TRC Presents: Robot Rodeo 2026

TRC's first event of the year! 

Event Space: We will provide each team one pit table (approx 2.5'x6') and at least one chair. If you have a large team or you have your own table please plan to bring it. 

Signups: 

• 80 robots total between Ants (1lb), Plastic ants (1lb), and Beetles. We've started classes at 24 bots in each and will re-allocate as signups happen. 
• Drivers are only allowed to drive one robot in each weight class. 
• ALL SIGNUPS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE EVENT. We are expecting the event to fill up, so register fast! 
• Payment taken at event, either cash or paypal/venmo

Schedule:

• 8:00 - Doors open and check in starts
• 8:15 - safety starts
• 10:00 - Check in closes, you MUST be in the building by now if you plan on competing
• 10:10 - Drivers meeting, brackets will be finalized at this point
• ROUND ONE FIGHTS - 10:30-12:15
• LUNCH BREAK - 12:15 - 1:00
• ROUND TWO FIGHTS - 1:00 - 2:30
• ROUND 3 FIGHTS - 2:30 - 3:15
• BRACKET STARTS - 3:30 

Arenas: Bots will be run in wood floor 8 x 8 foot arenas. Cleats are allowed. Both arenas feature hybrid steel and wooden kickplates, steel for the bottom 1.25-1.5 inches and wood above that. 

Rules:

• We will follow the basic sparc ruleset. Full ruleset can be found here: https://shorturl.at/gtEI6
• No heat, fire, smoke, entanglement, or other weapons that do not fit the spirit of the rules.
• No weight bonuses for any robots. 
• If your battery is exposed or outside your robot the fight will be ended immediately in a technical knock out (TKO)

Plastic antweight specific rules:

• Approved materials are 3D printed ASA, PET, PETG, ABS, ASA, PLA, and PLA+. This means that sheet ABS or cnc machined parts are not legal. TPU and other flexible filament parts are illegal anywhere. If you have questions about a specific material’s legality then please contact the EO.

Format:

• 2 minute matches
• Modified swiss (Early Bracket):
  • 3 rounds of qualifying fights determined by swiss rules
  • 2-0 or 0-2 bots will not fight in round 3
  • All bots with 2 wins move on to a single elimination bracket to determine the winner. 

We're excited to announce that TRC is selected as a launch partner for the NHRL XP Partner Program. Any 3lb bots that make the elimination bracket (and have an active weapon) will qualify to register for NHRL's Open category events.