Red River Hong

Red River Hong
Red River Hong with its builder
Participation Information
Series	S1.5 (This is Fighting Robots)
Team Information
Team	Mist are lion
Team Members	Zhang Jichuan Liu Lang Guo "Jason" Wei Cao Yu
Robot Statistics
Weapons	Drum spinner

Red River Hong was a robot which competed in Season 1.5, the debut of This is Fighting Robots, named after its team captain's home town. The successor to Wild Beast, Red River Hong was the first robot selected by Wu Chun, and participated in the main competition as a member of the Red team. It has so far enjoyed mixed success; while fighting well in its first battle against 008, Cat King and Weber, it ultimately lost after getting turned onto its side by the Russian flipper. In the Tag Team round, Red River Hong earned it and teammate Tungsten's first victory, splitting apart Saturn before Tungsten immobilized Model Teenager. In its first head-to-head battle, Red River Hong defeated the powerful spinner of Two BBQ by pinning it against the wall, and Red River Hong advanced to the Top 8 by defeating Sandstorm in a single hit, but was immobilized by its former teammate Tungsten.

Design

Red River Hong

Red River Hong with its full team

Red River Hong used a tried-and-tested design popularised by robots such as the Brazilian Touro Maximus and its BattleBots equivalent Minotaur. Roughly square-shaped in design, Red River Hong runs on a two-wheel drive, and is armed with a powerful drum spinner at the front. The drum was balanced in a way that its single tooth carries a huge weight. The robot was also quick, with the ability to turn quickly despite the force of its weapon, and it can also 'gyro-dance' through the use of the weapon's gyroscopic forces. The robot was painted pink, despite the name, and was decorated with comedic eyes.

Robot History

This is Fighting Robots (Season 1.5)

During the celebrities' initial selection process, the colorful design of Red River Hong immediately caught the attention of Wu Chun, and it became his first choice as part of the Red team. This advanced Red River Hong to the main bracket, where it fought 008, Cat King and Weber in its rumble.

The spinners of Red River Hong and 008 collide

Armor flies from Red River Hong

Red River Hong initially waited to allow its drum spinner to reach its top speed. It was chased by Weber during this process, but its higher top speed allowed Red River Hong to escape, tricking the Russian machine into being overturned by the floor flipper. Red River Hong then charged into 008 for a weapon-to-weapon contact, generating many sparks. Cat King threw Weber over, while 008 and Red River Hong crashed into each other's weapons once again, ripping armor from both machines.

Red River Hong burns, while 008 is suspended

Red River Hong slams into Cat King

Red River Hong had started smoking, but it still smashed into 008 for a third time, ripping another armor panel from it. Red River Hong drove over the flame jets, while Weber and Cat King both lost full mobility. Red River Hong carried a small fire across the arena, avoiding the ramrods which had caught 008 and Cat King. However, this fire prompted Red River Hong to drive into the arena wall repeatedly. From this precarious position, Red River Hong then drifted across the arena to slam into Weber.

Weber flips Red River Hong

The balanced Red River Hong emits smoke

With twenty seconds remaining in the battle, Red River Hong started to pull ahead in spite of emitting smoke, as it slammed into Cat King. However, Red River Hong made a critical error, as it drove up the wedge of Weber, and was flipped directly onto its side. Completely balanced, Red River Hong became the only robot to be rendered officially immobile, despite all three active robots struggling for movement. Red River Hong continued to emit smoke for the remainder of the battle, which was ultimately won by Weber.

Red River Hong throws Saturn into the air with its first attack

Red River Hong flips Saturn once again

Red River Hong remained in the competition by the start of the Tag Team round, and so was paired with UK entry Tungsten from the Green team. There, the pair faced fellow British machine Saturn of the Blue team and Model Teenager of the Yellow team. While its teammate was pitted in the early stages as a result of a side-on attack from Model Teenager, Red River Hong charged into Saturn, sending pieces of debris flying and throwing Saturn into the air. The same attack also caused Saturn to be flipped over; Red River Hong spun round and retreated towards the grinders, only to meet Saturn again as the latter self-righted and tried to axe it.

"Nice… good job, guys!"

