Kronic the Wedgehog

Kronic the Wedgehog
Participation Information
UK Series	4-7
Robot Wars Live Circuit	2013
Other Names	Kronic 2 (Series 5-6)
Team Information
Team	Team Kronic
Team Members	David Lang John Lang Mike Gardener
Associated Robots	Apollo (Inspired design)
Robot Statistics
Weight	99kg
Dimensions	0.73m x 1.37m x 0.93m
Power	2 x 750W Electric Motors
Weapons	CO2 powered flipper
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"A prickly contender"

— Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide

Kronic the Wedgehog (often nicknamed Kronic) was a series of robots that competed in Series 4-7 of Robot Wars. The original version reached the Heat Final in its debut appearance in Series 4 after helping to knock out the seeded Gravedigger, but its successors lost in the first round in Series 5 and the second in Series 6 and 7. However, Kronic 2 was notable for flipping former series champion Panic Attack over in its first round battle during Series 6 to be the last robot standing.

The robot's name was a pun on the titular character from the popular Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Its blue, red and white paint scheme and foam spikes were also based on the character.

Series 8 champion Apollo is modelled upon the most recent version of Kronic the Wedgehog, and was built by Kronic's current owners, Team MAD.

Versions of Kronic the Wedgehog

All versions of Kronic the Wedgehog shared the same colour scheme of blue, red and yellow, with yellow top-mounted spikes and an angry face printed on the front lifter/flipper, known as the 'Kronic face'.

Kronic the Wedgehog (Series 4)

The original Kronic the Wedgehog

The original version of Kronic the Wedgehog was built in a greenhouse, a fact reflected in the team covering the top spikes with flowerpots in the pits. It was a tall box-wedge shaped robot powered by two Sinclair C5 motors giving it a top speed of 10 mph. It had motorcycle gears and was armoured in polycarbonate.

"We're a bit worried about the polycarbonate casing because it's flexible and should be easily pierced."

— Julia Reed voices concern

The spike at the rear of Kronic the Wedgehog

The frame was reused from the original version that failed to qualify, and was made from steel and aluminium, and it had 4 industrial trolley wheels. Kronic the Wedgehog's weapons were a front lifter and a rear-mounted spike. The metal part sticking out of Kronic's face was the ram pivot. Strangely, bubble wrap was used in the robot, to cushion the two MIG welding bottles used as power for the flipper.

Kronic 2 (Series 5)

"After a bit of a whipping in series 4, we wanted to re-vamp Kronic so that it had a chance against robots with powerful flippers, like Thermidor. We wanted to keep the original Kronic 'flavour' and go for a more sleaker design which was more nimble and more powerful."

— Team Kronic website

Kronic 2's official photo from Series 5

For Series 5, a new model of Kronic the Wedgehog was built, known as Kronic 2. This version was much larger and heavier than the original, with a low angled wedge-shaped chassis, and two flippers; a front flipper similar to that of Prizephita Mach 2 and the top-mounted one being a side flipper like the future weaponry of Lightning. The side flipper was slightly faster and more powerful than the front one, and was designed to act as the robot's srimech. The flippers were powered by CO₂, ran at 750psi, and the team got help from George Francis of Team Chaos to help with the exhaust valves. The robot was designed on an Apple Mac using CAD software.

"This CAD software allowed us to get the sizes right so we knew that all the required bits would fit inside with no problem."

— Team Kronic website

Kronic 2 was the first to feature a set of flammable foam spikes on top of the wedge, which had red tips to give the appearance of being bloodstained. There were two static titanium spikes on the back. The robot was armoured in aluminium and steel, with the team using aluminium from a chocolate bar wrapper to protect Kronic 2's receiver. The robot had go-kart wheels, provided by their sponsors Tabor Motors, a gyroscope purchased from PipingHot Networks, and was built using machinery at Ceramtec UK and Axe Vale Engineering.

This version was known as Kronic 2 ... Yeaaahhhh!!! by the team, but was simply referred to as Kronic 2 on the show. The team dropped the "... Yeaaahhhh!!!" from the name for Series 6 onwards.

