1. Purpose

This year’s competition adopts the theme “SmartCraft · Grain”, inspired by the “Nai Li (Grains)” chapter in the first volume of Tiangong Kaiwu, which embodies traditional agricultural wisdom. In this project, robots are required to intelligently identify different types of crops and, through programmed control, complete simulated farming tasks such as the precise sowing of selected seeds. Throughout the process, participants experience the spirit of craftsmanship and appreciate how the philosophy in the chapter “Nai Li” shows meticulous cultivation and pragmatic innovation, continuing to evolve in the age of intelligent technology.

Participants must design and build their own robots to complete the assigned tasks; however, on-site assembly is not required. Robots are limited to electronic components with plastic housings and plastic interlocking building parts. 3D-printed components are not permitted, and robots must not damage the competition field or any task models at any time. Among the materials brought by contestants, only motors, battery boxes, sensors, remote controllers, and cameras may include components joined by screws or solder. All other parts must not be assembled using screws, soldering, glue, double-sided tape, or any other auxiliary materials. By registering for the competition, participants acknowledge that the Organizing Committee reserves the final right to interpret this rulebook.

2. Task/Mission

All teams within the same division shall draw lots on-site to determine their team numbers. Once confirmed, the team number shall be used for all competition stages. Each team shall complete 4 rounds of tasks. The task order schedule will be announced on site, indicating for each round the team numbers of the collaborating team and the opposing collaborating team. The collaborating teams and opposing collaborating teams for each round shall be randomly assigned and shall not be repeated.

In each round, 4 teams shall compete simultaneously on each complete task field, forming 2 “Collaborating Teams” (for example, Teams No. 1 and No. 2 form one Collaborating Team, while Teams No. 3 and No. 4 form the other Collaborating Team). Participating teams shall complete the tasks on the designated field corresponding to their team numbers.

3. Team Composition and Coach Requirements

• Team Structure: Each team consists of one or two contestants only.

• Coach Requirement: Each team must be guided by one coach.

• Coach Eligibility: The coach must be at least 20 years old.

• Robot Allocation: Each team is allowed only one robot and cannot switch robots during the competition.

4. Robot Specifications

1. Requirements for Building Equipment

The event requires contestants to design and build robots to complete the corresponding tasks, but there is no need to build them on-site. Only electronic parts with plastic shells and plastic building blocks can be used to build robots. 3D-printed parts cannot be used. During the competition, the robots must not damage the competition field and task models. Except for the motor, battery box, sensor, remote controller, and camera, all parts of the equipment prepared by the contestants shall not be assembled by screws or welding, and auxiliary materials such as glue and tape are not allowed. By registering for the competition, it is deemed that the organizing committee has the final right of interpretation of these rules.

2. Requirements for Designing Robots

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5. Game Procedures

• Entry Order

The competition adopts a points-based system. Participating teams will draw lots on-site to determine their groupings and competition order. Teams will enter the field one by one according to the order determined by the draw. 

The Organizing Committee ensures that all teams in the same division receive equal competition opportunities, usually no more than two rounds. When the current team begins its match, the next team will be notified to prepare in the waiting area. Any team that fails to arrive within the designated time will be deemed to have forfeited its qualification for that match.

• Programming and Debugging

The participating teams will have at least 30 minutes to debug their robots during the workshop period. The referee team will adjust the duration of the debugging according to the actual situation and announce it to all participating teams before each round of debugging. 

Contestants are required to program and debug in an orderly manner. Contestants who do not comply with the order may be disqualified. Once programming and debugging are complete, all teams must place their robots in a location designated by the referee and keep them there. Contestants are not allowed to touch robots again without permission, otherwise, they will be disqualified. 

After the referee signals the start of the game, the team that is still not ready will lose the opportunity to play in this round, but it will not affect the next round.

• Preparations before the Game

After debugging is completed, the robot must be placed in the designated storage area, which is not powered. When preparing to enter the field for the mission, each team shall retrieve its own robot and enter the task area according to the instructions of the on-site staff.

