CanBots / Battle Bricks -- robot fighting thread

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WilF
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CanBots / Battle Bricks -- robot fighting thread

Post by WilF »

This is going to be the public general thread for Lego robotic combat in the Pacific Northwest, including Vancouver's BrickCan CanBots, and Seattle's Brickcon Battle Bricks
Questions, building advice, updates can be posted here.
If you've never seen what we do, here is a video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX0lUcSSR5k&t=45s

The first thing is to post the BrickCan 2020 CanBots rule amendments. If you plan on participating at BrickCan 2020, you can enter the tournament by posting here.

ROBOT DESIGN RULES:

1. ELECTRONICS AND POWER SUPPLIES
a. Motors must be LEGO Brand and unmodified.
b. Speed Controllers may be, but not limited to:
-third party bluetooth controllers. ex. SBrick
-any LEGO brand receiver including IR, Pup, EV3, etc.
(LEGO Brand IR receivers are discouraged though, as they are easily disrupted by interference from fluorescent lighting)
c. Battery packs and power supplies may be third party or LEGO brand.
d. Batteries may not be left exposed. Housings must have covers or shields to protect internal components. For instance, a x6AA battery box MUST use its covers and may not be removed to save weight.   

2. BUILD LIMITS
a. Robot must fit in a 45x45x45 stud box.
b. The weight class is 2 Pounds (907 grams).
c. Robots using non-wheeled locomotion receive a 25% increase on their weight limit.
d. The number of electronic components used is unlimited.
e. The use of Tape, Glue, Elastics or String to secure components is prohibited. However, tape may be used to insulate exposed wiring or other electronic components in danger of shorting out.
f. LEGO brand String, LEGO brand and third-party Elastic bands are permitted as components as a means of locomotion for weapons.
g. Unless otherwise noted as an exception, the robot must use LEGO brand parts.
h. Robots using non-modified Lego battery packs receive a 25%increase on their weight limit. This includes the Lego Pup module. This is a one-time weight bonus, and is only for a battery pack being used as a power source.
i. Weight bonuses can be stacked. Percentage increases are calculated off the base weight limit of 2 pounds.

3. WEAPONS
a. Prohibited weapons include but may not be limited to:
-Fire, heat or weapons designed to alter the temperature properties of the opponent.
-Liquids.
-Magnets.
-Devices intended to interfere with radio connectivity between the controller and receiver.
-Devices intended to obscure or blind the vision of the operators.
-Devices intended to entangle or otherwise render parts of the opponent as jammed or immovable, including nets, detachable harpoons and tow cables, debris intentionally dropped on the floor, such as ball bearings or pins.
-weapons that may cause extreme damage to the arena. Please see section on arena specifications. 
b. Robot MUST have an active weapon. An active weapon is defined as:
-being independently powered from the drivetrain of the robot
-having a form of locomotion designed to over-power your opponent
-able to be activated by the operator's remote control. Automation is allowed, but must be able to be overridden by the operator
c. Metal is prohibited as a weapon contact tip. 
d. using unmodified battery packs as weapon weights is allowed but may only be filled with batteries.
e. For special consideration: due to part“metal train axle x1687” being discontinued in 2019, third party alternatives to this piece are allowed, as long as they are indistinguishable from the original part(Brick Tracks). This is an essential part for weighting weapons.

MULTI-BOTS:
a. You may operate more than one robot registered under the same name, simultaneously in the arena as long as:
-the total weight of the bots is equal to the total allowed weight of a single competitor.
-at least one of the multi-bot robots has an active weapon outlined within the weapon limits column
b. A multi-bot gains a one-time total weight bonus of 25%. All other applicable weight bonuses contribute to the total weight, not weight per bot.
c. A multi-bot will be counted as incapacitated if 66% of the robot's total weight is deemed inoperable. This does not include debris dislodged from a competitor, but rather the full weight of a robot as determined at weigh-in.


COMPETITION RULES

LIABILITY:
a. Once a competing robot is placed in the arena, the operator and/or owner of said competing robot hereby acknowledges that their opponents and the competition organizers will be in no way responsible for any broken/damaged components to their entrant.
b. Operators/owners assume all responsibility for their entrant.
c. Tournament organizers reserve the right to reject a robot from the tournament for safety concerns, unsportsmanlike conduct or other.

ARENA:
a. The arena shall consist of an 8’ x 8’ enclosure.
b. There will be four transparent walls made of impact resistant plastic separating the audience and the arena. The roof consists of screen mesh.
c. A lower reinforced barricade shall surround the interior to prevent direct weapon impacts against the walls.
d. There may be arena hazards and obstacles concealed within the floor or along the walls.

MATCH LENGTH:
a. A match's duration will take no longer than 1:45 minutes
b. A match may end prior to 1:45 minutes if:
-a competitor is rendered incapacitated/disabled
-a competitor forfeits before or during the match
-a serious safety issue has occurred
c. A false start may occur if one or more robots is inoperable at the beginning of the match. The match will be restarted if that occurs.

DURING THE MATCH:
a. The goal of all competitors is to defeat their opponent by incapacitating and/or disabling them. In the event that this cannot be achieved within the allotted match time limit, then either competitor will be scored and judged on control, aggression, and damage inflicted upon their opponent.
b. Several events may occur to competitors during the match and are defined as follows:
-Pin: A competitor may hold their opponent in a way where they are unable to move for up to 10 seconds. After 10 seconds, an official will tell the competitor to release their opponent. For instance, you may push your opponent against a wall and hold them there for 10 seconds.
-Grapple: A competitor may hold and control their opponent in a way where the competitor is able to move and manipulate their opponent's mobility.
-Stuck: When either competitor are unable to free themselves from each other after 10 seconds. Officials will pause the match to pull either robots apart. The match will immediately be resumed after this has occurred.
-Incapacitated: A competitor in unable to move. A 10 second countdown will begin before they are knocked out.
-Disabled: An operator is unable to show directional movement. A 10 second countdown will begin before they are knocked out.
Directional Movement: Unless pinned or grappled, an operator must always be able to show that they have full control over their robot at an official's discretion. If an operator is unable to display directional movement, a competitor will be considered disabled and 10 second countdown will begin before they are knocked out. For instance, moving forward counts as directional movement. Spinning in place because of a malfunctioning drive motor or lost wheel does not count as directional movement.
-Knockout: When a competitor is either incapacitated or disabled after 10 seconds, they will be considered knocked out. That competitor loses the match.
-Tapout/Forfeit: When a competitor requests to immediately end the fight. That competitor loses the match. The competitor will tap the timer button and put their controller down.

GOOD FAITH RULES:
a. In good faith and in the spirit of sportsmanlike conduct, operators shall exercise restraint from causing excessive damage to their opponents at their own discretion. This would apply particularly in the case of when their opponent is in the process of being counted out for a knockout.
b. Organizers will not outright ban competitors that do not perfectly meet the criteria listed above. We encourage everyone to build to the best of their abilities with the intent of making exciting matches. Our end goal is to entertain the public and promote robot fighting within the AFOL community. 
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