Combat Robotics League

Combat Robotics League

⚠️ WEAPON LOCKS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES OUTSIDE THE ARENA / TEST BOX ⚠️[cite: 3]

⚠️ MANDATORY SAFETY CHECK & WEIGH-IN BEFORE ENTERING THE ARENA ⚠️[cite: 3]

---

League Overview & Registration

Welcome to the Grand River Makerspace Combat Robotics League! This league features the 1 lb Plastic Antweight class, designed to be accessible, affordable, and encourage rapid prototyping and experimentation using 3D printing[cite: 3].

🤖 Join the Combat Robotics League

📅 1st Tournament Date & Time: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Grand River Makerspace League Registration Fee: $50 per participant Sign Up Online: 📝 2026 Combat Robotics League Signup Page (Signups will also be sent to everyone via email) Class: 1 lb Plastic Antweight (FDM 3D printed frames/weapons)[cite: 3] Volunteers Welcome: Not competing? We are always looking for volunteers for weigh-ins, safety inspections, judging, and announcing!

---

Official Rules & Documentation

Document	Description	Link
GRM Construction & Building Rules	Official Grand River Makerspace Plastic Antweight build specifications & material allowances.	📄 View Building Rules PDF
Zeke’s Judging Criteria	Match scoring breakdown, damage assessment (Drive vs. Weapon), and tiebreakers.	📄 View Judging Criteria PDF
SPARC Match Rules v1.5	Standard combat procedures, arena load-in/load-out, emergency protocols, and countdowns.	📄 View SPARC Match Rules PDF

---

Weight Limits & Locomotion Bonuses

Weigh-ins occur at the beginning of the competition and at any time deemed necessary by officials. Standard rolling bots must not exceed 1 lb (454g)[cite: 3].

Locomotion Type	Bonus Multiplier	Maximum Weight
Rolling (Wheels, tracks, rolling chassis)[cite: 3]	1.0x[cite: 3]	1.00 lb (454 g)[cite: 3]
Shuffler (Rotational cam-operated legs)[cite: 3]	1.25x[cite: 3]	1.25 lb (567 g)[cite: 3]
Non-Traditional (Bristle/torque drive, gyro walker, ground effect)[cite: 3]	1.5x[cite: 3]	1.50 lb (680 g)[cite: 3]
Walker (Linear-actuated legs, non-continuous rolling elements)[cite: 3]	2.0x[cite: 3]	2.00 lb (907 g)[cite: 3]

---

Materials & Build Specifications

The spirit of the Plastic Antweight class is rapid iteration via desktop 3D printing[cite: 3].

Category	Permitted / Recommended	Prohibited / Notes
3D Printed Parts (Frames, armor, weapons)	Allowed: PLA, PLA+, PET, PETG, ABS, ASA (Must be FDM/FFF printed)[cite: 3]. 💡 Recommended: Overture Super PLA	Prohibited: Carbon Fiber blends (CF-PLA, etc.), Glass-filled filaments, TPU/Flex for armor/weapons, metal, UHMW, polycarbonate, or resin 3D printing[cite: 3].
Post-Processing	Painting or marking solely for aesthetics is allowed[cite: 3].	Annealing, boiling, chemical/acetone vapor smoothing, or treatments that artificially increase impact resistance are prohibited[cite: 3].
Traction Elements	COTS rubber wheels/tires, custom cast rubber, foam wheels, rubber coatings[cite: 3]. Bristles for bristle-drives may use TPU[cite: 3].	Traction magnets or downforce magnets are strictly prohibited[cite: 3].
COTS Hardware (Commercial Off The Shelf)	Motors, ESCs, receivers, batteries, bearings, shafts, fasteners, and adhesives[cite: 3].	COTS parts may not be used as armor, counterweights, or weapon impactors/teeth[cite: 3].
Weapon Types	Active spinners, lifters, flippers, grabbers, tethered projectiles (max 8 ft)[cite: 3].	No heat/fire, untethered projectiles, entangling devices (nets/strings), liquid/foam, or RF/electrical jamming[cite: 3].

---

Safety & Power Requirements

All robots must pass safety inspection prior to fighting[cite: 3].

🔒 Weapon Locks & Safe Handling

• Mandatory Weapon Locks: Any robot with a kinetic/spinning weapon must have a dedicated, brightly colored physical locking device installed whenever the robot is assembled outside of the arena or testing box[cite: 3].
  • Standard spring clamps (e.g., Harbor Freight 1-3/4" Spring Clamps) work well.
• Exemptions: Non-kinetic weapons (passive wedges and lifters) do not require a weapon lock[cite: 3].

⚡ Radio Failsafe & Power Disconnect

• Radio Failsafe: All active weapon bots must automatically shut off power to drive and spin-down weapons immediately when the transmitter is turned off or signal is lost[cite: 3].
• Manual Power Disconnect: Robots must have an easily accessible mechanical switch or removable power link capable of fully deactivating the bot in under 15 seconds[cite: 3].
• Power Indicator: Robots must feature a clearly visible LED power light indicating when main battery power is active[cite: 3].
• Battery Safety: Non-spillable batteries only (LiPo, LiFe, NiMH)[cite: 3]. Terminals must be insulated against direct shorts[cite: 3].

---

Match Format & Rules Summary

• Match Length: 3 minutes (or until KO / Tap-Out)[cite: 1].
• Knock-Outs (KO): A robot unable to demonstrate controlled translational movement for 10 seconds is declared knocked out[cite: 1].
• Pins & Holds: Stationary pins are limited to 5 seconds; active pins (moving/sawing) are limited to 10 seconds, after which the attacker must fully release[cite: 1].
• Un-Sticks: One modified un-stick per bot is allowed if bots are tangled or stuck without opponent fault (determined by the referee)[cite: 1].
• Tap-Out: A driver may verbally tap out at any point to concede the match and protect their robot from further damage[cite: 1].

---

Judging Criteria

If a match goes the full 3 minutes without a knockout or tap-out, the winner is decided by the judges using an 8-point damage scale[cite: 1, 2]:

System	Fully Functional	Partially Functional (Half Points)	Fully Disabled
Drive System (4 Pts Max) (Left Drive = 2 pts, Right Drive = 2 pts)[cite: 2]	0 pts awarded to opponent[cite: 2]	1 pt awarded to opponent per side[cite: 2]	2 pts awarded to opponent per side (4 pts for total loss)[cite: 2]
Weapon System (4 Pts Max) (Single weapon = 4 pts; Dual systems = 2 pts each)[cite: 2]	0 pts awarded to opponent[cite: 2]	1–2 pts awarded to opponent[cite: 2]	2–4 pts awarded to opponent[cite: 2]

Tiebreaker Rules

In the event of a points tie:

1. The robot that lost drive functionality first loses the tiebreaker[cite: 2].
2. If drive loss timing is identical or unclear, the judges will award the win based on aggression and arena control[cite: 2].
3. If still completely tied, the winner is determined by a single game of Rock, Paper, Scissors[cite: 2].