Mission Challenge LEGO
The goal of this category is to build a robot at the competition and conduct a designated mission on the day of match.
This category is meant for young robotics enthusiasts that want to compete with other participants at a beginner to medium level. The age limit for this category is 16 years.
General specifications
The robot and the solution for the mission must be solved only using a robot built out of Lego Mindstorms devices (RCX, NXT, EV3 or Spike Prime).
Under the rules of the game, teams will have to build at the competition an autonomous robot, that will have to accomplish the mission according to the mission specifications received at the start of the competition while also respecting the specifications in the regulations.
1. Notification
We realize that there are other variations to the rules for Mission Challenge, while there are many similarities between other variants the official Robotics Championship rules posted on the website will be used, for this competition we ask that participants to read and be familiar with this particular rule set at the time of the competition, in order to avoid surprises.
This category is inspired by the games organized by the International Robot Olympiad Committee (IROC). (see more at https://www.iroc.org/2018-rules-1 )
2. Team
2.1. A “team” is composed of one to five participants who will build a robot at the event. Each team should also have one adult present with the team. One adult can represent multiple teams if they wish.
2.2. The robot must be an autonomous robot constructed by themselves at the competition site to regulation and mission specifications. This robot category does not permit prebuilt robots, kits will be inspected before the start of the category. There will be a predefined time for adjustments and changes to the robots and their programming during the event.
2.3. Each team / robot will receive a check-in number and should have a unique name or identity to be easily recognizable by spectators and officials when they are on the field and when they score. The identification label will be placed on the robot during the technical inspection after the building of the robot is done.
2.4. Each team that has built a robot for this category will have equal chances and number of tries. During the trials, only two members can approach the track, the other team members must follow the trial from the public or remain in the participants area.
3. Robot Construction
3.1. All participants must make their own robot on the competition day, starting from the moment they receive the mission specifications. All participants will start the building phase at the same time only on the referee’s command.
3.2. Size and platform of the playfield will be announced on the day of the trial. The mission which participant should conduct will be announced by the referee or organizer on the day of competition.
3.2. The participating robots may only be composed of official Lego parts (for example LEGO Mindstorm kits based on RCX, NXT, EV3 or Spike Prime), which cannot be held together by any means other than the standard Lego construction methods (no tape, glue, stickers, etc.). No homemade sensors, multiplexers, or modifications to Lego elements are allowed. No modification to Lego parts by gluing, cutting or melting is allowed.
3.3. Motors with and without rotation sensors are allowed, and any other sensors manufactured by Lego may be used. No “made for Lego” third party sensors or other components are permitted for this tournament.
3.4. Numbers and type of motors will be announced according to the mission given on the competition day. The number won’t exceed the number in the table below.
| Type of motor | Maximum |
| Continuous Revolution Motors | 4 |
| Servo motor | 2 |
| Encoder motor | 2 |
| Stepping motor | 2 |
3.5. Numbers and type of sensors will be announced according to the mission given on the competition day. The number won’t exceed the number in the table below.
| Sensor type | Maximum |
| IR sensors | 4 |
| Ultra-sonic sensors | 2 |
| Touch sensors | 2 |
| Color sensors | 1 |
3.6. The size limitations of the robot will be announced on the day of competition.
3.7. Before starting the game, the referee will describe the mission to a representative of each team. (Ex. Build a robot that can carry a 500g weight for over 1m wall, can dive and pick up the following treasure from the bottom of the water pool, can hit a ball in order to move it to a specific place.)
3.8. The referee will also give a description of the scoring formula used for this event. (Ex. The robot must carry three metal balls across the bridge as quickly as possible. If a robot loses a ball, then a 60 second penalty will be added to the time.)
3.9. The referee will also announce any special restrictions or rules that may be in effect during the event. (Ex. Participants must use no more than three rubber bands.)
3.10. There will be limited time and space for last minute design improvements and adjustments, however, the robots should be completed at the time of technical inspection, and once check-in takes place, the robot or its programming may no longer be modified only in the specific time announced by the referee. Robot battery should also be sufficiently charged once the robot is checked in.
3.11. Participants are required to self check the size of the robot while manufacturing and practicing to ensure there will be no issues at the technical inspection.
3.12. Except the starting point, robots must move autonomously by the program and it cannot be operated by any outer interference for remote control.
3.13. Optionally the robot can be started via a button on the robot or using the official LEGO IR remote control, as shown in Figure 1. No Bluetooth or other wireless control of the robot on the field is permitted unless specifically stated in the mission objective. If the LEGO programmable brick has integrated communication modules they will not be used during this competition unless specifically stated in the mission objective. The referee may inspect the code at any moment during the competition.
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Figure 1. LEGO IR remote control.
3.14. It is encouraged that robots be decorated or themed with Lego parts.
3.15. Robots should work with an independent electric power supply. No charging cable or external batteries are permitted. The only batteries the robot uses should be the ones that fit in the standard programmable LEGO brick.
3.14. It is encouraged that robots be decorated or themed with Lego parts.
3.15. Robots should work with an independent electric power supply. No charging cable or external batteries are permitted. The only batteries the robot uses should be the ones that fit in the standard programmable LEGO brick.
