The Referee explains the rules:
This changes from year to year, so I will not detail anything here.
Just be aware that the Referee likes to make sure all teams have had a one-on-one explanation of the rules and how the arena works and the like.
This is usually done one team at a time just after Each team arrives with the team captains and teachers.
The Tin-Man
Competition Rules
Tin-Man 2023
Be advised... This is a battle, not a race, challenge, or a task... Robots will be destroyed! Oil will be spilled! Tears will be shed!
It is all about Skid marks and broke parts!
General
Requirements
1.
No height requirements
this year at all… Build them however tall or short you wish.
2. All Robots must be no larger around than 30”X30” and fit completely inside their starting box.
a. Weapons will be allowed to extend beyond the two and a half feet mark but the main body must be this size or smaller.
3. Maximum weight limit of 45 LBS
4. Robots must weigh more than 20lbs. (To be weighed before battle).
5. All robots must have plug style safety disconnect for their weapons and propulsion.
This is so the Referee can easily disable the robots if necessary, so the Referee needs to be aware of their location on your robot, And it must be HIGHLY VISIBLE
a. Repower will be done by a team member, or the teacher if deemed appropriate by said teacher.
b. Clarification- A plug style safety disconnect is a “plug in” device of some sort that when removed interrupts the electrical path by removing part of the electrical path itself thereby disabling weapons and propulsion systems rendering the robot safe while people are in the area.
The Robots must be constructed from items listed on the “ROBOX Contents list” only with the exception of 3-D printed support hardware.
The Robot (Shell/Body/outer covering) cannot be made of metal or wood. It must be constructed of PVC, foam and/or cardboard only.
To reiterate: No wood will be allowed.
The base and frame of your robot may be foam board, cardboard, pvc, a sheet of plastic etc.
You may use any weapon you wish, or as many weapons as you wish with no need for approval, as long as they are on the Robox list.
You may use as many remote controls as you wish, such as one person drives while another is dedicated to weapon deployment… If you have an additional remote available.
No Water (No weapons that spray water or other liquids… It is too hard to clean up between battles). No Duct tape armor 1 Layer only and subject to inspection.
No rhino liner or spray on protective coatings No entanglement devices
No flamethrowers.
No explosives or fragmentation type devices.
No ammunition such as Bullets or shotgun shells.
No intentionally toxic chemicals.
No use of metal of any kind to make shielding out of For example using all-thread to wrap around the inside of your robot, placing an angle iron piece as a bumper, or metal blocks for the intention of acting as a shield, etc. except for hose clamps, screws, weapon motors and mounting brackets.
No internal combustion engines (because of the exhaust gasses emitted inside of the building)
No fireworks (Small pull string, poppers, or the like will be allowed).
No intentional RF interference
No attacks directed at humans such as lasers.
Yes - Any Non-liquid food product is allowed.
Warning… for crowd safety considerations NO high velocity or high powered un-tethered projectiles will be allowed this includes Paintballs or pellets/B-Bs.
Lightweight low power type of projectiles such as silly string, confetti and the like will be allowed unrestricted.
The Battle structure(Several battles grouped into three 3 rounds)
The Preliminary Battles
The number of participating Schools will determine the number of battles.
The number of participants is unknown at this time.
Each of the battles in this round will consist of no more than six battle bots.
To save time and confusion during the competition the battle and placement of each bot will be determined randomly ahead of time and posted at the event.
Each battle will produce one Preliminary winner.
Each winning Robot will be “Arrested” until all Preliminary battles are completed so as not to give any team a time advantage in making repairs.
The “Redemption Round”
The battle with no rules, a second chance to work out some frustration and have some fun for those teams that did not win the Preliminary battles.
It also has the added benefit of giving the crowd something to watch while the Preliminary winners make repairs and preparations for the Final Round.
The judges will declare a winner of the “Redemption Round” and (having redeemed themselves) they will be awarded a spot in the final battle.
• They will be allowed to make what repairs they can in the arena while the other teams are bringing in their robots, but this time will be minimal.
• Fresh batteries, a little duct tape maybe some bailing wire… Not much time.
Final Round - Battle for the championship!
One winner from each of the Preliminary Battles and the redemption winner face each other, to determine the winner of Tin-Man.
Each battle will last for a maximum of 6 minutes of total combat time.
Each team must start with their robot in their assigned box.
It is not about mobility… If your robot stops moving, it is still considered an active player, and can be attacked for points.
There will be a halfway intermission.
• This Intermission will happen 3 minutes into the battle.
• During this Intermission all teams will be given 5 minutes (All at the same time) to make any repairs they can.
• After that the battle will continue for another three minutes.
Only two team members (Pit Crew) can enter the arena (No teachers or non-pit Crew) allowed. Only two Pit-crew members per team and they must take all needed equipment tools and parts in with them.
