2016 Competition Rules
2015-2016 Competition Rules
Robot Construction
—Material can be no thicker than ¼”
—Teams may laminate ¼” or less material together to create a thicker piece of material.
—No bolts/screws thicker than ¼” O.D. and related hardware
—No bearings larger than ¼” I.D.
—Up to $300 total on non-VEX EDR wheels, sensors, and other electronics per competition year.
—No glass, liquid, particulate or living materials can be used on the robot
Robot Limitations
--- Robot Size ---
—No larger than 16”x16”x16” at start of a match.
--- Robot Weight ---
—There is no weight restriction this season
--- Stored Mechanical Energy ---
—Stored Mechanical Energy Gizmos must be in the relaxed state at the start of the match.
--- Robots must be programmed using the competition template/project.
Robot Construction
--- Motors ---
—Only motor with a max power output of 5 watts or less may be used in this year’s challenge, regardless of its approval in previous years’ challenges.
—No more than 30 watts total output may be used in the robot’s drive train (393 VEX motors are 4 watts each).
--- Grippers ---
—NO pre-manufactured grippers, including VEX grippers, may be used in this year’s challenge.
—Please build your robots to handle the rigors of the YBOT Challenge, including contact with the field and other robots.
—Please use caution when coming in contact with other teams and the field.
—Remember to be a good sport! YBOT is a fun way to learn.
—Please take precautions to mitigate entanglement issues.
—Please remove all sharp edges from the robot.
—Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in a penalty or disqualification.
Robot Controllers
Teams must use one VEX Cortex robot microcontroller and up to two VEX Cortex transmitters.
Teams cannot use VEX Pic microcontroller.
Teams may use one Arduino controller if made to respond to the field transmitter control.
Please read the operators manual before you use the microcontrollers. The VEX controllers have limitations and maybe damaged or cause unexpected behavior is misused. Please take the time to understand its limits.
VEX net
Please read the operators manual before you use the microcontrollers. The VEX dongles must be kept two inches away from metal material. Failure to do this may result in unexpected behavior. The dongles can be relocated using a USB extension cable.
Robot Batteries
—Up to two 7.2V batteries or battery packs not exceeding 14,600 watt hours (battery voltage x amp hours), may be used on each robot.
—Up to two 9V transistor batteries may be used.
—If using rechargeable batteries please read the instruction manual and follow all recommendations. Some batteries require full discharging and/or slow charging to extend their life. Not following the manufactures suggestion may cause unexpected behavior and/or damage the batteries.
—No other batteries maybe used.
VEX Components
—All unaltered components that are listed under the VEX EDR system are allowed excluding grippers.
—All VEX IQ and VEX Pro components are not allowed unless submitted for approval via the whitepaper process.
Other Electronics
—Non VEX EDR sensors maybe use when included in the $300 sensor/wheel/electronics total.
—All other electronics must be submitted via whitepaper and approved before it can be added to the robot and must be included in the $300 sensor/wheel/electronics total.
Whitepapers
Teams are allowed to use non-VEX EDR electronics and/or modify VEX EDR electronics with approved whitepaper. Teams will be required to provide a whitepaper for approval one week PRIOR to competition via the forums. Teams will not be allowed to use any non-vex electronics and/or modify VEX EDR electronics unless the whitepaper is approved. Whitepapers are to be submitted via the YBOT Whitepaper Forums.
Please visit ybot.org for examples of past whitepapers.
Any previous approved motor will have to be resubmitted for approval and fit within this year’s guidelines.
WARNING!!!!!!
Youth B.O.T. can’t verify how all modifications will affect your robot. These modifications may cause your robot to act in an unexpected manner. Modifications may also harm your robot components. It will be the team’s responsibility to test compatibility to the field. Youth B.O.T. is not responsible for any damage caused by modifications teams have made to their electronics. Proceed at your own risk.
Robot Inspection
—Team Self Inspection Sheets must be completed and handed into the scoring desk prior the start of each meet.
—Self Inspection Sheets can be found at ybot.org.
—Robots must meet Youth B.O.T. guidelines.
—Teams must bring list of purchased parts and receipts to every meet.
—Robot must be sized in its largest starting configuration.
—Only one robot per team may be registered at each meet – No back-ups
—Please fill out the forms completely. The data we collect helps us with future YBOT Challenges
—Teams must submit a new inspection form if the robot configuration has been changed.
---$300 sensor/wheel/electronics limit ---
—Any non-VEX EDR wheel, sensors, and electronics must be included in this limit.
—Any item’s cost is the regular value of the item when purchased from that store before any discounts are applied.
—Shipping costs are not included in this limit.
—The original receipts must be brought to each competition.
—Only items installed on the robot during competition need to be included in the total.
—Teams may only use items that are reasonably available to all teams.
—Hardware that is required for the correct function of the device must be included in the total if not included in the price and must comply with this year’s rules.
Robot Inspection - Dispute
--Self Inspection - Dispute
—If any team feels another team is in violation of the current YBOT Challenge rules they may institute a challenge.
—All challenges must be submitted in writing to the scoring desk.
—If the judge finds the challenged team in violation, 10 points will be subtracted from their average score at the end of the day.
—If the judge finds the challenged team is not in violation, the challenging team will have 10 points subtracted from their average score at the end of the day.
Robot Competition Rules
--- Team Colored Lights ---
—Teams must leave a 4”x4” space on top of their robots with a 2”x2” piece of loop Velcro.
—The light must be clearly visible.
—Lights must be oriented in the upright position.
—The light is not included in the size of the robot.
--- Robot Transmitters ---
—Must be connected to field control boxes at the start of each match
—Partner controllers must be connect to the main controller.
--Only referees may disconnect transmitters during the competition.
