METU Robotics Days 2012

Mini Sumo Robot Tournament Rules

1)      Robots must be completely autonomous. Under no circumstances can they be controlled manually. For example, they cannot be commanded by radio frequency. After they start operating, robots must decide what to do by themselves. After the round begins, there cannot be any interference with the robots.

2)      For the Sumo Robot Category, the upper weight limit is 500 g. Margin of error for this limit is 2 % for the sumo robots. (This corresponds to a 10 g. of margin of error.)

3)      Dimensions:

For the sumo robots, the base dimension limit is 10x10cm for the beginning of the round.(Margin of error for the base dimensions for sumo robots is ±2 mm.)

There are no restrictions for the height measurements.

The dimensions can change after the round is started. At the start of the round, the robot must be able to fit into an imaginary rectangular prism with base dimensions of 10x10cm. 

4)      Sumo robot competitions are held on a dull black colored circular disk with a white stripe on the edge, referred as the “ring”.

Ring Dimensions:

The ring has a diameter of 77 cm. and its height from the ground is 5 cm. The white stripe at its edge has a thickness of 2.5 cm. 

5)      Robots cannot harm any other robot, human or ring, on purpose. Robots must be designed to withstand impacts. METU Robotics Society does not accept responsibility for the damages that might occur on the robots during the organization.

Robots cannot,

-          discharge fire or smoke,

-          leak lubricants,

-          throw or spray materials to the opponent robot,

-          give electric shock to harm the opponent robot,

-          dissipate electromagnetic waves,

-          form arc,

-          limit the movement of the opponent robot with rope, net or similar material,

-          discharge sand, dust or other types of powder to the Ring,

-          harm the ring.

In case of uncertainty, the decisions of the referees determine the result. 

6)      Robots cannot apply vacuum or use sticky wheels that will improve their ability to hold on to a surface. While operating, robots, when put on a paper and lifted, must not remove the paper.

7)      Participant robots will be divided into groups according to the number of participants. Designating the procedure to determine the groups will be on the METU Robotics Society’s own initiative.

8)      Every robot will compete with other robots from the same groups. Every match will be held in the round basis. Each round will be a maximum of 2 minutes and the robot winning 2 rounds will be the winner of the match. 

If the robots cannot outmatch each other (draw game), they compete again. If at the end of 5 consecutive rounds there still is a draw, then the referee’s decision determines the winner of the match.

For example, the lighter robot or the robot that had competed better wins... 

Robots that win each match receive 1 point. Robots with the highest points (the number of robots will be determined with the grouping system) will qualify.

9)      After the referee gives the signal for the robots to get ready for the match, the robot that does not show up on the ring in 3 minutes is eliminated if the two sides agree.

10)  After the referee gives the signal for getting ready, the robots are put on the ring, not to cross the brown line. (This line will be assumed to be present as an imaginary line.) If exists, the robots main movement axis must be parallel to this line. Within the same match, in every round, the robots will start operating while facing in opposite directions (directions will change for every round).

11)  When the referee gives the second signal, the participants must be ready to start their robots. Robots can be started with the help of a button as well as with a sound or light sourced signal, at a distance.

As soon as the referee gives the third signal the robots must be started and the participants must get away from the ring to avoid interference with the robots during the round. There must be at least 1m of radial distance between the exterior limits of the ring and the participants, as well as any other third persons. 

12)  Robot must remain still for 5 seconds after third signal is given. If one of the robots moves in 5 seconds, the round is restarted. If the same situation is repeated for the same robot again, the robot loses that match.

For these 5 seconds, the participant can ask for a restart to the referee once each match.

13)  If any part of the robot touches the outside of the ring (the ground, outside the ring), the robot loses that round. If the referee decides that both of the robots touched the outside of the ring at the same moment, then the round is repeated.

14)  If the robot is not touching the ground outside of the ring, even it is outside of the imaginary cylinder of the ring, the round continues.

15)  Referees can restart the round under the following circumstances:

-          If both robots are not moving,

-          If anyone of the robots does not seem to win,

-          In case of a danger (short circuit, smoke, etc.)

16)  Any part that detaches from the robot must be autonomous. Thus, according to this rule the robot cannot drop any non-moving parts, in which case the robot loses the round.

17)  If both of the robots face infraction of the rules*, the round is repeated.

18)  If one of the robots does not move at all, even if the opponent robot makes infraction of the rules* the round is repeated.

19)  During the matches, at moments of technical disagreements, the decision of the referee is effective.

Objections to the decisions will be taken into account only in written application form.

The written applications are submitted to the organization committee. The committee

will meet at the beginning of every hour and discuss the submitted written applications.

The final decisions, not to accept any further objections, will be announced as soon as possible.

METU Robotics Society holds its right to make changes in the rules without any justification, when necessary

*infraction of the rules: cases that will result the robot to lose the round. 

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