"We dropped the "...Yeaaahhhh!!!" in the robot name this year cause it sounded a bit stupid"

— Team Kronic website

Kronic 2 (Series 6)

"Sleeker this time, with a more powerful flipper and a stronger frame and shell. Two flippers act as self-righting mechanisms, but the bottom panel is missing because it was overweight in the qualifiers."

— Jonathan Pearce

Official profile for Series 6

Kronic 2 was rebuilt, but it was mostly the same design in Series 6 as it had been in Series 5.

"A bit of a re-design was required cause our front flipper was not very fast. We could lift quite a bit of weight with the thing but we wanted speed too. We decided to build the robot again from scratch. We chose to use a different type of frame, better pipework, and to have two cylinders for the front flipper instead of one."

— Team Kronic website

The rear of Kronic 2 in Series 6 - still featuring the "I love beer" sticker

It had a stronger shell, made of 50mmm extruded aluminium, but had no base panel, as the team removed it during the qualifiers due to the robot being overweight. The team also changed the pipework for the pneumatics of both flippers. This version had Bosch 24V 750W motors, and two 12V batteries for power.

"We decided to approach Goodridge hosing (who make hoses for Formula one car racing) to see if they could help us out with our pneumatic hose requirements. They provided us with some awesome hosing which was very strong, very easy to make and very flexible. We managed to get hold of another cylinder to use for the front flipper too. "

— Team Kronic website

Kronic the Wedgehog (Series 7)

"Still has the Kronic face and lovely flammable foam spikes, a faster flipper action then, more offensive, better self-righting, but has a mesh bottom and no wheel guards."

— Jonathan Pearce

The insides of Kronic the Wedgehog in Series 7

For Series 7, the team reverted back to the original name for a revised version of Kronic 2. This version of Kronic the Wedgehog retained the two flippers used by Kronic 2, which were upgraded to be faster and more powerful, and maintained the decorative foam spikes. While largely similar in design to Kronic 2, the Series 7 version had no wheel guards, leaving them partially exposed from above, although Kronic the Wedgehog was now fitted with a mesh bottom to protect the internals from underneath.

The Team

Kronic the Wedgehog with the team in the pits during Series 4

Throughout its appearances, the team consisted of David Lang, his son John, and Mike Gardener, who was a work colleague of John Lang. All three of them were engineers.

Dave Lang was the team captain, who drove the robots and designed the robots electronics. John Lang designed and built all the versions of Kronic the Wedgehog, whilst Mike Gardener was the pneumatic specialist and procured parts for the robots.

Qualification

Kronic the Wedgehog after its fight with Thermidor 2. Note the Series 3 version of Kronic in the background.

Despite Kronic first appearing in Series 4, the original version of the robot (simply named Kronic) was built for Series 3, a barrel shaped robot armed with a retracting spear. However, it wasn't very well built and failed to qualify.

"Fortunately it never made it on, as it wasn't very well built, and the shell actually wobbled if you touched it, and the only weapon was a spike which fired out of the nose! It would have been severely wrecked."

— Team Kronic website

In its Series 4 qualifier, Kronic the Wedgehog fought S.M.I.D.S.Y., and won, directly qualifying for the series, alongside S.M.I.D.S.Y. which still qualified anyway.

"This is another slugging match. Wedgehog has the same turn of speed as us, we chase them around the ring trying to get spikes or jaws to bear. They are too tight to the ground for us to get under and eventually while we're pushing them from the front they activate the flipper. We are held vertical on their front armour, they flip again, a third time and we're over. Robin hits the arena floor full forward throttle selected and SMIDSY charges straight back in to the fray. We bash and push for a while and then are flipped back the right way up, once more we land and hit out unscathed. This happens a couple more times, we have had some good hits on Wedgehog, they have almost carried us out of the arena. They can't pin us, we can't do serious damage to them. Finally after five minutes of stand up battle cease is called. The crowd are consulted and Wedgehog gets a better response. Sure enough the judges follow suit and the vote goes against us. "

— The S.M.I.D.S.Y. website on the qualifier

At the Series 5 qualifiers, Kronic 2 appeared at the Cardiff leg of the tour, having had very little testing beforehand. It first fought Mini Morg. Kronic 2 won the battle and qualified for the series, yet curiously, Mini Morg was awarded the nineteenth seed. Kronic 2 also fought two battles against Panic Attack, which had already been seeded.

