Robo Soccer

Welcome to the NeutronFest RoboSoccer Competition! This rulebook outlines the guidelines and regulations for participating teams. Robosoccer is a fascinating blend of technology, engineering, and sportsmanship. Teams will design and build autonomous robots to compete in soccer matches on a specially designed arena.

Rule Book

1. TASK

Build 1 soccer-playing robot. The robot's ball-handling skills in addition to the controller's skill and precision willbe tested.

2. DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS

A. Basic Specifications:

1. The maximum dimensions of each bot will be 30x30x30cm (LxBxH) with 10% tolerance.

2.  Max weight of the bot will be 5Kgs with 5% tolerance. 

B. Mobility:

All robots must have easily visible and controlled mobility.

1) Methods of mobility include:

• Rolling (wheels, tracks or the whole robot).

• Non-wheeled (no rolling elements in contact with the floor and no

• continuous rolling/cam operated motion)

2) Mobility methods that are NOT allowed:

• Flying mechanisms are not allowed.

• The robots should not secure themselves on the match surface by

• using suction cups, sticky threads, glue etc. 

C. Robot Control Requirements:

1) The robot can be controlled through wires or wirelessly by any means.

2) Control must be exhibited over all its functions and positions. Although autonomous functions within the botare acceptable, the controller must be able to remotely disable or override these functions at any time with amanual emergency stop.

3) The team must have at least a four-frequency wireless remote-control circuit or two dual control circuits toavoid frequency interference with other teams. Cases of any interference in the wireless systems will not be considered for rematch or results. The defaulting team(s) shall be given a loss.

D. Battery and Power:

The machine must be powered electrically. Onboard batteries must be sealed, immobilized-electrolyte types (ex-gel, NiCad, NiMH, dry cells). Although in case of wired bots, batteries can be offboard. The maximum voltage between any 2 points on the bots will be 24V, with both AC and DC power can be supplied to the bots.

• Participants must protect the battery terminals from a direct short causing battery fire, failure to do someans direct disqualification.

• Change of battery will not be allowed during the match.

• Bots should have a manual disconnect emergency switch to cut power to the bot.

E. Pneumatics:

1) A robot can use pressurized non-flammable gases to actuate pneumatic devices. Maximum outlet nozzlepressure should be no more than 6 bar.

2) Participants must be able to indicate the system pressure with an integrated or temporarily fitted pressuregauge.

F. Hydraulics:

Hydraulics in any form are not allowed.

G. Kicking Systems:

1) Kicking systems are not allowed.

2. Following mechanisms can NOT be used:

• Liquid projectiles, inflammable liquids

• Mechanisms causing invisible damage (Electrical weapons, RFID jamming weapons etc.). Mechanismscausing entanglement/damage to the opponent.

• Any types of mechanisms which hold the ball (only dribbling is allowed).

3. COMPETITION RULES AND SPECIFICATIONS

A. Team Specifications:

• Any college team can participate in Robo-soccer. A team may consist of a maximum of 4 participants.

• Only school students and undergraduate students are eligible for the event. Post graduate students are not eligible.

• Team Name: Every team must have a unique name. Organisers reserve the right to reject teams withinappropriate names.

• Team Representative: Each team must specify their team representative (leader)

at the time of registration on the website.

• All the important communications between Organisers and registered teams will be done through theirteam representative.

• The team representative must submit valid contact details (phone no., email ID etc.) at the time of registration.

C. Match Duration and Type:

• Time duration of the matches will be referee’s call.

• A team may call for a 1-minute timeout per match to repair any damaged bots (details in Section E.Timeouts).

• Tournament styles will be notified on the event day depending on the number of teams. Eg: LEAGUE,ELIMINATION OR ROUND ROBIN.

D. Match Frequency:

• A team is allowed to prepare for the next match for a period of 20 minutes. If the team fails to return with their bots to the pre-match staging area after the allotted time, they will be disqualified.

• In extreme cases, the time period may be lengthened at the discretion of the event organisers.

E. Timeouts

• Each team is allowed to take a 1-minute timeout during each of their matches.

