How combat robot tournaments work

1) Registration

Participation in the tournament is generally free for all interested parties who meet the technical requirements for their robot. Registration is primarily conducted online well in advance of the tournament. The organizer needs to know how many participants to expect to fine-tune the final schedule, refreshments, and other organizational details.

Before registering, it is necessary to find out a few things. The most important is to read the rules of the given tournament, as they may differ between organizers, and what is allowed by one may not be permitted by another. It is also good to check the arena layout and adapt your robot, for example, to the specific floor surface and your strategy based on the size and location of the pit or other arena specialties.

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2) Packing and arrival at the tournament

Don’t forget to pack the following for the tournament:

• Robots, including spare parts and the controller

• Batteries, charger, LiPo bag (a protective cover for safe charging of Li-Po batteries)

• Extension cord

• Soldering iron, screwdrivers, and other tools

All registered participants will receive information about arrival and parking via email a few days before the start of the tournament. After parking and entering the tournament area, you must check in with the tournament organizer. You will receive a ticket and an assigned workstation where you can sit and work on your robots.

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3) Technical inspection of robots

After unpacking your things at the assigned station, a technical inspection of the robots is performed. Each robot must meet the following conditions:

• Maximum weight: according to the specified category (e.g., 150g, 1.5 kg, etc.)

• Maximum dimensions: the antweight category often has size limits (150 mm x 150 mm x unlimited), while other categories are usually unlimited in size provided they can fit through the arena doors.

• Failsafe: upon loss of signal or turning off the controller, the robot must stop all functions (both drive and weapon rotation).

• Color marking: of the off/on positions on switches (a visible dot for the off position or a line for the on position is sufficient).

• Physical weapon lock: to prevent accidental spinning for spinning weapons, and covering sharp edges (e.g., with foam) to eliminate the risk of injury when handling the robot outside the arena.

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4) Tournament schedule

The tournament is divided into rounds – usually according to the Swiss system. This means that robots with similar current scores always face each other. Some tournaments follow the Swiss system with a knockout stage for which robots must qualify based on points. In one round, each robot competes exactly once, and it is impossible to face the same robot twice during the tournament. Between rounds, there are planned breaks intended for:

• repairs of damaged parts

• recharging batteries

• a short rest for teams

Organizers try to stick to the pre-prepared schedule, but it is necessary to watch what is happening near the arena, as small changes may occur. If you plan a longer absence, it is good to let the organizers know.

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5) Match progression

Before the start of a round, the match schedule is always published. Carefully watch who is up next and ideally be ready by the arena 2 matches before yours. The less dangerous robot (pusher, lifter) is placed in the arena first, followed by the robot with a rotating weapon. The entire procedure for preparing the robot at the starting position is as follows:

• placing the secured robot into the arena

• placing the controller on the arena

• switching the robot on and waiting about 3 seconds to ensure the robot is behaving normally

• unlocking the robot’s weapon

• waiting for the opponent to perform the procedure as well

• closing the arena doors

• picking up the controller and testing if the robot drives and the weapon works

• moving to the starting position

Then, wait for the moderator or a signal from the arena for the start of the match. In the FLS Battlebots Antweight arena, the 3-2-1-Go! countdown is displayed on a screen in the arena floor.

After the match ends, you must proceed as follows:

• place the controller on the arena

• open the arena

• secure the robot’s weapon (in case of a rotating weapon)

• switch the robot off and remove it from the arena

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6) Match evaluation

A match standardly lasts 3 minutes; in case of a large number of participants, it may be reduced to 2 minutes. However, it may end earlier based on the situations specified in the following points:

• The robot falls out of the arena and touches the bottom of the pit.

• One of the robots shows no signs of movement (it is unable to move controllably) for 10 seconds.

• The robot driver gives up.

• The battery becomes exposed.

In the event that a winner is not determined within the standard time, it results in a draw, or the match evaluation is passed to 3 pre-selected judges. They decide based on these criteria:

• Weapon effectiveness: whether the weapon was used and what damage it inflicted

• Aggression: whether the robot was actively engaging or rather dodging

• Control over the opponent: who was pushing whom and preventing movement

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7) End of the tournament

The winner of the tournament is the robot with the highest number of points, or the winner of all knockout matches.

After the last round, there is an awards ceremony with the presentation of trophies and prizes. At the very end, a mass “robot rumble” is held, in which all robots can participate at once. Fighting continues for approximately 5 minutes or until only one last functional robot remains.

Then, all that’s left is to pack up your things, say goodbye, and start thinking about improvements for the next tournament.

Combat robot tournaments are not just about machines fighting, but also about skill, tactics, and teamwork. Proper preparation and respect for the rules are the keys to both success and fun!