NHRL Open Rules - 2026 - Revision history

Paxmorningstar at 20:20, 19 May 2026

2026-05-19T20:20:04Z

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Paxmorningstar: /* Overview and General Requirements */ Linked to design approval page

2026-05-19T20:12:57Z

Overview and General Requirements: Linked to design approval page

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	* Meet the functional requirements for movement and weaponry		* Meet the functional requirements for movement and weaponry
	* Possess the required safety features		* Possess the required safety features
	* Obtain approval for restricted systems before competing at an event		* [[Design Approval\|Obtain approval for restricted systems]] before competing at an event
	* Be free of forbidden features		* Be free of forbidden features

RickyWillems: Specified weapon requirements at fight start.

2026-05-19T19:03:54Z

Specified weapon requirements at fight start.

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	* Camera equipment approval (if needed).		* Camera equipment approval (if needed).

	If a Bot Inspector is not confident that a Bot’s drive or weapon meets minimum functionality standards, they may be required to run a functionality test on the bot. A bot that fails its functionality test may not fight in the tournament unless they are able to improve their bot to the point that it passes the test. Bots that do not pass functionality tests may ~~stil~~ fight in Freestyle fights.		If a Bot Inspector is not confident that a Bot’s drive or weapon meets minimum functionality standards, they may be required to run a functionality test on the bot. A bot that fails its functionality test may not fight in the tournament unless they are able to improve their bot to the point that it passes the test. Bots that do not pass functionality tests may still fight in Freestyle fights.

	Robots will not pass bot inspection if they are overweight.		Robots will not pass bot inspection if they are overweight.
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	When cage-side, all competitors must follow directions from Referees and Cage Managers. Bots cannot use their drive or weapons systems at any time when the doors of the cage are open.		When cage-side, all competitors must follow directions from Referees and Cage Managers. Bots cannot use their drive or weapons systems at any time when the doors of the cage are open.

	After the doors close, cage staff will direct competitors to demonstrate the functionality of their drive and weapon systems. Robots must display the ability to move within the arena, and they must show that their weapon is at least partially functional. Robots do not need to meet the standards set out by the functionality test at this point, but they must be meaningfully functional.		After the doors close, cage staff will direct competitors to demonstrate the functionality of their drive and weapon systems. Robots must display the ability to move within the arena, and they must show that their weapon is at least partially functional. Robots do not need to meet the standards set out by the functionality test at this point, but they must be meaningfully functional, to the point where they could be reasonably expected to be able to harm their opponents with at least one weapon system.

	Bots will be able to perform any additional tests inside the cage that they wish as long as the test can be completed within 1 minute. If it takes longer than 1 minute, this will incur one TKO point. If it takes longer than three minutes, three TKO points and an immediate TKO will be issued.		Bots will be able to perform any additional tests inside the cage that they wish as long as the test can be completed within 1 minute. If it takes longer than 1 minute, this will incur one TKO point. If it takes longer than three minutes, three TKO points and an immediate TKO will be issued.
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Paxmorningstar at 20:13, 11 May 2026

2026-05-11T20:13:23Z

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RickyWillems: /* Appendix A: Judging Criteria */ Wording Improvements

2026-04-20T16:14:46Z

Appendix A: Judging Criteria: Wording Improvements

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	== '''Appendix A: Judging Criteria''' ==		== '''Appendix A: Judging Criteria''' ==
	The following is the core of the 2026 Judging criteria. This is just the basics of how judges will score fights. Some minor details may change over the course of the season. We will cover more detailed, specific cases soon.

	===Overview===		===Overview===
	The 2026 Judging Criteria is ~~intended~~ to ~~inspire fights that are~~ exciting ~~and~~ ~~full of action~~. It is based on the following premises:		The 2026 Judging Criteria is designed to reward exciting, action-filled fights. It is based on the following premises:
	* Every robot must have an active weapon.		* Every robot must have an active weapon.
	* That weapon must be able to cause harm to its opponent.		* That weapon must be able to cause harm to its opponent.
	* '''Harm is not necessarily damage,''' but the weapon must clearly put the opponent in a worse place than before, without the attacking robot necessarily present.		* '''Harm is not necessarily damage,''' but the weapon must clearly put the opponent in a worse place than before, without the attacking robot necessarily present.
	* A reasonable spectator watching cageside should be able to tell when a weapon is being used, and how it can cause harm.		* A reasonable spectator watching cageside should be able to tell when a weapon is being used, and how it can cause harm.
	* Judges should measure both the intention to cause harm, and the effectiveness of that attempt, ~~weighing the~~ effectiveness more heavily ~~than the intention~~.		* Judges should measure both the intention to cause harm and the effectiveness of that attempt, weighting effectiveness more heavily.