When entering the field, team members must stand near the Start Zone of their own collaborating team. Each team’s two robots shall be placed separately in one of the Start Zones within the collaborating team’s field area. At this time, no part of the robot, nor its projection on the ground, may extend beyond the boundaries of the Start Zone.

• Start the Game

After the referee confirms that both collaborating teams are ready, a countdown start command of “3, 2, 1, Start” will be issued. From the moment the countdown begins, upon hearing the word Start, teams may activate their robots to begin the mission. Robots may only move within their own team area and complete the corresponding tasks.

Once a robot has been started, teams must not touch the robot or any field elements during the entire mission (except in cases of reset as permitted).

After activation, robots must not intentionally detach components or deliberately drop mechanical parts onto the field. If any robot components accidentally fall off, teams must follow the referee’s instructions and promptly remove them from the field.

During the mission, robots must not throw task models out of the field. Any task model thrown out of the field must be immediately retrieved by the team and handed over to the referee for safekeeping.

After each round of the mission, teams must return their robots to the storage area and wait. With the referee’s permission, teams may perform simple handling of scattered parts, but programs and components must not be replaced.

• Reset

If a robot malfunctions during operation, the team may apply to the referee for a restart. A restart is allowed only with the referee’s approval, and each team may apply for up to two restarts per match.

(1) If a restart is approved during the Autonomous Period, the collaborating team must carry the robot requiring a restart back to the Start Zone, restore all autonomous tasks to their initial state, and then restart the robot.

After restarting, the robot must re-complete the autonomous tasks during the Autonomous Period.

If the restart procedure is not carried out as required, the referee has the right to require the team to repeat the restart procedure.

Timing does not stop during the entire restart process and will not be reset or restarted.

(2) If a restart is approved during the Remote-Control Period, the field status and task completion status remain unchanged.

During the restart process, the team must not touch any task models in the field. Only when a robot requires a restart and is carrying task models shall team members return the task models to their corresponding Loading Zone, Sorting Zone, or Supply Zone, and then move the robot back to the Start Zone to continue the remote-control tasks. If the restart procedure is not carried out as required, the referee has the right to require the team to repeat the restart procedure. Timing does not stop during the entire restart process and will not be reset or restarted.

• Final Score

After each game, the team's single-round score is calculated. The total score of the task is scored according to the task completion standard. After all rounds of competition are completed, the highest score of each single game is used as the final competition score of the team. 

• Ranking

After all the games in a certain group are over, all teams will be ranked according to their total score. If two teams have the same score, they will be ranked again according to the following criteria: 

(1) The team with the higher total score in the two rounds will be ranked higher. 

(2) The team with the shorter completed time in the two rounds will be ranked higher. 

(3) The team with the fewer reset times will be ranked higher. 

(4) The team with the fewer motors and sensors used by the robot will be ranked higher.

6. Description of RoboMissions

• Teams shall complete the competition tasks using two modes: Autonomous Mode and Remote-Control Mode, corresponding to the autonomous tasks and remote-control tasks, respectively. For each round, the total task time is 180 seconds, including a 30-second autonomous phase, followed by a 150-second remote-control phase.

• During the autonomous phase, the robot must run automatically based on pre-programmed instructions to complete the autonomous tasks on the field. After the autonomous phase ends, teams are not allowed to touch the robot.

• Upon instructions from the referee, the remote-control phase will begin. Only after the remote-control phase starts may teams pick up the wireless handle to switch the robot to remote-control mode and operate the robot to complete the corresponding remote-control tasks.

• During the remote-control phase, the robot shall be operated solely by students using a wireless controller.

6.1 Competition Field

Specifications of the Field

(1) The maximum size of the robot competition field is 3000 mm (L) × 2400 mm (W).

(2) The field is assembled from plastic components. These components include square base plates with a side length of approximately 300 mm and a thickness of approximately 10 mm, barriers with a length of approximately 150 mm, a height of approximately 70 mm, and a thickness of approximately 50 mm, as well as corner pieces with an outer side length of approximately 75 mm, a height of approximately 70 mm, and a thickness of approximately 50 mm.

