Combat Robotics

BattleBots

Build a robot. Send it into the arena. See what survives. BattleBots is our weekly combat robotics program, where students design, build, and battle their own bots — then head back to the workbench to make them better. It's engineering with a scoreboard.

Behind the battles is real learning: mechanical design, drive systems, armor and weight tradeoffs, and the engineering habit that matters most — iterating when something breaks. Students learn to win graciously, lose usefully, and treat every match as data for the next rebuild. No experience needed.

Program BattleBots

Ages 7–14 years old

Category Combat Robotics

Schedule Mondays 4:30–6:30 PM

Fall Sessions Session 1: Sept 14 – Nov 2 (no class Sept 21 & Oct 12) · Session 2: Nov 9 – Dec 14

Location 113 Liberty Street, Newburgh, NY

Cost $30 drop-in through Nov 2 · Session 2: $175 session or $40 drop-in · Scholarships available

Register for the full session → Session 1 drop-in → Session 2 drop-in →

What Students Learn

Learning outcomes

Mechanical design: drive systems, armor, and weight tradeoffs
Building and wiring a working combat robot
Testing, breaking, and rebuilding — the engineering cycle
Strategy and driving skills in head-to-head matches
Safety practices for tools, batteries, and the arena
Sportsmanship — winning graciously and losing usefully

Gallery

In the studio

Student with her robot on the test floor

Instructor

Meet your instructor

Dave Long

BattleBots Instructor · Newburgh Creates

For Educators

Teacher resources

Curriculum guides, session plans, and program materials for BattleBots instructors and partner educators are available in the teacher portal.

Access Teacher Portal →

From the blog

What kids get out of robotics

Coach Dave Long on what students learn in FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge, the careers it points toward, and what the research says about college and scholarships.

Read: The benefits of robotics for kids →

Ready to battle?

Enroll in BattleBots

Open to youth ages 7–14 in the Hudson Valley. Scholarships available.

Register for the full session → Session 1 drop-in → Session 2 drop-in → Ask a Question →