1998 UK RULES
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Robot Wars ("the TV Programme") is
a mechanical sporting event that features radio controlled robots in
competition and combat Competitors must employ a combination of
design creativity, strategy and driving skills in this contest for survival
2. DATE
The recording of the TV Programme will take place
on a date to be confirmed by us. Dates for weigh-ins and inspections
will also be confirmed.
3. LOCATION
To be confirmed by us.
4. ROBOT DESIGN
Robots and any personnel or team members appearing
with them in the TV Programme are not permitted to display any
company or product names, logos or colours. Team names may not
include references to product or company names. Your robot must not
be designed to resemble any commercial product. We reserve the right
either to disqualify any robot or to require appropriate changes to
be made to the appearance of any robot for any reason including, but
not limited to, objections made by any broadcaster of the TV
Programme to the appearance of a robot.
Robots should be designed, constructed and operated
with extreme care at all times, using materials and equipment which
comply with all applicable UK legislation and regulation including
all applicable British Safety Standards.
5. GAME DESIGN
5.1 Each episode of the TV Programme will feature
at least 6 starting robots from the Middle and Heavyweight classes
(these classes are described below). The competing robots will be
grouped at our sole discretion in order to ensure maximum drama,
competition and entertainment for viewers at home. The aim of each
team is to guide their robot through a scenes of elimination rounds
at the end of which the surviving robots will face each other in
combat in "the Arena". in addition to this main competitive
structure of the TV Programme, the TV Programme will include a number
of separate games to be featured during the course of the scenes.
5.2 Face-off: Robots compete on a one-to-one basis
within weight classifications as paired in our sole discretion or as
dictated by previous elimination rounds. Contestants win by
immobilising their opponent Each match is timed at 5 minutes.
Contestants must actively engage in combat.
Winners are determined as follows:
a) By rendering their opponent immobile within the
5 minute time limit. Any robot that is unable to move for thirty (30)
continuous seconds shall be considered "immobile".
b) if after 5 minutes of combat both robots are
still mobile the winner will be chosen by official Robot Wars
judges based upon a points system which will take into account three
factors: damage, aggression and control. Of these three factors
damage will be the primary criteria for determining the winner
c) if, following an allocation of points by the
judges under (b) above, there is a draw between the competing robots,
the audience will choose the winner by the strength of their
applause. The audience applause will be based upon the same criteria
as set out in (b) above (i.e. damage, aggression and control).
d) Robots may not win by pinning their opponents to
the Arena surface. If a robot becomes pinned, the Robot Wars
judges will require the aggressor to release the pinned robot. Robots
employing a strategy of "grab and hold" before using their
weapons to attack their opponent will be given one minute before
being required to disengage their opponent. If, in the opinion of the
Robot Wars judges, both robots are clearly locked in a
"deadly embrace" the match will be stopped and the five
minute time limit suspended whilst the robots are separated; once
separated, the match will resume for the remainder of the five minute
time limit.
5.3 Melee: This game is a free-for-all fight among
three or more robots that are randomly grouped within each weight
classification, grouped in our sole discretion or grouped as dictated
by previous elimination rounds. The last one to remain mobile will be
declared the winner of this event. Each match is timed at 5 minutes.
Judging will be as for the Face-off (see 5.2 above).
5.4 Disqualification: in both Face-off and Melee
events, the Robot Wars judges may first warn and, later, if
necessary, disqualify robots for excessive evasion.
5.5 Cluster Bots: Robots are allowed to enter the
arena as a single unit and separate into more than one unit and act
as a team. However if any one mobile segment become immobile the
entire cluster loses. Cluster Bots may only compete in face-off
matches due to the potential for radio conflict in Melee events
5.6 We reserve the right, at any time and in our
sole discretion, to change or add additional Terms and Conditions to
the game design.
5.7 The decision of the Robot Wars judges
shall be final.
6. WEIGHT CLASSIFICATIONS FOR FACE-OFF AND MELEE
1. 5-25 lbs Featherweight Class up to 11.4 Kg
2. 25-50 lbs Lightweight Class up 11.4 Kg to 22.7 Kg
3. 50-100 lb. Middleweight Class 22.7 Kg to 45.4 Kg
4. 100-175 lb. Heavyweight Class 45.4 Kg to 79.4 Kg
You and the other contestants are entitled to enter
only one weight class per robot. Legged (walking robots) will be
permitted to enter the weight class immediately below their official
weight or weigh up to 300 lb. in the Heavyweight class.
