March 26th 2022

March 2022 badge, early graphic design

Buy tickets here!

March 26th is the first event of the NHRL 2022 season! Bots in 4 weight classes will be fighting for the chance to win one of 3 all-new NHRL trophies, as well as a part of the $4,200 prize pool. We will be showing off our new expanded arenas, pits and spectator spaces.

• Want to compete?
• Want to see the fights in-person? (Buy tickets here! )
• Want to watch online?

NHRL is currently hiring paid staff for the March event! Email robot@nhrl.io for more information.

See what bots are currently registered here!

Brackets

We are fighting bots in 4 different weight classes. Each weight class has its own double-elimination tournament. Follow the action with our brackets!

3lb bracket

12lb bracket

12lb Sportsman bracket

30lb bracket

What's new for 2022?

We've been proud to unveil a bunch of excellent changes for the 2022 season!

Fights in our facility can happen in one of two places: the Steel Arena, our production area with our announcer's desk where we hold fights for 3lb, 12lb, and 30lb bots, and the Titanium Stage, where fans can get a close-up view of 3lb fights across two cages, with a special view for VIP ticketholders.

What's new for competitors:

• Expanded pits areas, with more tables, more space between tables, and a dedicated viewing area to sit and relax as you watch the stream.
• 3 new cages, including a 30lb cage!

What's new for spectators:

• More than 5,000 square feet of new activities, lounge areas, and exciting attractions.
• Our Bot Museum, with many notable 250lb bots you may have seen on TV, and many strong NHRL bots. It's also a great place to learn more about our sport!
• More seating around the cages, and the cages have been moved even closer to the bleachers for a better viewing experience.
• The Titanium Lounge, where VIP ticketholders can watch fights at our Titanium Stage up close!

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  We've expanded the spectator areas by over 5,000 square feet!

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  More space for more bleachers and more fun activities!

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  A second 30lb combat cage!

Watching NHRL Online

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All NHRL events are livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

We also upload individual fight clips to our second channel.

Don't want to wait for the event to see some robot action? Check out the highlight reel from the 2021 finals!

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Spectating at NHRL

Come see some robot carnage up-close and personal! Click here to buy tickets for any of our upcoming events!

All NHRL events are open to the public for spectating. Adults and children over the age of 4 can purchase an all-day access pass for $10. This will give access to all of the spectating areas around all the fighting cages, as well as the spectator lounges, Bot Museum, and other fun combat robotics attractions. Spectators under the age of 4 are admitted for free. Any spectator under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18.

Read more about our spectator experience.

Here are the food trucks confirmed for the May 6th 2023 event.

Name	Kind of food	Time
The Chamo	Venezuelan	12 pm - about 7 pm
Crazy Taco-Mex	Mexican	12 pm - about 7 pm
CT Cocktail Car	Adult beverages	12 pm - about 7 pm
Daniel's Food Truck	Guatemalan-American	12 pm - about 7 pm
Eco Evolution	Breakfast & Coffee	7 am - about 7 pm
Greek Style Grill	Greek	12 pm - about 7 pm
Ringside Grill	American/Italian comfort food	12 pm - about 7 pm
SpaceCat Brewing Company Tales	Adult beverages	12 pm - about 7 pm
Waffle Cabin	Waffles	1 pm - about 5 pm

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  The view of the 30lb combat cage from the bleachers.

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  The Titanium Lounge, where VIPs can relax with snacks and comfortable seats, get a close-up view of our fights, meet up with one of our announcers for a behind-the-scenes tour.

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  The view of the 3lb cage from the bleachers.

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  Food trucks at NHRL.

Spectator FAQ

What should I bring with me to NHRL?

Spectators are encouraged to bring a pillow, sweater, or other soft object to sit on in the bleachers while watching fights. Seat cushions will also be available for purchase at the event. We also encourage bringing hearing protection, especially for younger spectators. Free earplugs will also be provided at the event.

How do I buy a ticket?

Click here to buy tickets for any of our upcoming events!

Tickets are also available day-of at the door. We also sometimes run special promotions on ticket sales or sell them as part of a bundle through websites like Groupon. Any such deals or offers will be linked here when available.

Is there food at NHRL? Can I bring my own food/drink?

NHRL hosts a number of food trucks from local businesses serving a wide range of food. We also provide free water for all spectators. Outside food and drink are not permitted. This does not include baby food, food related to medical needs, or water. Keep in mind your admission is all-day, so you are welcome to leave and get lunch, and come back. South Norwalk has a ton of great places to eat, which you can read more about on the Travel Info page.

How do I get to NHRL?

NHRL is within walking distance of the South Norwalk train station, serviced by the MTA New Haven Line, MTA Danbury Branch, and the CTRail Shore Line East. It is also possible to drive to NHRL, and parking on site is included with your spectator pass. For more information on getting to NHRL, please see the Travel Info page.

