The Neutral Zone

Table of Contents

1. Prologue
2. Scoring Rules
3. Specifications
4. Robot Design Rules
5. Safety Regulations
6. Opportunities to Earn Points
7. Awards
8. Revisions

Prologue

It’s a disaster!

Our entire chemical supply has been mixed up, and our research projects have ground to a halt. Your mission: Collect and catalogue the samples. But beware, these chemicals are strong – get acidic and basic samples too close together, and they'll react and neutralise each other. But act fast, there are competitors nearby.

Scoring Rules

1. The objective of the game, called The Neutral Zone, is to retrieve samples and bring them to laboratories; but to selectively only bring one type of sample.
2. The game is played between up to four robots.
3. Each match lasts for 150 seconds.
4. Robots will be started at the direction of match officials.
5. The game is played in the arena specified in the Arena Specifications.
6. There are two types of samples in the arena: acidic and basic. There are 8 of each.
7. Four of each type of sample are placed on the floor of the arena, and four on the elevated central area.
8. Each robot starts fully in its laboratory, in any orientation, and touching at least one arena wall.
9. The pH of a laboratory starts at 7 (neutral).
   • Each acidic sample in the laboratory reduces the pH by 1.
   • Each basic sample in the laboratory increases the pH by 1.
   • There is no limit to how high or low the pH of a laboratory can be.
10. At the end of the match, robots are scored as follows:
    • Robots earn one point for each pH level away from neutral (7) that their laboratory is.
    • Robots earn a bonus point for having any sample at all in their laboratory.
    • Robots earn a bonus point for at any point moving entirely out of their laboratory.
11. A sample is in a laboratory if the vertical projection of the sample overlaps the laboratory, where the tape denoting the laboratory is also included in this area.
12. Falling samples are scored where they come to rest.
13. At the end of the match, the robot with the most points wins.
14. Student Robotics reserves the right to have match officials in the arena during matches.
15. The judge’s decision is final.
16. Teams may not interact with their robot after the start of a match. This includes to restart their robot should it fail to start. Doing so may result in disqualification from the match.
17. While accidental bumps and scrapes are inevitable, the sport is non-contact.
18. Robots must not deliberately or negligently damage the arena or anything in it.
19. A robot will be stopped during a match when it is at risk of severely damaging itself, other robots, the arena, or otherwise poses a safety risk.

Specifications

Arena

The arena is a square, shown to scale in the diagram below. The length of the outer walls are 4575±100 mm.

1. All measurements on the diagram are in millimetres. Measurements of the location of items in the arena are relative to its centre.
2. The four rectangles in the corners of the arena denote the laboratories. Laboratories are numbered starting from the top left and increasing clockwise.
3. Each robot will be assigned a laboratory at the start of every match. Robots may start anywhere fully inside this area, facing any direction, as long as they are physically touching at least one arena wall.
4. The perimeter of the arena floor is delimited by the arena wall, which has a minimum height of 220 mm.
5. All lines are marked with 48 mm tape using the colours shown in the diagram.
6. The floor of the arena is covered with textured, interlocking foam tiles. These will be Nicoman 60 cm EVA Foam Floor Mats 5060608814336. One side is textured, one side is smooth. The tiles will be laid textured-size up. Note that this is a change from previous years when carpet was used.
7. Laboratories are 2000±50 mm × 1000±50 mm rectangles in the corners of the arena, with the longer edges falling anticlockwise around the arena.

Markers

Along the arena walls, and on all faces of each sample, are fiducial markers that can be detected with the provided computer vision system. The identifying numbers and sizes of each of these markers are detailed in the table below.

The markers can be printed on a black-and-white printer.

Each of the arena walls have 5 markers positioned along them as detailed below. These are evenly spaced at a spacing of 762.5±20 mm between marker centres. All arena boundary markers are positioned with the grey border 50±10 mm above the floor.