Once a pit crewmember leaves the arena, they cannot reenter until after the battle’s conclusion. No items may be passed into the arena to the pit crew, so have an emergency robot repair kit to bring with you… Remember… 5 minutes… You are not going to be able to fix much.
Note… No instructors are allowed to enter the arena except for safety purposes (To disable robots andrender them safe for the students, or supervise if students require additional personal attention fromtheir teacher). This needs to be cleared with the Referee first.
The battles are based on “Attack points”.
Every time a judge sees, your robot hit an opponent they may award you one point.
Every time a judge sees, your robot hit an opponent and “damage the opponent”, they may award you two points for that hit.
Every time a judge sees you robot inflict critical and/or excessive damage, they may award you three points.
Remember, the more damage your robot does, the more the judges will watch YOUR robot.
Robots that don’t do much don’t receive much attention from the judges.
There are three judges, and each will independently score as they observe. This opens the competition up for the likely possibility of wild and varying scoring.
It is entirely possible that one or all three judges will not see all of the hits.
The Team that wins the Final Battle takes the TIN-MAN Trophy to their campus to display until the next Tin-Man Competition and captures a Plaque that becomes their campuses property to commemorate their victory.
Please note: There is a good possibility two or more teams from the same campus will end up facing each other in the final battle, be prepared for this possibility.
All items used for decoration, or effects will not be restricted so long as these items do not serve to enhance the robots structural integrity, offensive or defensive capability or pose a safety hazard.
In fact, any war paint, flashing lights, special effects or all around fun items are encouraged.
Please have instructor approval on all such items.
Team spirit is the most important component of any battle bot and can only be supplied by the team. Before the battle begins, the judges will select one robot (From each Preliminary battle) that they feel has the best decoration and award that robot additional attack points.
(Named in Honor of the first student to wear a battle mask to the Tin-Man competition)
Any and all teams that wear a battle mask or costume of some type during the competition, at least up to the point that their robot leaves their starting box, is awarded an additional three battle points before the battle begins.
Will start/pause/stop the battles as the Referee sees fit and will end the battle when the time is up. The Referee will declare the winners and generally control the event.
At no time are any contestants or team members allowed to talk to the judges.
Let us clarify this rule… The judges may initiate conversation, ask questions, and inspect the robots unhindered and you are expected to honestly and accurately answer.
You are encouraged to be friendly, and you may converse with them if they initiate it, but the team members may not initiate the conversations nor approach a judge to ask a question. All questions that the teams have should be directed to the instructors or the referee.
If the judges make a decision or a ruling… it is FINAL!
There are no appeals, even if you feel that is is obvious that you were cheatedout of your victory.
We go to great pains to find individuals that we believe will be impartial andfair.
The judges are individuals that often represent industry and were graciousenough to volunteer for this responsibility.
Their authority is recognized as absolute in this event.
ROBOX
Allowed Robot construction material list
Tin-Man 2023
Note all items with the exception of the Remote control system can be purchased from Home Depot, Lowes, and Harbor Freight or any other hardware store.
This is to mount electronics to or use as a base, but may not be used as shielding.
This Base may also be made out of Plastic or PVC if so desired, but may not be made out of metal or wood.
No wood of any kind will be allowed
Unlimited Items(Each Robot can contain any amount of)
• Remote control system with servos (Multiple remote systems and servos will be allowed)
• PVC pipe, any PVC pipe fitting, connector or accessory oNo Schedule 80 allowed, Schedule 40 or below.
oUP to 4” PVC, but nothing larger than that.
• Cardboard
• Foam insulation sheet (any thickness)
• Plastic switch Box’s for electrical switches
• Spikes
• Small general hardware such as corner braces, hinges, hose clamps, screws
• ¼” 20tpi All-thread
• Latex Tubing
• Hammers
• Wheels, Casters Roller bearings
• Electrical switches, wiring and Electronics in general
• Any electric motors
• Any batteries
• Any cordless power tools along with associated accessories such as blades or bits.
• Duct Tape (No duct tape armor; Please be reasonable)
• PVC Cleaner and Glue, and Elmer’s or Gorilla Glue or Liquid Nails
• Wire (Bailing wire or equivalent)
• Construction String, thread, Fishing line, Yarn
• Wire Hanger
• ¼" Bolts, nuts and Washers
• Paint
• Tie-Wraps
• Plastic tubing (Air conditioner water tubing or the like) - (No water or liquids)
• Metal (For weapon and weapon support structure only) to make unique weapons out of… Any size or thickness.
• 1 large box of inspiration and team spirit (Supplied by students)
• 1 Four-leaf clover if you can find one (It couldn’t hurt)