Besides food, is there anything else to buy at NHRL?

Yes! NHRL has an official merch store, where you can buy t-shirts, stickers, magnets, and more. You are also able to purchase competitor merchandise here, to support your favorite bot.

Are alcohol or drugs permitted at NHRL?

Alcohol is permitted at NHRL for spectators aged 21 and up. Only builders with bots not active in the competition, not planning to fight grudge matches, and are aged 21 and up may drink.

Any inebriated people who are causing a disturbance, be they spectators or builders out of the competition, will be asked to leave the premises. Please drink responsibly!

NHRL does not permit the consumption of any other recreational drugs.

NHRL is a smoke-free building, but there are ashtrays located outside the building for your convenience.

What can I do besides watching robots fight at NHRL?

In addition to robot fighting, there will be opportunities to relax in our brand-new spectator area, watch behind the scenes as competitors repair/test their robots, and try driving our house bot, Brett.

What does the schedule for the day look like?

The doors open to spectators on Saturday at 10 a.m., just as the first fights of the day are starting. Food trucks will arrive be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Fights will continue nonstop until we reach the final 8 bots in each weight class (usually around 6:30 p.m.), at which point we will take a 30 minute break to allow competitors time to eat dinner and for our staff to do cage repairs. After this break, fights will resume until we have made it through all the fights in all weight classes. Fights usually conclude between 10 and 11 p.m., and the facility closes 30 minutes after the last fight of the day.

Do you offer behind the scenes tours, meet-and-greets with competitors, etc?

Yes, if you get VIP tickets to our Titanium Lounge, you can go on a behind-the-scenes tour with one of our announcers. Also, many competitors make a point of hanging out in the spectator areas after their fights, so just keep an eye out for those wearing NHRL competitor badges!

What is your current COVID-19 Policy?

Norwalk recently lifted its mask mandate, and the CDC has identified the COVID-19 community level in all of CT, as well as many surrounding communities, as "low", so masks will not be required at our events, unless Norwalk changes its masking policy. We will continue to follow the guidance of state and local agencies and will advise if our policy changes. Norwalk is a mask-supportive community, and we believe in the effectiveness of high-quality masks as a means of stopping the spread of COVID-19 and support individuals who choose to mask at any time for any reason.

What if I have another question?

Feel free to contact us at hello@nhrl.io, and we will be able to answer any questions you may have.

Competing at NHRL

Want to come fight at NHRL?

NHRL is open to competitors of any experience level. Before building/bringing a bot to NHRL, make sure to review our bot design rules!

There is a $25 deposit for each bot you register. As long as you check in for the event, you'll get your deposit back a few business days later. Keep in mind that there are no caps on the number of bots at NHRL events, so don't worry about rushing to sign up! Signups will close 2 weeks before the event.

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  The 3lb cage in action.

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  The Green Room, an exclusive lounge for competitors to wait in before their fights.

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  The shop, where you can get help with repairs and welding.

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  The pits, for competitors to work at between fights and hang out with other builders.

Competitor FAQ

How do I register for an event?

There are two ways to register:

Open reservation is the most common way to reserve a spot. We will announce on our mailing list and in our Discord when registration opens.

Open registration will run for a week. There's no limit to the number of people who can register. However, when registration closes, we will randomly select the competitors, up to our registration caps (generally 96 3lb bots, 24 12lb bots, and 16 30lb bots, though this may vary between events). The fewer events your bot has fought in this year, the more likely it will be selected. Selections are announced at least 6 weeks before each event, to give competitors ample time to travel. All bots that are not selected go on our waitlist in a random order.

We also offer event reservation on a limited, case-by-case basis. If it takes more than 6 weeks for you to make travel arrangements, or if you have some other contingency that would make a lottery difficult for you, you may apply to reserve a spot at one of our events. This lets you bypass the lottery.

Read more about our registration system here.

How much does it cost to fight at NHRL?

All builders must pay a $25 deposit per bot when registering. You will get this deposit back as long as you check in at the builder desk for the event, or withdraw before the deposit refund deadline for the event.

If you are put on the waitlist, you are not immediately refunded; you will have to withdraw your bot from the waitlist (giving up your chance to replace a bot that drops out of the main competition) before the deposit refund deadline to get your refund. You will also be refunded after the event, as long as you did not drop out when called in to replace another bot.

The deposit refund deadline is usually 3 weeks before the event.

Other than the deposit, there is no fee to compete at NHRL.

Is there an age limit?

There is no restriction on the age of builders at NHRL; some of our most ferocious competitors are under 18 or over 60!

If the team for your bot has any members under 18, you must have at least one team member 18 or over who is responsible for them.

