwhile, Negative Charge was left spinning rapidly in the corner, seemingly having lost the ability to drive straight unlike Positive Charge. As the countdown buzzer sounded, Positive Charge also appeared to suffer the same issue, while being axed and maneuvered across the arena by Blue. This spinning continued even after the full three minutes lapsed, prompting a humorous quip from commentator Wang Tao.
- "We just want to ask Polar Opposite, is it dizzy?"
- — Wang Tao observes the constant spinning affecting both halves of Polar Opposite
With Zheng Shuang ultimately selecting Blue - and no others taking up the option - Polar Opposite was initially eliminated at this early stage. The disappointed Positive and Negative team reported afterwards that both halves suffered radio interference issues, hence the uncontrollable spinning.
Fortunately for Team Positive and Negative, three managers – Zheng Shuang, Sa Beining and Wu Chun – completed the preliminary stage with one vacant space for their respective teams. During discussions, Shuang mentioned Polar Opposite as a 'good pick', which piqued Chun’s interest. This exchange compelled Zhang Yishan to highlight the advantages of its design in head-to-head matches, in the event that it got picked. Having felt guilty at not selecting it beforehand – and out of sympathy for its team’s earlier elimination – Chun selected Polar Opposite to join the Red team. Thus, the multibots advanced to the main competition under his captaincy.
Polar Opposite would be selected by Chun to fight in the second Freestyle Combat round. Here, it faced EarthShaker (Sa Beining), Switch (Zhang Yishan) and Stealth (Zheng Shuang), with the disc of Negative Charge being swapped over for a larger front wedge.
Positive Charge attacks Stealth as Switch is thrown upside-down
Negative Charge pushes Switch onto the ejection board
Positive Charge (right) pushes EarthShaker into Switch...
...before ramming the side of Stealth
Following a tentative start, both halves maneuvered themselves around their opponents. Negative Charge cautiously drove past EarthShaker and Switch, while Positive Charge drove itself into the spinner of Stealth. The latter collision gave off sparks and helped to temporarily stop Stealth's undercutter, while also causing Positive Charge itself to recoil into EarthShaker and a self-righting Switch. Seconds later, Negative Charge drove itself underneath and pushed Switch twice, the second time over one of the floor ejectors. The ejector threw both robots simultaneously, while Positive Charge had one of its front forks torn off by Stealth.
Nevertheless, Negative Charge continued to push Switch into its twin. Switch pushed Negative Charge back in response, creating a pileup between all four entries where EarthShaker threw Switch over once again. Both halves of Polar Opposite proceeded to nudge Stealth from the front and right-hand side, before Positive Charge maneuvered EarthShaker around. This, in turn, allowed the Chinese flipper to toss Switch over once again. Both parts of Polar Opposite then attempted to pursue Stealth again, each ramming the South Korean machine just before it ripped one of EarthShaker's wheels off.
Both halves of Polar Opposite come under attack from Stealth
Negative Charge deflects a powerful blow from Stealth's spinner
Negative Charge pushes Switch into the wall spikes..
...and later repeats its tactic on Stealth
Following this, a similar strategy was attempted on Switch near a now-eliminated EarthShaker. In the process, however, both halves were attacked by an oncoming Stealth; Negative Charge was jostled into the air, and Positive Charge was completely flipped over while spinning at the same time. Negative Charge, unfazed, scooped Switch up and pushed it once more again, before deflecting two successive blows from Stealth's spinner. The second collision caused Negative Charge to recoil directly underneath Switch, allowing it to push the latter into the wall spikes.
With Positive Charge's mobility hampered by a delaminated tire, Negative Charge persevered by deflecting and steering Stealth into the spikes as well. Surviving a glancing blow to its left wheel, it resumed its strategy of ramming Switch into the mace and wall spikes. Negative Charge carried the British machine across the arena until a jolt from Stealth separated the pair. Negative Charge rammed Stealth twice more and received a light tap from Switch before time ran out, with Polar Opposite as a whole surviving to a Judges' decision. Even with its controlling performance, the decision ultimately went in favor of Stealth, denying Polar Opposite a point for Wu Chun's team. Chun, however, was among those impressed with the team's driving, personally congratulating Liu Kunfeng's son after the decision was announced.
Wu Chun takes control of Positive Charge (right)
During the Alliance War stage, Wu Chun nominated Polar Opposite as his machine for the manager-led battles, thereby automatically securing its place for the 1v1 Fights in Episode 8. Though able to practice driving both halves of the multibot - impressing Liu Kunfeng in the process - Chun would enter the stage as the temporary driver for 'parent robot' Positive Charge. In this capacity, he would be assisted by Liu Kunfeng's son, who drove Negative Charge as normal.
