[Al Skierkiewicz]

A typical car battery should work just fine. Be advised that the safety issues with FIRST batteries are multiplied with a car battery. It is much heavier and higher available current than the robot battery. Be very careful not to short across the terminals. Insulate very well, all wiring from the battery to the robot. I would suggest removing the breakers for motors that won't be used so that they don't accidentally get turned on when people are close by. (i.e. just drive motors and light because the light is cool) Try to give the robot some rest throughout the parade, especially if it is a hot day and the sun is beating down on the robot. Motors and speed controllers that get hot during driving will smoke during constant use in heat and sun.

As an extra added precaution, you might want to add a high current fuse near the battery, in case the wiring should short in the robot before the 120 amp breaker trips. Always secure the battery so that is does not tip over. Add flags, that's always cool!