(3) The field map is a full-color printed map laid on top of the base plates. Each basic field contains two Start Zones (standard square areas with an outer frame side length of approximately 400 mm, labeled A and B, respectively) and five Functional Zones. Corresponding task models are placed within each Functional Zone according to the task requirements.

• Farming Tower Zone

(1) A Farming tower is located at the center of each basic field. The tower consists of three layers: bottom, middle, and top.

(2) Bottom layer: a square base with a side length of approximately 370 mm, surrounded by a fence approximately 50 mm in height.

(3) Middle layer: a regular octagon with a diameter of ≤ 360 mm, featuring a green rice-ear pattern.

(4) Top layer: a regular octagon with a diameter of ≤ 260 mm, featuring a red wheat-awn pattern.

(5) The middle layer is positioned at a height of 250 mm ± 5 mm above the ground, and the top layer at 500 mm ± 5 mm above the ground.

(6) A “Five-Grain Orb” (yellow sphere, approximately 90 mm in diameter, made of EVA foam) is placed on the top layer.

• Seed Loading Zone

(1)  Each basic field contains two Crop Sorting Zones. A total of 15 Red Millet seed models and 15 Green Wheat seed models are placed in these zones.

(2)  Each seed model is a cube with a side length of approximately 50 mm, weighing approximately 18 g per piece, and is made of fabric-covered material.

• Fertilizer Supply Zone

(1)  A Fertilizer Supply Zone is located between the two Crop Sorting Zones in each basic field. 8 fertilizer models are placed in this zone.

(2) Each fertilizer model is a regular dodecahedron with an edge length of approximately 18 mm, made of EVA foam.

• Crop Identification Zone

(1)  Each basic field contains two Crop Identification Zones, which are located on sections of the barriers positioned in front of the two Start Zones on both sides.

(2) Starting from each Start Zone and moving forward, the barriers are sequentially numbered 1 to 6. The competition organizers will announce on site which numbered barrier will have the crop identification device installed.

• Crop Sorting Zone

(1) Each basic field contains two Crop Sorting Zones, where four types of crop models—稻 (rice), 麦 (wheat), 粟 (millet), and 豆(beans)—are placed. The arrangement order for the four crop types will be announced on-site.

(2)  The crop types are indicated using stickers, and a yellow crop model is placed at each sticker position to represent the corresponding crop type. Each crop model is a cube with a side length of approximately 50 mm, weighing approximately 18 g per piece, and is made of fabric-covered material.

(3) Three blue Black-Bean seed models (cube-shaped, approximately 50 mm per side, approximately 18 g per piece, fabric-covered material) may appear. If these seed models are present, they serve as an additional reward for completing the “Crop Handling Chain” task.

6.2 Robotics Missions

6.2.1 Autonomous Task

•  Farming Initiation

(1) The robot autonomously departs from the Start Zone.

(2) Before the task begins, the robot shall be placed inside the Start Zone. After the task starts, the robot leaves the Start Zone autonomously.

(3) After departure, the vertical projection of the robot on the ground shall be completely outside the Start Zone. Upon completion of this task, 30 energy points shall be added to the Farming tower of the collaborating team. Each robot may complete this task only once.

•  Crop Identification

(1) The robot simulates a craftsman’s ability to distinguish objects by completing AI-based visual identification of crop types.

(2) The crop identification device mainly consists of a sensing unit with a display screen. The robot shall trigger the sensing device (using NFC technology), after which the display screen will randomly show a crop indicator. The indicators include four crop types: rice (稻), wheat (麦), millet (粟), and beans (豆), which are randomly presented in the form of images, text, or QR codes.

(3) Below shows reference examples of crop indicators. The specific indicators used will be announced during the on-site debugging stage. (from left to right in each row, rice, wheat, millet, and beans)

(4) Each team’s robot shall identify the crop indicator shown on the display screen of the sensing device and display the same crop indicator on the robot controller’s screen.

(5) After the sensing device is triggered and its display screen shows a crop indicator, completion of this requirement shall add 30 energy points to the farming tower of the collaborating team.

