If you are interested in combat robotics and don’t know where to start so that you too can be waiting on parts, these links may be of assistance.
Kits
- D2 Combat Robot from botkits.com
- FingerTech Viper
- Absolute Chaos Robotics sells the Jolt!, Shock!, and Spark! kits. I run a Jolt! kit as Supply Chain Issues.
Control Electronics (RC transmitters and receivers)
- Spektrum – controllers, receivers, ESCs, batteries, servos, and more
- Futaba – pretty much the same as above
- Reddit – best controller/transmitter
- FrSky – yet another major RC transmitter and receiver manufacturer
- OpenTX – OpenTX is open source firmware for RC radio transmitters.
- RobotLogic – offers mixers to implement various drive types, such as mecanum
Components and other vendors of use to bot building
- Fingertech power switch
- Team Whyachi products – gearboxes and main switches
- Robot Power – Electronic Speed Controls
- Max Amps Batteries
- Castle – sponsors Skorpios. Motors, ESCs, and so on.
- SendCutSend – laser cutting service. sponsors everyone and everything.
- CNC Madness mainly focuses on machined carbon fiber, but will do wood and metal
- Amp Flow – Motors, non-RC-style motor controllers, power supplies, gear motors
- AndyMark develops, manufactures, and distributes mechanical and electrical parts for the mobile and competitive robotics market, with a focus on robotics education.
- Gens Tattu – batteries
- Pololu – They make stuff and sell stuff
- Rev Robotics – Focuses on FIRST
- Robot Marketplace
- SuperDroid Robots
- Don’t forget that for the most part combat robots are just RC cars with a knife taped on the front, so the RC hobby shops, including the national chains/franchises, are an option
- Endbots – Belts, Pulleys, Connectors, Switches, Electronics, Hardware, Motors, Kits, Tools, and Wheels
- BaneBots – Gearboxes mostly
- Active Robots
- Servo City
- Fairloc pulleys were mentioned by whatshisname from bloodsport.
- Xometry is actually a broker / agent for other companies.
- Big Blue Saw – laser and water jet cutting
- Run Cam FPV Cameras
- Moore’s Ideal Products – Recommended by Dominic Yadefinitelynotspellingthatcorrectly from Team Already Broke
- Robot Shop sells a wide variety of bot-building parts.
- ItGresa carries pretty much everything that is needed. Based out of Georgia, so effectively 2-day shipping to me, even via ground.
- Palm Beach Bots is in Palm Beach, Florida. I had stumbled across this one long ago, but managed to not add it to the list.
- BotKits.com sells more than just the D2 kit.
- Robot Matter will help you finish your beetle.
- Robots Ruined My Life has all your favorite shirts and other merch.
Teams and Builders
- SPARC – Standardized Procedures for the Advancedment of Robotic Combat
- BattleBots Rules
- RioBotz Combot Tutorial – A deep dive yet also just an introduction
- 3lb Beginner’s Guide
- How to build a 3lb robot
- Team Witch Doctor YouTube – Tale of the Tape After Show gives some insights into everything.
- Rob Cowan (Crippling Depression, Copperhead) has quite a few videos regarding construction, machining, and all things DIY.
- Robotic Death Company – Gigabyte
Events, Venues, and Competitions
- Rocket Republic Taproom Tap Out
- Northeast Robotics Club
- Norwalk Havoc Robot League – Has events every couple of months with invitational tournament at the end of the year.
Design & Rules
- SPARC – Standardized Procedures for the Advancedment of Robotic Combat
- BattleBots Rules
- RioBotz Combot Tutorial – A deep dive yet also just an introduction
- 3lb Beginner’s Guide
- How to build a 3lb robot
Blogs, Podcasts, Videos
- Behind the Bots
- The Robocast
- I’m sure there are others