Combat Robotics League: Difference between revisions
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'''[https://imgur.com/a/oyGuBXo 📸 Grand River Rumble - 9/16/26 @ Grand River Makerspace (Imgur album)]''' | |||
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| Wed, Sept 16, 2026 || Founding Event — Grand Rapids Tech Week || Grudge matches + closing rumble || [https:// | | Wed, Sept 16, 2026 || Founding Event — Grand Rapids Tech Week || Grudge matches + closing rumble || [https://imgur.com/a/oyGuBXo 📸 Photos & Videos] • [https://www.wiki-grandrivermakerspace.org/index.php?title=File:9-16-2026_GRM_Combat_Robotics_Attendee_Guide-1.pdf 📄 Attendee Guide] | ||
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Revision as of 20:55, 22 September 2026
Combat Robotics League
⚠️ WEAPON LOCKS REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES OUTSIDE THE ARENA / TEST BOX ⚠️ ⚠️ MANDATORY SAFETY CHECK & WEIGH-IN BEFORE ENTERING THE ARENA ⚠️
🎉 Founding Event Complete — Thank You!
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GRM's first Combat Robotics event on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 (part of Grand Rapids Tech Week) is in the books! Huge thanks to every builder, driver, volunteer, and spectator who came out and made our founding season's finish line a success. 📸 Photos & VideosRelive the fights — photos and match videos from September 16: 📸 Grand River Rumble - 9/16/26 @ Grand River Makerspace (Imgur album) Have your own shots or clips? Send them our way and we'll add them to the album. |
🗓️ Next Event — Saturday in November 2026
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Our next event will be on a Saturday in November — Nov 14, 21, or 28, to be decided by poll. Details will be posted here once the date is locked in.
🎄 Idea on the table: Holiday BashWe're considering a Holiday Bash rumble — festive fights to close out the year, plus a robot decorating contest with a prize for Most Festive bot. Tell us what you think in the poll! ⚠️ Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. |
👕 League T-Shirts
We're working on GRM Combat Robotics t-shirts with a league logo and hope to have them ready by the November event.
- Paid league registrants will receive a shirt as part of their registration.
- Additional shirts will be available for purchase for family, friends, supporters, and anyone else who isn't a league registrant. Pricing and ordering details to come.
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.
| 🤖 Join the Combat Robotics League |
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🛠️ Getting a Robot — Palm Beach Bots Kits
Want to join but don't have a bot yet? Most of our league's robots came from Palm Beach Bots plastic ant kits — beginner-friendly, easy to assemble, and they come with STEP/STL files so you can print your own replacement parts.
- Kits: Six kits by weapon type (lifters, horizontal/vertical spinners, undercutter, drum), roughly $94–$160 for the base bot.
- Add-ons: A radio (~$40) and a charger (~$45) if you don't already have them.
- Full price reference: 📄 View Palm Beach Bots Kit Price Sheet PDF
- Order at: palmbeachbots.com
Prices on the sheet are for reference only and can change — always check palmbeachbots.com before ordering. Group orders of 10+ kits may qualify for a discount (sales@palmbeachbots.com).
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 |
| GRM Match Rules v1 | Load-in/out procedure, match duration, un-sticks, KOs, pins, tap-outs, and emergency protocols. | 📄 View Match Rules PDF |
| Palm Beach Bots Kit Price Sheet | Reference pricing for the plastic ant kits most league bots are built from, plus radio and charger add-ons. | 📄 View Kit Price Sheet 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).
| Locomotion Type | Bonus Multiplier | Maximum Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling (Wheels, tracks, rolling chassis) | 1.0x | 1.00 lb (454 g) |
| Shuffler (Rotational cam-operated legs) | 1.25x | 1.25 lb (567 g) |
| Non-Traditional (Bristle/torque drive, gyro walker, ground effect) | 1.5x | 1.50 lb (680 g) |
| Walker (Linear-actuated legs, non-continuous rolling elements) | 2.0x | 2.00 lb (907 g) |
Materials & Build Specifications
The spirit of the Plastic Antweight class is rapid iteration via desktop 3D printing.