(6) The robot controller’s screen shall clearly display the same crop indicator until the end of the Autonomous Tasks (the display status at the end shall prevail). Upon completion of this requirement, an additional 30 energy points shall be added to the farming tower of the collaborating team.

• Crop Handling Chain

(1) Based on the crop type identified in the Crop Identification task, the robot shall deliver the corresponding crop model from the labeled position to the farming tower, thereby establishing the basic farming chain of “identify crop – collect crop – deliver crop.”

(2) According to the crop type identified in the Crop Identification task, the robot shall deliver the corresponding crop model from the Crop Sorting Zone to the farming tower of its collaborating team. In the area assigned to each team within the collaborating team, there is one and only one correct crop model.

(3) When the sensing device display shows the crop indicator for rice, the robot delivers the crop model corresponding to the rice’s sticker in the Crop Sorting Zone to the bottom layer of the farming tower.

(4) At the end of the task time:

• If the correct crop model has completely left its initial position, 30 energy points shall be added to the farming tower of the collaborating team.

• If the vertical projection of the correct crop model is completely within the bottom layer position (without contacting the middle or top layers), 20 energy points shall be added to the farming tower of the collaborating team.

• If the correct crop model is in contact with the middle layer or the top layer of the farming tower of the collaborating team, 30 energy points and 40 energy points shall be added, respectively.

• For each team that completes Requirement (2) or (3), the team shall additionally receive 3 black-bean seed models (blue color), which may be used in the remote-control task “Skillful Sowing.”

(5) After the task ends, all crop models (including those delivered into the farming tower) shall be collected by the referee and removed from the field, and shall not be reused. If additional black-bean seed models are obtained, they shall be retained in the Crop Sorting Zone for use in the remote-control task “Skillful Sowing.” If the “Five-Grain Orb” leaves the top of the farming tower, it shall be restored to its initial position by the referee

6.2.2 Remote-Control Tasks

The Remote-Control Tasks include “Skillful Sowing”, “Skillful Fertilizing”, “Bountiful Harvest”, and “Return to Storage.”

Remote-Control Tasks must be completed within the Remote-Control Phase only. During this phase, each collaborating team may arrange the task execution order independently within the allotted time.

•  Skillful Sowing

(1) In accordance with the agricultural philosophy of Tiangong Kaiwu · Nai Li, which emphasizes “adapting to time and local conditions,” plant growth must match the soil and environment.

• The top layer of the farming tower receives abundant sunlight and has fertile soil, making it suitable for Red Millet, which prefers sunlight and rich soil.

• The middle layer has fertile soil and sufficient moisture, making it suitable for Green Wheat, which prefers moisture and rich soil.

• The bottom layer has relatively poor soil, making it suitable for crops that are tolerant of barren conditions.

• Black Bean, with its well-developed root system and strong stress resistance, is suitable for planting at all levels.

(2) The robot simulates a farmer’s actions of “matching seeds to soil and sowing precisely” by delivering seeds to the corresponding areas of the opposing collaborating team’s farming tower according to the characteristics of the three seed types.

(3) For each Green Wheat seed model that is in contact with the middle layer of the opposing collaborating team’s farming tower, 20 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s farming tower.

(4) For each Red Millet seed model that is in contact with the top layer of the opposing collaborating team’s tower, 30 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

(5) For each Black Bean seed model whose vertical projection completely enters the bottom layer of the opposing collaborating team’s tower without contacting the middle or top layers, 20 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

(6) For each Black Bean seed model that is in contact with the middle layer or the top layer of the opposing collaborating team’s tower, 30 energy points and 40 energy points shall be added, respectively, to the collaborating team’s tower.

(7) For each Red Millet or Green Wheat seed model whose vertical projection completely enters the opposing collaborating team’s area but does not meet the contact conditions specified in Requirements (1) or (2), 5 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

(8) For each Black Bean seed model whose vertical projection completely enters the opposing collaborating team’s area but does not meet the contact conditions specified in Requirements (3) or (4), 5 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

• Skillful Fertilizing

(1) As stated in agricultural practice, “Without water and irrigation, farming cannot flourish; without fertilizer, the fields cannot be fertile.” The robot shall precisely deliver fertilizer models to simulate the farming process of timely nourishment and maintenance.

