Combat Robotics League
From Grand River Makerspace Wiki
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 |
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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:
- The robot that lost drive functionality first loses the tiebreaker[cite: 2].
- If drive loss timing is identical or unclear, the judges will award the win based on aggression and arena control[cite: 2].
- If still completely tied, the winner is determined by a single game of Rock, Paper, Scissors[cite: 2].
