TexLUG LEGO Robotic Sumo Contest

October 9, 2005

Description: In a robotic sumo contest, two robots attempt to push each other out of a circular arena using mechanisms, cunning, and brute force.

Location and Time:

∑      Location: Little Walnut Creek library, 835 W. Rundberg Lane, Austin, TX 78758 (near the intersection of Rundberg and North Lamar).

∑      Date and Time: Sunday, October 9, 2005, from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

Sumo-Bot Specifications:

Sumo-bots must be constructed only out of LEGO-manufactured parts.

Size and Weight:

The maximum size and weight specifications are:

∑      Maximum Width: 30 LEGO studs (9 1/2 inches, or 24cm)

∑      Maximum Length: 30 LEGO studs (9 1/2 inches, or 24cm)

∑      Maximum Weight: 2 1/2 pounds (40 ounces, or 1.13kg)

All sumo-bots must comply with the size limitations at the beginning of a round, but can expand beyond them after a round has begun.

Allowed Parts:

Only stock LEGO-manufactured parts may be used; no part may be altered or modified. The allowed parts are:

∑      CPU: one CPU brick, either one RCX from one Robotics Invention System kit (version 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0), or one Spybotic brick from one Spybotics kit.

∑      Sensors: the sensors from one RIS kit (2 touch sensors and1 light sensor), plus no more than two other sensors of any type.

∑      Motors: the motors from one RIS kit (2 9V motors with gear reduction), plus no more than two other motors of any type.

∑      Battery box: no more than one 9V battery box containing 6 AA batteries.

∑      Other electrical components: unlimited passive electrical components (wires, polarity switches, lights, sound elements, etc.).

∑      Non-electrical parts: unlimited non-electrical parts.

Entries are not required to use all of the allowed parts.

Programming:

In the CPU, any firmware may be used (version 1.0, 2.0, or custom). Any programming language may be used, including, but not limited to, RCX Code, NQC, Robolab, and Visual Basic.

Multiple programs on the RCX are allowed. If, during the event, any contestant deems it necessary to change or update program(s), he or she may do so, as long as the contestantπs sumo-bot is not currently competing on the sumo arena.

Sumo-bots must operate completely autonomously, acting independently of humans.

The Play:

The robotic sumo arena:

The competition takes place on a circular arena 4 feet in diameter. The arena is made of 3/4-inch plywood sanded smooth. The surface is painted white and is bordered with a black line 2 1/2 inches wide. During play, the arena will be raised about 3 inches above the surrounding surface.

Starting positions:

Sumo-bots start facing back to back, spaced 8 inches apart in the center of the arena. For sumo-bots with no discernible ≥front≤, ≥front≤ is defined as the direction the sumo-bot first moves.

Initial movement:

∑      Sumo-bots must delay 5 seconds before moving. Sumo-bots must be designed to wait 5 seconds after the press of a bumper, switch, etc.

∑      The sumo-bots must begin movement by moving away from the center of the arena. Sumo-bots may not have random start-up directions.

The judge will verify with the contestants that their sumo-bots are positioned appropriately to follow these initial movement rules.

 

Round play:

Each round will last a maximum of 3 minutes. A round is declared over after one of the following:

∑      A sumo-bot is either pushed off or falls off the arena. A sumo-bot is not considered ≥out≤ until it has entirely fallen off the arena. Hanging over the edge does not disqualify a sumo-bot.

∑      The sumo-bots become entangled. The contestants may mutually agree that an entanglement has occurred to end a match early to save wear and tear on parts.

∑      One sumo-bot becomes disabled for any reason. The other sumo-bot will be declared the winner.

∑      The 3-minute time has expired and there is no winner. A draw is declared.

Scoring:

Points are awarded after a round as follows:

∑      2 points for a victory

∑      1 point for a draw or entanglement

∑      0 points for a loss

In the interest of safety and fair play:

∑      Intentional damage to the opponent robot or the robot arena is prohibited. Robotic sumo is a game of pushing, not destruction.

∑      A sumo-bot may not intentionally drop LEGO piece(s) on the arena surface. Any parts dropped on the arena, intentionally or otherwise, will be immediately removed.

∑      Electronic interference is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, flooding the arena with infrared rays or broadcasting other electromagnetic interference.

∑      Custom electronics are prohibited. Only unmodified parts manufactured by LEGO are allowed.

∑      All participating sumo-bots must possess a form of mobility and use that mobility during play. Immobile sumo-bots will not be admitted, and sumo-bots that do not use their mobility during play will be disqualified.

 

Tournament Play:

The tournament will be conducted in two rounds: round-robin matches and a single-elimination tournament. The winner of the single-elimination tournament will be declared champion.

Round-robin matches: Robots are separated randomly into small groups. Within a group, every robot plays every other robot one time. Sizing of groups and the schedule of matches will be determined based on the number of entries. Round-robin rounds are scored as described above. A robotπs final score from the first round is the sum total of its scores in its round-robin matches.

Single-elimination tournament: Seeds in the tournament are determined by scores from the first round. If the tournament bracket is not filled, entrants with the highest scores receive ≥byes≤ in the first round. Ties in seedings will be broken randomly. Second-round matches are conducted as described above; the winner of the final match of the single-elimination tournament is declared champion of the event. The loser of the final match will be declared runner-up.

Prizes: No prizes are awarded except the feeling of having completed a well-designed entry and competed honorably against worthy opponents. (Bragging rights are beyond the scope of these rules.)

 

Judging:

A primary and secondary judge will be appointed at the contest. A single judge will oversee each round. If the primary judge is participating in a sumo round, the secondary judge will be the active judge for that round.

In any round, the judge will have sole discretion and in any dispute the judgeπs decision is final.

The judge has the authority to remove a participant at any time. This can be due to harmful violence, disregard for the rules, poor sportsmanship, or any other reason that the judge declares.

 

 

 

 

References:

These rules are based on a rule set originally compiled by David Perdue in his book, ≥Competitive Mindstorms≤, Apress, 2004.

The rule set was adapted by David and Tim Rueger for the TexLUG sumo robotic contest held in Austin, TX in June, 2005.

Some concepts and rules were taken from various rule sets for other robotics contests, including sumo contests held at BrickFest in 2004 and 2005, and other contests held by rtlToronto.