General Rules

Description

This contest pits your creation against another robot in a field of combat where brute strength and cat-like reflexes combine to create the ultimate battle! The challenge is to create a robot with a dual purpose. The first purpose is to push, throw, flip, drag, or otherwise move your opponent out of a six foot diameter circular ring within five minutes while preventing your opponent's machine from doing the same to your robot. The second purpose is to perform a designated task. Your goal is to obtain the fastest time for completion of the task. Your sumo bot needs not only to be strong, but agile as well.

The Ring

Robot SUMO wrestling takes place in a level circular ring exactly 6 feet in diameter with a white border along the rings periphery. The surface of the ring is concrete. The circle is drawn in white chalk.

The Play

Sumo Wrestling

The robots are placed on the ring exactly 1 foot apart and equal distance from the center of the ring. The robots are set down parallel to each other and facing opposite directions so that robots must actively search for the opponent and not merely "steamroller" straight forward.

When both contestants are ready, the ring judge will signal the start of the five-minute round at which time the robots may be activated. After 5 seconds, the robot starts operating, before which players must clear out of the Ring Area. No movement must occur before the official start (no posturing).

The robots will proceed in combat until one unit is disabled or removed from the ring. If a bout is won before the 5-minute round is up, the clock will be stopped and the robots replaced in their starting position for another bout. The winner being the robot that wins the most bouts in the round. The winner of each round will advance, while the loser will move to the appropriate consolation round.

Scoring

The contestants who wins the most bouts within the 5 minute period will win the round. The points start over for the next round. A double elimination will be used.

If there is no winner after 5 minutes, sudden death ensures.

A robot is considered to be removed from the ring when it's wheels touch the white chalk line. Judgment of the ring officials is final.

Should one robot become disabled (flipped on it's back or side, for instance) and is unable to move, the ring officials will award that bout to the remaining robot and a new bout will begin if time permits.

If both robots are stuck in an entanglement or deadlock, then the clock will be stopped and the judges will ask the contestants if they want to restart the bout from the robots starting positions, Both players must agree to this, if not, the bout continues as normal.

At the end of each round, the contestants are responsible for making sure the ring is clean and ready for the next round to the satisfaction of the judges, or the contestant who produced the mess may be disqualified. This includes all debris, fluids, or marks remaining on the ring.

Timed Task Course

The goal of this task is to place two miniature marshmallows and one full size marshmallow into the four plastic tubes in the shortest amount of time. The four tubes will vary in height from 8 inches to 36 inches. The tubes will be made from 2" schedule 40 PVC pipe. Each tube will be mounted in the center of a piece of lexan, 5 1/2" x 7 3/4" in size and an 1/8" thick . Each team will be given 12 miniature marshmallows and 8 full size marshmallows prior to the start of the task.

The time will start and stop when the bot crosses the start/finish line. In the event that no team places the required number of marshmallows in their respective tubes, the bot with the most number of tubes filled in the shortest amount of time will declared the winner.

The bot must pass under the 2 foot high "bridge" each time it crosses the start/finish line. The bridge will be made of PVC pipe. The opening under the bridge will be 2 feet wide and 2 feet tall. The bridge will be located approximately 3 feet from the start/finish line.

Additional Rules

There is a maximum investment of $650.00 per team. Receipts must be provided. This includes donated material. Any donated items or material must include a receipt for the "like new" value of the item. The intent of this rule is not to have a team spend $650 on their bot. Rather it is to set an upper limit on spending. Teams are encouraged to build their bots in the most economical manner possible.
When the team arrives, they will have one last opportunity to verify their bot is in top working order. Then they will give it to the judges for final inspection. Once the judges have inspected it, the bot will be placed on the display table with the other sumo bots. The bot and the controller will remain on the table any time it is not directly in competition. The table will be in plain view of all the students, but not accessible by them. The table will be in plain view of all the students, but not accessible by them. The bots will be inspected between events.
Each team is encouraged to create a 4 x 6 foot banner to cheer on / support their team. Obscenities or innuendo will not be allowed. The general rule of thumb is: if you would be proud to show it to your Grandmother, it will be acceptable at the competition.
Robots must be capable of some form of movement across the ring surface... No cinder blocks.
The robots must not contain any combustible, corrosive, or otherwise dangerous materials for safety reasons. No explosive compression or decompression, either internal or external is permitted. There is a risk of compressed containers rupturing and creating shrapnel. The officials will disqualify any robot whose strategy or operation is considered too dangerous.
Intentional damage or interfering with the opponent’s operator is not allowed. Good will and friendship between competitors may evaporate if one opponent uses lightening bolts to destroy the electronics of a competitor.
If you have any questions concerning your robots eligibility, please feel free to contact the Pat Hoppe and he will be happy to inform you if the robot is legal or not!
The bot must remain intact for the competitions. If a piece falls off, it will be re-attached to keep the weight constant.
The judges will decide on what repairs can and will be made. If granted, the repairs must be made within 30 minutes or the bot must withdraw from the competition. If they have to withdraw, they will keep their current standings in any competitions already completed.
There will be NO manual "reset" of any devices.
No portable electric devices allowed near the ring during competition.
Only two members of the team are allowed on the activity floor during the competition. Each team will designate one team member as the RC operator and one team member as the bot handler. These members can be different for the two competitions.
The judges do reserve the right to call a false start and start the individual bout and timer over.
If no movement after 10 seconds, the judge can start a "10 second" standing count. If no movement by the bot during the 10 second count, it can be counted out.
If a tie occurs in the Sumo Bot round, 1 minute sudden death rounds will ensure.
The RC controllers must stay with the robots, on the tables in between rounds.
The robots must fit within a 12 wide by 15 inch long rectangle when they are checked in, but may expand to any size once the contest begins. However, no manual changes in configuration, any changes must be done remotely. In other words, the changes have to take place without anyone physically touching the bot. If the bot configuration is changed, it can not be reset by hand - IT MUST BE DONE REMOTELY.
The height of the robot is unlimited.
The robots can not weigh more than 10 pounds.
Team size is can range from 3 to 8 members.
If a team fails to meet the entry requirements for size, weight or dollar limit for their bot, they will be disqualified.
All disputes must be reported immediately to the Event Chairman (Pat Hoppe). Pat Hoppe will have final judgment over all disputes.

Remember ladies and gentlemen, this is a friendly competition. Good sportsmanship and fair play is required.

This page was last updated 01/24/10
Comments? Contact: Patrick Hoppe
office: (262) 619-6462