SSP Combat Robot Kit

SSP Lifter Kit: The Most Upgradable Beetleweight Robot Kit 

SSP is the newest Beetleweight combat robot designed and built by Seth Schaffer of Team Just ‘Cuz Robotics - also known for competing alongside Bloodsport on the TV show Battlebots! SSP is now available to purchase as a self-assembled kit. Watch SSP compete at NHRL here. The latest assembly guide is available here.

NOTE 5/31/23 10AM EST: I have parts for a number of kits that will ship in the next week! 7 ship by 6/2 and another 12 can ship by 6/9. These will all include the new budget ESC instead of a Tarakan. 

NOTE 5/28/23: more kits should be in stock in a week, feel free to sign up for email notifications! SSP Kits are no longer available for backorder. Instead, they will now be treated like every other product - in stock only when we have the parts for them, and they should ship fast after ordering! They should be in stock again in early June. Keep in mind soldered kits are made to order and may take a few days longer to ship. If you are looking to order several kits at once, please Contact Us in advance to ensure we get enough parts!

What is Included in the SSP Kit?

Every SSP Kit option will come with all the parts and materials needed to build the robot itself including 1 battery* and FS2A receiver. You will need to purchase your own radio transmitter, battery charger, soldering equipment, plus a few tools. See recommendations below!

NOTE: SSP decals will not be included with the kit, there may be stickers included but you will need to decorate your bot to make it look different from any others!

Want to know literally every little component in the kit? Take a look for yourself! The entire list can be found here.

SSP Reveal Video

See how SSP performed at the January 2023 NHRL Competition

*Due to Lithium battery restrictions, a battery cannot be included with any kits shipped via USPS International or otherwise by air.  You may need to select the option to remove the battery if outside the lower 48 US states.

Options

SSP Lifter Kit
There are currently 4 options available:

1. Base Kit (Includes both fixed and hinged 0.375” thick AR500 front fork configs)
2. Base Kit, Soldered
3. Base Kit + Wedge
4. Base Kit + Wedge, Soldered

The wedge configurations will include an AR500 wedge, new 3D-printed TPU wedge mounts, a new 3D-printed TPU servo arm, plus the whole Base Kit with both fork configurations.

Soldered kits will have the Motherboard fully assembled with an FS2A receiver, and all other soldering needed will be completed before the kit is shipped to you. If you want to solder the kit together yourself, it should only take an additional 20-30 minutes if you have the appropriate equipment and skill.

Specs

What are the Specs and Details?

• Chassis: Super durable single-piece UHMW billet (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), machined to precise tolerances
• Drive Motors: dual DartBox Dragon drive motors for nearly unmatched pushing power and reliability
• Drive ESC: Powerful dual brushed ESC with built-in drive mixing, with battle-tested reliability and no programming necessary
• Battery: 3S (3 cells, 11.1V) 550mAh LiPo (lithium-polymer) battery for over 9 minutes of aggressive driving capacity
• Arm Servo: Just 'Cuz 32kg-cm servo for high-torque positional arm control
• Wiring: Just 'Cuz Robotics Motherboard for simplified wiring and reduced assembly errors. The Motherboard houses the power distribution, switch, LED, dual voltage BECs, and more in one small package!
• Receiver: FS2A 2.4GHz receiver (AFHDS-2A protocol) for reliable wireless control (possible to swap for other receivers with non-soldered kits)
• Wheels: Cast urethane rubber wheels on 3D-printed TPU hubs for maximum traction and durability, Shore 40A hardness
• Weight: Fully assembled weight of approximately 2.3 pounds with fixed forks, leaving about 11oz for customization!
• Claw forks add ~0.08 lbs, wedge config adds ~0.3 pounds
• CAD Files: available for all components for easy modifications

Both 2X Fixed Forks (left) and 2X Hinged “Claw” Forks (right) are included in the Base Kit and Base + Wedge Kit, along with 4X TPU fork mounts.

Who is the SSP Kit for?

SSP is designed for ultimate serviceability and ease of assembly even for a first-time builder. The tools you will need are minimal, although a soldering iron and some soldering skill are required (soldered kits will avoid this need) so adult supervision may be needed for children under 13 years old. Anything else in the kit can be assembled by almost anybody who can hold a screwdriver.

What You Need

What else do I need?

You will need a few tools, an RC radio/transmitter, and a battery charger.  

You don't need a lot of tools to make this kit work for you and may even have all of these lying around. There are also cordless driver sets that come with 80% of what you need. The full list includes:

1. 2mm hex L key/allen wrench (included)
2. 3/32 hex wrench (T handle included, as power switch key)
3. 4mm L key/allen wrench (included)
4. Torx Plus T10 bit/driver
5. Torx Plus T15 bit/driver
6. Soldering iron/solder
7. Needle nose pliers
8. Radio Transmitter
9. LiPo Charger
10. Blue Loctite (242 or 243 is highly recommended but purple will work)
11. Insulating Electrical Tape (Recommended: Heat Shrink + Heat Gun or Lighter)
12. Hot Glue Gun (highly recommended)
13. Cordless drill/driver with clutch (highly recommended but optional)
14. Helping Hands, Soldering arm or vice, or XT soldering jig (optional but helpful)

FS-i6 (top) and Radiomaster Zorro 4-in-1 (Bottom) These are two of the most popular hobby radios, and what tutorials for the kit are based around. The cheapest option that works well is the tried and true FS-i6 transmitter, often available for around $50 USD on Amazon. A much higher quality and more fully featured option is the Radiomaster Zorro 4-in-1. This TX has better build quality and a gamepad-like feel.

