Robo Wars

Robo-Wars (15Kg)

The Flagship event of FLUXUS’23, where powerful bots battle against each other to achieve the ultimate glory. A closed arena and two warriors in the arena equipped with lethal weapons and strategies to crush the opponent no matter what it takes.

Do you know what it is to me? “A PERFECT HEAVEN!”.

This year we are bringing heaven in FLUXUS’23. An Arena where these machines of malice will battle through hell for the title of the ‘Ultimate Survivor’. Participants are expected to bring a solid bot and compete among others to survive till the last. But this time, not only survivors but other people will also get the glory.

Weight Category – 15 Kgs Contents

1. Task

2. Design Specifications

    a. Basic Specifications

    b. Mobility

    c. Robot Control Requirements

    d. Battery and Power

    e. Weapon Systems

3. Competition Rules and Specifications

    a) Team Specifications

    b) Registration

    c) Match Duration and Type

    d) Match Frequency

    e) Criteria for Victory

    f) Event-specific terminology

    g) Safety Rules

4. Arena Specifications

5. Prizes

6. An Important Note

1. TASK

Design and construct a remote-controlled robot capable of fighting a tournament against another robot(s).

2. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

A. Specifications:

1. There will be no restrictions on the dimensions of the bot(s).

2. The weight of the machine should not exceed 15 Kgs (33.07 lbs.) which includes the weight of any pneumatic source/tank. All pneumatic tanks/sources and batteries should be on board. Only the weight of the remote controller will not be counted.

3. A bot can be in a “Cluster Bot” formation. Each bot must meet the requirements described in this problem statement document. The total weight of all the bots and the dimensions of the combination of bots must satisfy the above two points.

4. Robots with pneumatic or hydraulic mechanisms or electric lifters are allowed.

B. Mobility:

All robots must have easily visible and controlled mobility to compete. Methods of mobility include:

1. Rolling (wheels, tracks or the whole robot).

2. Non-wheeled: non-wheeled robots have no rolling elements in contact with the floor and no continuous rolling or cam-operated motion in contact with the floor, either directly or via a linkage, but are not true walkers, as defined below. Motion is "continuous" if the continuous operation of the drive motor(s) produces continuous motion of the robot. Linear-actuated legs and novel non-wheeled drive systems are also allowed under this category.

3. Manually operated jumping and hopping are allowed. However, the maximum height of any part of the machine should not exceed 6ft during any stage of its jumping/hopping. Any damage caused due to this mechanism is solely the team's responsibility.

Mobility methods that are NOT allowed:

1. Flying (using airfoil, helium balloons, ornithopters, etc.) is not allowed.

2. The robots should not secure themselves on the ring surface using suction cups, diaphragms, sticky threads, glue or other devices.

C. Robot Control Requirements:

1. The robot must be controlled only through a wireless remote, while all power supplies must be on board.

2. Control must be exhibited over all of its functions and positions. Although autonomous functions within the bot are acceptable, the controller must be able to disable or override these functions at any time remotely. Note that any damage due to this function is the responsibility of the team

3. There should be binding capability between transmitters and receivers, and they must be able to connect between polycarbonate (12mm), metal bars and barriers. Only remotes with such facilities will be allowed.

4. The team must have at least a four-frequency wireless remote-control circuit or two dual control circuits, which may be interchanged before the start of the race to avoid frequency interference with other teams. Cases of any interference in the wireless systems will not be considered for rematch or results.

5. Remote control systems from toys may be used. Remote control systems available in the market may also be used, while nonstandard or self-made remote-control systems can be used only after approval from the organisers.

6. The team should pair up the wireless remote with the machine before putting it into the arena. No extra time will be provided for this once the machines are put inside the arena, and not connecting the remote with the machine before that may attract a penalty on the team.

D. Battery and Power:

1. The machine must be powered electrically. Use of an IC engine in any form is not allowed. Onboard batteries must be sealed, immobilized-electrolyte types (such as gel cells, lithium, NiCad, NiMH, or dry cells).

2. The electric voltage between any 2 points on the machine should not exceed 36V DC at any point in time. Participants must bring their own converters for standard power supply according to Indian standards.

3. Participants must protect the battery terminals from a direct short and causing a battery fire; failure to do so will cause direct disqualification.

4. Use of damaged, non-leak-proof batteries may lead to disqualification.

5. Special care should be taken to protect the onboard batteries. If the judges find that the battery is insufficiently protected, the team will be disqualified immediately.

6. Change of battery will not be allowed during the match.

7. Only bots with onboard batteries will be allowed. The teams are suggested to have at least one extra battery ready and charged up during competition so that they won’t have to wait or suffer due to the uncharged battery on advancing to the next level. Teams who do not show up during their allotted slot will be disqualified.

E. Weapon Systems:

1. Robots can have any kind of magnetic weapons, cutters, flippers, saws, lifting devices, spinning hammers etc. (if they qualify the criteria mentioned below) as weapons.

