Why combat robots?
Among the apparent educational benefits, combat robotics is a fantastic vehicle for teaching a vast range of STEM components.
Primarily, combat robotics offers students a unique opportunity to investigate the science and design of engineering materials.
Most computer modeling software programs are not designed to calculate for the types of damage and levels of impact that combat robots encounter.
Combat robots experience extreme cases of impact, and students must think critically and use intuition, experience, and teamwork to prepare for their next match after each battle.
Students must only choose components within the SPARC ruleset and quickly make choices to revise their robots based on knowledge derived from actual experiences rather than theories.
Once you experience it you will wonder why this sport has not been in K-12 schools all along.
I have elementary students who compete against high school and college students and even adults-- and win. Young students have more to contribute than many people realize and they are eager to get their hands on building and driving robots!
Combat robotics is an amazingly satisfying, all encompassing, and engaging way to teach STEM!
Primarily, combat robotics offers students a unique opportunity to investigate the science and design of engineering materials.
Most computer modeling software programs are not designed to calculate for the types of damage and levels of impact that combat robots encounter.
Combat robots experience extreme cases of impact, and students must think critically and use intuition, experience, and teamwork to prepare for their next match after each battle.
Students must only choose components within the SPARC ruleset and quickly make choices to revise their robots based on knowledge derived from actual experiences rather than theories.
Once you experience it you will wonder why this sport has not been in K-12 schools all along.
I have elementary students who compete against high school and college students and even adults-- and win. Young students have more to contribute than many people realize and they are eager to get their hands on building and driving robots!
Combat robotics is an amazingly satisfying, all encompassing, and engaging way to teach STEM!
After-School Form:
Elective Form:
T-Shirt Designs by my daughter Zoe Jane:
Poster Designs by Zoe Jane:
very important rules to know:
- Robots with active weapons must only be activated inside an arena! (This is rule #1! You will be removed from this elective or club, disqualified immediately during tournaments, and receive NO refund of fees if you ever break this rule at school or off the school campus!)
- Only students and teams showing GREAT maturity and sportsmanship will be allowed to compete and return for future tournaments! -It's okay to be upset if you lose a match but it is NEVER okay to have a fit of pique over losing a match. If you want to remain on a team or participate-- you will try your very best to show class, dignity, and grace whether you win or lose a match! We will show all victors that we are happy for them. *Unless the opponent is a sore winner-- then you may feel free to just smile and walk away.
- Everyone MUST be as gentle as possible on the school floors or fields and with any lab gear!!!!!! Respect and help your hosts and you may be invited back!
- No drilling or grinding inside buildings. We have an area set up outside for this.
- Leave no trace-anywhere! Clean up your pit area and leave NO trace of litter ANYWHERE! Carry your trash with you until you find a bagged trashcan. Put things away PRECISELY where they belong.
- No flame weapons. See SPARC rulesets for all other questions about what is off-limits.
- Only coaches and roboteers are allowed in the pits!
- A weapon lock is required for all weapons.
- All Lipo batteries must be in a LiPo bag while charging. -- Bring your own power strips.
- It is expected that all coaches and builders will follow basic safety practices during work on the robot/s at your pit station. Safety glasses will be worn in the pits. No running, unsupervised children, or roughhousing is allowed indoors or within 50 feet of the the pits if we are outdoors. Please be alert and aware of your pit neighbors and be mindful of people passing by to get to and from the arena with their robots.
Fingertech Robotics Kits!
We are sponsored by Fingertech Robotics and we use their Viper Kits to teach introduction to combat robots.
We get our spare parts from our sponsor Palm Beach Bots.
Students will need a Viper kit, a weapon add-on, a radio and transmitter, and basic tools.
Currently, I have twenty house robots with weapons that students may share if they do not yet wish to purchase their own Viper kit and gear.
The lab fee to use house bots and gear is $80.00.
The lab fee to bring your own robot is $40.00.
This fee covers arena upkeep, damage to house robots, soldering, use of my batteries, tools and other parts or items I provide in the lab.
I will teach students about the tournament rules, limitations of and types of materials competitors may use, and any safety procedures we must follow.