	====Harm====		====Harm====
	Harm is achieved when an opponent is ~~put~~ in a clearly worse state than before the attack without requiring the ~~active~~ ~~robot’s~~ presence.		Harm is achieved when an opponent is left in a clearly worse state than before the attack, without requiring the attacking robot's continued presence. The following are examples of causing harm that judges will favor. This is not a complete list.
	The following are examples of causing harm. These will be favored by our judges. This is not a complete list.
	* Striking your opponent with a fast-spinning kinetic weapon.		* Striking your opponent with a fast-spinning kinetic weapon.
	* Torching your opponent for a significant amount of time with effective fire.		* Torching your opponent for a significant amount of time with effective fire.
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	* Manipulating your opponent in a way that requires them to self-right, unstick themselves, or request an unstick.		* Manipulating your opponent in a way that requires them to self-right, unstick themselves, or request an unstick.

	The following are examples of not ~~causing~~ harm. These will ~~generally~~ not be favored by ~~our~~ judges, and if done too often, will ~~lose~~ points ~~for~~ ~~the~~ ~~competitor~~ ~~instead of gaining points~~. This is not a complete list.		The following are examples of actions that do not cause harm. These will not be favored by judges, and if done too often, will cost points rather than earn them. This is not a complete list.
	* Pinning your opponent without using an active weapon capable of causing harm. (Bots without working active weapons will get some credit for wall slams and brief pins.)		* Pinning your opponent without using an active weapon capable of causing harm. (Bots without working active weapons will get some credit for wall slams and brief pins.)
	* Lifting your opponent off the ground just enough so they cannot drive (through a lifting arm or passive bot geometry)		* Lifting your opponent off the ground just enough so they cannot drive (through a lifting arm or passive bot geometry)
	* Flipping your opponent a moderate ~~amount of~~ distance ~~in the air~~, so after they land, ~~they~~ drive away unharmed.		* Flipping your opponent a moderate distance, after which they land and drive away unharmed.
	* Tapping your opponent with an arm.		* Tapping your opponent with an arm.

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	===Attack===		===Attack===
	The Attack category ~~quantifies~~ how ~~significantly~~ each bot initiated attacks ~~using~~ their active weapon ~~with~~ intent to cause harm, and ~~successfully~~ ~~attacked~~ in ~~a way that~~ caused ~~harm at a significant magnitude~~.		The Attack category measures how effectively each bot initiated attacks with their active weapon, weighing both intent to cause harm and the magnitude of harm caused.

	Judges will score Attack on the following scale.		Judges will score Attack on the following scale.
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	* Bot B initiated and won almost all attacks. (0-5)		* Bot B initiated and won almost all attacks. (0-5)

	Judges will base this ~~decision~~ on the ~~amount of~~ harm each bot attempted ~~to inflict,~~ and successfully inflicted~~, on their opponent~~. We ~~expect~~ ~~competitors~~ to attack consistently throughout the fight ~~at a reasonable pace.~~ If a competitor spends a significant amount of time avoiding contact and running away from the opponent, they will lose points in this category.		Judges will base this on the harm each bot attempted and successfully inflicted. Competitors are expected to attack consistently throughout the fight. If a competitor spends a significant amount of time avoiding contact and running away from the opponent, they will lose points in this category.

	If scoring is close, judges will consider magnitude of successful attacks first, number of successful attacks second, and number of attacks initiated third. Consider a hammersaw that spends most of the match lining up a good hit, versus a shell spinner that is poised to deliver hits frequently. If shell spinner’s attacks frequently but with attacks that don’t do a lot of damage, and the hammersaw attacks only a few times but with massive hits that change the flow of the fight, the hammersaw should win Attack, as the magnitude of its hits were higher and it spent most of the fight intending to attack.

