Robo Soccer

Overview

The Robo Soccer Challenge is a competitive robotics event where teams design and build manually controlled or semi-autonomous robots to play a soccer-style match against an opposing team. The objective is to score maximum goals by pushing or kicking the ball into the opponent's goalpost within the match time, while following the defined rules of fair play, robot safety, and arena boundaries. The competition is designed to test robot control, mechanical design, teamwork, strategy, and driving skills. The match takes place inside a specially designed arena referred to as the Robo Soccer Field.

Rules

• •Robots may be wired or wireless controlled, depending on category rules; fully autonomous robots are not mandatory.
• •Robots must not intentionally damage opponent robots or the arena. Grabbing, locking, or lifting opponent robots is strictly prohibited.
• •Robots must play the ball using pushing, guiding, or kicking actions only.
• •Each robot must fit within 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm; maximum weight 5 kg per robot (5% tolerance).
• •Maximum operating voltage 24V DC. Batteries must be securely mounted and properly insulated.

Requirements

• •2 robots per team on the field; team size 3–6 members
• •Robot within 30×30×30 cm, max 5 kg
• •Max 24V DC; Li-ion/Li-Po, NiMH/NiCad, or sealed lead-acid batteries
• •Wired or wireless control (as per category)

Eligibility Criteria

• •Junior Category (Jr.): Open to schools, robotics clubs, and individual participants. Participant age must be between 8 to 12 years. Focuses on basic robot control, teamwork, and safe gameplay.
• •Senior Category (Sr.): Open to schools, robotics clubs, and individual participants. Participant age must be between 13 to 18 years. Emphasizes advanced driving skills, faster robots, and strategic play.
• •Open Category: Open to colleges, universities, and independent teams. No age restriction. Intended for high-performance robots and competitive team strategies.
• •Age verification may be conducted during reporting or technical inspection.

Team Participation

• •Each team must consist of minimum 3 and maximum 6 members.
• •A team must deploy exactly 2 robots on the field at a time.
• •Each team may register only one squad for the competition.
• •Teams may have additional members as substitutes, but only registered players may operate robots.
• •Only designated operators are allowed near the arena during a match.

How to Get on Robo Soccer

• •Matches are played between two teams at a time.
• •Each team competes with two robots simultaneously.
• •Robots must start from their respective starting zones.
• •The match begins only after the referee's signal.

General Robot Rules

• •Robots may be wired or wireless controlled, depending on category rules.
• •Fully autonomous robots are not mandatory for this challenge.
• •Robots must be controlled only by registered team members.
• •Robots must not intentionally damage opponent robots or the arena.
• •Grabbing, locking, or lifting opponent robots is strictly prohibited.
• •Robots must play the ball using pushing, guiding, or kicking actions only.

Robot Dimensions and Weight

• •Each robot must fit within 30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm at the start of the match.
• •Robots may not expand beyond safe limits during gameplay.
• •Maximum weight allowed per robot is 5 kg, including batteries.
• •A tolerance of 5% is permitted.
• •Robots failing size or weight inspection will not be allowed to participate.

Power, Batteries, and Safety

• •Maximum operating voltage must not exceed 24V DC.
• •Allowed battery types: Lithium-ion / Li-Po, NiMH / NiCad, Sealed lead-acid batteries.
• •Batteries must be securely mounted and properly insulated.
• •No exposed wiring, sparks, or loose components are allowed.
• •Sharp edges, blades, or damaging mechanisms are strictly prohibited.
• •Robots must not emit harmful radiation or electromagnetic interference.

Control System

• •Robots may be controlled using wired controllers or wireless controllers (Bluetooth / RF), if permitted.
• •All wireless systems must operate reliably within the allowed frequency range.
• •Any loss of control resulting in unsafe behavior may result in penalties or disqualification.

Robo Soccer Field Details

• •The playing field will be a rectangular enclosed arena.
• •Arena boundaries will prevent the ball from leaving the field.
• •The surface will be flat and designed for smooth robot movement.
• •Two goalposts will be placed on opposite ends of the field.
• •A standard lightweight soccer ball (or equivalent) will be used.
• •Exact field dimensions will be announced before the event.

Match Format and Duration

• •Each match will consist of two halves.
• •Each half will be of fixed duration (e.g., 3–5 minutes per half).
• •A short break may be provided between halves.
• •Teams switch sides after the first half.
• •The team scoring the maximum number of goals at the end of the match wins.

Start, Stop, and Restart Rules

• •Start: Robots must be placed in their designated starting zones. The ball will be placed at the center. The match starts on the referee's signal.
• •Stop: The referee may stop the match for safety, fouls, or technical issues. Robots must stop immediately when instructed.
• •Restart: After a goal, the ball is placed at the center and the match restarts. In case of ball jam or robot entanglement, the referee may restart play.

Fouls and Penalties

• •Intentional ramming, lifting, or blocking opponent robots is considered a foul.
• •Grabbing or trapping the ball inside the robot body is not allowed.
• •Repeated fouls may result in: time penalties, temporary removal of a robot, or match forfeiture.

Scoring and Tie Breaking

• •Each valid goal scores one point.
• •The team with the highest score wins the match.
• •In case of a tie: extra time may be conducted, penalty shootout may be used, or referee decision will be final.

Disqualification

• •A team may be disqualified for: using unsafe or damaging robot mechanisms; violating size, weight, or voltage limits; repeated fouls or unsportsmanlike behavior; ignoring referee instructions.

Fair Play and Conduct

• •Teams must respect referees, opponents, and event staff.
• •Aggressive or abusive behavior will not be tolerated.
• •All referee decisions are final and binding.

Organizer's Decision

• •The organizing committee reserves the right to modify rules if required.
• •Any clarifications issued by organizers will be final.
• •Rule changes, if any, will be communicated before the event.