3lb Weight Class
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 or 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
Modular Robots / Changing Mini Bots
Modular bots are robots that can change offensive or defensive features depending on who they up against in the tournament. Repairs and replacing broken components of your robot don't count as a modular robot. If you are changing less than 10% of your robot weight and none of it is powered, it’s not considered a modular robot! Like all other bots you still need to bring it to the green room in its final ready state.
- No more than 50% of the entry weight (this includes all weight bonuses) budget can change.
- All versions of the modular robot must pass safety before being put in the ring.
- If you are taking advantage of a weight bonus all versions of your module configuration must also be able to earn that weight bonus.
- If you bring spare robots your modules must be interchangeable between spares.
- Competitors must declare to safety their bot/module/config as soon as the match opponents are chosen.
- As soon as you know your opponent report to the green room / safety your chosen config.
- Safety will not disclose this config to anyone.
- You will not be told your opponent's chosen config.
- You can only bring entries you intend to fight into the green room. Swapping of modules or bots is not allowed.
- Any competitors that have qualified for the finals before July 2021 can keep their legacy configuration and aren't limited by the 50% weight rule. However all other rules apply.
Spare Robots
Bringing exact duplicate copies of your robot is allowed. In order to count as the same robot spares must be as close to exact copies as possible. This is a common way many competitors speed up repairs. All copies must pass safety before competing. If you are bringing multiple robots in a modular configuration you should be able to demonstrate the modules could be swapped between robots at any time. If you can't, then it doesn't qualify as the same robot.
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.
