This guide is for the judges and referees running the robot competition. It summarizes what to check before an attempt, how to score each of the four stations, and how to handle problems when they come up. It’s meant to sit alongside the full Manuals and Rules document, not replace it — when in doubt, that document is the authority.
Your role as a judge
At your station, you are responsible for:
confirming the robot and team are ready before the clock starts,
timing each attempt and applying the scoring rules consistently,
enforcing safety rules at all times, including stopping an attempt if something becomes unsafe,
recording points, bonuses, and penalties on the official scoresheet as they happen — not from memory afterward,
answering competitors’ questions about the rules, without coaching them on strategy.
Before the competition starts
Technical check. Confirm each robot matches the platform described in the Manuals and Rules document (mecanum-wheel chassis, arm within its rated servo ranges, no unauthorized hardware). Flag anything unusual to the head judge before the team’s first attempt.
Team check-in. Confirm the team’s badge matches their registration (team name, members, station entries).
Safety briefing. Make sure every team has heard the safety rules and knows where the STOP control is before they start.
Rules that apply at every station
Each team gets one practice attempt and two scored attempts per station; the better of the two scored attempts counts.
Batteries must be charged; a team with a dead battery should swap it before their attempt, not during it.
Arm servos must never be forced beyond their rated range (base 0°–180°, arm and claw 40°–140°).
A working STOP command (button or code) must be available throughout the attempt.
No mechanical intervention on the robot is allowed once an attempt has started.
The area must be clear of unrelated people and objects before you start the clock.
You may end an attempt early if the track or robot is damaged, or if a safety rule is broken.
Scoring and time-keeping
Start the clock on the robot’s first movement, not on the team’s “ready” signal.
Use the official scoresheet for each attempt — write down each checkpoint, penalty, or bonus as it happens.
If a rule question comes up mid-attempt that you’re not sure about, apply the most reasonable reading, let the attempt continue, and flag it to the head judge immediately afterward rather than stopping the clock to debate it.
Final team ranking is by total points; ties are broken by the shorter time achieved.
Station-by-station judging notes
Station 1 — Manual Driving
Time limit
3 minutes from first movement
Scoring
Points per checkpoint reached in order; bonus for finishing under time
Penalty
Touching or crossing the boundary tape
Disqualify if
Repeated collisions with an obstacle, or the robot leaves the playground
Watch for
Only the web interface’s manual buttons may be used — programmatic or automated control is not allowed here
Station 2 — Line Tracking
Time limit
2 minutes
Scoring
Completion time (lower is better)
Penalty
A time penalty for each loss and recovery of the line
Disqualify if
The robot leaves the track and cannot recover on its own within the time limit
Watch for
Let the team recalibrate on the actual competition surface just before their attempt if they ask — lighting affects the sensors
Station 3 — Garbage Collection
Time limit
4 minutes
Scoring
1 point per object delivered to the collection zone
Penalty
An object dropped outside the route, or inside a restricted zone
Bonus
All objects delivered before time expires
Watch for
An object only counts once it’s released inside the collection zone, not just carried there
Station 4 — Parking and Delivery
Time limit
5 minutes
Scoring
Points for parking within the zone boundary, with a bonus for centering accuracy; points for successful payload delivery
Penalty
Touching the zone’s boundary tape
Watch for
This station specifically tests programmatic sideways control — penalize any manual control or non-sideways motion used to enter the parking zone
Handling appeals
A team may appeal a decision in writing, within 24 hours of the results being announced.
The organizing committee responds within 3 days; that decision is final.
If a team raises a concern verbally during the event, note it and point them to the written appeal process rather than reversing a scored result on the spot.
A few reminders
Judge what you see, not what you assume the team intended.
Apply the same standard to every team at your station — if you’re unsure whether something is a penalty, ask the head judge before the next attempt rather than being inconsistent between teams.
If you’re judging a team that includes a student you personally supervise or teach, let the head judge know so a second judge can confirm your scoring.
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