3lb Weight Class

3lb Arena at NHRL with Brett the house robot

3lb Robots sometimes known as Beetleweight are the most competitive and most populate weight class at Norwalk Havoc. This weight class is approachable and almost anyone can build an affordable robot in this weight class. Building a winning robot is hard. The best performers in the class are from competitors who have years of experience. The following are the rules for competing at the 3lb Level at NHRL

Safety

• All robots must have a weapon lock that prevents any spinning weapons from moving outside of the cage.
• All robots must have a way to turn off power without disassembling the robot.
• All robots must pass a radio fail safe test.

Physical Rules

Weight

• 3lbs in a fight ready condition. All robots will be weighed prior to their first match.
• Any camera of video equipment weight can be excluded should you have a camera mounted to the robot
• There is a 2lb weight bonus for robots that do not use wheels or tracks for motion
  • In the event you are building a multibot, only the heaviest robot needs to be without wheels.
• There is a 1lb bonus for competitors made up for more than 1 robot.
  • If more than half of the total weight of the robots is disabled the whole robot is considered disabled
  • In order to achieve the no wheels / no tracks weight bonus only the heaviest bot needs to be without wheels
  • The heaviest robot in any multi-bot setup must have an active weapon
• The weight bonuses may be combined for a maximum weight bonus of 6lbs (assuming a wheel-less multibot)

Size

• Robots must be able to fit in a 30"x30"x24" Box in a fight ready condition. The robots may expand or contract during the match

Electrical

• Robots must use electrical systems that operate at less than 60 volts

Weapons

• Robots must include at least one active weapon
• Weapons which use fire or heat must be able to self light, and self extinguish.
  • They should also self extinguish in the event that the connection to the transmitter is lost.
  • A weapon is also considering self extinguishing if it flames out after 30 seconds from ignition
  • Matches may be stopped if video equipment is being damaged by fire
  • Competitors must demonstrate for safety the appropriate respect and precautions when working with flame or heat based weapons.
• The following weapon types are prohibited
  • Nets
  • Projectiles over 150mph
  • Liquids of any kind
  • Weapons which purposefully disrupt radio signals
  • Strobe Lights
  • Lasers

Spare Batteries

Bringing Spare Batteries is HIGHLY encouraged. Bots get a minimum of 20 minutes in between matches for repair and recharge. Rarely is this enough time to recharge a fully dead battery. Bringing spare batteries is highly recommended!! If you let the organizers know your battery size and connector type one week in advance (contact@50day.io), we will glady provide you with a spare battery for your bot for free. NHRL has a strong preference for XT style connectors XT90/60/30.

Team

• 4 People Max

Pushing the rules

These rules describe the absolute limits of what can be done. There is much that is allowed at NHRL that might not be at other events. We actively encourage competitors to think creatively and imagine new robot designs. The following are examples of things are are perfectly legal within the NHRL rules

You are ALLOWED to do this at NHRL

• Robots that use fire or heat as weapon
• Robots powered by an internal combustion engine
• Robots that use compressed gasses
• Robots that are made of fabrics or soft bodies
  • It is okay to use materials which may entangle spinning weapons.
  • Materials must not be used solely as an entanglement device.
• Robots that will keep fighting even if their batteries are on fire
• Robots that are crusher robots
• Robots that fly or hover

Example Bots

You can learn a ton more about past and present competitors at NHRL. Below is the 3lb bot category with information on individual bots.

3lb Robot Category