FUBACON AT A GLANCE
Price: $20 per robot entry
Date: October 23, 2016
Location: FUBAR Labs, 100 Jersey Avenue, Suite B-103, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
TIMELINE
1:00 Build Session
3:00 Registration Closes
3:30 Competition Begins!
AWARDS
- Primitive Class Winner
- Low Tech Winner
- Grand Champion
- People’s Choice
GENERAL INFORMATION
FUBACON is a robot sumo event, inspired by the original Hebocon competition in Japan. Each battle involves two robots. The point of this event is not to build an incredible feat of engineering. It’s to build a hilariously fun robot and to enjoy the process.
The robots will attempt to push each other out of a small, raised arena. The robot that remains in the arena the longest, wins! The winner goes on to fight in another match, in this single-elimination tournament.
Two single-elimination tournaments will take place at FUBACON 2016: one for Primitive Class and one for Low Tech Class.
Primitive Class Competitors typically build their robots at FUBAR Labs but is a build that moves without any control from the human user. These competitors may opt to compete in the Low Tech division instead of the Primitive Division.
Low Tech Class Competitors usually create their robots in advance of the competition employing modified toys with remotes or some form of electronics; these builds tend to have user control. Be advised: the more technically advanced the build, the more handicaps and obstacles can be imposed on the user at the discretion of the Emcee.
No Low Tech Division competitor may opt to compete in the Primitive Division. A first-place winner will be declared in each division. Each first place winner will draw a number from a hat to determine their maker-kit prize.
The two first place winners will then compete for the title of FUBACON Grand Champion. Note: The Low Tech winner will be blindfolded for the Grand Championship battle. The winner of the Grand Championship battle will select an additional maker kit of her choice.
RULES
When called up by the referee, the competitor will place their robot anywhere on their side of the arena. (The center of the ring is considered to be the center of the FUBAR logo.) The competitor will also write the name of their robot on the black chalkboard paint at their end of the arena.
Robots are turned on at the referee’s call of “1, 2, 3.” After this starting call, robots may not be touched again by humans (aside from remote control panels) until the match is over.
The robot that remains in the ring the longest, wins.
Each match will last a maximum of one minute.
If a robot does not move by 10 count from the designated referee, it looses the match. If both robots simultaneously stop moving, within the arena, and do not move again for another 10 count, the robots will be lashed with wet noodles (or whatever the referee decides to do) and the match will restart after a one-minute debugging break. Only two restarts per match will be permitted.
If both robots are still moving and in the ring at the end of the one minute, the referee will declare a winner. The referee may due this logically or illogically. Candy bribes worth less than $3 are strongly encouraged but will not guarantee a win.
The arena is made out of flat plywood and measures approximately 40 inches by 20 inches. It is less than 1 inch thick. This provides just enough of a drop that it is obvious when a robot falls off of the arena. A small part of the robot may fall off of the ring, but if it is able to move fully back into the ring within 5 seconds, then the match is still in progress. If part of the robot remains out of the ring for more than 30 seconds, that robot loses the match.
If a robot falls over but is still in the ring, but rights itself without assistance in no more than five seconds, the match continues. If it does not right itself in less than five seconds, the other robot wins the match.
If the robots do not make contact before one departs the arena, there will be an immediate rematch. This will occur only up to two times per match, however. This rule does not apply after the second rematch.
The winner of a match moves on to the next round of the competition.
Robots must not exceed 15 inches wide X 8 inches in length, weighing less than 2 lb..
Contestants cannot spend more than $30 on their robot.
Contestants must remember that they are trying to build something hilariously fun at all times during their build.
Observers must stay behind the taped lines on the floor, to ensure there is no interference. Those who cross the line will be lashed with a wet noodle. Those who argue with the referees may also receive the wet noodle treatment, at the referee’s discretion.