Robot Construction
—Material can be no thicker than ¼”
—Teams may laminate ¼” or less material together to create a thicker piece of material.
—No bolts/screws thicker than ¼” O.D. and related hardware
—No bearings larger than ¼” I.D.
—Up to $300 total on non-VEX EDR wheels, sensors, and other electronics per competition year.
—No glass, liquid, particulate or living materials can be used on the robot
Robot Limitations
--- Robot Size ---
—No larger than 16”x16”x16” at start of a match.
--- Robot Weight ---
—There is no weight restriction this season
--- Stored Mechanical Energy ---
—Stored Mechanical Energy Gizmos must be in the relaxed state at the start of the match.
--- Robots must be programmed using the competition template/project.
Robot Construction
--- Motors ---
—Only motor with a max power output of 5 watts or less may be used in this year’s challenge, regardless of its approval in previous years’ challenges.
—No more than 30 watts total output may be used in the robot’s drive train (393 VEX motors are 4 watts each).
--- Grippers ---
—NO pre-manufactured grippers, including VEX grippers, may be used in this year’s challenge.
—Please build your robots to handle the rigors of the YBOT Challenge, including contact with the field and other robots.
—Please use caution when coming in contact with other teams and the field.
—Remember to be a good sport! YBOT is a fun way to learn.
—Please take precautions to mitigate entanglement issues.
—Please remove all sharp edges from the robot.
—Failure to comply with any of these rules may result in a penalty or disqualification.
Robot Controllers
Teams must use one VEX Cortex robot microcontroller and up to two VEX Cortex transmitters.
Teams cannot use VEX Pic microcontroller.
Teams may use one Arduino controller if made to respond to the field transmitter control.
Please read the operators manual before you use the microcontrollers. The VEX controllers have limitations and maybe damaged or cause unexpected behavior is misused. Please take the time to understand its limits.
VEX net
Please read the operators manual before you use the microcontrollers. The VEX dongles must be kept two inches away from metal material. Failure to do this may result in unexpected behavior. The dongles can be relocated using a USB extension cable.
Robot Batteries
—Up to two 7.2V batteries or battery packs not exceeding 14,600 watt hours (battery voltage x amp hours), may be used on each robot.
—Up to two 9V transistor batteries may be used.
—If using rechargeable batteries please read the instruction manual and follow all recommendations. Some batteries require full discharging and/or slow charging to extend their life. Not following the manufactures suggestion may cause unexpected behavior and/or damage the batteries.
—No other batteries maybe used.
VEX Components
—All unaltered components that are listed under the VEX EDR system are allowed excluding grippers.
—All VEX IQ and VEX Pro components are not allowed unless submitted for approval via the whitepaper process.
Other Electronics
—Non VEX EDR sensors maybe use when included in the $300 sensor/wheel/electronics total.
—All other electronics must be submitted via whitepaper and approved before it can be added to the robot and must be included in the $300 sensor/wheel/electronics total.
Whitepapers
Teams are allowed to use non-VEX EDR electronics and/or modify VEX EDR electronics with approved whitepaper. Teams will be required to provide a whitepaper for approval one week PRIOR to competition via the forums. Teams will not be allowed to use any non-vex electronics and/or modify VEX EDR electronics unless the whitepaper is approved. Whitepapers are to be submitted via the YBOT Whitepaper Forums.
Please visit ybot.org for examples of past whitepapers.
Any previous approved motor will have to be resubmitted for approval and fit within this year’s guidelines.
WARNING!!!!!!
Youth B.O.T. can’t verify how all modifications will affect your robot. These modifications may cause your robot to act in an unexpected manner. Modifications may also harm your robot components. It will be the team’s responsibility to test compatibility to the field. Youth B.O.T. is not responsible for any damage caused by modifications teams have made to their electronics. Proceed at your own risk.
Robot Inspection
—Team Self Inspection Sheets must be completed and handed into the scoring desk prior the start of each meet.
—Self Inspection Sheets can be found at ybot.org.
—Robots must meet Youth B.O.T. guidelines.
—Teams must bring list of purchased parts and receipts to every meet.
—Robot must be sized in its largest starting configuration.
—Only one robot per team may be registered at each meet – No back-ups
—Please fill out the forms completely. The data we collect helps us with future YBOT Challenges
—Teams must submit a new inspection form if the robot configuration has been changed.
---$300 sensor/wheel/electronics limit ---
—Any non-VEX EDR wheel, sensors, and electronics must be included in this limit.
—Any item’s cost is the regular value of the item when purchased from that store before any discounts are applied.
—Shipping costs are not included in this limit.
—The original receipts must be brought to each competition.
—Only items installed on the robot during competition need to be included in the total.
—Teams may only use items that are reasonably available to all teams.
—Hardware that is required for the correct function of the device must be included in the total if not included in the price and must comply with this year’s rules.
Robot Inspection - Dispute
--Self Inspection - Dispute
—If any team feels another team is in violation of the current YBOT Challenge rules they may institute a challenge.
—All challenges must be submitted in writing to the scoring desk.
—If the judge finds the challenged team in violation, 10 points will be subtracted from their average score at the end of the day.
—If the judge finds the challenged team is not in violation, the challenging team will have 10 points subtracted from their average score at the end of the day.
Robot Competition Rules
--- Team Colored Lights ---
—Teams must leave a 4”x4” space on top of their robots with a 2”x2” piece of loop Velcro.
—The light must be clearly visible.
—Lights must be oriented in the upright position.
—The light is not included in the size of the robot.
--- Robot Transmitters ---
—Must be connected to field control boxes at the start of each match
—Partner controllers must be connect to the main controller.
--Only referees may disconnect transmitters during the competition.