What should I bring with me to compete at NHRL?

Most competitors will bring their own set of tools, spare batteries, a battery charger, and spare modules/copies of their bot for faster repairs. See the question below "What tools/equipment/space do I get to use as a competitor at NHRL?" for more information on what you can use from our facilities.

I am new to building combat robots. Where should I start?

If you are new to combat robotics, I would suggest reading The Combat Design Handbook, which can be downloaded for free here. You should also join our Discord, where you can ask questions and get advice from other competitors as well as our staff.

Is there any way to get help with my bot?

The staff and facilities at NHRL are also available to help builders. Our staff can offer technical advice, assistance in assembly/construction, loan new builders parts to use, and even assist in fabricating parts for your robot. Contact safety@nhrl.io or ask a staff member on the Discord for more information.

What tools/equipment/space do I get to use as a competitor at NHRL?

Each competitor at NHRL gets 1 pit table, which is a 6' x 36" folding table, and 2 padded folding chairs. Each pit table has at least 2 outlets and 2 USB charging ports at it. Competitors also get access to free high-speed WiFi during events.

During the event, all of our safety test boxes are available for competitors to use. We ask that you refrain from fighting in these cages though.

All competitors have access to our workshop facilities, fully stocked with tools, hardware, and equipment. Tools from the workshop are not allowed to be removed from the workshop, so any work with them must be done there rather than at your pit tables. For help with specialized equipment, like welders, staff can assist you.

What does the schedule look like for the day? When can I come to NHRL?

Competitors can access the facilities on both the Friday before the event and the Saturday of the event. On Friday, the facility is open from noon to 9 pm, and bot inspection is open from 5 pm to 9 pm. During this time, competitors can complete check-in, set up their pits, pass safety, and use the workshop facilities. Once doors close at 9 pm, all equipment must be unplugged (especially battery chargers!), and the facility doors will be kept locked until the event on the following day under 24/7 CCTV monitoring, so don't worry about leaving stuff overnight.

On Saturday, doors open to competitors at 6 am. Keep in mind that the line for safety is longer on Saturday than it is Friday, so try to get there early to pass bot inspection (or even better, come Friday!). Failure to pass bot inspection on time can result in disqualification.

The first fight of the day will take place at 9 am, and fights will continue back-to-back across all weight classes until we finish all fights. We usually finish around 10 pm Competitors are welcome to stay the entire event, or are also allowed to leave once their fights are done for the day.

How many fights will I be in during an event?

NHRL utilizes a 3-round qualifier that feeds a single-elimination tournament. Most competitors get to fight at least twice in the tournament. Later in the day, competitors are also allowed to request Freestyle fights against each other, where two (or more!) bots can face off against each other, independent of the tournament bracket.

How much time do I have between fights?

Competitors are guaranteed at least 20 minutes between fights. Towards the start of the day, though, this can be more in the range of hours. When your time is nearly up or your fight is coming up soon, your name will appear on a list on all the TVs in the pits, indicating it is time to report in for your fight.

Can I bring multiple bots?

Each bot in a weight class must be driven by a different driver. You can drive one bot in each weight class, but not multiple bots in the same weight class.

One exception: If your bot is a multibot entry, this rule only applies to the heaviest component in the entry. So you may drive other bots in the same weight class, as long as the other bots are not their heaviest components of the entry.

Is there a dress code?

While there is no formal dress code at NHRL, we ask that you keep a few things in mind:

• Please do not wear clothes with overtly hateful, sexual, or political words or images.
• We strongly discourage wearing open-toed shoes, like flip flops, in the pits. This can be a safety hazard.
• We encourage team jerseys! If you have sponsors listed on your jersey, it is best to clear them with us by emailing us.

Are there places at the House of Havoc that are off-limits to builders?

On Friday, builders are allowed in the loading area, the workshop, the bathrooms next to the workshop, and the pits. All other areas, including the museum, Sparky Store, and cages, are off-limits to builders.

On Saturday, builders are allowed in most spaces in the buildings. Builders are not allowed in the staff lounge, the control room, and the front staircase. If a door says "Staff only," please do not enter it unless accompanied by a staff member.

Is there somewhere where I can get parts for my bot on event day? Also, I have extra parts I'm not using; is there a place I can leave them for others to use?

We have a communal parts box at NHRL. If you have extra parts you don't need, you can leave them there for others to use. If you need a part, you can search the box for it.

Please do not discard damaged LiPo batteries in the communal parts box.

NHRL makes no guarantees on the functionality or quality of anything in the communal parts box.

Is there a code of conduct that all builders must follow?

Yes, we have a Builder Conduct Policy that we expect all builders to adhere to.

Is there anything more I should know about competing at NHRL?

Yes, if you want to know more, please check out our New Builder Guide.