Combat Bot Guidelines

These guidelines are subject to change. They define how MUN Combat Bots competitions are run. Contact team@muncb.com before an event if your robot or weapon design is ambiguous or borderline.

1 General

1.1. All participants build and operate robots at their own risk. Combat robotics is inherently dangerous. There is no amount of regulation that can encompass all the dangers involved. Please take care to not hurt yourself and others when building, testing, and competing.

1.2. If you have a robot or weapon design that does not fit within the categories set forth in the rules or is in some way ambiguous or borderline, please contact the event organizers. Safe innovation is always encouraged, but surprising the event organizers with your brilliant exploitation of a loophole may get your bot disqualified before it ever competes.

1.3. Each event has safety inspections. It is at their sole discretion that your robot is allowed to compete. As a builder you are obligated to disclose all operating principles and potential hazards to inspection staff.

1.4. Cardinal Safety Rules: Failure to comply with the following could result in immediate disqualification and permanent expulsion from future events.

1.4.1. Radios that do not operate using a spread spectrum technology may not be turned on at or near events for any purpose without obtaining the appropriate frequency clip or given express permission from the event staff.

1.4.2. Proper activation and deactivation of robots is critical. Robots must only be activated in the arena, testing area, or with expressed consent from the event and its safety officials.

1.4.3. All robots must be able to be FULLY deactivated, which includes power to drive and weaponry, IN UNDER 60 SECONDS BY A MANUAL DISCONNECT.

1.4.4. All bots not in the arena or official testing area must be raised or blocked up in a manner such that their wheels or legs cannot cause movement if the bot were turned on. Runaway bots are VERY dangerous.

1.4.5. Locking Devices: Moving weapons that can cause damage or injury must have a CLEARLY VISIBLE locking mechanism in place AT ALL TIMES when not in the arena. Locking mechanisms must be clearly identified. Locking devices must be capable of preventing, stopping, or arresting harmful motion of the weapon. Locking devices must be securely affixed in place on the robot such that they cannot easily come loose or fall off without intent.

1.4.6. Weapon locking pins MUST be in place when weapon power is applied during a robot’s power-on procedure. This includes ALL powered weapons regardless of the power source and weight class.

1.4.7. It is expected that all builders will follow basic safety procedures during work on the robot at your pit station. Please be aware of your pit neighbors and people passing by.

2 Weight Classes

2.1. Locomotion Weight Bonuses:

2.1.1. Rollers do not receive any weight bonus.

2.1.2. Shufflers receive a 1.25x weight bonus.

2.1.3. Non-Traditional receive a 1.5x weight bonus.

2.1.4. Walkers receive a 2x weight bonus.

2.2. The only weight class that is accepted in this league is the antweight (1 lbs) class. The bonuses for the antweight is 1.25 lbs, 1.5 lbs, and 2 lbs.

3 Mobility

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

3.1.1. Rolling (Wheels, tracks, or the whole robot).

3.1.2. Walking: 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 linkage. Motion is "continuous" if continuous operation of the drive motor(s) produces continuous motion of the robot. Linear-actuated legs and novel non-wheeled drive systems may qualify for this bonus. If you are intending to enter a non-wheeled robot into any event contact the event as soon as possible to determine what, if any, weight bonus you qualify for.

3.1.3. Shuffling (rotational cam operated legs).

3.1.4. Non-Traditional

3.1.4.1. Bristle/Torque Drive: Vibration or torque reaction of a powered system to generate motion.

3.1.4.2. Gyro Walker: Gyroscopic forces used in conjunction with a rotating arm that tilts the robot to generate motion.

3.1.4.3. Ground effect air cushions (Hovercraft).

3.1.4.4. Jumping and hopping may be permitted at the event; contact the event organizers if you intend to use this method of locomotion.

3.1.4.5. Flying robots are not allowed.

4 Robot Control Requirements

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

4.2. Tethered control is not allowed.

4.3. Pre-1991 non-narrow band radio systems are not allowed.

4.4. Radio system restrictions for this event with corresponding weight and or weapon restrictions:

4.4.1. Radio systems that stop all motion in the robot when the transmitter loses power or signal is required for all robots. This may be inherent in the bot’s electrical system or be programmed fail-safes in the radio.

