Get Started with Robot Fighting!

Great Question! We get that one a lot. So much so that we’ve created a simple five-point plan to help you go from the very basics to advanced design.  Check it out here: Getting Started in Combat Robotics.

Yes.  Classes are generally weight-based, but there are special subclasses that modify the weight classes.  See this table:

In practice, however, most people talk about four classes using these names:  fairyweight, antweight (1 lb), beetleweight (3 lb), and “Battlebots” – class (250 lb).  The other classes are generally just referred to by poundage (ex: 12 lb, 30 lb), instead of by class name.

There are special class modifiers.  For instance, the “Plastic class” are bots in which all of the structural members must be made of particular plastics.

The “Sportsman class” are bots without Kinetic Energy (KE) weapons, such as spinners.

Rules have been generally standardized under the SPARC ruleset, (SPARC:  Standardized Procedures for the Advancement of Robot Combat).  However, in practice, Event Organizers often deviate to a certain extent to make for a better match or to allow for local variation or preference.  

SPARC has created methods to allow for this variation and suggests the use of a SPARC-compliant icon to clearly indicate “pure” SPARC rules vs some level of variation.

We have a consolidated list we do our best to keep updated here https://itgresa.com/combat-robotics-events/ 

One of the best sites with listings of events is:  https://www.robotcombatevents.com/

Another is:  https://www.buildersdb.com/

Heck, yes!  We’re big believers in combat robotics for kids!  We think it’s a great thing.

Our own kids started at around ages 8 or 9.   They started with weaponized Viper kits.   You can see John’s very first fight here.

That has worked out well for the boys and for us as parents. Their excitement and interest in combat robotics have led them to learn CAD, start 3D printing, decide to take engineering in high school.  They are both now planning to attend one of the best engineering schools in the country.

As a parent, you’ll need to spend time with your kids as they learn combat robotics.  They’ll need help putting the bot together and interpreting instructions.  You can also help them understand what the important parts of the bots do, and how they work together.

One critical thing, though– safety.  Safety isn’t a big problem with unweaponized antweights or beetleweights, wedges or even lightweight lifters.  Once you get into weapons beyond wedges and lifters, though, safety becomes critically important.  Kids can’t understand the gravity and seriousness of the damage that weapons can do.  That’s your job — you’re the responsible adult.

DON’T let your child test their weaponized bot without a test box.  A test box is a box sturdy enough to allow you to spin up the weapon and protect you, and your children, from any damage.   Resist the temptation to just “try it out.”  Nothing is worth potentially seriously injuring your children or yourself.

And test boxes are easy to make.  If you’re handy enough to build a combat robot, odds are that you’re handy enough to build a test box.  All to takes is a few materials you can get at Home Depot, and a few tools.

Here is a video of how to build a basic test box:  https://youtu.be/hrPUCCNO4-Q

Here’s another from Just Cuz Robotics:  https://youtu.be/qdSkZc4kfAw

Here’s one from Robert Cowan:  https://youtu.be/Xmkoan5qBwo

Don’t like videos?  Here’s a blog entry by Ryan Clingman from Absolute Chaos Robotics:  https://absolutechaosrobotics.wordpress.com/2020/06/19/new-test-box/

Be safe with your kids– build a test box.