Combat robot tournaments: how they run, where they happen and how to enter
How a combat robot tournament works from registration to the final: fight format, arena specs, safety check, entry fees and the FLS Battlebots tournament calendar.
Short answer: a combat robot tournament is a series of one-on-one fights in a closed arena. Ours measures 1.2 × 1 m, is built from aluminium profiles and 6 mm polycarbonate and has a 20 × 20 cm pit you can drop your opponent into. Every robot passes a safety check (weight, size, external power switch, failsafe, weapon lock), teams register in advance through the event page, and entry is free or CZK 50.
What a tournament actually is
Two remote-controlled machines, one arena, one winner. The goal is to disable your opponent or take it out of play – in our arena, usually by pushing it into the pit. If both robots are still running when time expires, the referee decides.
The pace is why tournaments work as a public event: a fight lasts minutes, the repairs in between are visible, and the audience sees both.
The day, step by step
- Arrival and pits. Your team gets table space for tools and chargers.
- Safety check. Weight, size, safety features. No stamp, no fight.
- Draw. Groups or a bracket, depending on the entry list.
- Fights. Between them you charge batteries, tighten screws and swap damaged panels.
- Knockout stage and final. Prizes at the end.
The detail – how a robot is carried into the arena and when it may be switched on – is in the tutorial How combat robot tournaments work.
The arena
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Fighting floor | 1.2 × 1 m |
| Structure | aluminium profiles, 6 mm polycarbonate panels |
| Floor material | polycarbonate |
| Access | doors with two steel latches on both short sides |
| Hazard | 20 × 20 cm pit with a collection box |
| Lighting | LED strips around the perimeter |
Rules and the safety check
Tournaments run under the rules of the Czech Combat Robot League. The limits that matter for antweight:
- weight 150 g (225 g for non-rolling drive, 300 g for walkers),
- size – the robot must fit inside a 15 × 15 cm square with nothing sticking out,
- voltage 24 V maximum,
- failsafe – robot and weapon must stop when the signal is lost,
- power switch reachable from outside with marked positions,
- weapon lock – a physical lock that holds the weapon outside the arena.
Beetleweight adds a 1.5 kg limit, a power indicator and a weapon energy calculation. Projectiles, nets, glue, electronic and magnetic weapons and anything that distracts the opposing driver are banned.
Most failed checks are mundane: no failsafe, an inaccessible switch, a few grams over the limit. 10 most common mistakes covers how to avoid them.
How to enter
- Teams register, not individual robots. Up to 5 members and 5 robots; the number of robots is independent of the number of drivers.
- Robots from the same team normally do not fight each other.
- The entry form and the opening date are on the page of each event in the Tournaments section. Capacity is limited by the arena and the pit area.
- Robots are entered in the tournament app, linked from the event page.
What entry costs
| Type of event | Entry | Spectators |
|---|---|---|
| Tournament inside a Maker Faire | free | festival ticket |
| Our own tournament at TechTower Pilsen | CZK 50 | CZK 50 |
| Foreign events (e.g. Mad Metal Machines) | organiser’s terms | organiser’s terms |
Winners receive prizes; at some events (Tetragon in Brno) cash prizes. The real cost of competing is travel, batteries and spare parts, not the entry fee.
The FLS Battlebots calendar
The 2026 season had six league rounds: Pilsen (15 Feb), Karlovy Vary (21 Mar), Prague (9–10 May), Pilsen (28 Jun), České Budějovice (3 Oct) and Brno (17–18 Oct). Upcoming dates and entry links are always on the Tournaments page; the complete list including foreign events is on All tournaments. New dates and open registrations go out through the newsletter.
What to pack for your first event
Two or three charged batteries in a LiPo bag, a tester, spare wheels and a motor, screwdrivers, cable ties and a second wedge. The full list is in Your first combat robot tournament: a checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a single fight last?
A few minutes. It ends when one robot is disabled or falls into the pit, otherwise on time. The exact format depends on how many robots turn up – usually a group stage followed by a knockout bracket.
How many fights will I get in one day?
It depends on the entry list and the format. Plan for several fights and pack batteries and spares accordingly – most teams replace at least a wheel or a motor during the day.
Who decides the winner?
The referee at the arena. If the time runs out, aggression, control of the fight and damage are judged. The detailed procedure is in the tutorial How combat robot tournaments work.
Can I enter a robot without a weapon?
Yes, and it is a common start for newcomers. A wedge or a pusher is lighter, cheaper and more reliable, and there is no weapon lock to check. The types are compared on the Combat robot types page.
How does registration work?
Through the page of the specific event in the Tournaments section, where you also find when registration opens. A whole team registers (up to 5 members and 5 robots) and the robots themselves are entered in our tournament app. Capacity is limited by the size of the pit area.
Can I come just to watch?
Spectators are welcome. At Maker Faire events the festival ticket applies; at our own tournament in Pilsen's TechTower admission was CZK 50. Between fights you can walk up to the pits, look at the robots closely and often try driving one.
