Class Description
You’ve built a bot and now it’s time to make it unstoppable. Push your battlebot through real cycles of destruction and improvement: smash it, analyze what broke, and rebuild it better, faster, and stronger. Along the way, you’ll design and 3D print upgraded defenses, program autonomous behaviors, and capture epic battle footage to edit into a highlight reel. From flippers and rammers to sensor-triggered attacks and team battle strategy, every week you’ll level up your skills in CAD design, Arduino coding, camera operation, and video production, all while competing for your spot at the top of the Battle Bracket.
Learning Objectives: in this class, students will learn about
- Applying iterative engineering thinking by diagnosing real battle damage, repairing their bots, and improving designs based on evidence from each week’s competitions;
- Designing and 3D printing functional defense systems, including flippers, smashers, and ramming components, using professional CAD tools such as OnShape, TinkerCAD, and 123D Design;
- Building and programing electronics using Arduino and ESP32 microcontrollers to control motors, manage power systems, and operate onboard cameras for first-person battle footage;
- Developing camera operation skills using Insta360, iPads, and ESP32 cameras, then edit multi-angle footage into a polished highlight reel using DaVinci Resolve;
- Practicing collaborative design and team strategy by coordinating weapon systems and bot roles in 2v2 team battle scenarios;
- Competing in a progressive Battle Bracket across six weeks, connecting consistent effort in the mechanics shop and design studio directly to opportunity and advancement in competition;
- Building a final portfolio of CAD files, Arduino code, engineer’s log entries, and battle footage that documents their complete design and engineering process from broken bot to championship contender;
- The art of the peer critique and give peer critiques on the progress of student work;
- Opportunities and potential resources on career pathways;
- How to distribute, exhibit, and promote artwork for a variety of audiences.
Equipment
- PC computers
- iPads
- Solder station
- Microcontrollers
- Motors and motor drivers
- Adruinos
- Cameras
- Flysky controllers
- Frysky controllers
- Insta360
- VR goggles
- Drone goggles
Software
- Arduino IDE
- Shapelabs
- OnShape
- 123D Design
- Davinci Resolve
Deliverables: Students and Class Projects
- Upgraded BattleBot chassis and drivetrain – Rebuild and reinforce your bot’s foundation with improved wheels, chassis geometry, and armor plating designed to survive harder hits
- At least one mechanical upgrade to a Lego Technic base – Engineer a custom modification that improves the performance, durability, or attack capability of a Lego Technic platform
- Printed defense systems – Design and 3D print at least one upgraded offensive mechanism (flipper, smasher, or ramming system) based on real failure data from battle testing
- Team battle strategy build – Collaborate with a partner to coordinate weapon systems and bot design for a 2v2 team battle scenario
- Battle highlight reel – Capture footage from multiple camera angles (including onboard ESP32 cameras) and edit it into a polished highlight reel using DaVinci Resolve