			When scoring is close, judges will consider magnitude of successful attacks first, number of successful attacks second, and number of attacks initiated third. For example, a hammer-saw that attacks only a few times but lands massive, fight-changing hits should win Attack over a shell spinner that attacks frequently but with little effect.
	Exact details on how each bot type scores Attack are beyond the scope of this core document, but will come soon.

	====Effect vs. Intent====		====Effect vs. Intent====
	Judges should consider whether a bot is ~~using their~~ active weapon ~~to make an attack,~~ and whether the attack was effective. ~~This~~ is how ~~they~~ should ~~score~~, from highest~~-scoring~~ to lowest~~-scoring~~. This is not a specific scoring rubric ~~(it does not necessarily map to the 5 points of Attack given out), but it is an illustration of how judges should prioritize different levels of attack~~.		Judges should consider both whether a bot used its active weapon and whether the attack was effective. The following illustrates how judges should prioritize different levels of attack, from highest to lowest. This is not a specific scoring rubric.

	* (Highest-scoring) A bot that attacked very effectively using its active weapon, to a degree of great magnitude. This should have a higher Attack score than…		* (Highest-scoring) A bot that attacked very effectively using its active weapon, to a degree of great magnitude. This should have a higher Attack score than…
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Paxmorningstar at 16:45, 10 April 2026

2026-04-10T16:45:57Z

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RickyWillems: /* Hazardous robots and behavior */

2026-03-07T15:14:19Z

Hazardous robots and behavior

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	Note that, generally, if a robot becomes entangled, high centered, or otherwise affected by parts or materials torn off of its opponent, this will not be considered entanglement.		Note that, generally, if a robot becomes entangled, high centered, or otherwise affected by parts or materials torn off of its opponent, this will not be considered entanglement.

	=== '''Hazardous ~~robots~~ and ~~behavior~~''' ===		=== '''Hazardous Robots and Behavior''' ===
	If the Referee or Tournament Stewards deem a robot to be a hazard to the crowd, crew or competitors, or if a robot is inflicting considerable damage to the arena, the Referee may elect to end the fight early. In this case, the winner is determined by judges’ decision.		If the Referee or Tournament Stewards deem a robot to be a hazard to the crowd, crew or competitors, or if a robot is inflicting considerable damage to the arena, the Referee may elect to end the fight early. In this case, the winner is determined by judges’ decision.

RickyWillems: /* Introduction and Notes */

2026-03-06T20:45:22Z

Introduction and Notes

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	* Improved competitor experience		* Improved competitor experience
	* Writing for the majority of builders, allowing flexibility to address outlying issues		* Writing for the majority of builders, allowing flexibility to address outlying issues
	The posted Spirit of the Rules, Bot Design Rules, and Tournament Format sections are complete and final in scope and intent, but may have wording changes in the coming weeks. Other sections, including Judging Criteria and Event Procedures are still being worded, but the changes being made are described [https://docs.google.com/document/d/14OYesIgwHHfaJb3aGbDr8YHLzMYVp2nX9tY4q2q4Br8/edit?usp=sharing in this document,] along with highlighted comparisons changes made to the Bot Design Rules between 2025 and 2026.

	Any changes to these rules will be noted in the [[2026 Rules Change Log]].		Any changes to these rules will be noted in the [[2026 Rules Change Log]].
	== '''The Spirit of The Rules''' ==		== '''The Spirit of The Rules''' ==
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Paxmorningstar: Fix broken category tag

2026-02-20T15:41:01Z

Fix broken category tag

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RickyWillems: /* Size Limitations */

2026-02-19T06:25:31Z

Size Limitations

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	==== '''Size Limitations''' ====		==== '''Size Limitations''' ====
	Robots must ~~easily~~ fit within the NHRL fire safety cart ~~for fire or safety emergencies. The cart's~~ approximate ~~inside dimensions are~~ 23" x 23" x 44".		Robots must fit within the NHRL fire safety cart (approximate interior: 23" x 23" x 44").

	Larger robots may be approved if they can be easily and immediately modified to fit into the cart. For example, if a portion of the robot can be bent or removed so the robot fits within the cart. Pre-event approval is required and subject to change if NHRL staff feels the robot cannot be safely enclosed during an emergency.		Larger robots may be approved if they can be easily and immediately modified to fit into the cart. For example, if a portion of the robot can be bent or removed so the robot fits within the cart. Pre-event approval is required and subject to change if NHRL staff feels the robot cannot be safely enclosed during an emergency.