Team Happy! Bots

How to Get Started

Everyone starts somewhere. Here's where to begin.

Find an Event

Spectators watching a combat robotics match at a local tournament

We loved going to local tournaments to watch fights before we started building. Most tournaments encourage spectators, and often there were opportunities to speak to builders and ask questions. We learned a lot simply from observing—and it's a lot of fun!

Most tournaments list their dates and locations on the following pages:

A few tips

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    Always ask builders if they have a moment for a question. Most tournaments only allow a very limited amount of time to repair between fights (and some builders are too nice to tell you they need every ounce of their focus). If they look frenzied or frantic—wait til the end!

  2. 2

    Observe safety regulations for spectators. These are dangerous robots—even the small ones could result in serious injury. Make sure to stay back as far as requested from the pits (the builder area) and the arena. From dangerous items being out in the open, to the rapid response from a fire, there are a myriad of hazards at a competition. If you plan to bring children to an event please see below.

  3. 3

    Bring earplugs or head phones. The sound of some of these weapons, amplified in an arena can be incredibly loud.

  4. 4

    Check the event details before you go. Details like entrance fees, parking instructions, and whether food will be available or not, vary from event to event. Checking the event listing can help you prepare.

Bringing your kids to an event? Love it. Read this.

We love seeing kids at our events. It's how so many of them get bit by the bug and find their niche. But it's important to know that these are not inherently kid friendly events. There are very sharp, dangerous objects, and no one is monitoring for your child's safety besides you.

Please make sure your child is not running or rough-housing, and that you are aware of the areas spectators are allowed to access. Please urge them not to touch anything without express permission from the builder or organizer. And as builders, we urge you to stay vigilant and aware of your child at all times.

Get Connected

There are tons resources out there to help you in your journey.

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Discord

Most tournaments are organized by geographical location. These groups interact primarily on Discord, but often have presences on other social media outlets. Jumping into a discord server can be your one stop shop to find out about local events, ask advice from builders, and research specific questions. The builder community is famously helpful and welcoming.

Texas

Texas Combat Robotics Discord

Find local Texas events, connect with builders, and get advice from the community.

Join the server →

Start Building

A young builder working on a combat robot at a workbench

Whether you are an engineer who regularly uses CAD (Computer Aided Design) software, or a complete newbie, there's a starting place for everyone. Your first step is to determine which weight class you want to start competing in. We strongly encourage new folks to begin with the plastic ant-weight class.

These robots weigh one pound, and are constructed using only plastic, 3D printed parts. It's the most affordable, most forgiving, and most easily accessible path. But there are 150g, 1lb full combat, 3lb, 12lb and 30lb robots as well. (Be aware that any robot that has an active, spinning weapon will need a bulletproof test box for turning that weapon on, or you will be in danger of serious harm. Click here for a helpful video for constructing one at home!)

1

Start with a Kit

It's where we started. There are a huge variety of kits offered for varying levels of experience and weight classes. The National Havoc Robot League (NHRL) discord has a full list of all the options that are available. Here are a few of our favorites.

Hot Rod by NectarRobotics

NectarRobotics — Thingiverse

Hot Rod — 1lb Combat Robot Kit

A free 1lb combat robot kit based on the robot Milk Teeth. Download the files and print your own.

thingiverse.com →
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Build Your Own

The goal isn't just building a robot — it's building something together. The Happy Bot Kit is designed for families who want to create memories in the workshop and on the arena floor.