(2) The robot shall move to the Fertilizer Supply Zone to collect a certain number of fertilizer models and deliver them to the farming tower of the opposing collaborating team.

(3) If the vertical projection of a fertilizer model completely enters the bottom layer of the opposing collaborating team’s farming tower without contacting the middle or top layers, 10 energy points shall be added to the farming tower of the collaborating team.

(4) If a fertilizer model is in contact with the middle layer of the opposing collaborating team’s tower, 20 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

(5) If a fertilizer model is in contact with the top layer of the opposing collaborating team’s tower, 30 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

(6) If the vertical projection of a fertilizer model completely enters the opposing collaborating team’s area but does not meet the contact conditions specified in Requirements (1), (2), or (3), 5 energy points shall be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

• Bountiful Harvest

(1) Using the seed models and fertilizer models developed by its own collaborating team, the robot knocks down the “Five-Grain Orb” located on the top layer of the opposing team’s farming tower.

(2) When the task time ends, if the “Five-Grain Orb” is not in contact with the top level of the opposing team’s farming tower, 60 energy points will be added to the collaborating team’s tower.

• Return to Storage

(1) The robot must return to the Start Zone.

(2) Before the task time ends, the robot must safely return to any one of the Start Zones of its own collaborating team. The two robots of the same team must return to different Start Zones.

(3) If any drive wheel of a team’s robot touches the Start Zone, and the robot controller’s display shows the text “Return” (the background and text color will be announced during on-site calibration), 30 energy points will be added to the collaborating team’s farming tower. Each robot may complete this task only once.

6.3 Time Limit

The total duration of a single round is 180 seconds and is split into two phases.

In automation phase, it is 30 seconds.

After automation phase, it is manual phase, with 150 seconds.​

7. Violations

1. Each team is allowed one mistaken start per round. A second mistaken start will result in zero points for that round during the group stage and direct elimination in the final round. 

2. After the match begins, if a participant touches any field elements or the robot without the referee’s permission, the first offense will result in a warning, and a second offense will result in zero points for that round.

3. If a coach or parent verbally instructs the participant in a way that affects the match, or physically assists in building, debugging, touching, or repairing the robot, the round will be awarded zero points once verified. 

4. After the robot is started, it must not intentionally detach parts or drop components for strategic purposes. This is a violation. The referee will issue a warning for the first offense, and a repeated offense will result in zero points for that round. Any detached or fallen components will be immediately removed by the referee.

5. If a participant fails to follow the referee’s instructions, the referee may, depending on the severity, issue a warning, assign zero points for that round during the preliminary stage, eliminate the team in the final round, or even disqualify the team from the event.

OBJECTIONS

• Referee decisions are not subject to teams' objections. In case of disagreements or opposing opinions, the referees have the final say in cooperation with the Headjudges and the Organizing Committee.

• In the event that a specific competition category or round is conducted over multiple days or involves multiple attempts, the Organizer reserves the absolute right to determine the most appropriate scoring methodology to identify the winner(s).

• Should there be any grievances, participants are directed to: contact@bestemready.com or Whatsapp at 012-391 8681

Scoring Sheet

Technical Inspection

1. Pre-Competition Check: Robots must pass a technical inspection before competition rounds.

2. Compliance Check: Robots must meet all specifications; non-compliance results in disqualification.

3. Programming Verification: Teams may be required to demonstrate their programming knowledge upon request.

Environmental Conditions & Track Surface

1. Track Surface: The field has a predefined surface; robots must adapt accordingly.

2. Lighting Conditions: Standard lighting is used; teams must ensure sensors function properly.

Dispute Resolution & Appeals Process

1. Referee Decisions: All referee decisions are final unless an official appeal is lodged.

2. Appeals Process: Teams must submit a written appeal within 15 minutes after the round ends.

3. Review Panel: A competition review panel will handle disputes fairly.