During our first lessons together we set our team norms and procedures and we learn the steps in the Engineering Design Process (EDP).
Before students build they must complete a "My Pre-Build Checklist" in their packet.
Please find the packet by scrolling down this page-- it is posted below and it's called, "My Pre-Build Checklist."
**A few tips: do NOT get Locktite on polycarbonate--this will crack it!
Do not leave any types of batteries connected, because they will drain and die!
NEVER try to charge lipo batteries on your own or inside of a robot until I have cleared you to do so!!!
Bring your batteries to me or a "battery captain" to charge them and/or put them in storage mode!
Students will need 8 AA batteries plus spares for their radios.
We get our spare parts from our sponsor Palm Beach Bots.
Students will need a Viper kit, a weapon add-on, a radio and transmitter, and basic tools.
Currently, I have twenty house robots with weapons that students may share if they do not yet wish to purchase their own Viper kit and gear.
The lab fee to use house bots and gear is $80.00.
The lab fee to bring your own robot is $40.00.
This fee covers arena upkeep, damage to house robots, soldering, use of my batteries, tools and other parts or items I provide in the lab.
I will teach students about the tournament rules, limitations of and types of materials competitors may use, and any safety procedures we must follow.
During our first lessons together we set our team norms and procedures and we learn the steps in the Engineering Design Process (EDP).
Before students build they must complete a "My Pre-Build Checklist" in their packet.
Please find the packet by scrolling down this page-- it is posted below and it's called, "My Pre-Build Checklist."
**A few tips: do NOT get Locktite on polycarbonate--this will crack it!
Do not leave any types of batteries connected, because they will drain and die!
NEVER try to charge lipo batteries on your own or inside of a robot until I have cleared you to do so!!!
Bring your batteries to me or a "battery captain" to charge them and/or put them in storage mode!
Students will need 8 AA batteries plus spares for their radios.
Click on the PINK Plus Signs below --consecutively-- for the Witch Dr. Jr. Video series, which outlines our first 9 weeks:
Next, you will be taking a flyer home for your adult in charge to complete and return:
Roboteers, please complete the following survey and quizzes during week 1:
Manufacturing Quiz:
Click HERE to take the Quiz
Careers Quiz for kids:
This outlines more of what to know about our builds:
Every roboteer must complete this packet carefully before they begin their build:
| pre_build_checklist_-final_22.pdf |
Team ContracTs and Rubrics by PBLWorks:
Typically, I design all my own rubrics but I find the PBL Works rubrics are a fantastic resource for instructors, students, and teams.
Please find some PBL Works examples below:
Please find some PBL Works examples below:
SPARC RObot Construction Specs:
Click here to see the construction specs and more that may be found at Standardized Procedures for the Advancement of Robotic Combat (SPARC)
Sparkfun Plastic Ant Builds:
Sparkfun provides a wealth of brilliant information on helping students and teachers get started making these terrific entry level and inexpensive robots.
For the plastic ants we build at school, we use Arduino-based RC channel mixers and use 3D Slash, Solidworks Apps for Kids, or TinkerCAD, to design a robot chassis.
Then we use our 3D printers to print each student's combat bot chassis.
We use the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to help us test our designs and make improvements.
For the plastic ants we build at school, we use Arduino-based RC channel mixers and use 3D Slash, Solidworks Apps for Kids, or TinkerCAD, to design a robot chassis.
Then we use our 3D printers to print each student's combat bot chassis.
We use the Engineering Design Process (EDP) to help us test our designs and make improvements.
Our Team Jobs:
For the 2022-2023 season our Team Captains are Carston, LJ, Caleb, Cayden, and Ethan.
I will appoint two battery cadets, two arena cadets, two soldering cadets, a Lead Strategist, two Quality Assurance Technicians, and several scouts.
We are all drivers and builders.
And we ALWAYS need adult helpers after school to help maintain robots and help with the arena!!!!!!
I will appoint two battery cadets, two arena cadets, two soldering cadets, a Lead Strategist, two Quality Assurance Technicians, and several scouts.
We are all drivers and builders.
And we ALWAYS need adult helpers after school to help maintain robots and help with the arena!!!!!!