Interchangeable elements of your robot, such as weapons, must not
change the weight class of your robot During weigh-ins, the heaviest
configuration of your robot will dictate the weight class in which
your robots will compete.
7. POWER
Electric, fuel, pneumatic or hydraulic.
8. SAFETY RESTRICTIONS
8.1 Easily accessible on/off switch.
8.2 All explosives, corrosives and flames are
prohibited. Pyrotechnics of a non-offensive nature may be allowed at
our sole discretion Should you wish to use pyrotechnics please seek
our advice first.
8.3 Untethered projectiles are prohibited. Tethered
projectiles may not exceed 8 feet in length as measured from the
centre of the robot to the end of the projectile.
8.4 Sighting pointing lasers are allowed up to I mw
- Class 2 laser. Any laser above I mw is prohibited.
8.5 Compressed gas is limited to 1000 psi and a
Safety Conformity Certificate must be provided for all tanks/cylinders.
8.6 Compressed gas tanks and valves must be
protected from puncture or rupture.
8.7 Hydraulic pressure is limited to 3000 psi.
8.8 Fuel capacity limited to the lesser of 8 oz.
(227 millilitres) or 6 minutes operating time.
8.9 Fuel tanks must be adequately protected from
puncture or rupture.
8.10 All fuel lines must be safely wired at each
end. Fuel lines must not be exposed, must not have a metallic cover
and must be well supported in order to minimise the chance of
breaking during competition.
8.11 Fuel engines must have a return spring on the
throttle so that if the servo becomes disconnected (or fails) the
engine returns to idle speed or shuts off altogether.
8.12 Middle and Heavyweight robots must include a
radio control fail safe system in the event of loss of radio signal.
8.13 Batteries must not generate more than 30 volts
DC or 50 volts AC.
8.14 Wet-cell Batteries are prohibited.
8.15 Insulation is required on all exposed wires
and terminals connected to the motor power batteries
8.16 Hardened blades that may shatter are prohibited.
8.17 If your robot has sharp points or cutting
edges, you should provide easily installed covers protecting those
areas during transport and storage.
8.18 Robots will be inspected for safety and
reliability before being allowed to compete. Our Guidelines for
safety require sound construction and operation. This means that
tethers, blades, arms, levers and all other mechanical parts and
weaponry must be strong and secure.
8.19 We reserve the right, at any time and in our
sole discretion, to make changes or Additional Terms and Conditions
to the safety requirements, rules and regulations.
9. GENERAL RESTRICTIONS
9.1 The following is a list of materials and
practices that are prohibited:
9.1.1 All forms of radio jamming
9.1.2 All electronic weaponry (stun-guns, tesla
coils, heat-guns, capacitor discharges, irons, etc.)
9.1.3 All liquid weaponry such as water, glue
(including tape), expandable foam liquefied gasses etc.
9.1.4 All physical interference between drivers
during competition. This includes obstruction of line of sight,
destruction of equipment, interference with transmitters and sabotage
of equipment and opposing robots at any time.
9.1.5 Flying Robots (anything that makes use of an
exposed airfoil for lift, e.g. helicopter). However, Floating Robots
utilising electric motors are permitted, (e.g. hovercraft).
9.2 Time allowed for robot repair, adjustments,
etc. between rounds matches will be limited.
9.3 Competitors must be able to transport the
robots to and from the areas of competition quickly and safely.
10. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Radio frequencies: only the legal band of 40 MHz is
allowed for use in Robot Wars. Use of other or illegal radio
frequencies may result in disqualification. Please note that 35 MHz,
although a hobby band, is restricted for flying radio controlled
models and must not be used. 27 MHz may be allowed at our discretion,
but it is not recommended - please seek our advice.
It is recommended that competitors have at least
two transmitter/receiver sets on hand. Receivers inside robots should
be accessible and easy to change or replace.
Batteries and other components that are likely to
require attention should be easily accessible.
Robots are allowed to have interchangeable
components such as weapons, providing they can be removed and added
in a reasonable time and the central chassis of the robot remains unchanged.
