TUG OF WAR MINI COMPETITION

RULES & REGULATIONS

Version Released 5th January 2018

Competition Categories & Age Group

1. Each team should comprise of 2 students and 1 teachers.
2. No restriction on the number of participating team.
3. Each team must register according to their age group.

Category Date Of Birth Age

Elementary 1 Jan 2006 – 31 Dec 2011 7 – 12 years old
Junior High 1 Jan 2003 – 31 Dec 2005 13 – 15 years old
Senior High 1 Jan 1999 – 31 Dec 2002 16 – 19 years old

General Rules
All rules and regulations are subject to change without prior notice.

Regulation on Material Used

1. The controller, motors, sensors and connector cables used to assemble robots must be from LEGO®
MINDSTORMS® sets of NXT or EV3 only. Modification of any original parts is not allowed. Violation of
this rule may result in disqualification.
2. Only LEGO® branded elements can be used to construct the remaining parts of the robot.
3. Team must compete using their own robot. Sharing robot is not allowed. Violation of this rule may
result in immediate disqualification.
4. The control software must be LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT or EV3 only.
5. Teams should prepare and bring all the equipment (software, portable computers, batteries,
extension wires, etc.) that they need during the tournament.
6. Batteries used during competition can be 6 pieces of AA batteries or Lithium batteries of LEGO®
MINDSTORM® NXT or EV3. Other power supply devices which are not authorized by the organizer are
not allowed to be used.
7. Screws, glues, tapes or other adhesives are NOT allowed to fasten any component of the robot. Non-
compliance with this rule may result in disqualification from the competition.
8. Teams should bring enough spare parts. In the event of accidents or equipment malfunction, the
tournament is not responsible for any maintenance and replacement of equipment.
9. There won’t be any assembly time during competition. Please pre-built your robot prior to the
competition.
10. Teams are allowed to pre-program the robot or store the program in the laptop before competition.
Regulations of Concerning the Robots

1. The maximum dimensions of the robot before it starts must be within 250mm L X 250mm W X 250mm.
After the robot starts, the dimensions of the robot are not restricted.
2. Robot design must have an attachment point to be hooked up with the rope in front of the robot.
3. Teams are allowed to use only ONE CONTROLLER (NXT or EV3).
4. For programming, please allow 3 seconds idle (wait block for 3 seconds) after a program start running.
5. Use of radio communication, remote control and wire control systems to control the robot is
disallowed. Violation of the rule may result immediate disqualification.
6. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi function on NXT/EV3 must be switched off.

Competition Event

1. Robots are required to park at the designated parking area to allow Malaysia Book of Record (MBoR)
committee to count the total number of robot competing on the competition day.
2. Teams will compete at their designated playing field based on the schedule.
3. Mentors are not allowed to enter the competition area and give instruction or guidance to their teams
during the competition.
4. Before each match, both competing robots will be inspected by the judges to ensure that the robots
are conforms to all regulations. Upon successful inspection the robot will be allowed to compete.
5. If a violation is found at the inspection, the robot will immediately lose the match.
6. It is a team’s responsibility to ensure that their robot is legal at all the times. If a robot is deemed
illegal after a game, that team will forfeit any points gained, where they compete with an illegal robot.
7. It is a team’s responsibility to be present at the designated playing field before a match starts. Failure
to do this will result in losing the match immediately.
8. Teams will be given 1-minute preparation time prior to a match.
9. During preparation time, participant can attach the hook to their robot. Judges will hold the marker
at the Center Line and make sure the string is always on the middle line.
10. Wait for judge’s signal to start the program.
11. When the start button is pressed, the robots will stand motionless for 3 seconds prior to moving.
Flashing lights, sounds or displays will be allowed during these 3 seconds. An early start will result in
a loss of that match (may be verified by checking software). If the team’s robot starts pulling before 3
seconds finish, the round will be awarded to the opponent’s robot.
12. The match lasts 60 seconds, the robot that pulls the marker to its line wins.
13. Detaching of the robot’s attachment point will result in losing the round immediately.
14. There will be 2 “side lines” on the play field (refer to figure 1). The robot (any part of the robot) that
crosses the line will result in losing the round immediately.
15. If after one minute the marker on the string has not passed either of the 2 teams’ line, the winner will
be decided by the position of the marker on the string, i.e the team with the marker closest to their
line wins.
16. Parts that have fallen off during the match may be reattached after each round, but the robot cannot
be re-designed. The parts must be attached within one minute.
17. Teams will change field side after each round.
Game Format and Schedule

1. In a match, there will be 2 rounds. To win a match, team have to win 2 rounds. If the match ends with
a draw (1-1), there will be last round to determine the winner of the match.
2. All teams will compete in a single round robin tournament.
3. If the match ends with (2-1), winner will gain 3 points while losing team will gain 1 point.
4. If the match ends with (2-0), winner will gain 3 points while losing team will gain no point.
5. Rank in group will be rank as:-
• Total points scored
• Total rounds win
• Tied point will have another match to determine rank.
6. Game format may be vary depending on the number of the competing teams.

Regulations on Playing Field

1. As you build and program, keep in mind that organizer will make effort to provide playing field in good
condition, correct and identical. But, participant should expect some variability in condition such a :-
• Flaws on the field
• Variety of lighting conditions from time to time and/or table to table.
• Judges shadow on the field.
• Judges will walk around the field during match

Regulations on Behavior & Attitude

1. Behaviors listed below are prohibited and may result in disqualification :-

• Causing damage to the competition playing fields, models or robots of other teams.
• Bringing a cellular phone, camera, entertainment devices or a medium of wired/wireless
communication device into the competition area.
• Using dangerous items or displaying behavior that disrupt the competition.
• Using inappropriate words or behaving inappropriately towards other teams, audience, judges or
the tournament.
• Creating situations which judges deem unacceptable or interfering.
• Bringing food or drink into the designated competition area.
Tournament Rules

1. The judges have the utmost authority during the tournament. Their decisions are final and shall not
be changed. As such, they may not change their decision even after viewing the competition video.
2. When a team is considered disqualified by any judge, the robot of the team concerned must quit the
match immediately, and the team will get no score for the match.
3. The tournament has the right to revoke the qualification of any team if the team violates the rules.
4. Any communication devices and methods are strictly restricted while the competition is in progress.
Anyone who is outside the competition area is prohibited from talking or communicating with the
contestants in the competition area. Violation of this rule may result in disqualification. However,
under certain circumstances and with permission from the judges, an urgent message can be
conveyed through a tournament staff.
5. If the competition is delayed due to electricity breakdown, unavailability of Playing Fields/models or
difficulty in determining the scores, the judges may hold a return game, and the contestants shall not
raise any objection.
6. The tournament has the right to photograph and videotape the event and the right to reproduce,
modify and use the photographs and video tapes for various media.
7. If there is any inadequacy or alteration in the rules, the final decision shall be announced by the judges
at the tournament. The judges have the utmost authority to amend the rules and regulations.
8. Penalty may be imposed on a team if there is any violation to the rules.
Figure 1: Playing Field

Figure 2: Rope with Hook

Center Marker (2cm)

60 cm
Hook

Type of string: to be confirm

Type of Hook: to be confirm

Figure 3: Sample Programming