Crank-E

Crank-E
Crank-E in Series 9
Participation Information
UK Series	9
Team Information
Team	Cold Fusion Team
Team Members	Robin Herrick Matthew Herrick Mike Potts Isaac Potts
Robot Statistics
Weight	110kg
Power	2750w brushless out-runners
Weapons	Vertical spinner
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"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

Crank-E is a heavyweight robot which competed in Series 9 of Robot Wars. It is the successor to Kill-E-Crank-E, built by Robin Herrick of the Cold Fusion Team. However, after challenging Aftershock in its Group Battle, it was quickly immobilised and eliminated.

Design

Crank-E's turntable shot

Built over two months, Crank-E is constructed from high-performance structural steel and wear plate, and runs on a two-wheel drive, which makes the robot invertible. Its weapon is a 22kg vertical asymmetric spinner consisting of two HARDOX bars. The weapon rotates at 6000rpm to deliver a tip speed of 223mph. Its front armour is curved inwards to form a front shield, designed to make the robot 'spinner proof', and Crank-E is decorated with googly eyes.

The insides of Crank-E were lined with tin foil, to protect the robot from the flame pit. Crank-E's wheels were recycled from their past use in Pussycat, much like Kill-E-Crank-E's usage of Bodyhammer's tyres.

Robot History

Series 9

Crank-E competed in Episode 1, facing a new machine from a Grand Finalist team, Aftershock, as well as Sabretooth and TMHWK in their group battle.

Crank-E is tossed up high by Aftershock

However, when the battle started, Crank-E made a fatal mistake straight away by targeting Aftershock before its spinner had reached high speeds, 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 fell out of its position, but Aftershock and Sabretooth progressed, while Crank-E was eliminated.

Series Record

Crank-E with its team

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 performance record of Robin Herrick alone

Trivia

• Crank-E's VT, which would go unused on television, saw Robin and Matthew Herrick, and Isaac Potts, playing musical instruments on the beach.

External Links

• Crank-E on the Robot Wars website