Kronic qualified for Series 6 and 7, though which robots it fought in its qualifier battles, and whether or not it won the fights, is unknown.

Robot History

Series 4

"It's not Sonic, but Kronic is not moronic, so beware!"

— Jonathan Pearce in Series 4

Newcomers Kronic the Wedgehog met two veterans in the first round of the Fourth Wars; Thermidor 2 and the number 13 seeds Gravedigger.

Kronic the Wedgehog rips a claw from Thermidor 2

Before the fight, the Gravedigger team conceded that their flipper wasn't working. Thermidor 2 and Kronic the Wedgehog met in the centre of the arena and both fired their flippers simultaneously, with Kronic the Wedgehog gaining enough purchase to lift Thermidor 2 up by one of its claws. Gravedigger ran its wedge underneath Kronic the Wedgehog, but only managed to push it a little before reversing away. Kronic the Wedgehog was then able to shove Thermidor 2 towards the arena wall near Shunt's CPZ, helped by Gravedigger ramming it from behind. Thermidor 2 spun away and tried to flip Kronic the Wedgehog again, but its large claws got in the way. After a little bit of avoiding each other, Kronic the Wedgehog stopped on top of the pit of oblivion, which had dropped slightly.

"There's the descending pit - you don't want to stay there too long, Kronic."

— Jonathan Pearce

Kronic the Wedgehog lifts Gravedigger onto the wall

A combined attack from Thermidor 2 and Gravedigger moved Kronic the Wedgehog off the pit which hadn't descended any further. The robots met in the centre of the arena again and Kronic the Wedgehog was almost flipped onto its side by Thermidor 2 but survived. Kronic the Wedgehog then shoved Thermidor 2 into the arena wall again and buckled the right claw. Following this, Kronic the Wedgehog lifted the front of Gravedigger onto the arena side wall before it was flipped over by Thermidor 2. Sir Killalot moved in and picked Gravedigger up, spinning it around and throwing it across the arena, where it landed on its wheels. Gravedigger then proceeded to race towards Thermidor 2 and Kronic the Wedgehog who were still battling next to Matilda. Cease was called and the seeded Gravedigger was eliminated.

"Best Moment: Winning the first round battle in the Fourth Wars with Kronic the Wedgehog. The team expected to be knocked out"

— Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide on Team Kronic's favourite moment of the series

Kronic the Wedgehog overturns Darke Destroyer 2

In the second round, Kronic the Wedgehog fought Darke Destroyer 2, a Heat Finalist in the last war. The two robots began the battle circling each other, with Darke Destroyer 2 barging into Kronic the Wedgehog head on. Kronic the Wedgehog responded by lifting Darke Destroyer 2 up, but not over. Darke Destroyer 2 then shoved Kronic the Wedgehog across the arena floor and began to use its 'waggling blades', but they were no use. Kronic the Wedgehog eventually spun away from Darke Destroyer 2 and was able to immediately place its flipper underneath Darke Destroyer 2, toppling it over. It was unable to self-right, so the House Robots closed in for the kill, putting it on the flipper, then pitting it.

"Well, Kronic the Wedgehog makes it across the road without being squashed! You took no damage, you wouldn't even have to charge your batteries after that, you just flipped them over and retired, let the House Robots do the rest!"

— Craig Charles to the Kronic the Wedgehog team

Kronic the Wedgehog was through to the Heat Final, where it fought Thermidor 2 again, and Jonathan Pearce declared it the 'surprise' of the heat. Before the fight, the Thermidor 2 team were concerned that its flipper wouldn't work. Its claws had also broken, and it was being put back together just beforehand.

