Flame Hazard Robot Procedures

This page outlines the mandatory policies and procedures for the registration, inspection, and operation of Flame Hazard Robots at NHRL events.

In addition to the typical NHRL safety and inspection procedures, competitors who wish to use flame based weapons or effects on their robots for NHRL events are subject to additional safety precautions and inspections. These procedures have been created to ensure the safety of NHRL competitors, staff, and spectators, as well as the prevention of uncontrolled fires or damage to event facilities.

For any NHRL event occurring within the state of Connecticut, state regulations require NHRL to have representatives of State, Local, and pyrotechnic organizations present. These individuals are referred to in this document as the State Fire Safety Team. Competitors will work with this team in addition to NHRL staff to ensure that their robots are safe to legal for competition.

Registration and Information Disclosure

When registering a Flame Hazard Robot for an NHRL event, competitors must disclose that they plan to use a flame based system, along with the following details:

• Intended fuel type and the maximum amount of fuel stored on the robot.
• The planned fuel storage system:
  • One time use off the shelf fuel storage
  • Refillable off the shelf fuel storage
  • Custom fuel storage.
• An explanation of the flame system weapon lock.
• NHRL may request additional information or a video demonstration after registration.

It is highly recommended that you review any and all flame system designs with NHRL safety staff at least two weeks before arriving for an event. Because of the extra safety steps in place, there will be less time available to sort out any surprise issues with safety or functionality that you may discover on event day.

Fuel Handling, Filling, Emptying, and Storage Procedures

NHRL has a Hazard Robot Station located at the back of the building, next to the loading docks, on the way from the pits to the cages. This is the primary place where competitors fuel their robots, inspect for damage after fights, defuel their robots, deal with robots that may be a fire hazard, and store extra fuel.

Builders with robots that reuse fuel tanks, off the shelf or otherwise, must load their robots with fuel at the Hazard Robot Station before each fight, flame system test, or inspection. Large tanks used for refilling smaller or custom tanks should be stored at the Hazard Robot Station.

Robots that use off the shelf fuel tanks on a disposable basis may install their fuel tanks in the pits just before use. These robots should be moved as quickly as is practical to whichever cage they will be operating in. Though not required, it is still preferable to store and load these tanks at the Hazard Robot Station.

Fueled robots may be placed at the Hazard Robot Station. These robots should be supervised at all times either by a team member, an NHRL staff person, or a member of the Connecticut Fire Safety Team.

All robots must be unloaded before returning to the pits (excluding movement to and from the Goldiebox test box for demonstration or for testing). Off the shelf tanks must either be emptied or inspected for damage before returning to the pits. Inspection should visually check for damage and use the electronic flammable gas detectors (sometimes called sniffers) available at the Hazard Robot Station to check for leaks. NHRL has these gas detectors available for use at the fire station. Damaged or suspect tanks will be placed outside the building for the duration of the event.

No robot should be fueled before completing their Standard Safety Inspection and their initial  Flame System visual inspection.

Standard Initial Inspection

It is highly recommended that Flame Hazard Robots arrive on the optional setup and inspection day, the day or evening before each event.

All Flame Hazard Robots must first complete the standard robot inspection process, including fail-safes for drive systems and any non-flame system, and excluding weigh in. These robots must remain un-fueled until they have completed these steps.

Flame System Inspection and Demonstration

The NHRL safety team will ask you to follow the following process:

1. Explain your system’s operation.
2. Explain your flame systems weapon lock.
3. Explain and demonstrate your fueling procedure
4. Demonstrate your flame system for NHRL inspectors
5. Demonstrate your flame system fail safe for NHRL inspectors
6. Demonstrate and explain your de-fueling process.

In addition to the inspection carried out by NHRL staff, all Flame Hazard Robots must demonstrate their functionality for the Connecticut Fire Safety Team before competing. This can be the same demonstration used for NHRL fail-safe and inspection purposes, but it is recommended that you conduct separate demonstrations. The Connecticut Fire Safety Team arrives the morning of an event, and it is best to have your robot fully inspected by NHRL before getting the final approval from the state officials.

Due to local regulations, competitors may not compete with or test their robots in front of the audience on the main floor before demonstrating their flame systems to the Connecticut Fire Safety Team. If you are unable to demonstrate your robot before the venue’s doors open to the public, you must use the large "Goldiebox" cage upstairs to demonstrate your robot’s systems.

Flame Hazard Robot Competition Process

1. Prepare/repair your robot before its fight
2. Load robot with fuel
   1. For robots with disposable off the shelf fuel tanks, you will load a fresh fuel tank, immediately button up your robot, and proceed to the  Hazard Robot Station
   2. For robots with custom of refillable fuel tanks, you will proceed to the Hazard Robot Station and fuel your robot, finishing any assembly at the  Hazard Robot Station.
3. Wait at the Hazard Robot Station until your fight is ready
4. FIGHT ROBOTS FIGHT!
5. Return to the Hazard Robot Station
6. Remove the fuel from your robot - either by removing your fuel tank or emptying it.
7. Inspect the robot for damage.
8. Inspect any removed tank for damage.
9. Return to the pits.
10. Repeat

All fire based robots must report back to the fire safety table before returning to the pits. At the fire safety table, all fuel must be removed from the robot. Used tanks will be inspected for damage. In order for a used tank to return to the pits, it must be inspected visually and using a flammable gas detector.