2. Following weapons cannot be used:

a. Liquid projectiles (Foam, liquefied gases)

b. Any kinds of inflammable liquids

c. Weapons causing invisible damage (Electrical weapons, RF jamming weapons and others).

3. Only active weapon bots are allowed (sumo bots are not allowed).

3. COMPETITION RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS

A. Team Specifications:

1. Any team can participate in Robowars and Fluxus. A team may consist of a maximum of 6 participants. These participants can be from the same or different institutes.

2. Team Name: Every team must have a unique name.

3. There must be a name for your warrior. Team Representative: Each team must specify their team representative (leader) at the time of registration on the website. All the essential communications between Fluxus Organizers and the registered teams will be done through their team representative. The team representative must submit valid contact details (phone no., email ID etc.) at the time of registration

B. Registration:

Each team has to register strictly before 29th Feb ‘23 with an abstract containing the following:

Written abstract (.pdf format or docx format)

1. The weapon systems and power supply method must be explained in detail, along with proper diagrams and pictures.

2. The functioning of the wireless remote or any other wireless module used for the wireless remote, and its frequency, must be explained in detail.

3. A description of any unusual advantageous mechanism used must be given. The specifications of all the components used, including motors, suspension springs, remote controller, wires, battery, etc., must be mentioned. Video Abstract The video should be of at least 1 minute, with the unedited clip showing the machine's performance to the fullest. All destructive mechanism(s) being used must be shown with their working.

Participants are not required to explain the mechanisms in the video.

NOTE:

• Please send your abstract to fluxus@iiti.ac.in

• If you cannot meet the requirements asked in the portfolio, please send us the portfolios based on the current state of your machine before the deadline. That is, even if your machine is incomplete, please send the portfolios anyway, instead of not sending them or sending them late.

• Teams must have to pay the registration fee by 2nd March for confirmation. Not paying the registration fee before the deadline will lead to immediate disqualification.

C. Match Duration and Type:

Matches will consist of 5 minutes of active fight time. Hence, it is not binding but advisable to keep battery capacity, power usage and machine defences such that they can sustain a 5- minutes fight. Matches will be between two robots. A detailed document of rules regarding the format and rules to be followed during the event days shall be uploaded later, and the participants will be informed.

D. Match Frequency:

A team is allowed to prepare for the next match for a period of 30 minutes. This time is calculated from when the robot leaves its previous match's post-match staging area. In extreme cases, the 30-minute time period may be lengthened at the discretion of the event organisers.

E. Criteria for victory:

1. A robot is declared victorious if its opponent is immobilised.

2. A robot will be declared immobile if it cannot display the linear motion of at least one inch in a time period of 10 seconds. A bot with one side of its drivetrain disabled will not be counted out if it can demonstrate some degree of controlled movement. If both the robots remain mobile after the end of the round, the winner will be decided subjectively.

3. A robot that is deemed unsafe by the judges after the match has begun will be disqualified and therefore declared the loser. The match will be immediately halted, and the opponent will be awarded a win.

4. If a robot is thrown out of the arena, the match will be stopped immediately, and the robot inside the arena will automatically be declared the winner.

5. Robots cannot win by pinning or lifting their opponents. Organisers will allow pinning or lifting for a maximum of 20 seconds per pin/lift then the attacker robot will be instructed to release the opponent. If, after being instructed to do so, the attacker can release but does not, their robot may be disqualified. If two or more robots become entangled or a crushing or gripping weapon is employed and becomes trapped within another robot, then the competitors should make the timekeeper aware, the fight should be stopped, and the robots should be separated by the safest means.

6. If a bot gets stuck inside the arena due to the deformity of the arena itself. The timer will be stopped, and the bot will be released by the safest means.

7. Points will be given on the basis of aggression, damage and control.

a. Aggression: Aggression is judged by the frequency, severity, boldness and effectiveness of attacks deliberately initiated by the robot against its opponent. If a robot appears to have accidentally attacked an opponent, that act will not be considered when judging for aggression.

b. Control: Control is judged in terms of the ability to attack an opponent at its weakest point, using weapons in the most effective way, and minimising the damage caused by the opponent.

c. Damage: Through deliberate action, a robot either directly or indirectly reduces the functionality, effectiveness or defensibility of an opponent Damage is not considered relevant if a robot inadvertently harms itself. Also, if a pressure vessel or a rapidly spinning device on a robot fragments, any damage to the opponent will not be considered "deliberate".

NOTE:

A robot winning in a round against its opponent doesn’t guarantee its entrance into the next round. If the judges found the winning robot incompetent to enter the next round, it may get disqualified. Judges can disqualify a match's robots from advancing to the next round. All the decisions taken by the judge will be final and binding to all. Any queries afterwards will not be entertained.

