1. Purpose

Stars shimmer along both sides of the Milky Way–Andromeda Interstellar Route, a vital corridor for humanity’s deep-space exploration. To ensure the continuous and safe operation of this route, robots are deployed to conduct routine cruise missions—identifying obstacles, deploying signal beacons, and activating navigation facilities. This competition simulates such a cruise scenario. Participants are required to build and program their own robots on-site, complete debugging, and execute designated tasks. With Star Cruise as its theme, contestants will guide their robots through a simulated interstellar passage to accomplish key missions. The event aims to promote knowledge of deep-space navigation and aerospace safety while developing participants’ logical thinking, responsiveness, hands-on coordination, and team spirit.

2. Task/Mission

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.

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

When preparing to enter the field, team members shall retrieve their robot and enter the competition area under the guidance of the referee or staff. Teams that fail to arrive within the designated time will be considered to have forfeited. 

Contestants must stand near the Start Zone. After entering, contestants shall place their robot inside the Start Zone; no part of the robot, including its vertical projection on the ground, may extend beyond the Start Zone boundary

• Start the Game

After the referee confirms that the team is ready, he will issue a countdown start command of "3, 2, 1, start". As the countdown begins, the contestants can approach the robot with their hands. When the contestants hear the "start" command, they can touch a physical button on the controller to start the robot. Starting a robot before the "Start" command will be considered a "false start" and will result in a warning or penalty. Once a robot is started, players are not allowed to touch the robot (except for reset). 

After starting, the robot must not separate parts or drop mechanical parts on the field. The referee will clear the robot parts that accidentally fall off the field at any time. Separating parts for strategic needs is a foul. If the robot completely crosses the field’s boundary due to excessive speed or program error after starting, or throws the items it carries out of the field, the robot and the items shall not return to the field.

• Time Score

If you complete all the basic tasks and random tasks set by each group within the specified time, you can get a "time score". The completion of additional tasks does not affect the "time score". After the game, the players should immediately signal the referee to stop the timing. The remaining time will be calculated according to the interval described below. (Note: The integer part of the remaining time is taken for calculation, 2 seconds for 2.7 seconds, and 10 seconds for 10.3 seconds.) 

(1) If the remaining time is less than 3 seconds, the time score is 0; 

(2) If the remaining time is 3 seconds ≤ remaining time < 10 seconds, 5 points are added; 

(3) If the remaining time is 10 seconds ≤ remaining time < 20 seconds, 10 points are added; 

(4) If the remaining time is 20 seconds ≤ remaining time < 30 seconds, 20 points are added; 

(5) If the remaining time is ≥ 30 seconds, 30 points are added.

• Reset

To encourage participating teams to improve program stability and optimize competition strategies, a "smoothness score" is set. 

50 points of "smoothness score" are automatically obtained when the competition starts. Every time a reset occurs during the entire mission, the "smoothness score" is reduced by 5 points, with a maximum reduction of 50 points. Each time a reset occurs, the points obtained are reset to zero, the mission model needs to be restored to the initial state, and the robot returns to the Starship Dock and starts again. When a reset occurs, the timing does not stop. 

A robot must be reset to the Start Zone under any of the following circumstances: 

1. The contestant requests a reset. 

2. The robot exits the competition field. 

3. The contestant touches any task model or the robot without permission. 

4. The robot fails to move in the direction of the flight path or deviates from the track line during a task.

• End of Game

If the following situations occur, the competition will end upon the referee's whistle and the time will be recorded. 

(1) The robot is unable to continue to perform subsequent tasks; 

(2) The team actively signals the referee to end the competition; 

(3) The task time limit is reached.

(4) The team completes the “Safe Return” task.

• 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. 

The time score is the number of seconds remaining at the end of the round, refer to the requirements of "Section 5.5 Time Score". 

Single-round score = the score for completed tasks + smoothness score + time score.