| Category | Permitted / Recommended | Prohibited / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3D Printed Parts (Frames, armor, weapons) |
Allowed: PLA, PLA+, PET, PETG, ABS, ASA (Must be FDM/FFF printed). 💡 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. |
| Post-Processing | Painting or marking solely for aesthetics is allowed. | Annealing, boiling, chemical/acetone vapor smoothing, or treatments that artificially increase impact resistance are prohibited. |
| Traction Elements | COTS rubber wheels/tires, custom cast rubber, foam wheels, rubber coatings. Bristles for bristle-drives may use TPU. | Traction magnets or downforce magnets are strictly prohibited. |
| COTS Hardware (Commercial Off The Shelf) |
Motors, ESCs, receivers, batteries, bearings, shafts, fasteners, and adhesives. | COTS parts may not be used as armor, counterweights, or weapon impactors/teeth. |
| Weapon Types | Active spinners, lifters, flippers, grabbers, tethered projectiles (max 8 ft). | No heat/fire, untethered projectiles, entangling devices (nets/strings), liquid/foam, or RF/electrical jamming. |
Safety & Power Requirements
All robots must pass safety inspection prior to fighting.
🔒 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.
- 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.
⚡ 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.
- 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.
- Power Indicator: Robots must feature a clearly visible LED power light indicating when main battery power is active.
- Battery Safety: Non-spillable batteries only (LiPo, LiFe, NiMH). Terminals must be insulated against direct shorts.
Match Format & Rules Summary
- Match Length: 2 minutes (or until KO / Tap-Out).
- Time Between Matches: A competitor may claim a minimum of 20 minutes between their own matches to repair before fighting again.
- Load-In / Load-Out: Bots load in in a fixed order — robot in weapon-away, power on, weapon lock off, both doors closed, transmitters on, then functionality test. Load-out reverses it: driven to the door, transmitters off, doors open, weapon lock on, robot off. Never drive a bot or spin a weapon with the doors open. Lifters and wedges may be driven out of the box without a weapon lock.
- Knock-Outs (KO): A robot unable to demonstrate controlled translational movement for 10 seconds is declared knocked out. An exposed battery is an immediate KO loss.
- 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.
- Un-Sticks: Each bot gets one un-stick, but only if the opposing robot did not cause the immobilization. Only the driver of the stuck robot may call it, and the cage manager decides if it applies.
- Tap-Out: A driver may tap out at any point — by hitting the side of the cage or verbally (loud enough for the cage manager to hear) — to concede the match and protect their robot from further damage.
Judging Criteria
If a match goes the full 2 minutes without a knockout or tap-out, the winner is decided by the judges using an 8-point damage scale. Points are awarded for damage taken — the bot with fewer points wins.
| System | Fully Functional | Partially Functional (Half Points) | Fully Disabled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive System (4 Pts Max) (Left Drive = 2 pts, Right Drive = 2 pts) |
0 pts awarded to opponent | 1 pt awarded to opponent per side | 2 pts awarded to opponent per side (4 pts for total loss) |
| Weapon System (4 Pts Max) (Single weapon = 4 pts; Dual systems = 2 pts each) |
0 pts awarded to opponent | 1–2 pts awarded to opponent | 2–4 pts awarded to opponent |
Tiebreaker Rules
In the event of a points tie:
- The robot that lost drive functionality first loses the tiebreaker.
- If drive loss timing is identical or unclear, the judges will award the win based on aggression and arena control.
- If still completely tied, the winner is determined by a single game of Rock, Paper, Scissors.
📚 Past Events
| Date | Event | Format | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, Sept 16, 2026 | Founding Event — Grand Rapids Tech Week | Grudge matches + closing rumble | 📸 Photos & Videos • 📄 Attendee Guide |
