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RALLY

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AGE  CATEGORIES

KIDS (10 to12 years old / Elemendary School)

TEENS (12+ to 15 years old / Middle School) 

SENIOR (15+ to 18 years old / High School )

ADULTS (18+ years old)

The sport is held in two divisions:

  • Rally Basic

  • Rally Advanced

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👀 Read the specifications for each category carefully here:​

BASIC CATEGORY  -  ADVANCED CATEGORY

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🚨 Each age category competes separately.

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⚠️ The Adults age category does NOT compete in the Rally Basic division.

PRESS THE BUTTON BELOW TO VIEW THE QUICK GUIDE

⚠️ RULE ZERO – Zero Tolerance & Common Sense
In all sports, Rule ZERO applies, which states:

➤ "If you are not sure whether something is allowed, then it is probably NOT allowed."

All rules are based on common sense, the spirit of the sport, and the safety of all participants.

Any deliberate misinterpretation, violation of the meaning of the rules, or attempt to exploit gray areas for unfair advantage will not be tolerated and may lead to team disqualification from the competition.

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🎯 GOAL​

  • The goal of Robot Vehicles is  to cover a distance of 10 meters in the shortest possible time.

  • As the sport promotes constructions as close to the real world, all Robot Vehicles should replicate realistic rally vehicles as closely as possible. Creators should take this into account during their experimentation.

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👥 TEAM – COACH

  1. Participation in the competition is team-based, not individual.

  2. Each team may consist of two (2) to three (3) members.

  3. Each team must designate up to one (1) Robot VehicleTechnician. Only the Robot Vehicle Technician is allowed in the waiting area or competition area. The rest of the team must remain in the competition venue but cannot wait in line.                 ➤ In other words, they cannot occupy an additional spot. If a team fails to comply with this rule, it will be disqualified.

  4. The team is allowed to change the designated Technician before each attempt on the track, to give all members the opportunity to be actively involved in the sport, although this is not mandatory.

  5. All team members must be at least 10 years old (equivalent to 4th grade of primary school or above).

  6. The team’s coach must be at least 20 years old.

  7. To ensure smooth participation in the competition, the coach must have 1 assistant for every 3 teams they register in the competition.

  8. Each team is allowed to have only one robot. Changing the robot during the competition is not allowed.                     

  9. Teams are not allowed to share the same robot.

  10. If a team encounters a serious technical issue with their robot, they are allowed to replace only the microcontroller or the electronic components, after obtaining permission from the Head Judges.

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🤖 ROBOT ATHLETE – ROBOT CATEGORY

The competition is conducted separately based on:

  • Age category

  • Robot category (Basic / Advanced)

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⚙️ ROBOT ATHLETE REQUIREMENTS – SPECIFICATIONS​​

  1. The Robot Vehicle must be autonomous.

  2. Its maximum dimensions must be 50 centimeters length, 30 centimeters width and 30 centimeters height.

  3. To confirm the specifications listed above, the Robot Vehicle will be weighed and must fit comfortably in a control box.  ➤The control box is 50 centimeters long, 30 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters high plus two (2) mm                   tolerance.

  4. The Robot Vehicle must be placed in the control box without applying pressure.

  5. The Robot Vehicle must not wear or damage the track or pose a threat to spectators in any way.

  6. The Robot Vehicle must have a start and stop button.

  7. For the Advanced category, the team may use a controller ONLY for the start.

  8. The Robot Vehicle should have a distance sensor on the front.

  9. The Robot Vehicle must have four (4) wheels.

  10. At least two (2) wheels must be driven (2WD or 4WD).

  11. Tracks, leg/walking mechanisms, or propellers are not allowed — wheels only.

  12. The wheel contact surface must be non-metallic. Sharp/metal studs, chains, or “teeth” are prohibited.

  13. Omni-wheels are permitted, provided no metal elements contact the track and they do not cause wear.

  14. Allowed steering types: front/rear steering or differential (skid-steer). In differential steering, the two sides must be driven independently.

