HIGH SCHOOL COMBAT ROBOTICS

Program Outline

Working with expert guidance from their high school teachers and industry mentors, BotsIQ students work in teams during the academic year to design and build 15 lb. combat robots (bots) to battle in a gladiator-style competition.

BotsIQ holds preliminary competitions in March for teams to test their bots and battle for seedings at the Finals Competition in April. Teams not only earn points for their arena battles, they are evaluated by industry experts on their engineering binder. The team’s documentation binder points weigh heavily in the crowning of the competition’s Grand Champion.

The competitions are something that the students can get excited about, but the real-world goal of BotsIQ is to provide a setting where students develop in-demand, technical skills in mechanical and electrical engineering, machining, and welding, along with 21st century skills in critical thinking, project management, communication and teamwork.

Competition Information

Past Winners

Calendar of Events

Battery Making Workshop

January 17, 2024 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Girls Exploring Engineering Day 2024

February 21, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 1:45 pm

BotsIQ Preliminary Competition 2024 – Robert Morris University

March 7, 2024 @ 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

BotsIQ Preliminary Competition 2024 – Westmoreland County Community College – Day 1

March 13, 2024 @ 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

Registration

Registration for the 2022-23 school year is currently closed.

Competition Rules and Regulations

Version 1.7 Competition Rules and Regulations (Copyright 2022)
Version 1.8 Technical Regulations (Copyright 2022)

Competition Documentation

Version 7.1 Documentation Rubric (Copyright 2023)
Documentation Due Dates 2022-23
Link to Submit Your BotsIQ Documentation (2023)

Forms for Competition

All students must have a copy of the BotsIQ consent and liability form signed by a parent or guardian for competition.

BotsIQ Consent and Liability Release Form 2022-23

September – October:

BotsIQ closes team registration and kicks off the school year with a Teacher Professional Development Day that provides technical and programmatic assistance to BotsIQ teachers and core student team members. Teams also receive a stipend for participating in BotsIQ. These funds may be used to purchase tools, equipment or materials to create their 15-lb combat robot (bot).

October – February:

BotsIQ teams work at their schools to design, machine, build, and assemble their bots. Teams evaluate designs and document their findings for their competition binders. Also during this time, teams meet with their manufacturing industry advisors to tour a manufacturing facility and interview at least one professional from the company. Teams from underserved areas are able to apply for additional funding support to cover expenses related to transportation to visit their industry partner.

Spring (March – May):

In March, teams attend their first competition and test their creations. After the event, teams return to their schools with their findings and repair and modify their bots for the final competition.

In April, teams attend the BotsIQ Finals Competition, facing the largest test of their engineering design work, and vying for the Grand Champion trophy. Since the Finals Competition is a double elimination event, teams are constantly diagnosing and repairing problems that come up throughout the competition. Documentation binders containing safety plans, engineering drawing, and system descriptions are collected and evaluated by judges.

In May, teams are invited to attend the National Competition hosted by the National Robotics League. This event brings teams from across the country together for an exciting 2-day event.