"Is Kronic the Wedgehog the better prepared of the two Heat Finalists?"

— Jonathan Pearce just before the battle starts

Kronic the Wedgehog loses its flipper

Both robots started cautiously, ambling around each other, before Kronic the Wedgehog tried an attack with its flipper but missed. Kronic the Wedgehog fired its flipper again, with Thermidor 2 showing that their flipper was working as well by flicking Kronic the Wedgehog up. Kronic the Wedgehog then lifted Thermidor 2 up by one of its claws, before Thermidor 2 fired its weapon, which penetrated Kronic the Wedgehog's flipper, causing both robots to be momentarily locked together. Kronic lifted Thermidor up by one of its claws, but only pushed it a little before it dropped off. Kronic the Wedgehog lifted Thermidor 2 again and pushed it into Shunt's CPZ. Thermidor 2 escaped and responded by charging at Kronic the Wedgehog, which caused its flipper to come off, which meant that Kronic the Wedgehog was now weaponless and exposed.

"So all they can do now, I think, is buffet the Thermidor towards a pit, towards an arena spike, towards one of the House Robots."

— Jonathan Pearce

Kronic the Wedgehog is pitted

Kronic the Wedgehog managed to force Thermidor 2 around the arena for a short period, before Thermidor 2 came back onto the attack and flipped it up, but not over. Kronic the Wedgehog then seemed to lose power on one side. The House Robots closed in, with Dead Metal slicing into its side and Shunt axing down. Dead Metal then left Kronic the Wedgehog precariously balanced over the pit, before Sir Killalot nudged the beaten robot down.

"And we need now a spiky performance by the Wedgehog, and I don't think we're going to get it, I think the Wedgehog is headed for hibernation in the pit of the Robot Wars arena floor."

— Jonathan Pearce as Kronic the Wedgehog is attacked by the House Robots

Series 5

"Kronic 2, was a rookie last year but managed to reach its Heat Final. Back with an improved design, could this be the one to watch?"

— Philippa Forrester at the start of the Heat

Returning unseeded, Kronic 2 went up against the greatly experienced King B Powerworks in its first round eliminator battle.

King B Powerworks slams Kronic 2 into an angle grinder

Kronic 2 started well, getting under and flicking King B Powerworks into the air. King B Powerworks recovered from the attack and drove up the side of Kronic 2, sitting there until Kronic 2 fired its flipper, upon which King B Powerworks drove off. King B Powerworks attempted a charge, disc first, at Kronic 2, but the flipper negated the attack and tossed King B Powerworks off to Kronic 2's right. The second charge was much more successful, as it struck Kronic 2's rear and allowed King B Powerworks to slam it into the side wall at a tremendous speed. Kronic 2 successfully retreated across the flames, but slowed down significantly, and King B Powerworks rammed it into Sgt. Bash's CPZ.

Skewering Kronic 2, King B Powerworks carries it towards Sgt. Bash

King B Powerworks' spikes had pierced the side armour of Kronic 2 by now, and, after Kronic 2 trundled slowly out of Sgt. Bash's reach, King B Powerworks used the spikes to pierce and lift Kronic 2 slightly, driving it back into Sgt. Bash's CPZ. Shunt intercepted and separated the pair with its axe, but King B Powerworks nudged Kronic 2 back onto the flames. Kronic 2's spikes caught fire, and time expired on the match, which was sent to a Judges' decision in order to determine the winner.

David Lang: "I think we've got a slight problem with it."

Craig Charles: "Well, what went wrong?"

David Lang: "The electrics, it doesn't work very well."

Craig Charles: "Never a good thing in Robot Wars."

— After the battle

The judges unanimously voted in favour of King B Powerworks, and Kronic 2 was therefore eliminated in the first round of the series.

"King B were just too powerful for us, and through a design error (we chose the wrong batteries) our robot stopped working after about 4 minutes, so we never made it past heat 1."

— Team Kronic website, summing up their Series 5 performance

Series 6

"Twice beaten in the Heats, very animated, lovely looker!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Kronic 2 enters the arena

Kronic 2 was placed up against the redesigned R.O.C.S., the 8th seeds Panic Attack and recent Heat Finalist Corkscrew in its first round battle of the Heat.