4.4.2. All robot radio systems must have a way to change frequencies or coded channels to prevent radio conflicts. Having at least TWO frequencies or coded channels is REQUIRED. Lack of extra frequencies may result in a forfeit. Digital spread-spectrum radios that use frequency hopping or automatic channel selection qualify under this rule.

4.4.3. If you are using a home built control system, or a control system not covered here, you must clear it with the event you plan to attend.

4.5. This event does not require a separate power switch for the radio.

4.6. Most events do not provide reserved frequencies for testing and safety.

5 Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Robots

5.1. The use of an autonomous system of movement, decision making, and weaponry is strictly prohibited. Under no circumstances is any form of autonomous system allowed in this event.

6 Batteries and Power

6.1. The only permitted batteries are ones that cannot spill or spray any of their contents when damaged or inverted. This means standard automotive wet cell batteries are prohibited. Batteries that are permitted include: 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 are planning to attend.

6.2. All onboard voltages above 48 Volts require prior approval from this event.

6.3. All electrical power to weapons and drive systems MUST have a manual disconnect that can be activated within 15 SECONDS WITHOUT ENDANGERING THE PERSON TURNING IT OFF. Shutdown must include a MANUALLY operated mechanical method of disconnecting the main battery power, such as a switch or removable links.

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

6.5. If your robot uses a grounded chassis you must have a switch capable of disconnecting this ground. ICE robots are excepted from this rule if there is no practical way to isolate their grounding components. You must contact this event for this exception.

6.6. All robots must have a light easily visible outside of the robot that shows its main power is activated.

7 Pneumatics

7.1. Any and all pneumatic systems are strictly prohibited at this event. Your robot will be disqualified if there is some pneumatic system in place for motion or weaponry.

8 Hydraulics

8.1. Any and all hydraulic systems are strictly prohibited at this event. Your robot will be disqualified if there is some hydraulic system in place for motion or weaponry.

9 Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) and Liquid Fuels

9.1. Under no circumstances is the robot allowed to have any source of fuel or fuel tank. Catastrophic failure of such tanks can lead to major fires that can cause serious damage to surroundings and people present.

10 Rotational Weapons or Full Body Spinning Robots

10.1. Spinning weapons that can contact the outer arena walls during normal operation must be pre-approved by the event. (Contact with an inner arena curb or containment wall is allowed and does not require prior permission.)

10.2. Spinning weapons must come to a full stop within 60 SECONDS of the power being removed using a self contained braking system.

11 Forbidden Weapons and Materials

The weapons and materials listed below are strictly banned from events falling under this rule set. Any violation to the following may lead to disqualification from the event.

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

11.1.1. Electrical weapons.

11.1.2. RF jamming equipment, etc.

11.1.3. RF noise generated by an IC engine.

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

11.1.5. Entangling weapons or defenses: these are weapons or defenses that can reasonably be expected to stop drive train and/or weapon motion by being wrapped around rotating parts. This includes nets, tapes, strings, and other entangling materials or devices.

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

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

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

11.2.2. Foams and liquefied gasses.

11.2.3. Powders, sand, ball bearings and other dry chaff weapons.

11.3. Tethered and Un-tethered projectiles.

11.4. Heat and fire are forbidden as weapons. This includes but is not limited to the following:

11.4.1. Flammable liquids or gases.

11.4.2. Explosives or flammable solids such as:

11.4.2.1. DOT Class C Devices.

11.4.2.2. Gunpowder/Cartridge Primers.

11.4.2.3. Military Explosives, etc.

11.5. Light and smoke based weapons that impair the viewing of robots by an Entrant, Judge, Official or Viewer. This includes, but is not limited to the following:

11.5.1. Lights such as external lasers above class 1 and bright strobe lights which may blind the opponent.

11.6. 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 contact humans. Contact the event you plan to attend if you have a question.