Robo Rally is a fun interactive game. It helps if people get into the "wacky race" spirit. I wouldn't limit programming time at first (to let people get used to it), but you could try a 3 minute limit after a few games if you need it. Start with easy boards (with a lot of clear spaces) from the original set, and don't use option cards on your first game to keep it simple. Three flags on two boards is a good short game (make the path go back and forth a bit). Don't limit extra lives at first, since dying has a penalty already. Don't put flags in places that would cause too much of a traffic jam if several robots get there at one time.

Robots will get shot (reducing the cards they get to program), get pushed (sending them far away from where they want to go), fall into pits or off the board from bad programming, etc. Try to make all this happen with good humor, it is possible to come back from mistakes and bad luck. Remember that you have to plan a shutdown the turn before.

Once your players have the simple stuff down, use option cards (get used to the ones in the original set before adding the complex ones in A&D), use more complex boards (introduce them in rough order that the sets came out - they build on each other), and run longer races (four boards with four flags is a reasonable game).

Some popular ways to use option cards (besides giving them if you are on a double wrench at the end of the turn): Give three option cards to each player at the beginning and let them pick one and/or Deal a number of option cards equal to the number of players for each flag and let each player look through the correct stack and pick one when they get to each flag.

There is obviously much luck involved in the game, but the better players win more often than others. Having a good plan and being willing to modify it given the circumstances is important as is doing what is not expected when facing a crowd of robots.