RFL Tech Regs:
Central Illinois Bot Brawl 2010 RC Combat Rules

General

• 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.
• This rule set is designed to for adjustment by each event depending on its safety concerns. Any parts of these rules [bracketed in red] are parts that may be changed or omitted from event to event.
• If you have a robot or weapon design that does not fit within the categories set forth in these rules or is in someway ambiguous or borderline, please contact this event. Safe innovation is always encouraged, but surprising the event staff with your brilliant exploitation of a loophole may cause your robot to be disqualified before it ever competes.
• 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.
• Each event has safety inspections. It is at their sole discretion that your robot is allowed to compete. As a builder you are obligated to disclose all operating principles and potential dangers to the inspection staff.

Cardinal Safety Rules:

Failure to comply with any of the following rules could result in expulsion or worse, injury and death.

• Radios may not be turned on at or near events for any purpose without obtaining the appropriate frequency clip or explicit permission from the event.
• Proper activation and deactivation of robots is critical. Robots must only be activated in the arena, testing areas, or with expressed consent of the event and it's safety officials.
• All robots must be able to be FULLY deactivated, which includes power to drive and weaponry, in under 60 seconds by a manual disconnect .
• All robots not in an arena or official testing area must be raised or blocked up in a manner so that their wheels or legs cannot cause movement if the robot were turned on. Runaway bots are VERY dangerous.

Locking Devices

Moving weapons that can cause damage or injury must have a clearly visible locking device in place at all times when not in the arena.  Locking devices must be painted in neon orange or another high-visibility color. Locking devices must be clearly capable to stopping, arresting or otherwise preventing harmful motion of the weapon .

• Weapon locking pins must be in place when weapon power is applied during a robot's power-on procedure. This includes all powered weapons regardless of the power source or weight class.
• It is expected that all builders will follow basic safety practices during work on the robot at your pit station. Please be alert and aware of your pit neighbors and people passing by.

Weight Classes

This event offers the listed weight classes in section 2.1. There is no weight bonus for shufflers or other forms of locomotion.

Excessively Destructive Weapons .

Weapons deemed too destructive by virtue of their mass, MOI or other characteristics may be further limited or disallowed at the discretion of the event. Please contact the event organizer concerning your design to avoid problems.

Standard RFL Rules Apply

Unless otherwise stated, all other standard RFL rules will apply.

Mobility

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

• Rolling (wheels, tracks or the whole robot)
• 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. Motion is “continuous” if continuous operation of the drive motor(s) produces continuous motion of the robot. Linear-actuated legs and novel non-wheeled drive systems may qualify for this bonus.
• Shuffling (rotational cam operated legs)
• Ground effect air cushions (hovercrafts)
• Jumping and hopping
• Flying (airfoil using, helium balloons, ornithopters, etc.)

Robot control requirements:

• Tele-operated robots must be radio controlled, or use an approved custom system as described in 4.4.3. Radio controlled robots must use approved ground frequencies including 27/49/50/53/75/900/2400 for the United States or 2.4Ghz .
• Tethered control is not allowed.
• Pre 1991 non-narrow band radio systems are not allowed.
• Radio system restrictions for this event with corresponding weight and or weapon restrictions:
• Radio systems that stop all motion in the robot (drive and weapons), when the transmitter loses power or signal, are required for all robots with active weapons or any robot over 12lbs. This may be inherent in the robots electrical system or be part of programmed fail-safes in the radio. Robots 1 lb and less drive fail-safes.
• All robot radio systems must have a way to change frequencies or coded channels to prevent radio conflicts. Having at least two frequencies or coded channels available is required . Lack of extra frequencies may result in a forfeit. Digital spread-spectrum radios that use frequency hopping or automatic channel selection qualify under this rule.
• If you are using a home built control system, or a control system not covered here, you must first clear it with this event.
• Toy radio systems allowed at this event for robots up to 12 lbs with no active weapons.
• RC systems on the AM band allowed at this event for robots up to 12 lbs with no active weapons.
• This event does not require a separate power switch for the radio, but it is encouraged.
• This event reserved frequencies/channels for testing and safety.

Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Robots:

Any robot that moves, seeks a target, or activates weapons without human control is considered autonomous . If your robot is autonomous contact this event before registration.

• Autonomous robots must have a clearly visible light for each autonomous subsystem that indicates whether or not it is in autonomous mode, e.g. if your robot has two autonomous weapons it should have two “autonomous mode” lights (this is separate from any power or radio indicator lights used).
• Robots in the 12 pound or under classes are exempt from the remaining rules below, but safe operation, arming, and disarming must be demonstrated in safety inspections.
• The autonomous functionality of a robot must have the capability of being remotely armed and disarmed. (This does not include internal sensors, drive gyros, or closed loop motor controls.)
• While disarmed, all autonomous functions must be disabled.
• When activated the robot must have no autonomous functions enabled, and all autonomous functions must failsafe to off if there is loss of power or radio signal.
• In case of damage to components that remotely disarm the robot, the robots autonomous functions are required to automatically disarm within one minute of the match length time after being armed.

Batteries and Power:

• The only permitted batteries are ones that cannot spill or spray any of their contents when damaged or inverted. This means that standard automotive and motorcycle wet cell batteries are prohibited. Examples of batteries that are permitted: gel cells, Hawkers, NiCads, NiMh, dry cells, AGM, LIon, LiPoly, etc. If your design uses a new type of battery, or one you are not sure about please contact this event .
• All onboard voltages above 48 Volts require prior approval from this event. (It is understood that a charged battery's initial voltage state is above their nominal rated value)
• All electrical power to weapons and drive systems (systems that could cause potential human bodily injury) must have a manual disconnect that can be activated within 15 seconds without endangering the person turning it off. (E.g. No body parts in the way of weapons or pinch points.) Shut down must include a manually operated mechanical method of disconnecting the main battery power, such as a switch (Hella, Wyachi, etc) or removable link. Relays may be used to control power, but there must also be a mechanical disconnect. Please note that complete shut down time is specified in section 1.6.
• All efforts must be made to protect battery terminals from a direct short and causing a battery fire.
• If your robot uses a grounded chassis you must have a switch capable of disconnecting this ground. ICE robots are excepted from this rule if there is no practical way to isolate their grounding components. It is to contact this event for this exception.
• All Robots must have a light easily visible from the outside of the robot that shows its main power is activated.

Pneumatics:

Example diagrams of typical pneumatic systems in robots over 30lbs:

• CO2 based systems http://www.botleague.com/pdf/GeneralPneumaticsCO2.pdf
• High Pressure Air (HPA) based systems http://www.botleague.com/pdf/GeneralPneumaticsHPA.pdf
• Pneumatic systems on board the robot must only employ non-flammable, nonreactive gases (CO2, Nitrogen and air are most common). It is not permissible to use fiber wound pressure vessels with liquefied gasses like CO2 due to extreme temperature cycling.
• You must have a safe and secure method of refilling your pneumatic system. [The RFL recommands the use of standard paintball fill fittings available at many retail outlets and online. For specs see Part#12MPS from Foster, http://www.couplers.com ].

Exemptions:

