MassDestruction

Rules

Our rules take inspiration from NERC, NHRL, and SPARC rulesets, though we have some unique additions and alternations. Please review our rules carefully. The entire MassDestruction ruleset is listed below, no need to review any outside documents.

Match Logistics

  • Beetleweight fights will be max of 3 minutes.
  • Plastic Antweight fights will be max of 2 minutes.
  • There are no arena unsticks.
  • We will pause for robot-to-robot unsticks.
  • Batteries becoming exposed will be an instant KO.

General Robot Rules

  • The use of “kitbots” is discouraged, unless the participant is new to combat robotics or a child. We want to see your craziest designs!
  • Batteries must be sealed, immobilized-electrolyte types (such as gel cells, lithium, NiCads, NiMH, or dry cells). Internal combustion engines are NOT allowed.
  • The maximum peak voltage present in any bot cannot exceed 51V, equivalent to 12S Lipo (not LIHV cells)
  • All bots must have a manually operated master kill switch or removable link. This switch or link will shut off main weapon and drive power. Simply turning off the receiver is not sufficient.
    • The switch or link must be quickly and easily accessible. Having to remove armor panels etc. to access the switch is not acceptable.
  • All robots must have a failsafe for weapon and drive. When the drivetrain and weapon are powered and the radio transmitter is then turned off, the drive and weapon must come to a stop and remain motionless.
  • No weapon testing unless the robot is in the arena or a test box.
  • Drivetrain testing must be done “wheels-up”.
  • All robots must have a weapon lock that reasonably arrests the weapon. The weapon lock must be able to be added and removed without touching the weapon. This weapon lock must be in place at all times outside of the test boxes and arena.

Weapons

  • All robots must have an active weapon.
    • Spinning weapons have a tip speed limit of 250 MPH.
    • Thwackbots, flail-type weapons, “meltybrains”, and other robots that have a specific attachment meant to inflict damage are allowed.
    • Robots with only passive wedges are generally not allowed.
      • On a case-by-case basis, for competitors new(ish) to the sport and/or children under 18, passive wedges may be allowed. Please reach out to us for more information/mention this in your registration!
    • EO discretion will be final on non-active weapons. Please contact us if you have any questions about your planned weapon!
  • Banned weapons are listed below:
    • Fire
    • Liquids (Including canned beans!)
    • Explosives, fireworks, and rocket engines
    • Nets, glue, tape, other entanglement devices
    • Radio jamming, tazers, lazers, tesla coils, high voltage or blinding devices
    • Projectiles
    • Glitter

Weight

  • Beetleweights
    • Maximum of 3lbs, or about 1,942 fully grown adult bumblebees.
  • Plastic Antweights
    • Maximum of 1lb, or about 90,709 fully grown adult red ants.

Weight Bonuses

  • An entrant can only use one type of weight bonus.
  • Please reach out before the event to confirm that your robot qualifies, as we’d prefer not to have to disqualify anyone the day-of (not fun for anyone!)
  • Walkers
    • Any robot that qualifies as a “walker”; is allowed 2x its nominal class weight limit (ex. Beetleweight walker: 6lbs).
    • A walker is defined as “those robots in which multiple linear or limited-travel rotary actuators are intermittently driven to produce linear travel of the robot. Actuation may be through electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic means. Walkers must have no parts normally in contact with the ground undergoing continuous rotation, and must require some change in timing or sequencing of the driving mechanisms in order to reverse direction. Walkers will typically have control systems significantly more complex than those found on shufflers or rollers, involving multiple actuators, servos, or valves running through a specific sequence to produce motion.”
    • A shuffler (a robot that “uses a system of mechanical devices such as cams or crankshafts to generate reciprocating motion of those parts from one or more continuously rotating drive shafts”) is not considered a walker.
  • Weapon-Based Locomotion
    • Any robot that uses their weapon as a primary mode of locomotion is allowed 1.5x its nominal class weight limit (ex. Beetleweight WBL 4.5 lbs)
    • Typical examples of weapon-based locomotion are bristle-bots and gyro walkers.
  • Multibots
    • A multibot system consists of two or more robots entered as a single entrant
    • A beetleweight (normally 3lb) multibot entrant may weigh up to 4lbs, with no robot weighing more than 2 lbs
      • Ex. two robots, each weighing 2lbs
      • Ex. three robots, one weighing 2lbs and two weighing 1lb each
    • A plastic ant (normally 1lb) multibot entrant may weight up to 1.5lbs, with no robot weighing more than 0.75lbs.
      • Ex. two robots, each weighing 0.75lbs.
      • Ex. three robots, each weighting 0.5lbs

Class Specific Restrictions

Beetleweight

  • none

Plastic Antweight

  • The plastic class is meant to encourage builders who may not have access to metalworking tools, or who would like a new challenge. As such, we ask that competitors conform to the spirit of the rules and not try to loophole them. Competitors found to be doing this may be disqualified, or otherwise be forced to bear some Terrible Consequences.
  • Armor, structure, wheels, weapon, etc. must all be made of plastic or polymers (ie. foam wheels are ok)
  • We have generally allowed aluminum wheel hubs like Fingertech hubs. Please do not abuse this.
  • Motors, electronics, axles, bearings, fasteners and adhesives can be any material, but cannot be used in such a way to enhance the structural integrity, armor the robot, or enhance any weapon
  • Allowed Materials (Whitelist)
    • PLA/PLA+
    • PET/PETG
    • ABS
    • Polycarbonate (printed or sheet cut, not CNC billet)
    • Acrylic
    • PVC
    • SLA
    • ASA
    • TPU for WHEELS EXCLUSIVELY, preferably only wheel cores/hubs.
      • If this is abused, we reserve the right to ban it in the future. Please don’t show up with massive puffy wheels as armor.
  • Banned materials (not a true blacklist or exhaustive)
    • TPU (Generally)
    • Nylon
    • UHMW
    • Carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass
    • Flexible SLA such as Formlabs Flexible 80A
    • Carbon or metal reinforced filaments
  • Please contact us if there is a material you would like to evaluate for whitelist!

Arena Features

  • Pit of Despair
    • 18 x 18 Footprint
    • Two states: “Loaded” (7″ deep) and “Fired” (roughly flush with floor)
    • Function
      • The Pit of Despair will start the match in the Loaded position, and once a robot is pushed in, the Arena Announcer will Fire the pit!
      • The robot will be launched out of the pit, back into the fray.
      • The Pit of Despair can and will be reloaded and fired again, but keep in mind there will be panel gaps all around the edge of the pit and slight height inconsistencies.  There are still no arena unsticks, so be careful!
    • Purpose
      • It’s funny
      • Provides an objective for fights with broken spinner weapons or control-type weapons
      • Demonstrates good control of your opponent to the Judges
  • Snuffleupagus
    • Active fume ventilation for fires, smoke, and dust
    • Floor grate is 18″ by 18″ and has 1/4″ holes that are 3/8″ apart, and is 3/16″ thick steel