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You can build a simple, low-speed cardboard push-bot with two drive motors, an Arduino-compatible controller, and a motor driver. The easiest path in the documented cardboard project uses a NodeMCU ESP-12E (ESP8266) and Wi-Fi browser control; this is an educational model, not a validated combat robot. Keep it supervised, avoid mechanisms that can injure people, and check the rules for your school or activity before building for an event.
Choose a control setup before buying parts
Use one control architecture from start to finish. The documented cardboard project uses a NodeMCU ESP-12E/ESP8266, Arduino core libraries, a motor shield or breakout, two drive motors, and Wi-Fi commands sent from a phone or computer browser. A separate New Mexico Tech build uses an Arduino Nano, motor driver, radio receiver, two motors, and AA battery packs. These are alternatives, not interchangeable wiring plans.
| Control route | What it uses | What is established |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi browser control | NodeMCU ESP-12E/ESP8266, compatible motor shield or breakout, two motors, browser-capable phone or computer | The BattleBot-Control project documents this architecture; it does not provide a controlled comparison with RC control. Project documentation |
| RC receiver control | Arduino Nano, motor driver, radio receiver, two motors | New Mexico Tech documents this arrangement and pin mappings for its particular setup. They should not be copied to a different board or driver without checking its documentation. Assembly instructions |
This guide follows the Wi-Fi route because it is the architecture documented for a cardboard bot. Use a motor shield or breakout specifically compatible with your NodeMCU and motors, and follow that board’s own pin definitions and wiring instructions. The project documentation is not a universal parts specification or a guarantee that arbitrary shields and motors will work together.
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- NodeMCU ESP-12E/ESP8266 board and a compatible motor shield or breakout.
- Two geared drive motors and wheels, suitable for the selected driver and power source.
- A battery pack whose voltage and current capability meet the requirements of the motors and driver. The cardboard project lists a six-AA holder and recommends rechargeable NiMH cells, but this is not a universal battery prescription.
- Cardboard for a simple box or panel chassis; hook-and-loop strips or another secure mounting method for components.
- Insulated wire, suitable connectors, and an accessible way to disconnect power.
- A phone or computer with a browser for the documented Wi-Fi control approach.
The community project’s stated goal to keep its base kit under “20USD” is a project goal, not a current market price. It reports 1–2 hours of runtime on alkaline cells for its own configuration; that figure is not a runtime estimate for a different build. See the project documentation for its particular setup.
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Plan a simple chassis
Start with a plain box or a few flat panels rather than a complex tab-and-slot structure. The project documentation says its earlier “NewBot 1.0” tab-and-slot design proved difficult for children to assemble. That is a lesson from that project, not a general usability study. It supplies no tested universal chassis dimensions or comparative strength data.
- Leave enough clearance for the wheels to turn without rubbing the cardboard.
- Make room for the battery, controller, motor driver, wire routing, and power disconnect.
- Keep the battery low and secure it so it cannot shift during turns or gentle contact.
- Make electronics accessible or removable so you can inspect connections and repair the body.
- Keep wires away from wheels and other moving parts.
Cardboard makes a lightweight educational body, but the available project documentation does not establish impact strength, fire resistance, or competition legality. If this is for an organized event, consult that activity’s own rules rather than assuming guidance for another competition applies.
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Mount motors and secure the battery
Position the two drive wheels so both can reach the floor, and check that each wheel spins freely before attaching the body permanently. Fix the motors firmly enough that they cannot twist or pull loose, while avoiding a mounting method that cuts insulation or strains leads. New Mexico Tech’s assembly guide uses hook-and-loop strips to attach motors and batteries; it is one documented approach, not a requirement for this build. Read the assembly guide.
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Wire the controller, driver, motors, and power
The controller sends logic commands; the motor driver switches power to the motors. Do not connect drive motors directly to controller pins. Connect the NodeMCU to the compatible motor shield or breakout according to the documentation for those exact components, then connect each motor to its designated driver output. No exact NodeMCU pin table or complete combined parts list is established here, so do not transplant the New Mexico Tech Nano mappings into this circuit.
- With power disconnected, identify the controller, motor driver, motor outputs, and battery input from their respective documentation.
- Connect the NodeMCU to the motor shield or breakout using its documented board-to-board arrangement.
- Connect one motor to each driver output, securing the leads so they cannot snag a wheel.
- Connect the battery only to the driver’s documented power input, and verify that the pack’s voltage and current capability meet the motor and driver requirements.
- Inspect for loose strands, exposed conductors, pinched insulation, and possible contact between battery terminals and metal objects before energizing the bot.
Motor direction depends on both wiring and control logic. If a wheel turns opposite the intended direction during a careful test, disconnect power first, then follow the driver’s instructions to correct the motor leads or the control mapping. The New Mexico Tech guide describes swapping a motor’s two output wires for its own setup; that remedy should only be applied after checking the circuit actually in use. New Mexico Tech wiring and troubleshooting instructions.
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Load the control software and test in stages
The cardboard project documents Arduino-core firmware and browser-based Wi-Fi control, but the material available here does not establish a matching firmware listing for every NodeMCU and motor-driver combination. Use the project’s software and setup instructions for its documented hardware, and confirm any board, library, or shield differences against the relevant component documentation instead of assuming code or pin assignments will transfer unchanged. BattleBot-Control project.
- Inspect with power off. Check battery restraint, motor mounting, wiring insulation, clear wheel paths, and access to the power disconnect.
- Raise and restrain the bot. Keep the drive wheels off the surface and the chassis from moving. Keep fingers clear of the wheels.
- Apply a brief command. Confirm each wheel moves in the expected direction. If not, disconnect power before changing wiring or configuration.
- Try low-speed travel on a clear floor. Check straight movement and turns in a supervised area, stopping if the chassis, battery, or wiring shifts.
The New Mexico Tech guide recommends checking throttle and steering, straight travel, and turns, and includes wiring troubleshooting for its own RC setup. Use those checks as a general testing sequence, not as proof that the separate Wi-Fi build has been validated. Assembly and testing guide.
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Keep the activity low-energy and supervised
- Do not add exposed spinning blades, sharp weapons, or mechanisms likely to injure someone.
- Switch off and disconnect power before repairs or wiring changes.
- Keep hands away from wheels and pinch points during testing.
- Secure batteries and wires, and stop if a pack, connector, or motor mount comes loose.
- Use adult supervision where appropriate and follow the rules of the actual school, club, or event.
Arduino’s 2020 SumoBots article describes a different design goal: durable, modifiable robots intended for repeated collisions, with protected battery hardware and MKR1000 Wi-Fi control. It is useful context for why that build’s assumptions differ, not a cardboard-bot recipe. Arduino’s SumoBots article.
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