• 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

• Irregular tracking lines are distributed across the field. Within the 180-second time limit, the robot must operate fully autonomously, departing from the Start Zone in the designated direction, moving forward without leaving the flight route, reaching each task area as quickly as possible to complete the assigned missions, and finally arriving at the End Zone. 

  
  

• Task models follow the diagrams provided in the task description. However, the actual models used in competition may differ slightly—for example, variations in the color of beams/pins or minor differences in size or height. Contestants must be able to adjust their solutions based on the actual field conditions.

6.1 Competition Field

Specifications of the Field

(1) The maximum size of the robot competition field is 3000 mm (L) × 2000 mm (W).

(2) An irregular flight route is distributed across the field. It consists mainly of a 25 mm (±1 mm) wide tracking line, which provides directional guidance for the robot. The exact shape and layout of the flight route shall follow the field presented on-site. 

(3) Two planet zones, labeled A and B, are placed in the field for installing beacon placement models. Each planet zone is a circular area with a diameter between 300 mm and 400 mm. At the center of each planet zone is the beacon placement point, enclosed by a regular octagonal fence approximately 70 mm high and 170 mm in diameter. 

(4) The field includes a Start Zone and an End Zone, each measuring 250 mm × 250 mm, clearly marked “Start” and “End.” At the beginning of the match, the robot departs from the Start Zone, follows the flight route, and ultimately reaches the End Zone on the opposite side.

6.2 Robotics Mission

Tasks: Start Cruise, Flight Path Survey, Interstellar Vortex, Beacon Delivery, Gravity Launch, Starship Docking, Energy Refill, Safe Return.

Advanced Category Tasks: Star Map Decoding.

• Start Cruise

(1) The robot leaves the Start Zone. 

(2) When the robot’s vertical projection completely exits the Start Zone during the initial phase (recorded once per match), the team earns 60 points.

• Flight Path

(1)  Along the flight route, several marker lines are placed perpendicular to the route, dividing it into multiple route segments. Each segment is labeled with letters such as A, B, C, and so on.

(2)  Throughout the mission, the robot must move forward along the direction of the flight route. 

• Except for short departures required solely to complete a task, or when reversing (the robot must return to the point where it left the route and continue forward afterward), 

• Both drive wheels must remain on both sides of the flight path or directly on top of the flight path at all times.

(3) Each time any drive wheel touches a marker line of the flight route, the team earns 6 points, up to a maximum of 60 points.

• Interstellar Vortex

(1)  One Interstellar Vortex model is placed at a random location on the field. Before the programming and debugging period begins, the referee will draw lots to determine the model’s final position. 

(2) The Interstellar Vortex model consists of a platform (400 mm × 300 mm × 30 mm) supported by a 50 mm bracket on both sides. One end of the platform touches the field surface, while the other end is suspended. The robot must climb onto the platform from the ground-contact side, move forward, and push down to make the suspended end touch the field surface, and then drive off the platform.

(3) The task is considered completed when the robot enters the platform from the grounded side and exits from the previously suspended side, with both drive wheels maintaining contact with the platform surface throughout the process. The team scores 60 points.

• Beacon Delivery

(1)  Two planet zones are set in the field for placing Beacon Placement Points. For the Elementary Group, the referee will draw one of the two planet zones to place a Beacon Placement Point before programming and debugging. For the Junior Group and Senior Group, both planet zones will be used as Beacon Placement Points.

(2) Before programming and debugging begin, the referee will randomly select a Delivery Point located 300 mm to 600 mm from the center of a planet zone along the flight path. Once confirmed, a Delivery Point Marker (diameter: 50 mm) will be pasted at that position. The Elementary Group will have one Delivery Point. The Junior Group and Senior Group will have two Delivery Points. A beacon model will be placed at the Delivery Point located closer to the planet zone. The beacon model is a plastic regular dodecahedron with a diameter no greater than 50 mm. 

(3)  The robot must carry one beacon model from the Start Zone to a Delivery Point and deliver it into the Beacon Placement Point. The Junior Group and Senior Group must then proceed to the next Delivery Point to obtain another beacon model and deliver it to the second Beacon Placement Point. 