  15. All wheels must be mounted on an axle (no balls/rollers as the primary rolling method).

  16. All four wheels must be in contact with the ground at the start (momentary lifts over obstacles are allowed).

  17. Maximum tire width: up to 2 cm per wheel.

  18. Only one (1) microprocessor, four (4) motors, and four (4) sensors are allowed for the Basic category.
    ➤ The Advanced category is exempt from the limitation on microprocessors and sensors. Their use is unrestricted.

  19. The use of pneumatic devices/equipment is prohibited in any robot category.

  20. The use of turbines is prohibited.

  21. In the Basic category, modified batteries, motors, and sensors are prohibited.

  22. Pullback motors are strictly prohibited in any robot category, as the sport promotes engineering and experimentation to increase speed.

  23. The use of gases (e.g., canisters or any equivalent) to increase speed is prohibited, as they are considered dangerous.

  24. The use of a nominal electrical voltage greater than twenty-four (24) volts in any circuit or part of the Robot Athlete is prohibited.

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🧪 TECHNICAL INSPECTION

  • The initial technical inspection takes place on the day of the competition, during the Robot Athlete’s first attempt.

  • During the initial inspection, the team will be asked questions about the critical parts of the robot's program.
    ➤ The team must have their laptop with the robot’s program open.
    ➤ If it becomes clear from the answers that the team does not understand the program, they will receive a penalty equal to +20% of the time they achieve in the event.

  • The technical inspection includes a robot examination based on the specifications described above.
    ➤ If the robot does not meet the requirements, it will not be allowed to compete and will be automatically disqualified from the event.

  • After the completion of the initial inspection, the Robot Athlete is assigned its unique ID code.

  • If a team is not present at the time of the initial technical inspection, it will result in automatic disqualification from the competition.

  • A secondary technical inspection is also conducted before each attempt, performed by the assistant referee.

  • If, during the competition procedure, the referee determines that a Robot Athlete is violating or failing to meet the prescribed specifications, the referee has the right to disqualify it immediately.

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🏟️ TRACK

  • The track is a white printable tarp.

  • The length of the track is 10 meters and the width is 90 centimeters.

  • There is a 5 cm thick black line in the center of the track.

  • There is a 6 cm high protective wall along the right and left. 

  • At the beginning of the track there is a horizontal black line 2 to 5 cm thick, which marks the start. Be careful in your programming as your robot should not stop when it passes over the black start line.

  • At the end of the 10 meter distance there is a horizontal black line 2-5 cm thick, which marks the end of the route.

  • After the end of 10 meters, there is an additional distance of 5 meters, which is defined as the braking zone. The end of the braking zone is marked by a black line 2-5 cm thick, behind which there is a protective barrier made of soft material.

  • The Race is held simultaneously for 2 or more Vehicles (depending on the number of teams), each of them on one racing track.

  • The black line in the center of the track may be used for a line sequence but not required by the Sport.

  • At the start there is a timing gate, as well as a mechanism that raises and lowers a black flag. Raising the flag after the countdown triggers the robots to start.

  • For testing of the Robot Vehicles before the start of the Competition, there will be trial rounds, where the Technicians will have access for a specific time period and according to a schedule that will be announced on the day of the competition.

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TOTAL LENGTH 15m

🏆 COMPETITION PROCEDURE

 

⏱️ PREPARATION

 

  • The Technician of the vehicle that will run the lap goes through secondary technical control and then places the Robot Vehicle behind the black line at the starting point, before the timing gate.

  • The Robot Vehicle must be in standby mode, ready to start as soon as the start button is pressed or the button on the remote control is activated.​​

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🏁 START - RACE PROCEDURE

  • Each Vehicle races alone around the track against time.

  • At the starting point on the track there is a time gate. In front of the gate a black flag is placed. Bicycles must locate the flag.

  • The referee will start the countdown 3,2,1, we go and the black flag is raised.

  • The Vehicle must detect that the flag has been raised and start.

  • Time starts counting as soon as the flag is raised.

  • The Vehicle should start within the next 5 seconds.

