ABU Robocon 2025: Robot Basketball

ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2025 Overview

• The Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (ABU Robocon) 2025 will be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• The theme of the contest is "Robot Basketball."
• The game aims to promote teamwork in achieving tasks, with the motto "Team Effort, Ultimate Success."

Game Concept and Flow

• Two teams, red and blue, each with two robots, compete to score points by shooting balls into the opponent's basket while defending their own.
• Teams alternate possession, with a 20-second shot clock per possession.
• Offensive teams score by dribbling or passing to a teammate robot.
• Normal shots are worth 2 or 3 points based on location, while dunk shots earn 7 points.
• Defensive teams try to prevent scoring through blocking, intercepting, or causing turnovers.
• If the offense loses ball control, the defense gains possession.

Safety and Contest Regulations

• Safety is the top priority; participants must prioritize it during all stages.
• Teams must cooperate with the organizer to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
• Domestic competitions for ABU Robocon 2025 must follow the contest rules.
• Organizers can use replacement materials if the specified ones are unavailable.

Team Composition and Schedule

• Each country or region is represented by one team, except Mongolia, which has two as the host country.
• A team consists of three undergraduate students and one instructor from the same university.
• Up to 3 undergraduates from the same university can be Pit Crews, assisting in the pit area and with robot handling.
• Schedule:
  • August 22, 2025 (Fri.): Arrival
  • August 23, 2025 (Sat.): Test-run and Rehearsal
  • August 24, 2025 (Sun.): Contest Day
  • August 25, 2025 (Mon.): ABU General Meeting, Producers Workshop, Friendship Exchange Program
  • August 26, 2025 (Tue.): Departure
• The contest venue is AIC Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Rule Updates

• Information, backboards and base lines were updated on 2024/10/03

Term Definitions

• Robots: Each team uses 2 robots that can be autonomous, semi-automatic, or manually controlled.
• Base Perimeter: A cylindrical frame with a foam rubber protective bar, 300 mm high, 800 mm outer diameter, and positioned vertically.
  • The perimeter's outside color must be red or blue, matching the team's side, changeable via replacement or fabric cover.
• Spare Mechanism: A special component for a robot, including actuators and power but Robot must maintains specification in Section 15.
• Game field consists of:
  • Playing Area: a area 15 meters long and 8 meters wide.
  • Operating Area: Designated space near playing area for team members to control robots.
• Reconfiguration: Process of restarting a malfunctioning robot or replacing its spare mechanism.
• Equipment:
  • Backstop units (following FIBA specifications)
    • Backboards (1800 mm length and 1050 mm width) with a transparent design and contests logo.
    • Baskets (inside diameter of 450-459 mm) at a height of 2.43m
  • Using Size 7 basketballs (750-770 mm circumference, 580-620 g)
  • Ball rack for up to five basketballs
• Possession: A team being in on Offense can end with a successful shot, foul, or violation.
• Control of the Ball: A robot gaining physical contact with the ball for maneuvering purposes.
• Offensive Team: The team that is in possession of the ball.
• Defensive Team: The team that is not in possession of the ball.
• Possession Change: When control of the ball shifts from one team to the other.
• Dribbling: The act of a robot bouncing the ball on the playing ground.
• Passing: The act of a robot transferring the ball to a teammate robot.
• Shooting: Attempting to score points by throwing the ball to the opposing basket.
• Dunk Shooting: Propelling the ball into the basket by jumping and directly placing the ball through it.

Game Rules

• Game Time:
  • Preliminary rounds: 120 seconds
  • Knockout rounds: 160 seconds
  • Domestic contests can set the game duration at 160 seconds even in preliminary rounds.
• Each possession has a 20-second shot clock.
• The game clock can be suspended for possession changes, fouls, violations, or referee stoppages.
• First Possession: Determined by a coin toss, with the organizer providing a red/blue coin.

Robot Setup

• Each Team is allocated one-minute to prepare robots
• Each team sets up robots in their defensive side.
• The robot controlling the ball must be behind the designated baseline.
• Teams failing to set up on time must leave robots on the defensive side.

