TRC Presents: Metal Meltdown 2026

TRC's second large event of the year

Event Space: We will provide each team one pit table (approx 2.5'x6') and at least one chair.

Signups: 

• 32 ants, 32 beetles, 16 plants
• Drivers are only allowed to two robots between ants or beetles
• Drivers for plastic antweights are not allowed to drive other robots
• ALL SIGNUPS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE EVENT. We are expecting the event to fill up, so register fast!

REGISTRATION PAYMENT UPDATE

All registration payments are due immediately upon signing up.  Any waitlisted bots already paid will be promoted immediately.  There will no longer be refunds on registration payment for bots that drop out.  This update to registration policy comes from overwhelming signups holding spots, then dropping.  It takes away the opportunity for other prepared bots to compete. 

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. 
• PLANTS will run a swiss only tournament with 4 rounds. 

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.