  • If a Vehicle  does not start within this time, then the referee will only give one restart. This will only be done on the first attempt.

  • The Vehicle should cover the distance of 10 meters in the shortest possible time.

  • The Vehicle (or any part of it) is not allowed to go outside the boundaries of the track. If this is done, then he is considered to have failed the attempt.

  • The Vehicle must completely cross the finish line.

  • The Vehicle should be able to stop and stay in the braking zone.

  • If the Vehicle passes through the braking zone and hits the protective barrier, it will be penalized by multiplying the time achieved by a factor of 1.3.

  • The same rule applies if any part of the Vehicle touches the wall during its course.

  • If the Vehicle is canceled for any reason in the attempt then a time of 180 sec (180) is recorded.

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🔁 ROUNDS – ATTEMPTS - COMPETITION PROCEDURE

  • The duration of the sport is 90 minutes.
    (This time may be extended depending on the number of participants).
    During this time, each Robot     Vehicle will make repeated attempts on the track, according to the order announced by the organizing committee.

  • If a Technician is not present when it is their turn, they lose their attempt, and the next Technician in line will proceed.
    ➤ The Technician who missed their turn must wait until all other attempts are completed for their turn to come again.

  • Before each attempt, the Robot Vehicle must pass a secondary technical inspection conducted by the assistant referee.

  • The referee records the time of the Robot Vehicle for each attempt.

  • It is the responsibility of the Robot Vehicle’s team to ensure that they perform each attempt within the allocated time window.

  • Between attempts, teams are allowed to make corrections to their Robot Vehicle and their code/algorithm,
    ➤ however, no testing is allowed.

  • After the 90-minute period has ended, the Best of the Best – Final Stability Round (Top-8) will follow:
    ➤ The top 8 of the overall ranking will compete in a second round, paired as follows: 1st–8th, 2nd–7th, 3rd–6th, 4th–5th. The races will take place on the same track and under the same conditions as the initial round, with the purpose of evaluating the stability and reliability of the robots. Two tracks will be used in parallel for this purpose. Each Robot     Vehicle will compete on a separate track.
    ➤ In the event of a failure to start by a Robot     Vehicle, only one restart will be granted by the referee.
    ➤ The time achieved in this trial will be the final time of the robot and will determine the victory.

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❌ END OF A ROUND

  • When the Vehicle passes in front of the timing sensor at the end of the track.​

  • When the Vehicle  crashes into the wall.

  • When the Vehicle goes off course / track.

  • If the Robot Vehicle becomes immobilized for any reason.

  • If the Vehicle's time exceeds 120 seconds then the referee ends the attempt and scores 180 sec (180).

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🟥 TEAM DISQUALIFICATION

A team is disqualified from the event and must withdraw in the following cases:

➤ The team’s results will not be taken into account and will not appear in the official competition rankings.

  • If a Robot Bicycle does not comply with the specifications defined in the sport’s rules and the team refuses to make the required adjustments.

  • If any of the Technicians behave inappropriately or disrespectfully, use offensive language, provoke, or verbally (or otherwise) attack fellow participants or referees.

  • If it is discovered that a Robot Bicycle is not operating autonomously, but instead is being remotely controlled via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or any similar technology.

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✅ ALLOWED / ❌ PROHIBITED

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✅ Allowed:

  • Cleaning the wheels of the Robot Vehicle only with wet cleaning cloths or cleaning liquid and paper.

  • The use of a remote control ONLY to start the robot in the Advanced category.

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❌ Prohibited:

  • Robot Vehicle using parts or components that could harm other competitors.

  • The use of glue to increase traction, including:

          ➤ Cleaning wheels with adhesive tapes that may leave glue residue.

          ➤ The use of suction cups.

          ➤ Any adhesion method that violates the regulations.

  • Tires or parts of the robot that come into contact with the field must not be able to lift and hold a standard A4 sheet of paper (80 g/m²) for more than two (2) seconds.

  • The use of gases (in any form, such as canisters) to increase speed.

