BattleBots Camp: Robotics Engineering with VEX

Price: Starting at $1,249
Age: 13 - 17
Skill Level: Beginner–Advanced
Format: iD Tech Camps | Small-Group, On-Campus
Duration: Weeklong program, 8 hours per day

About This Course

Get ready for the ultimate showdown! BattleBots brings the craftsmanship of engineering together with the high-octane excitement of a robotics championship. You’ll customize, build, and wire a base for your robot with the VEX Robotics Design System. Using VEX C++, you and your team will code your bot to take on daily challenges against other bots to see who can take the lead and get the highest score. You’ll optimize your bot’s hardware and software as it competes against your peers’ creations, ensuring maximum chance of victory. Think you have what it takes to make it to the winner's circle? “Let the bot battle begin!"

Topics Covered

Build a custom robot with VEX V5 hardware
Program behaviors and controls in C++
Design original games and challenges for your robot
Compete in a BattleBots-style championship

Sample Schedule

Here’s a sample of what a week in the course could look like! Please keep in mind that students will progress at varying paces; this is a general outline of the key material and overall student experience.

Monday: Build a Drivable Base for the Robot

Calling all contestants to the stage! Students will kick off the week by discussing the basic protocols of BattleBots camp. Then, they’ll build a drivable base for their robot and begin collaborating with other students to define the rules of their custom competition.

Tuesday: Plan & Take Stock of Mechanical Devices & Equipment

Students will form teams and begin planning their robots’ designs. They’ll discuss engineering basics and take stock of the available mechanical devices and equipment before heading to the drawing board to tackle the final design of their champion.

Wednesday: Program a Robot Controller with C++ & VEXcode

Next, students will learn how to program a robot controller with C++ and VEXcode. Then, they’ll brainstorm ways to give their robot a unique fighter personality — like the ones that appear in BattleBots arenas!

Thursday: Build, Iterate, Test & Battle

Let the bot battle begin! Students will build, iterate, and test their robot designs before moving on to the main event. The final competition will test each student’s technical knowledge and ingenuity as they face off against their peers’ robots in custom challenges.

Friday: Document Design Process in a Build Journal

As the competition draws to a close, students will wrap up by documenting their design process in a Build Journal and finish up any remaining battles.

Portfolio-Boosting Diploma & Transcript

At the conclusion of your child's course, they will receive an official iD Tech diploma and course transcript outlining the skills they learned over the course of the week.

Learn from the best.

Passion for tech. Unmatched expertise. Personality that brings out the absolute best in your child. With 23 years of experience, we know there's no replacement for the best teacher. It's no surprise that iconic companies like Google, EA, Microsoft, and Disney hire the same talent we do. Our iD Certified instructors possess the whole package of skills that top employers seek.

100% USA-based, adult instructors
Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
Rigorous background and reference checks
Robust training programs and certification
Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

Instructor Highlights

Chris M.

Software Engineer
at Google

“My time as an iD instructor was really formative. I stayed with STEM in college as a Computer Science and Electrical Engineering major, and now I’m working at Google in Chicago. If you find yourself thinking about STEM-related things outside of school, follow that passion. Major in it. Keep pursuing it.”

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

Instructor Highlights

Aspen C.

Associate Designer
at Bethesda Softworks

“The spirit of innovation and creativity I felt around my students while teaching Unity led me toward my career as a professional game designer. My time at iD Tech taught me that no dream is too big, and that brilliant ideas can come from anywhere.”

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

Instructor Highlights

Brian M.

Software Engineer
at Disney

“The opportunity to create an environment of collaboration, inclusion, and creativity was a truly special experience. The skills I honed while teaching at iD Tech led me to my software engineering roles at ESPN and the Walt Disney Company.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is VEX?

VEX is a popular, exciting, robotics platform designed for teens to build a wide variety of robots. Features includes sensors, which gather information for the robot, and motors, which allow users to create moving parts, like wheels and claw arms.

Why should my child learn robotics?

Robotics is an integral part of cutting-edge careers like aerospace engineering, computer science, and hardware design. If your child loves to tinker and would enjoy learning about STEM in a concrete way, their new robotics project could be just the thing to help them envision a future in one of these professions.

And then of course there are the “soft skills” that go along with advancing as a young robotics engineer.

Think about, for instance, the perseverance it takes to patiently and meticulously assemble a piece of hardware or the problem-solving necessary to program a robot to complete an obstacle course. These skills are essential not only in the STEM world, but in the working world as a whole.

What college and career opportunities can this course lead to?

Everything from cars and smartphones to thermostats and gaming consoles are tied to robotics and mechanical engineering. Whether your child dreams of becoming a Hardware Designer at Apple or an Aerospace Technician at NASA, robotics camp teaches the skills required to make it a reality!

Is this course suitable for all skill levels?

Yes, this course is designed for beginner to advanced students. Our small class size ensures that each student receives individual attention and has the freedom to learn at their own pace.

What is the camp experience like?

At our on-campus programs, students get inspired by iconic architecture, learn in our next-gen labs, and get a taste of collegiate life. With our small classes, your child will progress at their own pace with the hottest software and hardware, while learning from carefully-vetted talent sought by companies like Google, Apple, EA, and Disney. They hire who we hire.

As the only STEM educator rooted in 23+ years of legendary camp traditions, we know that when learning is fun, kids and teens stick with it! At camp, students build relationships in a fun and inclusive campus setting, and in between sessions in the labs, can be found diving into high-energy outdoor games and video game tournaments, and bonding over legendary iD traditions like raffles, pie-your-instructor Fridays, and so much more.