The Rules of the Rampaging Chariots Robotic Games

Here are all the rules for the various events happening in the 2008 Robotic Games. Please read these rules carefully as they keep the competition fun and exciting for everyone.
We have updated the rules slightly and have indicated the changes by putting them in italics like this.

Each Rampaging Chariot may compete in up to three events. These are:-

• Assault Course
• Football
• Sumo OR Tug-of-War.

Note: The Sumo and Tug-of-War events require similar skills and technical requirements and we have found that choosing between these two events allows a more even distribution of trophies/medals and prevents batteries becoming completely exhausted during the day.

It is permissable to make changes to the configuration to the robot between events, provided the rules for each individual event are satisfied

Assault Course

Contest:

Rampaging Chariots race side by side through a 20m assault course consisting of a series of obstacles designed to test both robot and driver. Note ramps will be one of the many obstacles. Fastest eight robots go forward to quarterfinal and knockout competition. 5 second penalty for each pole knocked over and 15 second penalty for each obstacle not completed. There is a 1 second penalty for each metre of the course not completed at the end of 2 minutes. Details of the Arena.

Specific Rules:

Maximum Weight: 12kg

Tug of War

Contest:

Random Order of participants compete two at a time in a knockout Competition. (Depending on numbers. some may have 1st round bye). A line attaches the robots to each other. Each machine stands equidistant on either side of a chasm. The winner of the pull is the machine that pulls its opponent over the edge into the chasm. In the event of neither machine being pulled over the edge, the machine farthest from the chasm after 30 seconds will be declared the winner of the pull. The best of three successive pulls determines the winner of the round.
Note: Competitors take part in either this event or the Sumo.

Specific Rules:

Each pull will last up to 30 seconds. The surface of the platforms will be painted wood. An 8mm eyebolt or similar must be fitted to the centre rear of each machine at a height of 8cm from the ground. No devices are allowed to anchor the machine to the floor or prevent it from being pulled back, although additional weight may be added to bring the total weight up to the maximum allowable weight.

Maximum Weight: 12kg

Sumo

Contest:

Two radio-controlled Rampaging Chariots compete in a knockout competition to expel their opponent from the 1.85m (6ft) diameter ring (Dohoy) within 30 seconds. The winner of the bout is the first to push their opponent off the platform. If both robots fall off, the winner of the bout is the last to touch the floor. At 30 second time-out the robot furthest from edge wins the bout. The best of three successive bouts determines the winner of the round. (Depending on numbers, some competitors may have a 1st round bye). Note: Competitors take part in either this event or the Tug of War.Details of the Arena.

Specific Rules:

No devices are allowed to anchor the machine to the floor or prevent it from being pulled back. A wedge shaped or curved front projecting no more than 100mm from the front of the main chassis is allowed and additonal weight may be added to the robot for this event provided that the total weight does not exceed the maximum allowable weight. The Sumo Official can stop a bout and restart it at his or her discretion. Opponents to shake hands before and after each bout.

Maximum Weight: 12kg

Football Tournament

Contest:

Teams of 2 a side play football on a pitch 5m wide and 5m long with a 1m wide net at opposite corners. Random order of teams compete in a Knockout Competition. (Depending on numbers, some may have 1st round Bye) Winner is the team that scores the most goals within 3 minutes. If after 3 minutes the result is a draw, extra time of 1 minute will be played and the 'golden goal' rule applies. If after a total of 4 minutes the result is a draw, simultaneous penalties will be taken with an inert goalkeeper facing towards the centre and the team to score the first goal wins. Individual contestants may form teams before the day of the event otherwise officials will assign teams on the day. Competitors must not tackle an opponent who is not in possession of the ball. Two Yellow cards = Red card which results in the offending robot being sent off the pitch for 1 minute.Details of the Arena.

Specific Rules:

Electric actuators to ‘kick’ the ball are permitted. Machines must not have a scoop or bucket that can contain the ball but may have a pair of guides that project no more than 50mm from where they attach to the robot. No weapons are permitted.

Maximum Weight: 12kg

The General Rules for the Robotic Games 2008

Here are all the general rules for the 2008 Robotic Games. Please read and obey these rules closely as they ensure the safety of both the organisers and the participants.

General

If circumstances demand, the organisers, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to alter or change these specifications.

• All entrants / teams may compete in more than one event but each robot can only be entered into either the Sumo OR the Tug of War events.
• Where appropriate, limited time will be allowed between bouts/rounds for repairs, adjustments, changing or charging batteries etc.
• Radio control receiver (RX) crystals should be accessible in a straightforward manner and a channel change should take no longer than 3 minutes. Crystals will be changed to avoid frequency clashes.
• The Age limit for competitors is before their 18th birthday on the day of the event. Entries must be largely built by the students although assistance from parents or teachers is permitted.

