2025 was a relatively quiet year for Vorion. As Phenomenon experimented with hubmotors, Vorion was considered a “control” machine where nothing was really changed on it for competition. After quick repairs from the 2024 NHRL Finals, Vorion was brought out early in the season to snag a qualification spot at the February 2025 event.
NHRL February 2025
Ultimately Vorion was doomed by persistent radio issues. Despite the machine having the same strong fundamentals as years pass, some increase in wireless noise meant that the FS2A and R86 receivers were no longer functional as the machine kept shutting off during fights and led to it being mulched by opponents. Undertaker especially was able to maul the lethargic machine and knock it out. While it did reach the semifinals and therefore qualified for the NHRL Finals, it left the machine on a low point heading into the rest of the year. The lesson has been learned: the radio needed to be updated or it was going to fail again. Though at one point in the top ten, Vorion continued to slide down the rankings.
After being replaced with the ELRS protocol and ER5C-i, the radio problems seemed to go away so it was time to do other testing on Phenomenon.
After its long offseason, it was once again time to prepare for the upcoming FInals!
Since this chassis shape has been assembled numerous times at this point the reassembly flew along very quickly. The only change to the normal function of this bot was using a prototype Zombox paired with a 500kv 4258 brushless motor for the drive. The regular attachments such as the lifting fork, lifting mount, and fork mounts were welded up and paired with the machines to get it prepared. There was an idea to consider using folded plastic to protect from hammersaws but was ultimately scrapped due to weight and complexity. Perhaps it will be revisited again someday.
Once the robots were painted and assembled, it was time for decoration! To add the characteristic slashes to the top, the decals were linked together to keep position then cut when laid correctly. It seemed to turn out well! Once both copies were assembled, the bots were packed up and prepared for the Finals!
NHRL Grand Finals 2025
Vorion did not have a good Finals run. After losing its rematch to Undertaker due to being outreached and out driven. Though the fight with Lil Lash was one of high excitement, the improperly pressed pinion on the drive motor and getting stuck on the wall of the arena meant it was ultimately a more disappointing fight. Though this wasn’t the performance hoped for, Vorion did learn lessons that were passed on to 2026.
Vorion’s Future
While Vorion was a solid machine, it was clear that the team strategy would need to change. With the growth of NHRL it has proven very difficult to run it and Phenomenon at the same time. While it is technically possible to do so according to the rules, it would require a more radical separation between it and Phenomenon. As NHRL is driving its growth toward the more expected sports model, distinction is essential. Even during Vorion’s time it was clear it and Phenomenon were essentially the same robot with graphical differences with the intention of increasing entry potential to the Finals. This homogeneity is not good for each machine to be distinct and add variety to the field. It also, very simply, just costs a lot of money to run multiple 30lbers and this team is not large.
Since Phenomenon carries its long legacy as one of the oldest 30lb robots at NHRL (and likely on the planet) it will continue on in a more exciting innovation. Vorion is temporarily retired but its name will not be forgotten. It is distinguished as the 1st team dumpster winner, 1st title holder, and 1st team machine to appear on television! Though hardly a graceful ending to a lightning start, be assured this machine will return but likely not in 2026.
