How It Works

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Two robots compete in a head-to-head match following the basic system of traditional human sumo matches. Robots are allowed no weapons, and are not allowed to flip each other. The sole purpose is a pushing match between the two robots to force the other from the arena.

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The robots are equipped with sensors to detect their opponent and the ring in which they battle. The ring is typically elevated, circular with a black surface. It also has a white border that the sensors on the robot can detect as the edge of the ring.

Robots In Action

Robot-sumo is divided into classes, fought on progressively smaller arenas:

  1. -Heavy-weight. Standard in the National Robotics Challenge. Robots may weigh up to 125 pounds (56.8 kg) and fit in a 2-foot cube (61 cm).
  2. -Light-weight. Also standard in the National Robotics Challenge. Robots may weigh up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) and fit in a 2-foot cube (61 cm).
  3. -Standard class (sometimes named Mega-sumo) robots may mass up to 3 kg and fit inside a 20 cm by 20 cm box, any height.
  4. -Mini-sumo. Up to 500 g mass, 10 cm by 10 cm, any height.
  5. -Nano-sumo. Must fit in a 2.5 cm cube.
  6. -Pico-sumo. Must fit in 1.25 cm cube.
  7. -Femto-sumo. Must fit inside a 1 cm cube.