Getting Started with Battle Kitbots
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to fight robots. I saw BattleBots on TV and knew that one day I would have my own robot to compete. It wasn't until I reached college, pursuing an engineering degree, that I had the chance to build my own robot. Most people who watch BattleBots don't know that there are many weight classes outside of the 250lb heavyweights. In fact, there are hundreds of competitions for 1lb and 3lb robots in the United States and around the world.
But getting into combat robotics with a fully custom design can be a huge hurdle to overcome. There are thousands of choices for motors, batteries, and speed controllers, and having to decide everything on your own can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, several vendors have built kit robots that you can buy, assemble, and then really compete with. These builders did all the hard work sourcing motors, programming speed controllers, designing custom weapons, and crafting most of the parts. This destroys all obstacles to your own bot's entry into battle. If you think battling robots sounds fun, I highly recommend starting with a kit robot.
You'll learn more than you expected from your first event, and most kits are pretty competitive for their cost.
Most kits come with everything you need to compete except an RC transmitter and a lithium polymer battery charger. These two components, sold separately, can be shared between many robots and are things you will continue to use as you move forward and start creating your own robots.
I have now designed and built 11 battlebots and fought over 100 battles. I've had the chance to fight just about every kit on the market, and the few that I haven't fought I've watched fight in multiple events. Here are my tips for getting started with ant weight (1lb) kitbots.
BEST FIRST KIT: THE VIPERWhile you'd love to have a robot kit with a big rotating weapon, I would caution you against a kinetic weapon for your first robot. These robots are not toys and can easily release more energy than a handgun. When you test centrifuges without proper safety precautions and a test box, it's very easy to end up in the ER. I recommend starting with a corner crawler or lift kit and once you get some experience moving on to something more dangerous.
The first kit anyone venturing into combat robotics should get is the Viper from FingerTech Robotics. This anti-weight robot features a bent sheet metal frame, two drive motors attached to foam wheels, and a polycarbonate wedge. This really is the simplest kit, for someone who hasn't touched a battlebot. There are great instructions on their website, and the $156 price tag makes it by far the cheapest kit on my list. Although you might think that a simple kit like the Viper can't win matches, they are actually very hard to kill. Upgrading the front cleat from polycarbonate to steel or titanium lets them take big spinner hits, and wheel guards can easily be added to protect their drivetrain. Overall a great investment and the best starter kit on the market.
Once you've finished your first few competitions with the Viper kit, you don't have to throw it away to move on to something new. FingerTech offers three upgrade options for the Viper:
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to fight robots. I saw BattleBots on TV and knew that one day I would have my own robot to compete. It wasn't until I reached college, pursuing an engineering degree, that I had the chance to build my own robot. Most people who watch BattleBots don't know that there are many weight classes outside of the 250lb heavyweights. In fact, there are hundreds of competitions for 1lb and 3lb robots in the United States and around the world.
But getting into combat robotics with a fully custom design can be a huge hurdle to overcome. There are thousands of choices for motors, batteries, and speed controllers, and having to decide everything on your own can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, several vendors have built kit robots that you can buy, assemble, and then really compete with. These builders did all the hard work sourcing motors, programming speed controllers, designing custom weapons, and crafting most of the parts. This destroys all obstacles to your own bot's entry into battle. If you think battling robots sounds fun, I highly recommend starting with a kit robot.
You'll learn more than you expected from your first event, and most kits are pretty competitive for their cost.
Most kits come with everything you need to compete except an RC transmitter and a lithium polymer battery charger. These two components, sold separately, can be shared between many robots and are things you will continue to use as you move forward and start creating your own robots.
I have now designed and built 11 battlebots and fought over 100 battles. I've had the chance to fight just about every kit on the market, and the few that I haven't fought I've watched fight in multiple events. Here are my tips for getting started with ant weight (1lb) kitbots.
BEST FIRST KIT: THE VIPERWhile you'd love to have a robot kit with a big rotating weapon, I would caution you against a kinetic weapon for your first robot. These robots are not toys and can easily release more energy than a handgun. When you test centrifuges without proper safety precautions and a test box, it's very easy to end up in the ER. I recommend starting with a corner crawler or lift kit and once you get some experience moving on to something more dangerous.
The first kit anyone venturing into combat robotics should get is the Viper from FingerTech Robotics. This anti-weight robot features a bent sheet metal frame, two drive motors attached to foam wheels, and a polycarbonate wedge. This really is the simplest kit, for someone who hasn't touched a battlebot. There are great instructions on their website, and the $156 price tag makes it by far the cheapest kit on my list. Although you might think that a simple kit like the Viper can't win matches, they are actually very hard to kill. Upgrading the front cleat from polycarbonate to steel or titanium lets them take big spinner hits, and wheel guards can easily be added to protect their drivetrain. Overall a great investment and the best starter kit on the market.
Once you've finished your first few competitions with the Viper kit, you don't have to throw it away to move on to something new. FingerTech offers three upgrade options for the Viper:
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