Robot control

• The offensive team scores points by shooting into the opponent's basket within the shot clock.
• Advance side by dribbling or passing to another robot.
  • Dribbling-ball must contact their half before robot's base.
  • Passing-receiving robot must be inside the surface of their half.l
• The offensive team can regain possession after losing control due a defensive play, however, the shot clock will not reset.
• Dribbling must be done from above 700 mm above the ground.
• The robot cannot cover the ball

Valid plays

• Passes must be thrown to teammate at least 1000 mm away.
• The robot must do one dribble to control each ball.
• A robot must jump independently to dunk.
• Paint zone must be controlled, while the ball follow the direction of fall.
• Can hold onto the basket after releasing the ball when performing a dunk shoot.
• Scoring is based on the shooting zone and shooting type:
  • Three points for 3-point zone shots.
  • Two points for shots that are neither 3-point nor dunk shots.
  • Seven points for dunk shots.
• Shots after the time expires or the referee signal will not score.
• Shot from the team's own defensive side will not score.
• The ball must be fully released from the robot for it defined as a shot

Possession change rules

• The chief referee signals, the shot clock stops, robots stop, and the ball removed.
• Teams must move to their defensive side within 10 seconds.
• The Robot to control the ball moves to behind the baseline for loading a ball
• The Game resumes after a 10-second time or referee signal
• The Team in possession can loads ball

Defensive Teams

• Block shots and create passing disruptions
• Offensive team loses control, the ball, the defending team (steal, block, or interception) gains possession to rebound the ball
• The defensive team picks up or rebounds the ball, they begin an attack without a referee's signal and possession occurs,
• Defensive teams are only permitted to defend in the designater defensive area.
• The Defensive team can't take defensive actions if are failing the time frame given by referee

Fouls

• Entered robots in another's perimeter and touches anything is considered a foul.
• Touching of robots is acceptable, however pushing is a foul
• For an offensive foul, possession will change
• For a defensive foul- -Referee signals, the shot clock stops, -Defensive robot must create 1 meter worth of distance. -The offensive team will be awarded points -3 points, the robot's perimeter is fully within the 3-point zone -2 points, The robots perimeter is fully within the 2-point zone -7 points, if the robots perimeter is performing the dunk shoot
• The game will continue if and when the robot remains still or upright and clock resume
• For Fallen offensive robots, the crew members have only 10 seconds, if the time expires the the referee signals for the game to resume without it
• Any entering in base perimeter without touching isn't a foul of they immediately exist

Ending the Game

• The Game ends upon the time specified in section 2 is up
• The Highest scoring team is declared as winner
• if there is a tie, the following occurs -team with less shots -shortest shot time of all possessions -Winners are decided by judges.

Reconfiguration of Robots

• Robot's can only move to the operator area only during possession changes
• Robots can be placed back into to the playing area during possession or while the game is in progress following set rules, sections.7
• Teams can place robots back into play while a game is happening the robot must defense
• Team members must need to bring robots to the playing area must not enter to place them

Violations

• Failing to advance side in 8 seconds
• Failing to shoot in the shot clock duration
• Advancing an offensive action without dribbling or passing correctly
• Failure to shoot ball adhering to shooting rules.
• Robots dribble and pass not adhering to the current rules
• Passing and controlling is not returned to Defensive zones
• Loss of control due to defensive action
• All the robots must stay in position except after a dunk
• No members must touch robots outside exceptions.
• Member entering only for special occasions, specified.
• Other violations. For violations to the offenders' possession will change. clock and team will fix the situation to the referee's judgement. Time can be extended.

Disqualification

• Not using fair play,
• Failing to listen to warnings
• Intentionally damaging facility, equip or opponent.

Robot Control

• Wireless control
• Radio only 802.15 Bluetooth
• Wifi control only

Robot Specs

• Cylinder 800mm x 1500mm before round starts.
• 800 is max outer perimeter
• Robots extend the to 2400 mm including the ball, and up to 1200 mm for diameter.
• No separation is permitted.
• Total weight 50 KG including everything.
• Setup gear is exempt
• Every power source is for individual
• Batteries compressed air and some elastic
• 24W maximum voltage
• Maximum circuits is 42V or less
• Compressed air maximum is 600kpa
• Red stop alert must be in place

Safely Regulations

• Should pose no threat
• Safety of all involved must be guaranteed
• Must be wearing protection and shoes
• Devices not permitted and not safe (lead acid explosive, )
• Always take failsafe measurements
• Multi Power = NO Control = Risky
• Use good components

Others

• Referee has ultimate authority
• Dimensions have 5% or less tolerance.
• Inquires needs to be done via the website.
• Must obey and ensure everyone following procedures

Transit

• To be coordinated and organized by committee
• 1000x1800x800 height must all fit to within and under 240kg
• Robots for Robocon 2025 pick up will be mid-July

Materials

• All materials specs must be accurate