  • The robot breaking or falling apart into pieces during the match.
        ➤ Even if it finishes, the time is recorded as 180 seconds (0).

  • Connecting the robot to external electronic devices (e.g. computers, smartphones, tablets) via:

          ➤ Bluetooth
          ➤ Wi-Fi
          ➤ Any other wireless technology

  • The use of pneumatic systems in any robot category.

  • The use of pullback motors in any robot category.

  • Expanding the dimensions of the robot during the match (mechanically or actively).

  • Any additional prohibitions are listed in the Robot Vehicle Requirements & Specifications section.

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🏆 WINNERS

  • At the end of the sport, the winners are announced separately for each age category, as well as for the Rally Basic and Rally Advanced categories:

🥇 1st Place
🥈 2nd Place
🥉 3rd Place

🏁 The ranking is determined based on the shortest time achieved by the Robot Vehicle at the Best of the Best round.

BASIC CATEGORY  -  ADVANCED CATEGORY
 

Basic Category – Robot Specifications

Robot Athletes in the Basic category are built from educational robotics kits, either original or compatible (non-original), which are based on modular building elements (brick/beam or similar) and use an integrated educational controller/hub.

Indicative systems include:
LEGO® Education (EV3, SPIKE, Robot Inventor, NXT), ZMROBO, MAKERZOID, ENJOY AI, Makeblock mBot, DFRobot Maqueen and similar educational kits.
 

The following rules apply to the Basic category:

1. Controller / Hub

  • The official or compatible (third-party) educational controller/hub of the kit must be used.

  • The addition of external microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, etc.) or custom control boards/PCBs is not allowed.

  • The robot’s control architecture must remain that of a closed educational kit, not an open/custom electronics platform.

2. Motors – Sensors – Cables

  • All motors and all sensors must be connected directly to the hub/controller, i.e., to its official ports, with no additional boards or electronic circuits in between.

  • The following are allowed:

    • original motors, sensors and cables provided by the kit manufacturer;

    • compatible (non-original) third-party components, as long as they are electrically compatible with the specific hub/controller and can be plugged directly into the hub ports using their own connector/cable, without cutting, splicing or hardware “hacks”.

  • The following are not allowed under any circumstances:

    • external motor drivers (motor drivers/ESCs),

    • additional control boards or modules (e.g., sensor shields, expansion boards),

    • signal converters or adapters that change the communication protocol,

    • extra power modules, power boosters or any circuits that intervene between the hub and the motor/sensor,

    • cut-and-resoldered cables, homemade adapters or any form of “hacked”/modified connection.

The guiding principle is that the robot must operate as an educational kit, where the hub/controller directly drives the motors and reads the sensors, without additional custom electronic infrastructure.
 

3. Special exception for LEGO Mindstorms EV3/NXT

Since EV3 and NXT systems have been discontinued by LEGO, teams are allowed to use non-original / third-party motors, sensors, cables and bricks/controllers, provided that:

  • they are connected directly to an EV3/NXT-type brick/controller (either original or electrically compatible third-party),

  • no additional microcontrollers, drivers or custom boards are used,

  • the overall configuration remains within the spirit of an “educational robotics kit” and not a full custom electronics build,

  • no modification of original or third-party components is performed (e.g., opening/hacking the brick, motors, sensors, or cables, cutting/splicing and resoldering, etc.).
     

4. Mechanical parts – 3D-printed parts​

  • 3D-printed parts of any kind are not allowed in the Marathon Basic category.

Robots that do not comply with any of the above rules must be classified in the Advanced category.



Advanced Category – Robot Specifications
 

The Advanced category is intended for robots that go beyond the constraints of a “closed” educational kit and use a more open, custom, DIY or experimental architecture. These robots typically include custom electronics, more powerful control boards and/or advanced mechanical constructions.