R.O.C.S. crushes the flipper of Kronic 2

Kronic 2 flips Panic Attack over

In this battle, Panic Attack and R.O.C.S. both moved in and attacked Kronic 2. Panic Attack lifted Kronic up, while R.O.C.S. crushed Kronic 2's top. Corkscrew then zoomed in and tore off one of Panic Attack's skirts, before slamming into Kronic 2, tearing off its wheel guard. Kronic's top flipper was knocked open by the impact. Kronic 2 drove away from R.O.C.S., but was driving erratically, eventually opening the pit. Corkscrew drove around Kronic 2 and hit it as it was spinning, but this caused it to bounce onto the pit as it closed, eliminating Corkscrew from the battle. R.O.C.S. buried its jaw into Kronic 2's flipper, pressing it down, but Kronic 2 managed to wriggle free and fight back, throwing R.O.C.S. onto its back. R.O.C.S.'s attempts at self-righting were in vain, especially as hydraulic fluid was leaking out from it. R.O.C.S. was counted out, putting Kronic 2 and Panic Attack safely through. Regardless, while R.O.C.S. was positioned on the floor flipper, Kronic 2 pushed Panic Attack into a CPZ at the top of the arena and flipped it over. The seeded machine could not self-right, but it was through regardless. R.O.C.S. was thrown by the flipper, then pitted by Sir Killalot with assistance from Kronic 2.

Kronic 2 battles Terrorhurtz. Note the missing wheel guard

"In the background, Panic Attack is taking a slam, which is unnecessary now, from Kronic 2, because we know they're heading through!"

— Jonathan Pearce

In the second round, Kronic 2 went up against Terrorhurtz, from the much more experienced Team Hurtz. Despite being the only robot left standing in its first-round melee, the team had to do a lot of repairs to make on Kronic 2 because of the damage from Corkscrew, and it entered the arena still without one wheel guard.

Kronic 2 suffers an axe blow from Terrorhurtz

Kronic 2 is pushed onto the flame pit by Terrorhurtz

Terrorhurtz charged straight at Kronic 2, but Kronic 2 dodged. Kronic 2 tried to get under its opponent, but could not get under Terrorhurtz, and Terrorhurtz slammed its axe on it numerous times, knocking pieces of armour off and bending the wheel guard. Kronic 2 tried again to get its flipper under Terrorhurtz but couldn't due to its low ground clearance, so its flipper fired at thin air.

"Looks a very good machine, here, Terrorhurtz. I think they'll give Panic Attack a run for their money in the Heat Final if they get there - and from the evidence of the opening seconds of this battle, they'll get there, because Kronic 2 knows its got to flip and flip fast simply to survive."

— Jonathan Pearce

Kronic 2 burns over the flame pit

Growler drives over Kronic 2

Terrorhurtz pushed Kronic 2 against Sgt. Bash, where it became stuck on the House Robot's side, but it was knocked free by Terrorhurtz, before being chased by Terrorhurtz and pushed across the arena into an angle grinder. At this point, Terrorhurtz had lost power to its axe, but the damage it had already caused proved to be enough. Kronic 2 found itself on the flame pit where it couldn't get away and had its spikes set on fire. It was eventually pushed ff by Refbot, but it was not moving, so merely rolled away. Kronic rolled onto a steam vent, and a blast of CO₂ got Kronic 2 moving again, but it was only moving on one wheel. It drove into the CPZ with Growler, firing the flipper at random. Kronic 2 attacked Growler, flipping it up onto the wedge, but couldn't get it over and Kronic 2 kept losing more bits and pieces.

"It's a splendid looking machine, great fun, but it's met its match here in Terrorhurtz"

— Jonathan Pearce on Kronic 2

Kronic 2 got away from Growler, started spinning, before Terrorhurtz rammed it into the wall. Terrorhurtz opened the pit, then pushed it by the CPZ. Kronic 2 could not move away as Growler charged into it. Kronic 2 was counted out by Refbot. As cease was called, Growler shoved Kronic 2 back onto the flame pit.