(4) If the vertical projection of the beacon model touches the planet zone, the task is considered completed and earns 20 points each (the Elementary Group must complete 1 beacon; Junior Group and Senior Group must complete 2). If the beacon model is fully placed within the Beacon Placement Point, an additional 40 points will be awarded for each beacon.

(5) Throughout the delivery process, the robot must keep the vertical projection of its main body fully covering the Delivery Point Marker; otherwise, the delivery is invalid. Main body refers to the robot’s core frame when stationary in the Start Zone, excluding any arms or extensions deployed after leaving the Start Zone.

• Gravity Launch

(1) The task model consists of a starship, a launcher, and a control hub. The control hub must always face the adjacent track line.

(2)  The Gravity Launch model is fixed in Task Zone A1.

(3) The robot must carry the key (a robot Info-Tag Module), depart, and use it to touch the control hub, triggering the hub to activate the launcher and send the starship model into the air. 

(4) When the “Super AI” indicator on the control hub lights up, the robot earns 60 points.

• Starship Docking

(1) The task model consists of a starship, a cabin module, and a control lever. The cabin module initially stands perpendicular to the starship, and the two components do not touch.

(2) The robot must lift the control lever to rotate the cabin module until it becomes parallel to the starship, completing the docking process. 

(3) When the tail of the starship remains in contact with the front end of the cabin module, the task is considered completed and earns 60 points.

• Energy Refill

(1) The task model consists of a starship, an energy block, and a refill box. 

(2) The robot shall lift the refill box upward, allowing the energy blocks inside to enter the starship. 

(3) When the energy block is completely inside the starship, the task is completed, and 60 points are scored.

• Safe Return

(1) The robot shall enter the End Zone along the forward-moving direction indicated by the alphabetical order of the marker lines, without leaving the Flight Path. 

(2)  When the vertical projection of any drive wheel is fully within the End Zone, the task is completed, and 60 points are scored.

•  Star Map Decoding (Additional Task)

(1) The Star Map Decoding model is fixed in Task Zone A2 adjacent to the End Zone. Robots may start this task only after completing the “Safe Return” task. This task is not timed, and its completion does not affect the Time Bonus. The additional task cannot be reset. 

(2) The task model consists of a Star Map Display (featuring four types of star maps, with actual designs subject to the on-site presentation), four physical constellations (each corresponding to one star map shown on the display), and an operation panel.

(3) The robot must push the operation panel to rotate the Star Map Display for at least one full turn.

Once the display stops, the robot must use its vision module to identify the star map pattern facing the robot, then knock down the physical constellation that exactly matches the displayed star map (changing from vertical to inclined). Knocking down extra or incorrect constellations will not earn points.

(4) If the operation panel makes contact with the base plate, the team scores 10 points. If the robot successfully identifies the star map and knocks down the corresponding constellation, an additional 50 points will be awarded.

6.3 Time Limit

The duration of a single round is 180 seconds.​

6.4 Off the Track Line

During movement, the robot may not leave the flight path’s guiding track line (i.e., its drive wheels must remain on both sides of the track line or directly on top of it, passing over every track line encountered along the path). If the robot fully deviates from the track line, it must be manually reset. The robot may momentarily leave the track line only when required to complete tasks other than Beacon Delivery. Still, it must return to the point of departure from the track line and resume movement from that position.

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.

Tie-Breaking Criteria

If two teams have the same score, rankings will be determined by:

1. Time Taken: The team that completes the tasks in the shortest time is ranked higher.

2. Fewer Resets: The team with fewer resets is ranked higher.

3. Robot Efficiency: Teams using fewer motors and sensors are ranked higher.

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.

Robot Communication & Control Restrictions

1. No External Assistance: Robots must operate solely within the allowed control framework.

2. No Wireless Interference: Unauthorized wireless communications are prohibited.

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.