SumoBots Rules 2020

SumoBots Competition Rules
IEEE R2 SAC 2020
Contents
Introduction 1
Competition Title: SumoBots Competition 1
Competition Description 1
Competition Categories 1
IEEE Membership 1
Team Composition 1
Number of Teams 1
Kit Category Robot Specifications 1

Robot 1
Add-ons 2
Power and Safety 2
Custom Category Robot Specifications 2

Weight Limit 2
Self-Containment 2
Robot Materials 2
Starting Mechanism 2
Power and Safety 2
Dohyo: The Arena 3

Specifications 3
Interference Area 3
Competition Structure 3
Safety Inspection 3
Tournament Style 3
Matches 3
Rounds 3
Start Delay 4
Ties and Overtime 4
Mutual Draw 4
Judge’s Discretion 4
1. Introduction
1.1. Competition Title: SumoBots Competition
1.2. Competition Description
The SumoBots Competition is one of the only competitions at the SAC that allows
student teams to face-off directly against each other. Teams will prepare their fighters
by building, designing, and coding a robot. The robot must act autonomously once the
fight begins, and work to push the enemy robot outside of the arena in a sumo-style
battle.
1.3. Competition Categories

There are two competition categories; Kit and Custom. Kit teams are only allowed to
perform software modifications on the selected robot, while Custom teams may
perform software and hardware modifications. Teams participating in different
categories will not compete against each other, and prizes awarded will be for each
category.
2. Participant Eligibility
2.1. IEEE Membership
All participants shall be registered IEEE student members attending the university they
identified when registering for the SAC.
2.2. Team Composition

Teams shall consist of one to four participants. There are no graduate students allowed
in this competition.
2.3. Number of Teams

There is no limit to the number of teams that one university may register for this
competition.
3. Kit Category Robot Specifications

3.1. Robot
The robot is the Pololu Zumo 32U4, which can be bought from their website or on
Amazon. The robot used in competition must be this robot. Teams with the same robot
from previous years are free to reuse their bot as long as all hardware modifications are
removed. The robot, once programmed and prepared by the team, must be completely
autonomous, able to move and make decisions without outside interference.
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3.2. Add-ons
No physical add-ons are allowed. Only software modifications will be permitted for the
kit competition.
3.3. Power and Safety

The robot is to be powered by the 4 AA batteries it is built to use. The robot cannot be
destructive or harmful in any way. The robot shall be non-offensive, non-destructive,
and non-harmful to humans as well as to the facilities at the competition. Failure to
comply with these terms is grounds for disqualification of the bot from the competition,
whether the infraction was intentional or not.
4. Custom Category Robot Specifications

4.1. Weight and Size Limits
The robot has a mass limit of 600 gram and may not exceed a 10cm by 10cm area at any
point in the competition. There is no height restriction.
4.2. Self-Containment
The robot shall be self-propelled and self-controlled. Once the robot has been
positioned and the start sequence has been initiated, no re-positioning, remote
control, or additional power can be used. The robot, once programmed and prepared by
the team, must be completely autonomous, able to move and make decisions without
outside interference.
4.3. Robot Materials

The robot can be made of any material, and can utilize any sort of processor, electronic
sensor, or battery. The robot may not utilize any form of combustion and must be
designed for all components to remain attached to the robot for the duration of the
competition (e.g. no projectiles).
4.4. Starting Mechanism

A robot can be started by any means. A few examples are a button, a clap, a whistle, or
an infrared signal. This is for starting the robot as soon as the judges complete the
“Ready, Set, Go” command.
4.5. Power and Safety

The robot may only be powered by removable standard batteries, like AA or AAA
batteries. The robot shall be non-offensive, non-destructive, and non-harmful to
humans as well as to the facilities at the competition. Failure to comply with these
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terms is grounds for disqualification of the bot from the competition, whether the
infraction was intentional or not.
5. Dohyo: The Arena

5.1. Specifications
The Dohyo for this competition is constructed of wood and has the following
dimensions:
● Diameter- 30 inches
● Height- 3/4 inch
● Border Width- 1 inch
5.2. Interference Area

There will be a circle with a diameter of 55 inches centered at the center of the Dohyo
which acts as the Interference Zone. This zone shall remain unoccupied and will not
contain any obstacles which could inhibit the proper functionality of the robot. The only
time a person is allowed within this area is when setting up, starting, or retrieving a
robot.
6. Competition Structure
6.1. Safety Inspection
In an attempt to prevent potential incidents from happening, all robots are required to
go through a safety inspection prior to competing.
6.2. Tournament Style

Similar to past years, the competition shall be structured as a Double Elimination
Competition. Teams will begin in the “winners bracket” at the start of the competition,
which will contain only those who have not lost any match, up until the semi-final
rounds. The winner of a match occurring in this bracket will move on to further matches
within the bracket. Those teams who lose in this bracket fall to the losers bracket. If a
team loses a match while competing in the loser’s bracket, they are eliminated from the
competition. The team which can move forward in this bracket without accruing
another loss will be placed back into the winners bracket to compete in the semi-final
rounds.
6.3. Matches
A match between two robots shall be broken up into three individual rounds. The first
robot to receive two victories is considered the winner.
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6.4. Rounds
The robots shall be placed parallel to one another in the center of the Dohyo. At the
beginning of each round, the referee will say “Ready. set. Go!”. The team member
which placed the robot will then press a physical switch to initialize the robot. Rounds
are allotted 3 minutes each. A round shall end after the 3 minutes have expired, or if a
robot leaves the Dohyo, whichever comes first. Leaving the Dohyo is defined as any part
of the robot touching the floor that the Dohyo is placed on. The robot that leaves the
Dohyo first for any reason is considered the loser of the round. The round will also end if
either robot loses power, begins to smoke, or is otherwise disabled. The surviving robot
in this case is named the winner.
6.5. Start Delay

The robot shall not begin moving until after five seconds have passed since the pressing
of the button. During the 5 second delay, all contestants and judges must leave the
interference area. If a robot begins operation before the five-second wait period, the
round will be restarted and a warning will be issued. If a robot is issued three warnings,
it immediately forfeits the round and the other team will automatically be declared the
winner of the match.
6.6. Ties and Overtime

In the event that a round extends past the allotted three minutes, the round is
considered to be a tie. Should all three rounds be declared a tie, both teams shall be
sent to the loser’s bracket. If a tie occurs in the third round, and the current score is one
to one, then a fourth round shall be added. If this fourth round ends in a tie, both teams
shall be sent to the loser’s bracket.
6.7. Mutual Draw

A round can be ended early if both teams agree to a tie as the result of the round. This is
to allow teams to not damage their bots due to stalled motors or other harmful
circumstances. Both teams must agree to the draw for this to occur.
6.8. Judge’s Discretion

The acting referee of the match will judge to their discretion whether or not a
participant’s violation of these rules, or disregard for safety, warrants disqualification.
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SumoBots Competition Rules

IEEE R2 SAC 2020

Kit Category Robot Specifications 1

Custom Category Robot Specifications 2

Dohyo: The Arena 3

1.3. Competition Categories

2.2. Team Composition

2.3. Number of Teams

3. Kit Category Robot Specifications

3.3. Power and Safety

4. Custom Category Robot Specifications

4.3. Robot Materials

4.4. Starting Mechanism

4.5. Power and Safety

5. Dohyo: The Arena

5.2. Interference Area

6.2. Tournament Style

6.5. Start Delay

6.6. Ties and Overtime

6.7. Mutual Draw

6.8. Judge’s Discretion

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