Series 7

Kronic the Wedgehog was placed up against Team Victor's The Kraken, and two newcomers: Pinser and Cobra, in the first round melee.

Pinser pierces Kronic the Wedgehog's flipper

Kronic the Wedgehog started quickly by getting straight under Cobra and flipping it. Pinser moved in, and as Cobra tried to spike Pinser, Kronic drove around Pinser to attack Cobra again. It tried to flip Cobra again, but its flipper was not under Cobra properly, so it only flicked it up a little. Some of Kronic's spikes fell of as it flipped. It tried another flip, but Cobra turned away, so Kronic's flipper fired at thin air. Pinser got under Kronic, so Kronic backed away, before trying to flip Pinser, and when it fired its flipper, the flipper was firing at thin air again, and Kronic landed on Pinser's wedge. Pinser tried to get in a position to crush, but Kronic reversed away. Pinser followed, and got under the front of Kronic It could not get under the low ground clearance at Pinser's front, and crushed the flipper down. Pinser pulled and pushed Kronic back and forth, pushing it onto a flame jet. The Kraken came in, separating the two. Cobra was barely moving by the side wall, so Kronic nudged it a couple of times, but did not flip it. As The Kraken pinched Cobra, Kronic tried flipping it, but only knocked it up a little. Pinser then attacked the limping Cobra machine, crushing it and pulling it over a flame jet, but Pinser burnt out as it drove over the flame jet, effectively immobilising both robots as Cobra was still caught in Pinser's grip. Both robots were counted out by Refbot, and Kronic the Wedgehog went through to the next round with The Kraken.

Kronic the Wedgehog then faced a seemingly easy battle in Robot Wars veterans Mighty Mouse, in the second round.

Kronic the Wedgehog hurls Mighty Mouse towards the arena wall

Both robots drove at each other to start with, but as Kronic the Wedgehog tried to get its flipper in under Mighty Mouse, Mighty Mouse pushed past Kronic, so Kronic's flip missed, causing most of its spikes to fall off.

"What were they stuck on with?"

— Jonathan Pearce

Mighty Mouse fled, and Kronic chased it. Kronic caught up with Mighty Mouse, but before Kronic could flip it, Mighty Mouse turned and tried to open the pit, but missed. Kronic got under Mighty Mouse and flipped it, but Mighty Mouse landed on its wheels. Mighty Mouse drove away, followed by Kronic, and after driving by the flame pit, Mighty Mouse turned to fight Kronic. It charged at Kronic, but drove up the side, allowing Kronic to turn, get the flipper under it and toss it against the wall with the flipper. Mighty Mouse landed on its wheels again, and fled. Might Mouse drove into the arena wall, but still managed to dodge Kronic for a while as it was being chased. Mighty Mouse rammed into Kronic's front, driving away before its opponent could flip, continued to dodge, then accidentally turned into Kronic. However, Kronic was at the wrong angle, so its flip missed, and Mighty Mouse drove away. Mighty Mouse drove into Refbot, then reversed past Kronic and straight to Growler. Mighty Mouse escaped the House Robot before it could attack, and hit the pit release tire, knocking it off, and drove into an empty CPZ. Kronic caught up and tried to flip Mighty Mouse, but Mighty Mouse dodged each flip.

"Mighty Mouse, this is a mighty performance in terms of driving skill, they're dodging everything out there, Kronic can't catch them!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Mighty Mouse defeats Kronic in an unanticipated turn of events

Mr. Psycho rides up the immobile Kronic the Wedgehog

However, in a sudden turn of events, Kronic hit the side wall, and Mighty Mouse rammed it into Growler's CPZ, where it was wedged against the wall and immobilised. It was counted out and attacked by the House Robots, being pushed up the arena by Growler, and hammered by Mr. Psycho. The huge house robot drove up Kronic's wedge just before cease was called.