The following guidelines describe what is considered Advanced:
 

1. Control architecture & electronics

Robots in the Advanced category may:

  • be based on Arduino, ESP32, STM32, Raspberry Pi, micro:bit or any other general-purpose microcontroller or single-board computer,

  • use custom PCBs (homemade or professionally manufactured) for motor control, sensor integration, power distribution, communication, etc.,

  • include motor drivers, H-bridges, ESCs, current amplifiers or other dedicated driver circuits between the controller and the motors,

  • integrate additional electronic modules such as:

    • I²C/SPI/UART sensor modules,

    • wireless modules (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RF, etc.),

    • IMUs, distance sensors, cameras, AI modules,

    • logic level shifters, protocol converters and similar components.

In other words, if the robot’s logic is built around a general-purpose microcontroller or a custom electronics stack, it clearly belongs to the Advanced category.
 

2. Use of educational kits (LEGO, mBot, Maqueen, etc.)

Robots in the Advanced category may still use parts from educational kits (for example LEGO, mBot, Maqueen, ZMROBO, etc.), but in a more flexible/custom way:

  • Educational kits may be used as:

    • mechanical structure (chassis, frame, wheels, gears, etc.),

    • a source of motors, sensors or mechanical elements.

  • The motors and sensors from these kits may be:

    • driven by external motor drivers/ESCs,

    • interfaced to Arduino/ESP/Raspberry Pi or other controllers through custom wiring or adapters.
       

Even if the robot looks like a LEGO robot (or any other kit), from the moment:

  • an Arduino/ESP/Raspberry Pi (or similar board) is introduced as the main controller and/or

  • the motors are driven through external drivers/ESCs and/or

  • sensors are read through custom circuits or breakout boards,

then the robot must be classified in the Advanced category, not in the Basic category.
 

3. Power, drivers & auxiliary circuits

In the Advanced category, the following are allowed (subject to general safety rules and any global voltage/current limits defined in the event rules):

  • separate power supplies for logic and motors (e.g., one battery for the controller, another for the motors),

  • Li-ion / Li-Po / NiMH battery packs, BECs, DC-DC converters and voltage regulators,

  • power distribution boards, protection circuits, fuses, current sensors,

  • any reasonable combination of motor drivers, ESCs, relays, MOSFET stages and similar circuits to drive actuators.

If the robot includes any custom power electronics beyond the simple internal arrangement of an educational hub, it naturally fits the Advanced category.
 

4. Mechanical structure & materials

Robots in the Advanced category may use:

  • 3D-printed parts (PLA, PETG, ABS, etc.),

  • laser-cut or CNC-machined parts (wood, acrylic, aluminium, etc.),

  • metal profiles, carbon fibre, custom brackets and joints,

  • any kind of custom mechanical construction,

provided they comply with the general size, safety and weight limits defined elsewhere in the competition rules.

This category is ideal for teams that want to prototype engineering-style robots, combining commercial components with custom mechanical and electronic solutions.
 

5. Typical examples of robots that must be in the Advanced category

A robot must be classified in the Advanced category if, for example:

  • it uses Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, STM32, micro:bit or a similar board as the main controller (even if the chassis is purely LEGO),

  • it uses external motor drivers (L298, TB6612, VESC, custom H-bridge, etc.) between the controller and the motors,

  • it combines a LEGO/mBot/Maqueen-style kit with:

    • a second controller (e.g., Arduino + LEGO hub), or

    • extra sensors/modules wired through a breadboard or PCB,

  • it uses one or more 3D-printed parts as structural or functional elements of the robot,

  • it contains one or more custom PCBs designed by the team for any part of the control, sensors or power path.
     

6. General principle

If there is any doubt whether a robot still qualifies as a “closed educational kit” or has effectively become a custom electronics/mechanics project, the robot should be placed in the Advanced category.

Even if the chassis is LEGO or another educational kit, if the robot:

  • uses Arduino / ESP / Raspberry Pi or another custom board together with the kit, or

  • uses external motor drivers / ESCs / power boosters,

then it must be classified in the Advanced category.




 

Basic & Advance Category

CONTACT  US:

+30 6940 411020

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mrc@he-ro.gr  

+30 6940 411020

Heraklion Crete Greece

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Created by Hellenic Educational Robotics Organization. 2023 All right reserved.

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