Multiple robots can be run together under one name if their combined weight is under the standard weight limit for their movement type. These are commonly referred to as “clusters.”

All robots in a cluster bot must be of the same drive type to receive any weight bonus.

Mobility

All robots must have easily visible and controlled mobility in order to compete. Methods of mobility include but are not limited to:

Rolling (wheels, tracks or the whole robot)

Almost Walking Robot: Almost walking robots have no rolling elements in contact with the floor and no continuous rolling or cam operated motion in contact with the floor either directly or via a linkage. Motion is “continuous” if continuous operation of the drive motor(s) produces continuous motion of the robot. “Gyro walkers” fall under this criteria. “Bristle bots” also fall under this criteria. If you are intending to enter a non-wheeled robot in any event, it is recommended to contact josephmbetz@gmail.com as soon as possible to determine what (if any) weight bonus you will qualify for.

Walking Robot: Robots that require back and forth motion to translate in one direction without the use of any continuously spinning motion. Servo or linear-actuated legs and novel non-wheeled drive systems may qualify for this bonus.

Shuffling (rotational cam operated legs)

Flying (airfoil using, helium balloons, ornithopters, etc.) and ground effect air cushions (hovercrafts) are eligible for the “Almost Walking Robot” weight bonus.

Robot control requirements

Tele-operated robots must be radio controlled, or use an approved custom system.

Tethered control is not allowed.

Fail-safes

Radio systems that stop all motion in the robot (drive and weapons) when the transmitter loses power or signal are required for all robots with active weapons. This may be inherent in the robot's electrical system or be part of programmed fail-safes in the radio.

Weapons must become fully deactivated within 60 seconds of shutdown or fail-safe.

Batteries and Power

The only permitted batteries are ones that cannot spill or spray any of their contents when damaged or inverted. Examples of batteries that are permitted: gel cells, Hawkers, NiCads, NiMh, dry cells, AGM, LIon, LiFe, LiPoly, etc. If your design uses a new type of battery, or one you are not sure about, please contact the event you’re planning to attend.

All electrical power to weapons and drive systems (systems that could cause potential human bodily injury) must have a manual disconnect that can be activated within 15 seconds without endangering the person turning it off. (E.g. No body parts in the way of weapons or pinch points.)  Shutdown must include a manually operated mechanical method of disconnecting the main battery power, such as a switch or removable link. Relays may be used to control power, but there must also be a mechanical disconnect.

All efforts must be made to protect battery terminals from a direct short and causing a battery fire.

All robots with active weapons must have a light easily visible from the outside of the robot that shows its main power is activated. It is still highly recommended for robots without active weapons.

Pneumatics

Pneumatic systems on board the robot must only employ non-flammable, non-reactive gasses (CO2, Nitrogen and air are most common). It is not permissible to use fiber wound pressure vessels with liquefied gasses like CO2 due to extreme temperature cycling.

For pneumatic systems, the maximum actuation pressure is 250 PSI and all components must be used within the specifications provided by the manufacturer or supplier.  If the specifications aren't available or reliable, then it will be up to the event organizer to decide if the component is being used in a sufficiently safe manner.

Hydraulics

Hydraulic systems are allowed with pre-approval by contacting josephmbetz@gmail.com. The event organizer reserves the right to disqualify any hydraulic system deemed to be unsafe. You will be expected to clean any hydraulic fluid that leaks into the arena.

Internal Combustion Engines

Fuel and Fuel Lines
All commercially available grades of automobile or RC hobby fuel are allowed. Alcohol, Nitro-methane, jet fuel and other specialty grades of fuel require pre-approval by josephmbetz@gmail.com.

Fuel lines and tanks must be made of high quality materials and all ends must be clamped securely.

All fuel tanks and lines must be well protected and armored from all sides, including moving parts and heat sources inside the robot.

Fuel tank volume, on any robot, shall not be greater than the amount required to operate the engine for 3 minutes at combat power plus a reasonable pre-match warm-up period.

The output of any engines connected to weapons or drive systems must be coupled through a clutch which will decouple the motor when it is at idle. (This does not include motors used for generators and hydraulic pumps.)

Any engine connected to a weapon must be capable of being started while the weapon locking pin is in place.

All engines must turn off or return to idle at loss of radio signal and turn off at loss of radio receiver power.

All engines must have a method of remotely shutting off.

Any robot with liquid fuel and oil must be designed not to leak when inverted. (Minor oil leakage may be tolerated, however you may be called if it affects the other robot or becomes a large cleanup issue and the leaking robot will forfeit.)

Use of engines other than standard piston engines (i.e. turbines etc.) require prior approval for any event.

Forbidden Weapons and Materials

Weapons designed to cause invisible damage to the other robot are not allowed. This includes but is not limited to:

• Electrical weapons

• RF jamming equipment, etc.

• RF noise generated by an ICE. (Please use shielding around sparking components.)

• EMF fields from permanent or electro-magnets that affect another robot’s electronics.

Entangling weapons or defenses are not allowed:  these are weapons or defenses that can reasonably be expected to stop drivetrain and/or weapon motion by being wrapped around rotating parts. This includes nets, tapes, strings, and other entangling materials or devices.

• Weapons or defenses that can reasonably be expected to stop combat completely of both (or more) robots.

• Unintentional entangling weapons or defenses are subject to disqualification if the same entanglement happens in more than one match. This is up to the event organizer’s discretion.

Weapons that require significant cleanup, or in some way damage the arena to require repair for further matches are not allowed. This includes but is not limited to:

• Liquid weapons. Additionally, a robot may not have liquid that can spill out when the robot is superficially damaged.

• Liquefied gasses

• Powders, sand, ball bearings and other dry chaff weapons

• Un-tethered projectiles

Open flame weapons are not allowed.

Explosives are not allowed.

Flammables (gas or liquid) are not allowed.

Light and smoke based weapons that impair the viewing of robots are not allowed. (You are allowed to physically engulf your opponent with your robot.) This includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Lights such as external lasers above ‘class I’

• Bright strobe lights which may blind the opponent.

Hazardous or dangerous materials are forbidden from use anywhere on a robot where they may contact humans, or by way of the robot being damaged (within reason) contact humans. Contact josephmbetz@gmail.com if you have a question.

Special weapon descriptions that are allowed

Tethered Projectiles are allowed.

Tethered projectiles must have a tether or restraining device that stops the projectile and is no longer than 8 feet.

Heat based weapons are allowed.

Heat based weapons cannot be preheated before a match. They can only be powered during the duration of the match. The exception is a match pause that the heat based weapon robot was not responsible for.

It is expected that the operator will do their best to keep heating elements off of and away from the polycarbonate or other vulnerable sections of the arena. This is to avoid expensive damage to the arena, as well as the potential of an arena breach.