Radio Transmitters

There are a ton of radio options compatible with the FS2A receiver in this kit. The cheapest option that works well is the tried and true FS-i6 transmitter, often available for around $50 USD on Amazon. A nicer option for those looking for advanced programming features, or who just want to buy something really nice off the bat to avoid upgrading later, is the Radiomaster Zorro 4-in-1. This radio has a multiprotocol module allowing it to work with almost any brand receiver, recharges over USB-C rather than eating AA batteries, and has a ton of cool features and a game controller-like feel. Seth has personally used and likes both of these options. Any other radio with a multiprotocol module will work just as well, as will any modern FlySky radio that works with the AFHDS-2A protocol.

Standard 4 Button Balance Charger examples - get one with an XT30 Connector on the connector squid or you’ll have to make your own!

LiPo Chargers

DO NOT cheap out with a lipo charger! An improperly charged and handled battery can lead to a battery fire fast, one that cannot be put out with water and is difficult to fight! Definitely get a LiPo Balance Charger, which there are a million versions of in prices from $30 to $100+. Generally, the difference is just in features and power, but any $30 charger should be easily able to charge this small battery safely. Many different versions of the “standard 4-button charger” work pretty much the same.

Proper LiPo Balance Chargers will let you dial in an exact charge current to prolong the life of your battery. You should select 0.5 amps when charging at home, and up to 0.8 amps if you need a speedy recharge at an event. Like with a radio, a good charger will last through many robots into the future! We personally use the HTRC dual lipo charger. 

CAD

How are you releasing the CAD Design?

Like this! Click here to view or download the full SSP robot CAD.

Just ‘Cuz Robotics fully embraces the Right To Repair. For a Combat Robot which needs repairs regularly, it’s only right to allow customers to make repairs and source the parts they need. Obviously, releasing these design files and the full list of materials opens the possibility of people just making their own parts rather than purchasing from here directly. As the first-party provider for a large number of components of this kit, we want to do our best to keep spare parts available in the future. Anyone can feel free to 3D print/laser cut/machine their own printed replacement parts from these designs, or modified versions thereof, as long as they do not sell them for profit without permission. We also have to rely on good faith and this license:
SSP Kit and CAD Design © 2023 by Just 'Cuz Robotics, LLC is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

 Check out Storyboard 2 Animation!

Safety + FAQ

FAQ

Where to buy Spare Parts?

All currently available spares can be purchased here. The plan is to sell any spare parts that are not readily available off the shelf, but some common parts might need to be purchased elsewhere. This kit is still relatively new and keeping them in stock has been a challenge. If something is not yet for sale, it will likely be added soon as more parts are stocked!

What does SSP weigh without the servo/lifting arm?

The servo, lifting arm, lifting forks, and associated hardware together are around 0.37 pounds meaning the base kit without them will be about 1.9 pounds. That means more than a full pound to add your own alternative weapon system!

Safety Disclaimer

Warning: combat robots are not toys! They can be extremely dangerous. Click here for a safety video.

The SSP Kit is relatively safe, although it should be obvious that the servo is pretty powerful and care should be taken to avoid fingers getting stuck in pinch points when the bot is active. But if modified with a spinning weapon, it will be just as dangerous as any other spinner. Testing a robot with an active spinning weapon should never be done while maintaining a line of sight with the robot. Ideally, you should be testing inside an enclosed box or arena with at least 1/4" thick polycarbonate windows or top to see through, and 1/2” or thicker plywood or MDF construction. Operation (Including testing) outside of a suitable arena or test box could cause serious injury. By purchasing this product you acknowledge that you are responsible for the safe use of this product and that Just ‘Cuz Robotics or its employees are not liable for any injuries or damages.

Shipping

Domestic

Due to the complexity involved in packing a kit and shipping with a lithium battery, not all shipping options are available. UPS allows up to 2 small batteries packed with equipment without special warning labels or hazardous goods contracts so it will be the primary option. Please do not add more than 1 additional battery. USPS Parcel Select Ground might be an option as well but it will likely be much slower. 

International Shipping

If you order a kit along with at most 1 additional battery it's possible your kit will ship via UPS Air, but generally, DHL will be much more reliable. >2 batteries cannot be UPS Air shipped so please do not add more than 1 additional battery to your SSP order.  

If you are in Canada, UPS charges $100 or so brokerage fees upon receipt so I removed this option. DHL is likely your best bet.