• During this timeout, any mechanical/electrical issues are allowed to be fixed by any 2 members of the team within clear view of the judges/referees/organisers.

• (Change of batteries is allowed during half-time).

• If the team is not able to return the bot(s) onto the arena ready for the remainder of the match within this time, they will be disqualified. 

F. Match Rules

• The match will be played similar to a game of football/soccer, with 1 bot. Each goal scored=1 point.

• If a robot is thrown out of the arena, the match will be paused, and a restart will occur.

• Robots cannot win by damaging their opponents. A foul will be given to the defaulting team if it does intentional, tangible damage to the opponent bot(s).

• If a bot gets stuck inside the arena / to another bot, the match will be paused, and the bot(s) will be released. A restart will follow.

• After a goal, a restart will occur, and advantage will be given to the team which has conceived the goal.

• If the ball remains stagnant for more than 15 seconds during the match, the match will restart.

 G. Criteria for Victory:

 • A team is declared victorious if it scores a higher number of goals at the end of match and if the difference of goals between two teams exceeds 10, the team with more goals will be considered aswinner.

• If there is a tie, only 1 extra minute will be given as “extra time” to facilitate the tie- break. If no one comes victorious then the tie breakers will continue.

• Any team with robot(s) deemed unsafe by the judges will be given a warning to change the bot design. If unheard the above, then the match will be immediately halted, and the opponent will be awarded a win.

NOTE: A robot winning in a round doesn't guarantee its entrance into the next. If the judges find the winning robot incompetent to enter the next round, it may get disqualified. Judges can disqualify both the robots of a match as well.

All the decisions taken by the judges/referees/organisers considering the rulebook will be final and binding to all. Any queries afterward won’t be entertained. 

H. Event Specific Terminology:

• Disabled: A robot is not functioning correctly due to either an internal or external malfunction.

• Damaged: A bot has tangible damage caused to it by the opponent intentionally.

• Foul: If a bot breaks any of the relevant rules mentioned, the team will be given a warning, i.e. a foul. A restart will occur afterwards.

• Forfeit: If a bot breaks any of the relevant rules mentioned, the team will be given a loss.

• Note that 3 fouls in a match shall lead to a Forfeit as well.

• Restart: Bots shall be returned to their starting positions (on their sides of the arena). The ball shall be returned to the center as well. Restarts will occur after relevant incidents mentioned in the rulebook, as well as the start of the game/after a goal.

• Disqualification: If a team breaks any of the relevant rules mentioned, they won’t be allowed to compete further in the tournament.

• Radio Interference: If at least one robot becomes non-controllable due to the effect of the opponent’s remote-control signal. Any deliberate interference is not allowed.

I. Certificate Policy:

• Certificates of Excellence will be given to all the winners.

• Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams who qualify in the first round of the competition.

• The teams which get disqualified for disobeying any of the competition rules will not be considered for the certificates.

J. Safety Rules:

• Compliance with all event rules is mandatory.

• Special care should be taken to protect the onboard batteries and pneumatics.

• If you have a robot design that does not fit in this ruleset or is somehow ambiguous, please contact Organizers at the earliest. Surprising the organisers with your exploitation of a loophole may cause your robot to be disqualified.

• Each event has safety inspections. Your team will be allowed to compete at the sole discretion of NeutronFest authorities.

4. ARENA SPECIFICATIONS

• The arena dimensions of the field are 6x4 Ft and a goalpost size of 65cm x 30cm.

• It shall have penalty lines 1 Ft from each goalpost. 

5. AN IMPORTANT NOTE:

1. These rules may change at any time, even without explicit notification to teams. However, the document uploaded here is to be followed as the latest problem statement for all the rules and design specifications.

2. Any change can be observed in the name of the document, which will contain a higher version (v2.0. say) if updated.

3. The teams acknowledge that they have a responsibility to read, understand and abide by the rules, and Neutron Fest, Organisers reserves the right to prevent any team from competing at any time for any reason (including but not limited to the reasons specified   elsewhere in this document) 

However, we shall inform all registrants in case an updated version comes up (all the registrants till the date of revision). In case of any queries, contact the Neutron Fest Team.