Event-Specific Terminology:

a. Disabled: A robot is not functioning correctly due to either an internal malfunction or contact with the opposing robot or Arena Hazard.

b. Disqualification: A robot can no longer compete in the current Robowars tournament.

c. Immobilized: In the judges’ opinion, a robot is not responsive for a specified period of time.

d. Knockout: Occurs when one robot's attack or deliberate actions cause its opponent to become immobilised.

e. Lifting: This occurs when one robot controls an opponent's translational motion by lifting the opponent's drive mechanism off the Arena floor.

f. No Contact: Neither robot makes contact with the other for a specified period of time. g. Pinning: Occurs when one robot, through sheer force, holds an opponent stationary in order to immobilize it.

h. Radio Interference: Refers to a situation where at least one robot becomes unresponsive or non-controllable due to the effect of the other robot's remote-control signal.

i. Non-Responsive: In the judge’s opinion, the robot cannot display some kind of controlled translational movement along the arena floor.

j. Restart: Occurs after a fault or a timeout has been declared and the competing robots are ready to continue.

k. Stuck: A robot is hung up in a part of the arena, an arena hazard or an opponent, such that it is effectively non-responsive.

l. Tap-Out: Occurs when a robot's operators decide that they no longer want to continue the match and concede the win to the opposing team.

m. Technical Knockout: This occurs when a robot wins due to the immobilisation of its opponent even though, in the judges' opinion, no action of the winning robot caused the opponent's immobilisation.

F. Timeout:

A temporary halting of a match. Timeouts are usually called to separate robots but can also be called for other reasons.

G. Safety Rules:

Compliance with all event rules is mandatory. It is expected that competitors stay within the rules and procedures of their own accord and do not require constant policing.

1. Special care should be taken to protect the onboard batteries and pneumatics, bot without proper protection will not be allowed to compete.

2. If you have a robot or weapon design that does not fit in this ruleset (even having some elements that are not mentioned as allowed/disallowed in this ruleset) or is somehow ambiguous, please contact Fluxus at the earliest. Safe innovation is always encouraged, but surprising the organizers with your brilliant exploitation of a loophole may cause your robot to be disqualified before it even competes.

3. Each event has safety inspections. Your team will be allowed to compete at the sole discretion of Fluxus authorities, to whom, as a builde,r you are obligated to disclose all operating principles and potential dangers to the inspection staff.

4. Proper activation and deactivation of robots are critical. Robots must only be activated in the arena, testing areas, or with the expressed consent of the event coordinators.

5. All weapons must have a safety cover on any sharp edges.

6. All participants build and operate robots at their own risk. Combat robotics is inherently dangerous. There is no amount of regulation that can encompass all the dangers involved. Please take care to not hurt yourself or others when building, testing and competing. Any kind of activity (repairing, battery handling etc.) which may cause damage to the surroundings during the stay of the teams in the competition area should not be carried out without the consent of the organizers. Not following this rule may result in disqualification.

7. All the resources provided at the time of competition from the organizers should be

8. strictly used only after the consent of the organisers.

9. Once the robots have entered the arena, no team member can enter into the arena at any point in time. In case a fight has to be halted in between and some changes have to be made in the arena or the condition of the robot(s), it will be done by organisers only.

4. ARENA SPECIFICATIONS

Safety Precautions: The battle area available to the robots for motion during the match is 1ft inside the polycarbonate walls to prevent direct impact. The arena is protected by bulletproof polycarbonate walls of 12mm thickness on four sides (excluding the top). The top is protected by a 12mm bulletproof polycarbonate sheet.

Arena Diagram: The out-to-out dimension of the arena will be 20ft x 20ft x 8ft (l x b x h). *These figures/parameters are subject to change. The maximum pressure limit may be upgraded depending on the equipment available. The arena size is also subject to the infrastructure. Polycarbonate thickness may be increased. They will be conveyed through updates to this document, as per the “Important Note” below.

5. PRIZES

PRIZES WORTH 80K.

The prize money will be awarded to winners via NEFT and will be processed within 45 working days after receiving the prize money from our sponsors. The winners will have to mail the following information (immediately after the announcement of results) to fluxus@iiti.ac.in, strictly in the following format:

1. Subject: Competition Name, Team ID - your position (example- Robowars, RO1003- 3rd Position)

2. Body of mail:

a. Account Holder’s Name

b. Account Number

c. Bank name and Branch name.

d. IFSC Code

AN IMPORTANT NOTE:

These rules may change at any time, even without explicit notification to teams. However, the document uploaded here is to be followed as the latest problem statement for all the rules and design specifications. Any change can be observed in the name of the document, which will contain a higher version (v2.0, say) if updated. The teams acknowledge that they have a responsibility to read, understand and abide by the rules and Fluxus reserves the right to prevent any team from competing at any time for any reason (including but not limited to the reasons specified elsewhere in this document). However, we shall inform all registrants in case an updated version comes up (all the registrant till the date of revision). In case of any queries, participants are encouraged to contact Fluxus.

Contacts Us:

Email Id: fluxus@iiti.ac.in

Coordinators:

Vishnu Vardhan: WhatsApp no. 9866600176

Sharvari Kulkarni: WhatsApp no. 9325961083