Central Area

The central area is a raised deck in the middle of the arena, measuring 1220±50 mm × 1220±50 mm. It is elevated 180±30 mm above the floor of the arena. Its walls are solid and have no markers on them.

Samples

1. Samples are "single wall" 130±10 mm cardboard box cubes.
2. Samples have an 80 mm fiducial marker in the centre of each face.
3. The identifier of this marker is the same for all faces.
4. Along all edges of the samples is coloured tape to differentiate acidic from basic. Acidic samples are coloured red, and basic samples are coloured blue. This covers the remaining area of the faces that are outside the marker.
5. There are 16 samples in total: 8 acidic and 8 basic. 4 of each type are placed on the flood of the arena, and 4 of each type are placed on the central area.
6. The samples on the central area are placed with their centres 500 ±50 mm apart along a square pattern, alternating between acids and bases. Acids are placed on the corners of the square pattern, and bases on the edges.
7. The samples on the floor are placed with their centres 1000 ±50 mm apart along a square pattern, alternating between acids and bases. Bases are placed on the corners of the square pattern, and acids on the edges.
8. Samples on the edges of their respective square patterns are axis-aligned with the arena. Samples on the corners of their respective square patterns are rotated 45° relative to the arena alignment.
9. Acid samples are denoted on the diagram, and physically marked in the arena, in red. Basic samples are denoted on the diagram, and physically marked in the arena, in blue. This is based on the colours used in universal indicators.
10. Robots may differentiate acidic and basic samples by their fiducial markers. While they also differ by the colour of the tape, this is for human spectators and robots should not rely on colour detection. The tape may be additionally marked with hatching or other patterns to assist colour-blind spectators.
11. The arrangement of samples may be seen on the diagram in the arena specification.
12. The identifier of each sample in the arena is randomly chosen from the available values in the marker table and where particular samples start may vary between matches.
13. Each sample has a unique value within the arena.

Robot Design Rules

To ensure a fair competition, all teams must adhere to the following regulations. Violations of these rules, without an exemption, may result in penalties. These may include deductions of points or outright disqualification.

1. All robots must be safe.
2. Teams must conduct themselves within the principles of good sporting conduct.
3. Robots must fit within a 500 mm × 500 mm × 500 mm cube at the start of each match.
4. During each match, robots must fit within a 600 mm × 600 mm horizontal square at all times. The robot’s height is not restricted during the match.
5. Robots must have a spare USB slot accessible to match officials.
6. Robots must have a flag mounting that conforms to the flag mount requirements.
7. Robots must not use any remote control systems, radio transmitters or receivers.
8. Robots must not have any fiducial markers visible to other robots that may confuse other robots.

If you have questions or concerns about the rules and regulations, including applying for an exemption, please ask in Discord.

Flag Mounts

A “robot flag” is a removable identifier that will be attached to a robot throughout the match. It features the zone colour to allow spectators to easily associate a robot with its zone. Robot flags will be provided by Student Robotics. The flag assembly is shown below.

The pole is constructed from 15 mm white PVC piping. This is what will attach to your flag mount. A standard push-fit plumbing connector is recommended for this, such as the JG Speedfit PEM0415W.

To allow flags to be easily used with your robot, your flag mount must conform to the following requirements:

1. The flag mount must be securely affixed to the main chassis of the robot, and hold the flag vertical when the robot is in its typical stopped position.
2. Flags are not counted when considering the size of the robot.
3. The identifying part of the robot flag must be visible when attached to the mount.