11. PIT AREA
Work tables and appropriate power will be provided.
Competitors must provide their own tools, spare parts, batteries,
fuel etc. Further safety guidelines for the pit area and staging
procedures for competition will be distributed at a later date and
you agree to be bound by and comply with these procedures at all times.
12. PARTICIPATION
Due to the popularity of the Robot Wars
event, it is likely that the number of entries in each weight class
will exceed the number of spots available in the competition in each
class. We shall have the right to reserve any number of spots in each
weight class as "discretionary spots". we shall have the
right, in our sole discretion and at any time, to determine which
robots are to participate in any discretionary spot.
13. GENERAL
You are solely responsible for all costs of
construction, maintenance and repair of your robot. Your robot shall
comply with design requirements specified by us in this Entry
Agreement and/or in further documentation issued to you. We shall be
entitled to inspect the robots in order to check that their
construction and operation complies with these requirements, and we,
in the exercise of our sole discretion, may disqualify any robot
which we deem to be unsafe or otherwise fail to meet applicable entry
requirements. Any indication given by us (whether before or after
date of this Entry Agreement) that your robot satisfies these
requirements shall not prevent us from subsequently disqualifying
your robot or requiring changes to be made to the design of your
robot on the basis that these requirements are not met.
You shall, at all times, conduct the operation of
your robot within the parameters of the instructions given both
orally and in writing by us (or persons authorised by us) in relation
to the construction and operation of your robot(s) including (but not
limited to) maintaining sufficiently secure and strong tethers and
with respect to weapon attachments we shall have the unrestricted
right to control the operation of any robot in order to prevent the
possibility to danger to any person(s) and/or property
It is acknowledged by you that the nature of the TV
Programme requires robot(s) entered by you to attack and be attacked
by robots owned and/or operated by us and/or by other competitors and
further, that the nature of the TV Programme is such that your robot
may be damaged or totally destroyed as part of the TV Programme. You
accept full responsibility for the loss of or damage to your property
which may be caused by the participation of other robots in the TV
Programme or by any other cause during the TV Programme.
With the exception of damage and/or the destruction
of robots belonging to other competitors which are participants in
the TV Programme, you shall be solely responsible for and shall
indemnify us and hold us harmless and any company owned by, or
affiliated with us and their respective principals, employees and
affiliates, against any damage, demands, liabilities and claims for
personal injuries and/or property damage that may be caused
negligently or otherwise, by the maintenance or conduct to your
robot, in the TV Programme, in contravention of the written and/or
oral instructions relating to the TV Programme
Unless otherwise agreed by TV21 in writing each
team shall be limited to a maximum of three members who shall have
access to the Pits Area and shall operate the Robot. You shall supply
us with a list of employees, other personnel and team members who
require access to the location and/or to the areas where the
recording of the TV Programme is held and/or to areas not open to the
public and we shall issue identification passes to such personnel. No
more than 3 identification passes shall be issued to any one competitor.
The recording of the TV Programme shall be open to
the public. We shall issue competitors with free audience tickets to
the recording of the TV Programme at our discretion. Ticket prices
for the public's admission to the recording of the TV Programme as
spectators shall be established at our sole discretion. You will not,
and you will procure that those using your identification passes will
not, take any photographs or make any video or audio recordings of
the TV Programme and you will not bring any video or photographic
equipment to the recording studio/location without our permission.
We will use reasonable efforts to secure the
location during the hours when the TV Programme is being recorded and
at other times, but in no event shall we be responsible for any loss
of or damage to your property.
