Mad Moustache

**Mad Moustache**(**Fènnù de húzi**, translating to **Raging Moustache** or **Raging Mustache**) was a robot from Turkey which competed in the one-off series *This is Fighting Robots*.

Entered by Mersus Robotics from Istanbul Gelişim University, its design was immediately admired by Yellow team captain Sa Beining, who selected it to join his roster seconds into its preliminary group battle on this basis. However, this occurred immediately before Mad Moustache was spectacularly torn apart by Zen Oh, and the robot itself later withdrew after catching fire and being unable to be repaired in time for later stages of the competition.

## Design

Mad Moustache was a red, four-wheel drive heavyweight utilizing a design popularized by robots such as American *BattleBots* competitor ICEwave. It thus took the form of a low-profile box-shaped robot armed with a large horizontal bar spinner, the diameter of which covered the entire surface area of the machine. The spinner also helped protect Mad Moustache's wheels, which were otherwise exposed from the top, but was not accompanied by a feeder wedge on either the front or rear of the main chassis.

The cylindrical top section of Mad Moustache appeared to be modeled on a fez hat, which in turn became associated with the Ottoman Empire that preceded the modern-day Republic of Turkey. A decorative black moustache was placed on the 'fez' alongside representations of the star and crescent ensign of the Turkish national flag, itself derived from the late Ottoman flag first adopted in the 18th century.

## Robot History

### This is Fighting Robots (Season 1.5)

Having not initially been selected by any of the celebrity team managers, Mad Moustache competed in a preliminary four-way melee to impress the celebrities and secure a place in the main competition. There, it fought three fellow spinners, Firefox, Stealth and Zen Oh, its unusual design captivating Sa Beining during its introduction and pre-battle tests.

As the fight started, and Mad Moustache was getting its weapon up to speed, the robot was immediately selected by Beining to join the Yellow team. Seconds later, however, Mad Moustache was hit by Zen Oh, the impact destroying the Turkish machine's entire armor and ripping many of its internal components out - including the batteries and its right-front wheel. As a stunned Beining watched on, Mad Moustache made several attempts to keep its bar spinner moving, but was otherwise immobile by this stage. Mad Moustache remained in its place as its opponents continued to fight each other, its place in the main competition seemingly secure despite its comedically-timed destruction.

Sa Beining, still trying to comprehend what had happened, headed to the arena to check on his newly-instated team member. However, smoke began pouring from under the top of Mad Moustache, suggesting that it had suffered an internal battery fire, to the dismay of Beining and his fellow team managers. The Istanbul Gelişim University team admitted that they would be unable to fix their robot in time for the next stage, and so forfeited their place in the competition.

"*I feel... it's really regrettable. Because I do hope that in this cold and even ruthless combat among the robots, we could see some heartwarming comeback story. But what a pity, what a shame, it is no longer able to accompany me in the battles to come.*"
— Sa Beining, upon the Istanbul Gelişim University team's decision to withdraw Mad Moustache (Mech+ subtitles)

Following consultations with the other team managers, Sa Beining was forced to pick another eliminated robot to replace Mad Moustache. Ultimately, he selected the UK machine 008 to take its spot in the Yellow team roster.

## Outside King of Bots

Mersus Robotics also entered the Russian *Bitva Robotov* tournament in 2017, reaching the quarterfinals.

The team returned for the 2023 *Bitva Robotov* tournament with heavyweight drum spinner **Lonely Wolf**. Lonely Wolf was reasonably successful in the first Qualifier event, defeating Russian flipper/saw spinner Diamond Warrior and ring spinner VRP-23 to qualify for the top sixteen competition, however it was eliminated in the first round of the finals tournament by horizontal spinner Iron Wind, an upgraded version of *BattleBots* competitor Rainbow.

## Trivia

* Across the entire group battle stage, Mad Moustache was the quickest to be chosen by a team manager.
* Mad Moustache was also one of two robots to withdraw from the competition after being chosen by a team manager; the other being EarthShaker, also on Sa Beining's team.

## References

1. ↑ English name used by Mech+.
2. ↑ https://youtu.be/1AncX-iGrCE?list=PLB\_lie3fxsamDKZApYlsBMZdUef\_uTrOD&t=1191