Safety Regulations

To confirm that your robot is safe, a safety inspection will be carried out by Student Robotics prior to the start of the competition event. Robots must pass a safety inspection before they can enter a physical arena. In order to pass safety inspection, robots must:

1. Have a mass of less than 13 kg. Generally, teams should aim for their robot to be below 10 kg.
2. Have all electronics securely mounted with removable fastenings. Cable ties and screws are recommended for this. Please do not affix anything to the boards with glue or double-sided tape. Electronics should be mounted such that they are not easily damaged.
3. Have all wiring tidy and securely mounted. Wiring must not be at risk of being snagged by mechanisms or other robots. Wires should be mounted with removable fastening to aid development.
4. Provide adequate protection to the batteries they use, including protection from mechanical damage. A hard case that secures the battery is recommended for this.
   1. Only batteries provided or authorised by Student Robotics may be used.
   2. The robot may only be powered through the Student Robotics power board.
   3. Only chargers provided or authorised by Student Robotics may be used to charge the provided batteries.
5. Have a power switch, which will completely immobilise the robot. It must be accessible and obvious, without disassembling the robot in any way. It should be on the top of the robot.
6. Not have any sharp edges or points.
7. Not contain any power system that exceeds 50 V.

If you have questions or concerns about the rules and regulations, including applying for an exemption, please ask in Discord.

Opportunities to Earn Points

There are multiple activities spread across the year that you can gain League Points for completing and will help you prepare for the competition. These include:

• Four of the seven Challenges, available from Kickstart
• The League, in April

There are seven challenges which teams may optionally complete during the competition year. Completing up to four of them earns additional League Points. The challenges may be approached in any order and are worth 12 League Points in total, so 3 League Points per challenge. Throughout the challenges your robot does not need to be fully assembled and we encourage you to complete the challenges while you construct your robot.

Submissions for each challenge should be made as a video on the web (e.g: on YouTube, Instagram, etc.) and linking this video in your Discord channel. When linking the video please use @Challenges so that your submission is seen. Don't worry if your first submission doesn't pass - this is very common! We'll provide detailed feedback on what needs to be improved, and you can submit as many times as you like up to the deadline until you achieve a pass.

The challenges are specified in the challenges document.

1. After 6pm GMT on December 20^th 2025 submissions will only be scored for three challenges per team.
2. After 6pm GMT on January 24^th 2026 submissions will only be scored for two challenges per team.
3. After 6pm GMT on February 21^st 2026 submissions will only be scored for one challenge per team.
4. After 6pm GMT on March 7^th 2026 no more submissions will be scored for the challenges.

The League comprises several matches.

At the end of a match, the participating teams are ranked in order of Game Points. League Points are then awarded as follows:

• 1^st place is awarded 8 League Points.
• 2^nd place is awarded 6 League Points.
• 3^rd place is awarded 4 League Points.
• 4^th place is awarded 2 League Points.
• Robots that are disqualified, or not present in the match, will be awarded no League Points.

Tied robots will be awarded the average of the League Points that their combined positions would be awarded. Thus, three robots tied for first place would receive 6 points each (since this is (8 + 6 + 4) ÷ 3).

Following the League, the accumulated League Points will be used to seed the Knockouts. League Points will also be used to break ties in Knockouts matches. This Knockouts will be used to determine the final 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd awards through an elimination tournament.

Awards

Main Competition Awards

Trophies awarded to the teams that place highest in the Knockouts at the end of the competition. The teams in 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place receive awards.

Excellence in Engineering Award

A trophy awarded to the team that displays the most extraordinary ingenuity in the design of their robot. It is not purely awarded for complexity of design, but rather for producing an elegant solution to the problem, and demonstrating good engineering principles.

Rookie Award

An edible prize awarded to the team, competing in Student Robotics for the first time, which places highest in the League.

Online Presence Award

An edible prize awarded to the team judged to have the best online presence throughout the year. The hashtag for the competition is #srobo2026. Teams are reminded not to post private information about their members or others.

Robot and Team Image Award

A trophy awarded to the team judged to present the image of their team, and their robot, in the most outstanding way. We will consider, for instance: theming, aesthetics of the robot, props, or team costumes.

Revisions

From time to time Student Robotics may amend the rulebook. When this happens, this document will be updated, and teams will be notified.

1. 2025-11-26: First challenge date moved back by one week; sample locations marked in arena diagram; clarification on how laboratories are numbered; details on the floor tiles added.