• Robots 12 lbs and under and systems with gas storage of 2 fl oz or less are exempt from the remaining rules in this section provided that the maximum actuation pressure is 250 PSI or less and all components are used within the specifications provided by the manufacturer or supplier. If the specifications aren't available or reliable, then it will be up to the EO to decide if the component is being used in a sufficiently safe manner .
• Pneumatic systems with pressures below 100 PSI, small volumes (12-16g CO2 cartridges), single firing applications, or pneumatics used for internal actuation (as opposed to external weaponry) may also be exempted from the remaining pneumatic rules. You are to contact this event if you would like an exception.
• All pneumatic components on board a robot must be securely mounted. Particular attention must be made to pressure vessel mounting and armor to ensure that if ruptured it will not escape the robot. (The terms 'pressure vessel, bottle, and source tank' are used interchangeably)
• All pneumatic components within the robot must be rated or certified for AT LEAST the maximum pressure in that part of the system. You may be required to show rating or certification documentation on ANY component in your system.
• All pressure vessels must be rated for at least 120% of the pressure they are used at and have a current hydro test date. (This is to give them a margin of safety if damaged during a fight.) If large actuators, lines, or other components are used at pressures above 250psi these will also need to be over-rated and are to be pre-approved for this event.
• All primary pressure vessels must have an over pressure device (burst/rupture disk or over pressure 'pop off') set to no more than 130% of that pressure vessels rating. (Most commercially available bottles come with the correct burst assemblies, use of these is encouraged)
• If regulators or compressors are used anywhere in the pneumatic system there must be an (additional) over pressure device downstream of the regulator or compressor set for no more than 130% of the lowest rated component in that part of the pneumatic system.
• All pneumatic systems must have a manual main shut off valve to isolate the rest of the system from the source tank. This valve must be easily accessed for robot de activation and refilling.
• All pneumatic systems must have a manual bleed valve downstream of the main shut off valve to depressurize the system. This bleed valve must be easily accessed for deactivation. This valve must be left OPEN whenever the robot is not in the arena to ensure the system cannot operate accidentally.
• It is required to be able to easily bleed all pressure in the robot before exiting the arena. (You may be required to bleed the entire system if it is believed that you have any damaged components.)
• All regulated pneumatic systems must have an appropriate gauge scaled for maximum resolution of the pressure on the low-pressure side of the system. HPA (air, nitrogen, or inert gas) systems must have gauges on both the high AND low-pressure sides of regulators. A gauge or other clear visual indication that the system is charged is strongly recommended for all pneumatic systems. Whether specifically required or not.
• If back check valves are used anywhere in the system you must ensure that any part of the system they isolate can be bled and has an over pressure device.
• Any pneumatic system that does not use a regulator, or employs heaters or pressure boosters, or pressures above 2500psi must be pre qualified by this event .

Rotational weapons or full body spinning robots:

• Spinning weapons that can contact the outer arena walls during normal operation must be pre-approved by the event. (Contact with an inner arena curb, or containment wall is allowed and does not require prior permission.)
• Spinning weapons must come to a full stop within 60 seconds of the power being removed using a self-contained braking system.

Forbidden Weapons and Materials.

The following weapons and materials are absolutely forbidden from use:

• Weapons designed to cause invisible damage to the other robot. This includes but is not limited to:
• Electrical weapons
• RF jamming equipment, etc.
• RF noise generated by an IC engine. (Please use shielding around sparking components)
• EMF fields from permanent or electro-magnets that affect another robot's electronics.
• Weapons or defenses that stop combat completely of both (or more) robots. This includes nets, tapes, strings, and other entanglement devices.
• Weapons that require significant cleanup, or in some way damages the arena to require repair for further matches. This includes but is not limited to:
• Liquid weapons. Additionally a bot may not have liquid that can spill out when the robot is superficially damaged.
• Foams and liquefied gasses
• Powders, sand, ball bearings and other dry chaff weapons
• Un-tethered Projectiles (see tethered projectile description in Special Weapons section 13.5)
• Heat and fire are forbidden as weapons. This includes, but is not limited to the following:
• Heat or fire weapons not specifically allowed in the Special Weapons section ( 13.2 )
• Flammable liquids or gases
• Explosives or flammable solids such as:
  • DOT Class C devices
  • Gunpowder / Cartridge Primers
  • Military Explosives, etc.
• Light and smoke based weapons that impair the viewing of robots by an Entrant, Judge, Official or Viewer. (You are allowed to physically engulf your opponent with your robot however.) This includes, but is not limited to the following:
• Smoke weapons not specifically allowed in the Special Weapons section ( 13.3 )
• Lights such as external lasers above ‘ class I' and bright strobe lights which may blind the opponent.
• Hazardous or dangerous materials are forbidden from use anywhere on a robot where they may contact humans, or by way of the robot being damaged (within reason) contact humans. Contact this event if you have a question .

Special weapon descriptions not allowed at this event:

• Tethered Projectiles *are not* allowed at this event.
• Heat and Fire *are not* allowed at this event.
• Smoke Effects *are not* allowed at this event.

* If you plan on using the RFL rule set for your event you are welcome to. Our only requirement is that it not be changed other than in the extensible areas, and that it be referred to as the RFL Tech Regs.