- "I think Mr. Wu is more of a pro than an amateur. His handling is much beyond my expectation."
- — Liu Kunfeng, praising Wu Chun's improving driving skills during the 1-hour practice session
Polar Opposite was thus drawn to battle Ninja, driven by Sa Beining. While Positive Charge entered the arena with a static orange wedge, Negative Charge sported a blue disc and front forks.
Wu Chun's Positive Charge rams Ninja's wedge into the air
Sa Beining's Ninja strikes the wedge of Positive Charge
Immediately, Negative Charge darted towards and rammed the side of Ninja’s wedge, while Positive Charge maneuvered across the arena perimeter. Negative Charge threw Ninja upwards with two successive blows from its disc, continuing to pressure the British thwackbot over the fire pit as Paul Streeter attempted to instruct Beining on his driving. This resulted in Negative Charge cornering and striking the back of Ninja against the wall spikes. Later on, Ninja retreated to the electric saws and spun in place, absorbing another ram from and whacking Negative Charge with its mace. This allowed Positive Charge – driven by Wu Chun - to join in and add further pressure to Ninja. Chun, though initially hesitant, slammed his machine into Ninja's wedge, momentarily throwing the robot upwards. Both halves of Polar Opposite co-operated to pursue Ninja, though a swing from Ninja's mace threw sparks from the wedge of Positive Charge as the two machines collided again.
Positive Charge is lifted by the floor ejector
Negative Charge rips away Ninja's mace
Polar Opposite continued to harry Ninja, which in turn caused Positive Charge to maneuver over a floor ejector. Both robots were lifted up by the hazard upon its activation by Paul Streeter, but with little overall effect. Positive Charge rammed Ninja once more, and Negative Charge tried to attack Ninja's left wheel with its disc. In doing so, however, Negative Charge steered itself into the wall spikes, allowing Ninja an opportunity to scoop up and maneuver it back into them. Negative Charge escaped by attempting to attack Ninja’s mace arm, before Wu Chun excitedly lined up and drove Positive Charge into Ninja once more from the center of the arena.
Ninja's mace landed on Negative Charge's disc, causing more sparks to fly. Critically, after Ninja hit the arena floor several times, Negative Charge severed the chain connecting its mace to the main weapon arm, causing the mace itself to fly against the wall. Both halves of Polar Opposite repeatedly attacked the wedge and wheels of Ninja from this point on; the latter's wheel hubs having been left buckled as a result. A final slam from Positive Charge followed just before time expired on the battle. With no knockout loss, the battle was sent to a Judges' decision, which was awarded in favor of Wu Chun's Polar Opposite.
Polar Opposite and Ninja faced each other a second time in the 1v1 stage, though only brief highlights of this match were aired in the main Episode 8. Footage suggested that the Positive and Negative machine put on an equally aggressive performance as before, with Positive Charge again upending Ninja with a few powerful drives. However, both segments were overturned mid-fight, while Negative Charge was at one point pushed over a floor ejector by the UK machine. Along with more accurate mace attacks from Ninja - now driven by regular driver Paul Streeter - this was enough for Polar Opposite to lose the battle and be eliminated from the competition once again.
To redeem itself from its 1v1 loss, Polar Opposite was selected to take part in the eight-robot rumble - also broadcast in Episode 8 - as one of Wu Chun's representatives alongside Wrecker. Together, they fought Zheng Shuang's Megabyte and Two BBQ; Zhang Yishan's Spectre and Anchor and Shield; and Sa Beining's Lieutenant Bam and Golden Hoops.
Positive Charge dodges Wrecker, as Negative Charge is smashed by Lieutenant Bam
Positive Charge is sent flying after being sandwiched by Megabyte and Lieutenant Bam
Positive Charge is sent into a wall by Megabyte
There, both robots immediately found themselves attacked by Lieutenant Bam and Wrecker. Negative Charge successfully dodged the latter's charge, while Positive Charge took a hit from Lieutenant Bam's overhead weapon. As the British machine was temporarily distracted by Wrecker's minibot, however, Negative Charge managed to get in a retaliatory strike at Lieutenant Bam with its disc. The two could then be seen in the background while Megabyte immobilized Anchor and Shield. As Megabyte returned out to the center of the arena, Positive Charge suddenly found itself sandwiched between Lieutenant Bam and the American spinner, the resulting impact sending it flying across the arena into Spectre, as well as causing it to lose a wheel. Still partly mobile, Positive Charge could be seen limping around in the background while both Spectre and Wrecker were taken out. Eventually, it was targeted by Megabyte again, which sent it flying into a wall. It was attacked yet again by Megabyte not long after this and sent into another wall in an impact that finally immobilized it.