Safety

• Entries will be inspected for safety and reliability before being allowed to compete. Please consider this requirement and bring along any item that will aid the safe testing of your robot, for example: a wooden block that will support a 12kg class featherweight robot with its wheels off the ground. Please be aware that building and operating robots can be hazardous if basic safety precautions are not taken. We will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that ‘live’ events are conducted in such a manner that safety of all personnel is our highest priority. We can only ask that when building and testing your robots at home, school etc, you also take the same approach of safety first. If you have any concerns regarding safety issues, you are encouraged to contact enquiries@rampagingchariots.org.uk for guidance.
• The organisers reserve the right to ban or disqualify any entry that in their opinion is or could be unsafe and could cause injury to people, damage to the venue, equipment or is not in the spirit of the Robotic Games.
• Any moving, swinging or actuating arm, lever or mechanism that could cause personal injury to competitors or others must be fitted with a visible locking pin that shows that the arm/lever/mechanism is securely locked into place when not in competition. Locking pins must be painted red and must be in place at all times except while the entry is competing or is being worked on. These locking pins are not included in the weight of the entry.
• Sharp edges on the exterior of the robot are prohibited.
• No spinning arms or weapons of any type are permitted.
• Maintenance within the pits area will be limited to basic hand tools. Maintenance involving the use of sharp tools is only to be undertaken by pupils or cadets under the direct supervision of an adult engineer or staff member. Selex technical staff will be available to assist if a maintenance operation requires the use of a power tool. No grinding or welding will be permitted. You should ensure you bring along any personal protective equipments such as goggles, gloves etc you may need to safely maintain your robot.
• Radio controlled 12kg featherweight class robots should automatically cease operation in the event of loss / interference of the transmitter signal. This feature is incorporated into the electronic motor drive boards supplied by the Rampaging Chariots Guild. For actuators not controlled through these boards an option is to fit a failsafe between the appropriate receiver channel and devices controlling motors or any actuators. Failsafes are available from most model shops. If you are unsure if your set-up will comply, we will be pleased to advise. You should test your failsafes as part of the process of working up your robot; this is best done by putting the robot on its cradle, running the wheels and turning the transmitter off.
• Any autonomous robot in the 12kg featherweight class or over should be fitted with a remote kill function and / or a 5 minute timed cut-out from activation that brings all of the robot functions to a halt.
• You must not activate your robot outside of the arena unless specifically instructed to do so by a Robotic Games official. All Rampaging Chariots are to be fitted with a visible power on light that illuminates as soon as the power is connected. In the Pits, power is only to be connected when the robot is off the ground with its wheels free to rotate. In the Arena, the person connecting the power must stand to the side of the robot.

General construction

If you consider that your design of robot may not comply with either the rules or spirit of the Robotic Games, please contact enquiries@rampagingchariots.org.uk for guidance.

• Weight limits and maximum dimensions are 12Kg, 600mm long by 400mm wide.
• Motive power may be either electric or stored energy (e.g. spring). Pneumatics are permitted but are limited to 50 psi (3.5 bar) maximum that are charged by a foot / bike pump. Compressors or CO2 (or similar gases) systems are not permitted. Kinetic energy storage devices for example a flywheel are not permitted.
• Entries must be fitted with a means of removing all power from power circuits, radio receivers and control systems. This means must be quick to operate and easily accessable. Battery connectors, on/off switches or removable plugs are examples. If in doubt contact the Rampaging Chariots Guild for advice. If there is more than one switch, these must be positioned adjacent to one another. Switches must be positioned in a visible part of the robot bodywork, fitted away from any operating arm, device or drive and this position must be clearly marked.

Modifications

• We encourage modifications to standard Rampaging Chariots within the rules, but the aims and spirit of the Rampaging Chariots Project are paramount. Our aims are to interest young people in engineering and provide a fun competition. We will not allow the Rampaging Chariots Robotic Games to be compromised by unfair competition using expensive or purpose built, professionally made components.
  
  All robots will be inspected by experienced engineers to confirm that the construction is within the spirit of the competition and commensurate with that expected from school pupils below the age of 18 with access to normal school workshop tools and facilities.
  Scrutinisers and judges are experienced engineers/roboteers and include the current Robot Wars UK Grand Champion Team 'Typhoon 2'.
  The decision of the judges is final

Electric

• Working voltages must not exceed a nominal 28V DC.
• All power connections (connections carrying a heavy current) must be of an adequate grade and adequately insulated. Cables must be routed to minimise the chances of being cut or damaged.
• Batteries must be completely sealed and must not contain free-flowing liquid and securely mounted. (AGM, Gel, Ni-Cad or Ni-MH types typically acceptable). Please note that Lithium based batteries are not permitted. Batteries are charged using commercial 18v chargers supplied with the cordless drills, or a charger approved by the technical supervisor.
• Battery connections must be adequately insulated.
• Robots generating excessive levels of electrical interference will be excluded from events.

Control

• Entries may use VHF frequency band 27 or 40MHz AM or FM or 2.4GHz. Splat transmitters which transmit over a band which covers a number of discrete frequencies are not permitted. It is recommended that 40MHz FM be used for all radio controlled challenges as this band / modulation offers improved interference rejection. The VHF frequency band 35 MHz is not allowed as it is exclusively reserved for flying models. Note: The organisers have a frequency monitoring device that will indicate if systems are transmitting over more than one descrete frequency.
• On entries employing radio control, any operating circuit that is or could be deemed to be dangerous, e.g. a swinging arm, must be fitted with an approved type of radio signal fail-safe device.
• We recommend that two pairs of transmitter (TX) and receiver (RX) crystals of different frequencies be available for each Rampaging Chariot. If necessary, the Rampaging Chariot Guild will loan teams spare crystals for the Robotic Games
• Radio transmission devices that interfere with the operation of other Rampaging Chariots are prohibited.
• The Robotic Games will be operating a transmitter control at the events where all radio transmitters will be stored until such time that they are needed for a challenge. There will be limited opportunity to sign out your transmitter for testing purposes so make sure you arrive on the day with your robot ready to compete. The Rampaging Chariots Guild have a radio transmitter / receiver emulator to enable robots to be tested on the bench without emitting radio signals. This is available on loan from the organising team.
• Intentional collisions are prohibited.

Revised from the 2007 Scottish Robotic Games rules in May 2008
Based on the Rules of the UK Robotic Games – With thanks