BattleBots — A first year robotics-based inter-discplinary engineering project

This paper describes a multi-disciplinary engineering project using robotics that is completed by all first year engineering students at La Trobe University. Previously there were specific concerns related to student engagement and learning of foundational skills which would be built upon in their course. The competitive BattleBots and LineFollower projects described in this paper increased student engagement, encouraged healthy competition, innovation and has resulted in students receiving a better foundational understanding of the key concepts related to embedded hardware design. This project new project has run since 2012 and was evaluated based on student feedback, innovations, the competitive nature of the competitions and on the flow-through teaching impact on the course.