4. Robot limitations
4.1. Size and weight limitations will be announced on the competition day.
4.2. Height is not restricted.
4.4. When the referee announces a start/stop signal, the robot must act accordingly.
4.5. At the startup the robot may expand. It is not allowed to separate the robot into 2 or more pieces. The robot must remain a single centralized robot. Components with a mass of less than 5 grams will not result in loss.
4.6. It is forbidden to use devices that can store liquid, dust, gas or other substances to be thrown on the track or opponents.
4.7. Sticky substances to improve traction are not allowed. Wheels and other components of the robot that are in contact with the ring should not be able to lift and hold a standard A4 (80mg / m²) sheet for more than 2 seconds. Robots will be checked at the technical inspection stage and may be rechecked at the referee's request at any time during the competition.
4.8. Surface pressure-enhancing devices such as vacuum pumps or magnets / electromagnets are NOT allowed.
4.9. Robots who will not follow these rules will be disqualified.
4.10. All robots must be autonomous. The autonomous robot movements will have to detect and / or react / surrounding environment and track. If there are doubts as to the robot's autonomy, the referee has the right to inspect the logical control of the robot.
4.11. It is forbidden to use devices for jamming opponents, such as radiation sources to saturate sensors, ultrasound transmitters, or other devices with similar effect, are strictly forbidden.
5. Programming
5.1. The robot must be autonomous. No Bluetooth or other wireless control of the robot on the field is permitted unless specifically stated in the mission objective.
5.2. All robots must be autonomous. The autonomous robot movements will have to detect and / or react / according to the mission specifications. If there are doubts as to the robot's autonomy, the referee has the right to inspect the logical control of the robot.
6. Technical inspection
This step will take place before the beginning of the trials. Each team will have to pass the technical inspection stage in order to be able to participate further with the robot in the competition. After approval, all teams will necessarily remain in the participant area and wait for instructions from the referee.
The stages of the technical approval process are:
6.1. Checking the size of the robot by placing it on a predefined rectangle that has the maximum size limitation announced in the mission specification. Participants cannot give any objection toward the referee.
6.2. The mass of the robot will be checked by the means of a digital scale. The maximum value of the scales shall be mass announced in the mission specifications.
6.3. If the size or weight of the robot exceeds the mission specifications, participants will be given 1 minute to modify their robot in front of the judge, on a designated desk. If participants fail to fit the standard size, the team can be disqualified.
6.4. The wheels of the robot and other parts that are in contact with the track must NOT be able to pick up and hold a standard paper A4 (80g/cm2) for more than 2 seconds.
6.4. The means of starting the robot will be checked.
6.5. The robot will no longer be retained after approval.
7. The Track
Official Playfield: Size, arrangement and composition of the playfield will be announced on the day of the trial.
7.1. The inside of the track is defined as a white surface with black lines. Other color lines and drawn shapes on the track may be present.
7.2. The playing surface dimensions are not known until the competition day.
7.3. Objects and obstacles may be present on the playing track.
7.4. Bridges, inclined surfaces, and ramps may be part of the track.
8. Conduct of the contest
8.1. Robots will be divided into groups according to the number of participants.
8.2. Construction and practice time given will be at least 2 hours and it will be announced on the competition day.
8.3. Production and Practice time are available until the end of announced practice time; however, they’re not allowed to practice before their seats have been assigned.
8.4. After the end of the production and practice time is announced by the referee, participants must stop their robot and follow the instructions of the referee and staff.
8.5. After technical inspection approval all teams must remain in the competition area.
8.6. Preparation of the game: All participants must place the robot and be ready for the referee's instruction.
8.7. During the trial the time recorded will be stored and displayed on the projector/website. After the first trial there will be repair time.
8.8. The 1st run will begin after the construction and practice time.
8.9. Please stand by the game area after the game. When participants finish their 1st trial, they have to line up and watch all participants’ games until the end of that trial, giving every participant equal time and opportunities.
8.10. Repair Time after the end of 1st run, all participants have 30 minutes to modify their robot and practice.
8.11. The 2nd Run Right after the repair time, the 2nd Run will begin.
8.12. Stand by after the game. If a participant finishes his/her 2nd trial, they will go back to their seats.
8.13. During the contest a team is entitled to 2 interruptions for reprogramming during trials, 5 minutes each (2 interruptions are allowed in the whole game).
8.14. Other breaks are only allowed for emergency mechanical problems and only with the referee's agreement, a maximum of 5 minutes each. This rule is applied only when a trial is taking place. Besides trial’s time, changes and reprogramming are allowed. Teams are required to appear at the start within 1 minute of receipt of the request, otherwise they will lose the trial.
8.15. The participants can choose their own path or sequence of moves on the playing track sequence as long as the start/stop line and mission specifications are respected.
8.16. The lines on the track are for guiding the robot’s orientation. Robots are not obligated to keep following a line if they are not required to achieve the mission’s completion.
8.8. The decisions of the referees must be unanimous and are final, and their challenge leads to disqualification from the trial.
9. Playing the trial
9.1. The Robot’s initial position. At the instructions of the referees, the two teams approach the track to place the robot on the track surface.
