Thymio Battle Bots Lesson Key Concepts

Build and battle with Thymio and explore how engineering, programming, and strategy come together! This multi-part lesson focuses on design, control, and autonomous behavior:

• Design and build battle bots using Thymio and LEGO attachments.
• Start with remote control to understand movement and driving strategies.
• Program autonomous movement for spinning, forward, and backward attacks.
• Advanced: Use sensors to detect opponents and trigger actions like charging or spinning.
• Advanced: Fine-tune behaviors to create smart and competitive battle strategies.

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, students will:

1. Build a battle bot with a front attachment for pushing or blocking.
2. Control the robot using a remote to practice driving and strategy.
3. Program autonomous movement patterns for attack and defense.
4. Use sensors to react to opponents and create advanced behaviors.

By the end of this lesson, students will understand how engineering design and programming combine to create competitive robotic systems.

Important Notes:

This lesson is split into three parts: remote control, autonomous movement, and sensor-based behavior. Each stage builds on the previous one.

Tips for this Lesson:

1. Start with a strong and stable build before programming.
2. Test movement controls before adding autonomous behavior.
3. Adjust speeds and timing for better control during battles.
4. Experiment with sensor triggers to create smarter reactions.

Products/Materials

The following products and resources can be used in this lesson:

FUN FACT!

Did you know that real robot competitions often use similar strategies like pushing, blocking, and reacting to opponents? Engineers design both the hardware and the code to gain an advantage, just like in your Thymio battles!

⚠️ Safety Tip: If you create a sumo-style arena where robots push each other out, use a very low platform or table (no higher than 5 cm) to prevent damage.

Download the Lesson PDF Files Below:

Check out the video tutorial/solutions below:

⚠️ Note: This project requires two dongles on different channels, with each Thymio robot programmed separately. Watch the tutorial video below.