- "Crank-E is a completely new robot with more power, better armour and a stronger weapon than Kill-E-Crank-E."
- — The Robot Wars website
Crank-E was a heavyweight robot which competed in Series 9 of Robot Wars. It was the successor to Kill-E-Crank-E, built by Robin Herrick of the Cold Fusion Team. However, after encountering Aftershock in its Group Battle, it was quickly immobilised and eliminated.
Design[]
- "The new Crank-E is invertible and has two-wheel drive and a 22-kilogram central vertical asymmetric spinner which rotates at 6,000 revolutions per minute with a tip speed of 250 miles per hour."
- — The Robot Wars website
Crank-E's turntable shot
Built over two months, Crank-E was constructed from high-performance structural steel and wear plate, and runs on a two-wheel drive, which makes the robot invertible. Its weapon was a 22kg vertical asymmetric spinner consisting of four hardened steel bars. The weapon rotated at 6000rpm to deliver a tip speed of 223mph. Its front armour was curved inwards to form a front shield, designed to make the robot 'spinner proof'. Crank-E was decorated with googly eyes.
The internal foil used by Crank-E
The insides of Crank-E were lined with aluminium foil tape, to protect the robot from the flame pit. Crank-E's wheels were the same type as use in Pussycat, following on from Kill-E-Crank-E's wheels reusing material from Bodyhammer.
Etymology[]
- "The name Crank-E was a step on the evolutionary ladder towards Kill-E-Crank-E, so while the robot design evolved forwards, the name evolved backwards."
- — Robin Herrick on the etymology of Crank-E
The name Crank-E is derivative of the robot's predecessor Kill-E-Crank-E, which was in turn inspired by the Scottish Highland town of Killiecrankie, where a famous battle took place in 1689, also referencing the "crank" shape of the original machine which remained loosely intact with Crank-E. Robin Herrick notes that as Crank-E evolved the design of Kill-E-Crank-E forwards, he wished to 'evolve the name backwards' by shortening Kill-E-Crank-E to just Crank-E, a conscious move to differentiate the two machines.
Qualification[]
After competing in Series 8 of the show with Kill-E-Crank-E, the redesigned Crank-E was selected to compete in Series 9 through open applications.
Crank-E's intended new weapon for future series
Following its Series 9 defeat, the team planned various upgrades for Crank-E which included new armour, and an all-new 37kg spinner to be mounted at the rear, replacing its existing weapon while the front of the robot would be repurposed entirely for defence. The new spinner was made up of seven HARDOX 500 asymmetric blades running on a titanium shaft. The weapon would be powered by four brushless motors running on 48V, reaching a tip speed of roughly 200mph in around five seconds[1]. However, the updated Crank-E and its new weapon were not completed in time for Series 10's applications deadline, so the team chose not to apply for this series. The new weaponry was later completed in August 2017.
Robot History[]
Series 9[]
Crank-E competed in Heat A of Series 9, facing Aftershock - a new machine from previous Grand Finalists Team Shock - as well as Sabretooth and TMHWK in their Group Battle. It was originally slated to face Carbide, Crackers 'n' Smash and Meggamouse in Heat E, but was not finished in time, ultimately swapping Heats with Trolley Rage[2].
Crank-E is tossed up high by Aftershock
Crank-E ran into immediate difficulties when the battle started, as its spinner seemingly could not power up. Crank-E then made a fatal mistake straight away by targeting Aftershock, and with TMHWK blocking its escape route, Aftershock threw Crank-E into the air, causing shards to fly from the machine as it landed directly on its face. This gave Aftershock the chance to launch a barrage of hits, buffeting Crank-E towards Shunt, where the two robots dealt the killer blows, taking Crank-E out of the running straight away. Panels of Crank-E were torn away from the body, and the robot was left dormant after a flip from Shunt.
- "Pincered between the two, and Crank-E, very much in trouble."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Shunt damages the immobile Crank-E
Aftershock pushed the immobile Crank-E over the arena spikes, where it was axed by Shunt, held aloft by a spike. There, Crank-E was joined by the beaten TMHWK, and cease was called. Humorously, the arena spike next to Crank-E then fell out of its position. However, Aftershock and Sabretooth ultimately progressed, while Crank-E was eliminated.
Results[]
| CRANK-E - RESULTS | ||
| Series 9 | ||
| Series 9 - UK Championship Round 1 | ||
| Heat A, Group Battle | vs. Aftershock, Sabretooth, TMHWK | Lost |
Series Record[]
| Series | Crank-E Series Record |
|---|---|
| The First Wars | Entered with Bodyhammer |
| The Second Wars | Entered with Bodyhammer |
| The Third Wars | Entered with Pussycat |
| The Fourth Wars | Entered with Pussycat |
| The Fifth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Sixth Wars | Did not enter |
| The Seventh Wars | Did not enter |
| Series 8 | Entered with Kill-E-Crank-E |
| Series 9 | Heat, Round 1 |
| Series 10 | Did not enter |
NOTE: This refers to the participation record of Robin Herrick alone
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
Crank-E in How to Build a Robot
- Crank-E's VT, which would go unused on television, saw Robin Herrick, Matthew Herrick and Isaac Potts playing musical instruments on the beach[3].
- Footage of repairing Crank-E was also used during the How to Build a Robot instructional videos.
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=uqUWKglixQE
- ↑ Private correspondence with Gareth Anstee of the Trolley Rage team
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/UKRobotWars/videos/807638249400526/
External Links[]
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