Robowars: Mahyem

Event Description:

A high-speed, head-to-head robotics competition where custom-built robots face off in a 1v1 mechanical soccer match. Teams design, build, and pilot their manual bots in a purpose-built arena to outmaneuver opponents, defend their penalty zones, and score goals using a mini football.

Date: 21st November (Tech Inspection & Pool Stage) / 22nd November (Knockouts & Finals)

Registration Fee: ₹800- per Team

Registration Process:

• Participants will have to register on the official Saturnalia registration platform before the deadline mentioned on the platform.
• Participation may be subject to shortlisting in case of an overwhelming response.
• Only shortlisted participants, if applicable, will be notified about the further process.
• Participants must provide the required details and complete all necessary registration formalities within the specified deadline.
• Participation is exclusively open to college students possessing valid college ID cards for the current academic year.
• Participants must carry their valid college ID card during the event.
• The registration fee, if applicable, will be communicated through the official registration platform.

Rules & Regulations:

Event Overview & Arena Specifications:

Mayhem is the premier combat robotics tournament of Saturnalia. Engineering teams design and build wireless combat machines that can deliver active kinetic strikes while withstanding hostile impacts.

A robot wins by disabling its opponent through a Technical Knockout (TKO), or by scoring the most points for Aggression, Control and Damage.

Arena Specifications & Containment:

Enclosure Footprint:

• 16 ft × 16 ft × 7 ft fully enclosed steel frame
• High-impact, shatter-resistant polycarbonate safety walls
• Reinforced perimeter base guards

Active Floor Hazard Pit:

• A 3 ft × 3 ft automated floor pit opens during the final 60 seconds of every match round.
• Forcing an opposing robot completely into the pit is an instant TKO.

Safety & Containment Systems:

• Dual hard-wired emergency arena kill switches
• Optical containment screens
• Active smoke and exhaust ventilation for battery safety

Weight Classes, Roster & Eligibility:

Every machine must pass formal technical inspection before competing. Weight limits are strictly enforced, with a maximum tolerance of 1%.

Weight Classes:

• Featherweight: up to 8.0 kg (17.6 lbs)
• Middleweight: up to 15.0 kg (33.0 lbs)
• Heavyweight: up to 30.0 kg (66.0 lbs)

Roster & Structural Rules:

Team Roster: 2 to 6 registered members per team. Teams may include members from more than one college, provided everyone's student credentials are verified.

Dimensions: there is no limit on overall dimensions. The fully assembled robot must fit through the 4 ft × 4 ft arena access hatch without disassembly.

Walker Bonus: robots using true non-wheeled linear walking mechanisms get an extra 10% weight allowance above their class limit.

Cluster Bots: a team may deploy multiple sub-units under one entry. The combined mass and dimensions of all active sub-units must stay within the class limits.

Technical, Power & Weapon Regulations:

Control Systems & Radio:

Radio Protocol: 2.4 GHz digital spread-spectrum systems with frequency-hopping channels.

Prohibited Control: tethered remote connections and fully autonomous robots are strictly prohibited.

Fail-Safe Requirement: all drive systems and weapon throttles must return to neutral/zero power immediately if the transmitter signal is lost or interrupted.

Electrical Power & Battery Shielding:

Voltage Cap: electric drive systems only. The potential between any two electrical points must not exceed 36 V DC.

Engines: internal combustion engines (ICE) are banned.

Battery Containment: every LiPo, LiFe or gel battery cell must be fully enclosed in a rigid enclosure of at least 2 mm steel or aluminium plate, to contain thermal runaway.

Mobility & Weapons:

Allowed Mobility:

• Wheels
• Treads
• Walking mechanisms
• Controlled hopping assemblies (maximum height clearance of 6 ft)

Prohibited Mobility:

• Vacuum pads
• Magnetic locks onto the arena floor
• Sticky treads
• Chemical adhesives
• Flight components

Permitted Weapons:

• Vertical and horizontal kinetic spinners and drums
• Pneumatic flippers
• Overhead hammers
• Lifters
• Hydraulic clamps
• Low-pressure regulated flamethrowers

Banned Weapons:

• Liquid sprayers
• High-voltage tasers
• Untethered projectiles
• Entangling nets or ropes
• Radio signal jammers
• Explosive charges

Weapon Spin-Down: every high-kinetic-energy spinning weapon must come to a complete stop within 60 seconds of signal cut-off or activation of the emergency stop switch.

Tournament Structure & Match Phases:

Phase 1: Tech Check & Safety Inspection:

Safety Verification: a robot is cleared to fight only after a mandatory check of:

• Fail-safe operation
• Battery containment
• Wire gauge and insulation
• Structural integrity

Official Weigh-In: robots are weighed on certified event scales. A robot over the tolerance must be modified immediately and re-tested.

Pit Setup: each team gets a dedicated pit station with regulated charging and safety equipment for repairs between matches.

Phase 2: League Trials (Round-Robin Pool Stage):

Match Duration: 3 minutes per bout.

Pool Grouping: teams are split into groups for round-robin fixtures, with at least 2 to 3 matches per team.

Scoring:

• TKO victory: 3 points
• Judges' decision victory: 2 points
• Draw / tie: 1 point
• Loss or disqualification: 0 points

Advancement: the top two teams by points in each pool advance to the Knockout Bracket.

Phase 3: Knockouts:

• Single-elimination bracket format
• 5 minutes per bout
• The hazard pit opens during the final 60 seconds

Phase 4: Grand Finale:

• The two finalists face off in a best-of-3 series.
• Each bout is 5 minutes long.
• If the series is tied 1–1, a final 3-minute Sudden Death Overtime round is played.

Victory Conditions, Judging & Conduct:

Match Outcomes & Arena Engagement:

Technical Knockout (TKO): declared if a robot cannot show controlled linear movement for 10 consecutive seconds when the referee asks.

Pinning Cap: clamping or pinning an opponent against the arena walls is limited to 15 seconds per occurrence. When the referee directs, the attacker must immediately back off by at least 3 ft.

Judges' Criteria (11 points total):

• Damage (5 points): structural and functional impact
• Aggression (3 points): frequency and severity of direct attacks
• Control (3 points): arena management and tactical positioning

Safety Regulations & Code of Conduct:

Pit Safety:

• All power locks and weapon locks/pins must stay inserted at all times outside the battle arena.
• Powering up active weapons inside the pit is strictly forbidden.

Sportsmanship: any of the following results in immediate team disqualification:

• Unprofessional conduct
• Verbal abuse toward officials
• Deliberate arena destruction
• Unsafe pit handling

Referee Authority: referees have final, unappealable authority over all match calls, TKO countdowns and safety disengagements.