— Sam Smith of Team Carbide praises the Red River Hong team for their attack on Saturn

Red River Hong survives an axe blow from Saturn

Red River Hong splits Saturn in two with its final blow

The two competitors exchanged attacks, with Red River Hong surviving an axe blow from Saturn while repeatedly throwing it with its drum. These attacks were sufficient to cause Saturn’s shell to detach from its base; with one final flip, Red River Hong separated the shell entirely, resulting in Saturn becoming immobilized even as it self-righted using its axe. Red River Hong briefly drove towards Tungsten after its teammate was raised back up by the pit, but played no further part as Tungsten attacked and immobilized Model Teenager. Needless to say, both competitors emerged victorious via knockout, securing their places in the next round of the competition.

Red River Hong is overturned in the first impact of the match

Red River Hong is thrown over a meter into the air by Two BBQ

In its first head-to-head battle, Red River Hong issued the challenge, which was answered by both Sandstorm and Two BBQ. Wu Chun elected for Red River Hong to face Two BBQ. While both robots powered up their spinners, Red River Hong was directionless in its drive, driving in odd angles before eventually driving its side directly into Two BBQ's blade, and was thrown over. Two BBQ followed this up, punching Red River Hong backwards. This prompted Red River Hong to flee again, but a devastating hit from Two BBQ threw Red River Hong over a meter into the air, straight towards the corner of the arena. Wu Chun activated the smokescreen in front of the Two BBQ team to limit their vision, which caused Two BBQ to drive around aimlessly, missing with its charges until it finally overturned Red River Hong with its wedge, also using its wedge to fling Red River Hong into the air as a follow-up attack.

Red River Hong lands on Two BBQ to rip away its wedge

A bump from Red River Hong causes Two BBQ's weapon belt to slip

However, when Red River Hong landed, its drum collided with one of Two BBQ's wedges, ripping it from the robot. Relatively unfazed, Two BBQ struck the back of Red River Hong, and then punched its drum to push the robot back. While using 'gyro-dancing' to right itself, Red River Hong instead brought its top panel directly into Two BBQ's spinner, but despite its lack of direction when attempting to leave the corner of the arena, Red River Hong was still surviving. Red River Hong coasted into Two BBQ, slamming its side panel into the vertical bar spinner, but this caused Two BBQ's weapon belt to fall loose, leaving the robot without a functional weapon.

Red River Hong throws Two BBQ over

Red River Hong leaves the pinned Two BBQ alone

This afforded Red River Hong a chance to strike, hitting Two BBQ's weapon using its drum to completely silence the weapon. Red River Hong then crashed into the front of Two BBQ, and used its drum to throw Two BBQ over. Two BBQ could still run inverted, and slammed into the Grinder to try and self-right, but landed the same way up again. On its path to another Grinder, Red River Hong intercepted Two BBQ's charge and knocked it into the air, so upon Two BBQ's landing, it was then leaning against the housing of the Grinder, pinned on its spinner and its one remaining wedge. Two BBQ was counted out, and Red River Hong spun in circles to celebrate its unexpected victory.

Red River Hong throws Sandstorm upwards

Red River Hong watches as Sandstorm is counted out

Red River Hong then faced Sandstorm in its next battle. Red River Hong started the fight by driving around in circles, which allowed the approaching Sandstorm to momentarily push it towards a wall, but the Chinese machine escaped before anything more could be done by Sandstorm. Driving back out to the middle of the arena, Red River Hong landed a critical attack on Sandstorm, using its drum to send the robot through the air, and despite the robot being otherwise mobile, the pinned Sandstorm was unable to move. Red River Hong remained in the background as the British machine was subsequently counted out, awarding Red River Hong yet another victory.

For proving its worth in the competition so far, Red River Hong was also one of the two robots Wu Chun choose to enter the final eight with, alongside Xiake. In its quarter-final, Red River Hong fought Tungsten.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 3
• Losses: 2

Series Record

Red River Hong's statistics

Series	Red River Hong Series Record
Season 1	Entered with Wild Beast
Season 1.5	Quarter-Final
Season 2	Did not enter

Trivia

• Red River Hong was the first choice of Wu Chun.
• The team captain has suggested that "Pink Memories" would be an applicable name for the robot to English speakers, although Red River Hong (or Red River - Hong He) is the robot's official name, based upon the team's location.