9.2. The Start, Stop, Interruption or Continuation of the trial is announced by the referee.
9.4. The start is ordered by the referee in each round. After the start is announced the robot must start immediately without delay.
9.5. If the participant can’t start within 5 counts from the referee's signal, it will be declared as ‘Miss Start’ and they have two more chances to restart for this missed start.
9.6. If the participant starts the robot before the referee’s signal, it is declared as ‘False start’ and they have only one more chance to restart.
9.7. Each team has the right for two restarts in total per trial.
9.8. A trial will be played for a maximum of 2 minutes. It will begin at the referee's command. Robots that couldn’t complete the missions within 2 minutes, will have all points earned within 2 minutes aggregated as the final score for that trial.
9.9. If the participant completes the mission within the time limit, the trial will be finished and the time and points will be registered.
9.10. If the robot doesn’t move, the referee will count 10 seconds and if the robot still can not move, will call it a stop and count the points participants earned until the robot stopped.
9.11. During the trial, the referee can declare a TKO (Technical knockout) without 10 counts when the referee judges that the robot can’t drive properly anymore. (Ex. robot had been stopped over the structure and obstacle, robot drive settled zone repeatedly)
10. The score
10.1 A participant scores points according to the number of successes. The points per each mission will be announced on the competition day via the mission specification paper.
10.2. Ranking is done taking into account factors such as Mission points, time record, penalties and so on.
10.3. Time record is based on the measuring instruments or referee’s timer. (If you are declared as a TKO or Robot is stopped by the referee, the time record will not be accepted as the final score.)
10.4. The final score considered will be the best score out of the 1st and 2nd run.
10.5. The standard of the scoring system is based on quantitative standards: timekeeping, distance record and the number of moving targets, in some special occasions it might include a knock‐out competition or even a subjective evaluation.
10.6. Order of priority of the result Ex) Scores > Time record > Compare the time result.
10.7. Order of priority according to rounds If result is same, winner will be decided after comparing the result of another rounds.
10.8. Order of priority according to Tie-Breaker Better score out of 1st and 2nd round will be accepted as final point, but if tied, the player with better results in the 1st round will win the game.
11. Repairs, modifications, unexpected interrupts
11.1. If a robot fails during a trial, the Referee will allocate a 1-minute repair interval. This interval can be extended up to 5 minutes with the organizers' agreement. Repairs will be supervised by an assistant referee to avoid changing the robot modules with other non-approved ones.
11.2. If a robot can not be repaired within the specified interval, the trial is won by the opposing robot and the defective robot team can continue the repairs until the next trial in which they participate and in that case being supervised by a referee / member of the organizing committee.
11.3. Replacement of defective parts can be performed and batteries can be charged during the competition, if necessary.
11.4. A competitor may ask to stop the trial when he / she is injured or the robot has suffered damage and the game can not continue.
11.5. Failure to continue a trial. When the game can no longer continue due to injury of the competitor or damage to the robot, the competitor who caused the injury or robot's damage or failure will lose the trial. The only robot to robot damage is permitted during official trials. If one can not decide who is to blame, the one who will ask for the trial to be stopped will be declared defeated.
11.6. Rematches
During the trial if an expected situation occurs, such as blackout or breakdown of a measuring instrument, the referee can decide to do a rematch.
12. Player Restrictions
12.1. When teams are called to the track for their robot, teams present to the field promptly, and each team has to greet the other with a bow or handshake.
12.2. Players have to behave in a respectful manner, and are not permitted to use profanity or insulting words or actions, or to have their robot use such words or actions. Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated. Such behavior will result in a violation or disqualification at the judge’s discretion.
12.3. Only one team member may enter the trial area to place and take the robot off the track.
During the trial, if the participant violates the rule or interrupts the trial, it will be ended and the result will not be admitted.
12.4. Robot Touch During the trial, if participants touch the robot without judge and supervisor
authorization, it will be declared robot touch and disqualified.
12.5. Repair during the trial During the trial, additional, remove, exchange, changing the toll is prohibited but during the standby, if the participants has additional battery then the team will be disqualified. 5-7-3. Sensor tuning Before the trial begins, if participants try to tune the sensor, will be disqualified
12.6. Disobey of seat allocation If participants practice or play the game at the playfield that they’re not assigned, participants will be disqualified. 12.7. False Start If participants conduct ‘False Start’ twice, participants will be disqualified.
12.8. Miss Start If participants conduct ‘Miss Start’ three times, participants will be disqualified.
14. The Winner
The Champion will be the robot with the most points achieved throughout the game.
15. Flexibility of Rules
As long as the concept and fundamentals of the rules are observed, these rules shall be flexible enough to encompass the changes in the number of players and of the contents of trials. Modifications or abolition of the rules can be made by the local event organizers as long as they are published prior to the event, and are consistently maintained throughout the event.
16. Liability
16.1. Participating teams are always responsible for the safety of their robots and are liable for any accidents caused by their team members or their robots.
16.2. The Robotics Championship organization and the organizing team members will never be held responsible nor liable for any incidents and / or accidents caused by participating teams or their equipment.
