Safety ruleset

1.Pit safety

• 1.1Follow basic safety practices when handling tools or working on powered robots.
• 1.2Safety glasses are required for anyone working on or near powered robots.
• 1.3Stay alert and aware of your surroundings in the pit area.
• 1.4Batteries may not be installed in robots in the pit area.

2.Battery safety

• 2.1Middle school participants must have direct adult supervision when installing or removing batteries.
• 2.2All charging and storage happens only in designated charging areas.
• 2.3Batteries are stored in LiPo-safe fireproof bags or ventilated metal boxes when not in use.
• 2.4All batteries and chargers are labeled with team or bot identification.
• 2.5Batteries are never left unattended while charging.
• 2.6Batteries are installed only just before entering the arena or test box.
• 2.7Batteries come out immediately after matches or tests and go back into safe storage.

3.Bot safety

• 3.1All active weapon systems carry a clearly visible locking device whenever the robot is not in the arena.
• 3.2Locks are brightly colored, labeled, securely affixed, and physically capable of preventing motion.
• 3.3After each match, robots fully spin down and deactivate before leaving the arena.

4.Functional safety test procedure

This is the exact sequence used at inspection and any approved test box session.

1. Place the robot in the secure test box with power off and all safety devices in place.
2. Turn on the transmitter and place it on a stable surface with controls neutral.
3. Remove guards and covers as needed — but leave the weapon lock engaged.
4. Confirm the test area is clear and the handler is not touching any moving parts.
5. Power on the robot and confirm transmitter binding.
6. If anything moves unintentionally, power off immediately and troubleshoot.
7. Remove the weapon lock.
8. Clear all personnel from the test box and securely close the door.
9. Verify all functions from the transmitter.
10. Return controls to neutral, power off robot then transmitter, reinstall all safety devices.

5.Robot operation

• 5.1Robots must have functional fail-safes that immediately stop all motion on signal loss.

6.Standard match load-in

1. Place the robot in the arena with the weapon shielded and pointed away from others.
2. Turn on the transmitter and place it in the designated location.
3. Turn on the robot and confirm receiver binding.
4. Remove weapon locks.
5. Ensure the arena door is fully closed.
6. Begin operation only after the door is closed.

7.Deactivation & load-out

1. Disable the weapon system using applicable cutoffs or safety procedures.
2. Turn off the robot’s main power.
3. Turn off the transmitter.
4. Reinstall all safety locks and guards before handling the robot.

8.Emergencies

• 8.1In an emergency (fire, runaway robot), both teams stop their bots immediately.
• 8.2Shut off the transmitter to engage the fail-safe.
• 8.3The referee may declare the match over for safety concerns.
• 8.4Robots are deactivated using the standard emergency procedure.
• 8.5No work happens on the robots until a decision is made.

9.Emergency match stoppage

• 9.1A referee may halt a match for arena breach, damage, or safety hazard.
• 9.2On stoppage, all operators deactivate immediately.
• 9.3Robots may be left in place or moved at staff discretion.
• 9.4Staff determine whether the match may resume.
• 9.5The safety of people outranks everything else, always.

10.Safety offense policy

Violations are addressed immediately and firmly — the point is preventing accidents and building good habits, not punishment theater.

• 10.1First minor offense: verbal warning and a protocol reminder.
• 10.2Additional offenses by the same team: match penalties, including controller impoundment of 10 seconds per offense at the start of the next match — during which the opponent may attack the immobile robot.
• 10.3Offenses accumulate until a penalty is issued (three infractions ⇒ 30-second impoundment).
• 10.4Once a penalty is assessed, the team’s count resets.
• 10.5The Event Director and safety officials may escalate to forfeiture or disqualification for repeated or serious violations. Their decision is final.