Positive Charge burning after being immobilized by Megabyte
Negative Charge pushing Golden Hoops during the last seconds of the rumble
Meanwhile, Negative Charge had mostly avoided trouble with the other robots until it made another attack against Lieutenant Bam, although Positive Charge then sustained a small hit from Megabyte. As the battle continued, though, both Megabyte and Two BBQ became immobilized, leaving only Negative Charge, Golden Hoops as well as a heavily-damaged and limping Lieutenant Bam, still active in the rumble. Negative Charge spent the reminder of it pushing Golden Hoops around until time expired on the battle. The Judges were required to choose between Polar Opposite and Golden Hoops for the victory. Having declared both segments to have consistently been more engaged and aggressive in combat, despite protests from rival captains Sa Beining and Zheng Shuang, they ruled the father and son multibots victorious. As a result, Polar Opposite was reinstated in the main competition to bolster Wu Chun's team, by then also featuring the drum spinners Xiake and Red River Hong.
In its next battle - the third round of the Quarter-Final Qualification Race - Polar Opposite fought in a four-way melee against Ninja, Vulcan and Tungsten. Positive Charge was equipped with its wedge, while Negative Charge was outfitted with two sets of elongated forks leading into its spinner.
Positive Charge is axed by Vulcan
Tungsten strikes the base of Negative Charge, causing it to catch fire
Positive Charge immediately bumped into Vulcan, but overturned itself by scaling Ninja's wedge. Ninja missed Positive Charge with its sword attack, but Vulcan struck the underside of Positive Charge with its own axe. Tungsten had pinned Negative Charge in the corner of the arena, tossing it over while ripping metal away from it. In a bigger hit, Tungsten sent Negative Charge flying through the air, spinning around. In defence, Positive Charge rammed into the back of Tungsten, but this did not stop Tungsten from hitting the back end of Negative Charge. As Negative Charge landed on Tungsten's spinning disc, it immediately caught fire and lost mobility.
Negative Charge burns dramatically
Tungsten throws Positive Charge, causing it to lose mobility on one side
Positive Charge attempted to push the burning chassis of Negative Charge away from the battle, but it was again thrown into the air as it drove into Ninja's wedge. Tungsten started to focus its attacks on Positive Charge, throwing it over with a powerful disc attack, following this up with a lighter hit, and an attack which threw sparks from the wedge of Positive Charge. Over the course of these attacks, Positive Charge lost mobility on one side. Tungsten pushed Positive Charge into a mace, overturning it. After this, the immobile halves of Polar Opposite were left alone for the remainder of the match, which was won by Tungsten.
As Wu Chun finished second in the Quarter-Final Qualification rankings - courtesy of a late win for Red River Hong - he was only able to select two of his robots to compete in the Top 8 bracket. Polar Opposite was not chosen, eliminating it at this stage, though Chun praised Liu Kunfeng's son for being an 'excellent' roboteer throughout its campaign.
Results[]
| POLAR OPPOSITE - RESULTS | ||
| This is Fighting Robots (Season 1.5) | ||
| Main Championship Top 13, Part of Wu Chun's team | ||
| Group Battle | vs. Blue, Wall Breaker, Saber II | Not selected |
| NOTE: After not being selected by any celebrities in battle, Polar Opposite was later selected by Wu Chun to complete the Red team. | ||
| Freestyle Combat, Round 2 | vs. EarthShaker, Stealth, Switch | Lost |
| Alliance War, Manager Battle | vs. Ninja | Won |
| 1v1 Fight | vs. Ninja | Lost |
| Eight-Robot Rumble | vs. Anchor and Shield, Golden Hoops, Lieutenant Bam, Megabyte, Spectre, Two BBQ, Wrecker | Won |
| Quarter-Final Qualification Race, Round 3 | vs. Ninja, Tungsten, Vulcan | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 2
- Losses: 3
NOTE: Polar Opposite's group battle is not considered to be a win or a loss.
Series Record[]
| Series | Polar Opposite Series Record |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | Entered with Thunder and Lightning |
| Season 1.5 | Wu Chun's team, Top 13 (2-3 record) |
| Season 2 | Did not enter |
Trivia[]
- Throughout Polar Opposite's campaign, the Positive and Negative team dressed in costumes that resembled Minions from the Despicable Me film franchise. This made the robot one of two This is Fighting Robots competitors to adopt elements of this theme, the other being Red River Hong.
References[]
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