Functionality Tests

Introduction:

NHRL has two functionality tests - a mobility test designed to ensure a robot is able to move about the arena in a controlled manner at a sufficient speed, and a weapon test designed to ensure a robot is able to attack and disadvantage its opponent. These tests will be performed at the discretion of NHRL staff during the Bot Inspection process at the beginning of an event.

Mobility Testing:

• Robots in the 3lb class must be able to move in a controlled manner at a rate of at least 10 feet per minute.
• Robots in the 12lb and 30lb classes must be able to move in a controlled manner at a rate of at least 20 feet per minute.

Mobility tests require a robot to move from one marked square in a test box to a second square and then return to the starting square within the time limit. Robots will be placed roughly in the center of the starting square, to the satisfaction of NHRL Staff, and must return to roughly the same position in the starting square.

Weight Class	Square Size	Distance (center to center)	Time Allowed
3lb	6” x 6”	48”	48 Seconds
12lb and 30lb	12” x 12”	96”	48 Seconds

If a robot cannot demonstrate movement in a test box due to size constraints, damaged floors or other issues not relating to its ability to move in an arena, an alternative and equivalent test may be proposed by NHRL using one of the arenas.

Weapon Testing:

All segments of all robots must have an active weapon. An active weapon is defined as a weapon or mechanism that is clearly designed to meaningfully influence and disadvantage the opposing robot. If it is unclear that a given robot’s weapon is suitably effective, a weapon test will be administered at the discretion of the NHRL staff.

Weapon tests are conducted by asking a competitor to use their robot to attack an object known as a DUMMY (Designated Unit to Measure Minimum Yield) in the test box. A DUMMY is intended to be a stand-in for an opponent, with design features that make it easy to assess weapon effectiveness. Each weight class will have its own model DUMMY with the following specifications:

Weight Class	DUMMY Weight	DUMMY Height	DUMMY Width	DUMMY Length	Design File (STL Format)
3lb	3lb	1.5”	Y	Z	abc.stl
12lb	12lb	2.5”	Y	Z	def.stil
30lb	30lb	3.5	Y	Z	ghi.stl

Each size of DUMMY will have removable test panels and features that can be attacked by the robot under test. Test panels will be retained by slotting features rather than hard-mounted. These panels are described in the following table.

Weight Class	Impact Test Panel Thickness	Impact Test Panel Material	Flame Test Feature (50% Infill PLA)
3lb	0.125 Inches	Solid Infill PLA	abc.stl
12lb	0.25 Inches	Solid Infill PLA	def.stil
30lb	0.375 Inches	Solid Infill PLA	ghi.stl

Weapon tests vary depending on a robot’s weapon system.

• Lifter/Flipper:
  • The robot is able to tip the DUMMY onto its side without the assistance of its drive-train.
  • Alternatively, a robot may lift or launch the lowest part of the DUMMY at least 1.5x the DUMMY's height off the ground - e.g. a 30lb robot must be able to lift the DUMMY such that the wheels are at least 5.25" off the floor of the arena.
• Hammer:
  • The hammer is able to penetrate through or create a full depth crack in test panel.
• Crusher/Drill:
  • The crusher or drill is able to pierce a test panel.
• Flamethrower:
  • The flamethrower is able to melt the PLA test feature such that it detaches from the DUMMY, or droops 90 degrees.
• Hot Lance:
  • The robot will be allowed to preheat, and must be able to piece a solid PLA panel in 5 seconds.
• Spinner:
  • The spinner will hit a panel mounted to the DUMMY and must either pierce the panel, crack the panel, or rotate the DUMMY 90 degrees in any axis following an impact.
  • In the case of undercutters, a competitor can request that an extended length test panel can be installed that sits within 1/8" of the test box floor.
• Projectiles:
  • The projectile must fire at the DUMMY and must penetrate through or create a full depth crack in test panel.
  • Projectiles can be fired from any range requested by the competitor that is feasible within the arena.

If you have a weapon type that may not fit the above categories, please reach out to NHRL so tan alternative test can be made. In the event that a competitor brings a weapon type not listed above to an event and none of the above testing procedures will suffice, NHRL staff will create an appropriate test at the time of the event. Any new tests will be reviewed after an event for fairness and an additional type type will be added to the list above.