(a) in consideration of us agreeing to your
participation in the TV Programme, you irrevocably assign to us, with
full title guarantee, all rights of whatever nature throughout the
world and for the full period of the same (including all extensions
and renewals thereof) in and to and arising from your participation
in the TV Programme including, but not limited to, all copyright and
all "rental" and "lending" rights and
"performer's property rights" provided for in the Copyright
Designs and Patents Act 1988 ("the 1988 Act") and you
irrevocably and unconditionally waive all "moral rights" to
which you may be entitled under the 1988 Act and/or under any
legislation in any other country;
(b) Without prejudice to the generality of 13.8(a)
above, we shall have the sole, exclusive and irrevocable right (but
not the obligation) to film and/or record your participation in the
TV Programme and exploit those films/recordings of the TV Programme,
including, but not limited to, events taking place prior to, during
and after the TV Programme, in whole or in part, by means of any and
all media (now known or to be devised), including, but not limited
to, television exhibition (whether by means of terrestrial, cable or
satellite distribution and whether in digital or analogue form),
distribution of video cassettes and video discs, motion pictures,
still photographs, sound recordings, interactive devices (e.g. CD-ROM
or the Internet) and to commercially exploit the TV Programme in
perpetuity, throughout the world
(c) You grant to us the right to use your name,
likeness and biographical data, and copies and likenesses of your
robots in connection with any advertising, promotion and/or publicity
for the TV Programme, in any media now known or to be devised.
(d) we shall have the sole and exclusive right to
distribute, sell, license, exhibit (separately or together with our
logos) and in any other manner exploit and dispose of all derivative
works resulting from the TV Programme and the filming/recording
thereof, including, without limitation, by means of licensing and
merchandising (e.g. toys, action figures and T-shirts based upon you
and/or your robot). You agree to provide us with all reasonable
assistance requested by us in connection with the design,
construction and operation of toys based upon your robot.
(e) we shall have the non-exclusive right, in
perpetuity to use and display your name, voice and likeness for the
purpose of promoting, publicising and advertising subsequent Robot
Wars events (or events of a similar nature), in connection with
our corporate advertising and in connection with the exercise by us
of the merchandising rights
granted to us in 13.8 (d) above.
(f) if we engage in any merchandising activities
utilising your robot (toys, T-shirts, action figures) we shall pay
you a royalty of two and a half percent (2.5%) of revenues actually
received by us in the UK (after the deduction of ail third party
costs and expenses and taxes) derived by us from the exploitation
thereof if more than one robot is included in a given merchandising
exploitation, said two and a half percent (2.5%) royalty shall be pro
rated among the robots utilised.
(g) Nothing in this Entry Agreement shall be
construed to require us to exploit any licensing and/or merchandising
rights in your robot and we make no representations whatsoever as to
the royalties that may be payable to you in the event we do exploit
such rights.
You warrant that you own or control all the rights
granted to us under this Entry Agreement, that your robot does not
infringe the rights of any third party (including, but not limited
to, any third party copyright, patent rights or registered or
unregistered trade marks) and that you have the right to enter into
this Agreement and to grant us all of those rights. You further
warrant that any wireless telegraphy apparatus used in the operation
of your robot is either exempt from any licensing requirement under
the UK Wireless Telegraphy Acts or that you have obtained the
appropriate licences.
Nothing in this Entry Agreement shall be construed
as imposing upon us any obligation to include your robot(s) in the TV
Programme, stage the TV Programme or to televise the TV Programme. We
reserve the right, at any time and for any reason in our sole
discretion, without liability to withdraw your robot from the TV
Programme, to cancel the event or to cancel television coverage of
the TV Programme.
This Agreement is personal to you and you shall not
assign any right or assign or delegate any duty in this Agreement to
any person or organisation without our express written consent.
You agree that you will not enter your robot (or
any other robot of a similar design or construction) in any live
and/or televised event, competition or production similar to or
competing with Robot Wars anywhere throughout the world prior
to transmission of the TV Programme in the UK (whether terrestrial
(analogue or digital), cable or satellite).
This Agreement shall be subject to and construed in
accordance with English law and the parties agree to submit to the
non exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
All notices to be given by one party to the other
must be given in writing and delivered personally or by prepaid
postage prepaid, and addressed to the party at his address as given
in this Entry Agreement, or to any other address that party may
subsequently furnish the other party in writing for that purpose.
Competitors in the TV Programme must be at least 18
years of age and shall furnish satisfactory evidence of same if
requested by us. Persons not at least 18 years of age wishing to
participate in the TV Programme should contact us.
TV21 may assign this agreement to any third party.
In addition to the terms expressly set forth in
this Entry Agreement, you agree to be bound by any other requirements
and rules relating to the studio/location.
This Entry Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement between the parties, and supersedes all prior agreements,
whether written or oral, and this Entry Agreement may be modified
only by subsequent agreement in writing, executed on behalf of parties.