Combat Bot
A crowd-favourite build — students engineer a remote-controlled flipper or wedge bot from PVC foam board and battle it in the arena. Maximum engagement, fully sequenced.
8 hours of PD · student course notes & videos · full materials list — all in the one purchase.
Watch the project in action
One price. Everything to run it.
You are not just buying student worksheets. You get the full professional development so you can teach it with confidence — and every resource your students need to build it.
- ✓8 hours of step-by-step professional development — you learn the whole project before you teach it
- ✓Student course notes with the engineering principles, activities and linked videos
- ✓Instructional videos for every stage of the build
- ✓A teacher guide with the program, tips and how to troubleshoot when kids get stuck
- ✓A full materials list with links to where you buy each part
About this project
What students build
Students design and build a remote-controlled combat bot — choosing a pusher, wedge, lifter or flipper design — from PVC foam board joined with clipsters, no glue required. Most classes land on a flipper or wedge: the course notes work through the physics of a spinner bot and show students the numbers say it won’t land a meaningful hit, so they engineer a mechanism that actually will — then battle it against their classmates’.
Why it works in a real classroom
This is a mechanics unit with a bot at the end of it, not a bot build with some physics bolted on. Students work through mechanisms, simple machines, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, torque and statics — including the moments calculations behind their own flipper’s cam-and-lever mechanism — before they ever cut a panel. PVC foam board means fast, glue-free assembly, so when a design doesn’t work (and some won’t), it’s a five-minute rebuild, not a wasted lesson.
Then comes the payoff every class waits for: the arena. Bots compete under simple, safe competition rules while the whole room watches. That’s the hook that carries the electronics and the maths — and makes it the project kids talk about for the rest of the year.
How the unit is sequenced
Fully sequenced across the whole engineering process: origins of robot combat → combat bot design types → mechanics principles (motion, mechanisms, simple machines, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, torque, cams and statics) → materials science → success criteria → sketching → 1:1 template → cardboard model → building → electronics (controller and receiver) → testing and evaluation. You get the student course notes with every activity, a teacher guide, the wiring diagrams and the competition rules — so you know exactly what’s coming before you teach it.
Materials required — and where to buy them
Here is exactly what your students need to build it. We have done the sourcing for you — buy the parts yourself from the links below, or order them through us if you would rather not chase them down.
| Item | Where to buy |
|---|---|
| N20 drive motors (100 RPM, 6V) | Online (AliExpress / Temu) |
| PVC foam board (bot panels) | Local sign / plastics supplier |
| Clipsters (panel fasteners — no glue) | Online supplier |
| RC controller and receiver | Online (AliExpress / Temu) |
| Battery and holder | Local supplier |
See it built
Real builds from real classrooms.
What teachers say
“The kids were engaged the whole way through, and for once I wasn’t running around fixing everyone’s build. It just worked.”
“I’d never taught anything like this before. The PD meant I knew exactly what was coming and how to handle it. Genuinely saved me weeks of prep.”
Placeholder testimonials — replace with real teacher quotes.
Questions teachers ask
What size and rules does the combat bot need to follow?+
Bots must fit within 250 × 250 × 150mm, be remote controlled, built only from PVC foam board joined with clipsters (no glue), and include some mechanism for attack or defence on 2 or 4 wheels. The teacher guide has the full spec and safe competition rules.
Is this just a build project, or is there real engineering content?+
There's genuine mechanics behind it. Students work through mechanisms, simple machines, mechanical advantage, velocity ratio, torque and statics — with real formulas — and apply the maths directly to their own flipper's cam-and-lever mechanism before they build it.
How do the bots compete safely?+
The teacher guide includes simple, safe competition rules and a run-of-play so the final battles are exciting and controlled.
Do I need to be an expert to teach this?+
No. Every project includes 8 hours of professional development that walks you through the whole build from start to finish — including how to help students when something goes wrong. If you have never built with resistant materials before, this is designed for you.
What exactly do I get for the price?+
Everything you need to run the project: the professional development for you, the course notes and videos for your students, the teacher guide, and a materials list with links to buy the parts. One price, no add-ons required.
Is the professional development really included?+
Yes. The project and the PD are the same purchase — you are not buying them separately. Buy the project and the training comes with it.
What do I still need to buy on top?+
The student materials for the build. We give you the exact list and links to where you can buy each part (often cheaper online) — or, if you would rather not chase parts, you can order them through us.
How do my students and I get access after I buy?+
As soon as you check out you get access to the download pack and the professional development, so you can start planning straight away.
Can I use it with more than one class?+
Yes — one purchase covers you to run the project with your classes at your school.
What if it is not right for my classroom?+
If it is not a fit, get in touch and we will make it right. See our refund policy for the details.
Run Combat Bot without the overwhelm
One purchase gives you the training, the student resources and the materials list — everything you need to teach it with confidence.