TRC Presents: Metal Meltdown 2026

TRC's second large event of the year

**Event Space: **We will provide each team one pit table (approx 2.5'x6') and at least one chair. If you have a large team or you have your own table please plan to bring it.

**Signups: **

• 80 robots total between Ants (1lb), Plastic ants (1lb), and Beetles. We've started classes at 24 bots in each and will re-allocate as signups happen.

• Drivers are only allowed to drive one robot in each weight class.

• ALL SIGNUPS MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE EVENT. We are expecting the event to fill up, so register fast!

• Payment taken at event, either cash or paypal/venmo

Schedule:

• 8:00 - Doors open and check in starts

• 8:15 - safety starts

• 10:00 - Check in closes, you MUST be in the building by now if you plan on competing

• 10:10 - Drivers meeting, brackets will be finalized at this point

• ROUND ONE FIGHTS - 10:30-12:15

• LUNCH BREAK - 12:15 - 1:00

• ROUND TWO FIGHTS - 1:00 - 2:30

• ROUND 3 FIGHTS - 2:30 - 3:15

• BRACKET STARTS - 3:30

**Arenas: **Bots will be run in wood floor 8 x 8 foot arenas. Cleats are allowed. Both arenas feature hybrid steel and wooden kickplates, steel for the bottom 1.25-1.5 inches and wood above that.

Rules:

We will follow the basic sparc ruleset. Full ruleset can be found here: https://shorturl.at/gtEI6

• No heat, fire, smoke, entanglement, or other weapons that do not fit the spirit of the rules.

• No weight bonuses for any robots.

• If your battery is exposed or outside your robot the fight will be ended immediately in a technical knock out (TKO)

Plastic antweight specific rules:

• Approved materials are 3D printed ASA, PET, PETG, ABS, ASA, PLA, and PLA+. This means that sheet ABS or cnc machined parts are not legal. TPU and other flexible filament parts are illegal anywhere. If you have questions about a specific material’s legality then please contact the EO.

Format:

• 2 minute matches

Modified swiss (Early Bracket):

• 3 rounds of qualifying fights determined by swiss rules

• 2-0 or 0-2 bots will not fight in round 3

• All bots with 2 wins move on to a single elimination bracket to determine the winner.

We're excited to announce that TRC is selected as a launch partner for the NHRL XP Partner Program. Any 3lb bots that make the elimination bracket (and have an active weapon) will qualify to register for NHRL's Open category events.