One pound. Two minutes. No do-overs.
Every IRL event starts with check-in and safety inspection. The competition format can use Swiss rounds, round-robin pools, or elimination brackets. The event page gives the format before event day.
The class
1 lb (454 g)
Plastic Antweight. Weight bonuses for alternative locomotion: shufflers 1.25 lb, non-traditional 1.5 lb, walkers 2 lb.
3D-printed plastic
Chassis, armor, and weapons print in PET, PETG, ABS, PLA, PLA+, or ASA. No metal structure, no carbon fiber. TPU is banned except for drive and weapon belts.
3S · brushed drive only
Middle School and High School use a mandatory 3S power cap, brushed drive motors, and permitted brushless weapon motors. Event class listings show the power cap. Use a 2.4 GHz radio with a working fail-safe.
Full detail: Construction ruleset →
Winning a match
Knockout
A robot that stops showing controlled translational movement is counted out over ten seconds. Spinning in place or twitching does not count. Once the referee declares a KO, hitting the dead robot can get you penalized.
Tap out
Any driver may raise a hand and surrender at any time. The referee halts the match; the opponent is awarded the win by tap-out. This is a safety valve, not a shame.
Judges’ decision
Go the full two minutes and the panel scores damage, control, and aggression. Two officials minimum, including the head referee.
Pins & un-sticks
Pins and corrals are limited to 10 seconds, then you must release and separate for 5 seconds. Each robot gets one un-stick per match if it is genuinely stuck on the arena.
How an event day runs
Check-in & weigh-in
Your robot goes on the official scale. Team gets a phone code for the live bracket.
Safety inspection
Weapon lock, power switch, fail-safe, battery containment. The full checklist is published.
Competition rounds
Follow the format on the event page. It can use Swiss pairings, round-robin pools, or an elimination bracket.
Final rounds
Some events use a cut to finals. The drivers meeting and live board show the advancement rules.
Awards
Podium, plus judged awards and crowd favorite. Everything lands on your robot’s career card that night.
Divisions
| Division | Who | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Middle school (MS) | Grades 6–8 | Limited adult help for soldering and battery handling, with the student actively involved. Everything else is theirs. MS builders may choose to play up into HS. |
| High school (HS) | Grades 9–12 | Fully student-built and student-driven. Adults supervise safety; they do not touch the robot. |
| Open | No age restriction | IRL adds no construction limits. Robots follow current SPARC rules, with TPU drive and weapon belts allowed. |
IRL recognizes Middle School, High School, and Open. Each event listing shows the divisions offered. Middle School and High School robots are student-built and student-operated. Open has no age restriction.