"After the fight we found out that it was a seized motor which caused our downfall, not a broken speed controller as I originally suspected. The motor burned out because the driver and driven sprockets became misaligned, causing a lot of tension on the motor."

— David Lang

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 4
• Losses: 4

Series Record

• The insides of Kronic the Wedgehog in Series 4
• Kronic the Wedgehog in Dave Lang's garage
• Kronic 2 in the pits at Series 5
• Kronic 2 on display without decorative panels

1/4

Series	Kronic the Wedgehog Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Did not enter
The Third Wars	Failed to qualify
The Fourth Wars	Heat Final
The Fifth Wars	Heat, Round 1
The Sixth Wars	Heat, Round 2
The Seventh Wars	Heat, Round 2
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter

Outside Robot Wars

• Kronic 2 without its armour at a live event
• Kronic 3
• Weed, Team Kronic's featherweight
• Comparison of Kronic and Apollo

1/4

Kronic has become far more successful in recent years. Competing in the live circuits, and being renamed Kronic 3, its flipper was modified to be the length of the entire front wedge, and is now capable of throwing robots from the arena at height, doing so to other famous competitors such as Behemoth, Big Nipper and Iron-Awe. It won the Roaming Robots Winter Tour of 2005. In May 2010, the robot was sold to Team MAD as Team Kronic retired from building and operating heavyweight robots. Under their new team, Kronic became the 2010 and 2011 Annihilator Champion, which enabled it to become the second machine in history to reclaim the UK Annihilator title after Kan-Opener. Kronic's final appearance was at the 2014 FRA UK Championships, where it reached the quarter-finals; after this, it was retired from robot combat, and succeeded by Apollo in future Robots Live! events.

Chronic, the BattleBots equivalent of Kronic

Following its retirement, Kronic was rebuilt by Team Mad as Chronic for ABC's BattleBots reboot. Changes from the original robot included a 'launcher' that was powered by nitrogen instead of CO₂ in accordance with the new rules, as well as more armour. Chronic was selected as a reserve, but was not needed to replace any competitors. As a test for the production crew, Chronic fought and lost to fellow reserve robot Swamp Thing in the very first fight in the new BattleBox. Although it started off well, getting some good flips in and breaking off Swamp Thing's thwacking tail, Chronic's drive failed towards the end and it was counted out. Chronic was also due to compete in a nine-robot rumble at the end of the series, but due to time restraints in filming, it never took place.

Robot Wars Live Events

The latest version of Kronic 3 made two appearances at the Robot Wars live events. Its first appearance was at Barnsley in February 2013 where it reached the final of the main competition losing to Maelstrom when it was immobilised unable to self-right in the last 10 seconds of the fight. Its second Robot Wars live event was at Widnes 2013 where it reached the semi-final of the competition and was beaten by Maelstrom again.

Trivia

The model of Kronic the Wedgehog in Series 7

• In Series 7, the team carried a model of Kronic the Wedgehog in the pits and the control booth, and showed it to Craig Charles in the post-Round 2 interview.
• Like Wedgehog, Kronic the Wedgehog's name was based on Hedgehog (although Kronic's name was based on the Sonic the Hedgehog games). Coincidentally, both the former and the latter are currently owned by Team MAD.
  • Although the two robots were originally from separate teams, they are mistakenly credited as being from the same team in Robot Wars: The Ultimate Guide.
    • Kronic would not be the last robot to derive its name from Sonic the Hedgehog, as 2016 competitor Foxic would also base its name on the series.
• Throughout its appearances, a banner saying "I [Heart] Beer" was on the back of Kronic, this being a pun on the team's home village and the alcoholic beverage.
• Despite competing in four series, Kronic never took part in any side competitions or series of Robot Wars Extreme.
• In March 2012, Kronic broke Gravity's Robot Wars record for the quickest battle in all FRA competitions by throwing Iron-Awe 6 out of the arena in 4 seconds.
• In 2011, Kronic received an Honorable Mention in The Combat Robot Hall of Fame, as a result of its successes in live events held during Robot Wars' hiatus.

External Links

• Team Kronic website (archived)