Within this Competition Manual are the rules that form Mission 2026 Time Warp—an exciting and dynamic challenge designed to inspire and engage. These rules are carefully balanced to promote fair play while fueling spirited competition. Mission 2026 Time Warp pushes teams to collaborate, think creatively, and innovate, all while having a blast. The energy and skills cultivated in the Aerial Drone Competition will empower students to soar into the future, ready to tackle tomorrow’s opportunities with confidence.
AERIAL DRONE COMPETITION • REC FOUNDATION
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1 Overview
The Robotics Education and Competition Foundation’s (RECF) Aerial Drone Competition provides a unique hands-on learning experience, fostering crucial STEM skills including drone piloting, programming, and problem-solving. The competition environment mirrors the real world, requiring teamwork, critical thinking, and innovation to navigate mission challenges. Students learn to collaborate effectively, hone their communication skills, and to build the resilience required to tackle future challenges. This fosters a deep understanding of flight principles, documentation, and interpersonal skills, all while igniting a passion for drone-related careers.
The Aerial Drone Competition has FOUR Missions for Teams to compete in:
Teamwork Mission Two Drone Teams compete as an Alliance in 90-second Matches, working together to score points. Autonomous Flight Skills Mission Students program their Drone to operate fully autonomously, earning points by completing specific tasks during the Autonomous Flight Skills Mission. Each Match lasts 3 minutes, and Teams are allowed up to three Matches per event. Piloting Skills Mission Students pilot their Drone through an obstacle course, aiming to score as many points as possible by flying through, under, and around various challenges during the Piloting Skills Mission. Each Match is 60 seconds, and Teams are allowed up to three Matches per event. Communications Mission During the Communications Mission, Teams submit competition logbooks and participate in an interview with judges. During the interview, Teams will respond to questions about their Team management, coding, strategies, and career connections.
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Teamwork Mission Field
Skills Missions Field
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Note from the Aerial Drone Competition Game Design Committee (GDC):
The rules contained in this competition manual are written to be enforced by Volunteer Head Referees. Many rules have “black-and-white” criteria that can be easily checked. However, some rulings will rely on a judgment call. In these cases, Head Referees will make their calls based on what they and the Scorekeeper Referees observed, applicable rules from official support materials (the competition manual and the Q&A), and most crucially, the context of the Match in question. The Aerial Drone Competition does not have video replay, our fields do not have absolute sensors to count scores, and events do not have the resources for an extensive review conference between each Match. When an ambiguous rule results in a controversial call, there is a natural instinct to wonder what the “right” ruling “should have been,” or what the GDC “would have ruled.” This is ultimately an irrelevant question; our answer is that when a rule specifies “Head Referee’s discretion” (or similar), then the “right” call is the one made by the Head Referee at that moment. The Aerial Drone Competition GDC designs games, and writes rules, with this expectation (constraint) in mind. The illustrations in this Competition Manual are intended to provide a general Visual understanding of the missions. Teams should refer to official field specifications, found in the appendices for exact field dimensions and exact details of field construction.
GDC GAME DESIGN COMMITTEE recf.org/adc-official-q-and-a
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The Q&A System
When first reviewing the competition manual, it is natural to have questions about situations which may not be immediately clear. Navigating the competition manual and seeking answers to these questions is an important part of learning the rules. In many cases, the answer may be in a different place than you first thought. If there is no rule explicitly prohibiting something, then that usually means it is legal! However, if a Team is still unable to find an answer to their question after thoroughly reviewing the relevant rules, they may submit their query to the Aerial Drone Competition Question & Answer (Q&A) System for an official rules interpretation. All responses in this Q&A system should be treated as official rulings from the Aerial Drone Competition Game Design Committee, and they represent the correct and official interpretation of the Aerial Drone Competition rules. The Q&A system is the only source besides the competition manual for official rulings and clarifications.
The Aerial Drone Competition Q&A System Visit recf.org/adc-official-q-and-a
In brief: 1. Read and search the manual before posting. 2. Read and search existing Q&As before posting. 3. Quote the applicable rule from the latest version of the manual in your question. 4. Make a separate post for each question. 5. Use specific and appropriate question titles. 6. Questions will (mostly) be answered in the order they are received. 7. This system is the only source for official rules clarifications.
If there are any conflicts between the competition manual and other supplemental materials, the most current version of the competition manual takes precedence.
Similarly, it can never be assumed that definitions, rules, or other materials from previous seasons apply to the current season. Q&A responses from previous seasons are not considered official rulings for the current season. Any necessary clarifications should always be re-asked in the current season’s Q&A.
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Quick Reference Guide
General Rules <G1>
Treat everyone with respect.
<G2>
The Aerial Drone Competition is a Student-centered program.
<G3>
Use common sense.
Each Student can only belong to one Team, and all work must represent the skill level of the Students on the Team.
<G4>
Drone Rules
<D1>
Teams must use the CoDrone EDU, CoDrone EDU JROTC Edition, or Parrot Mambo.
<D2>
Teams may not modify the Drone or Drone electronics.
<D3>
Decorations are allowed.
<D4>
Drones must be running current firmware.
<D5>
There is a difference between accidentally and willfully violating a Drone rule.
Safety Rules
<S1>
Teams may only fly their Drone in a designated Flight Zone.
<S2>
Students must be accompanied by an Adult.
<S3>
If a Team is Grounded, they must land immediately.
Teams must pass Flight Clearance Inspection and use the Pre Flight Checklist at competitions. Flight Team Members must stay in the Pilot station or Visual Observer stations and out of the field during a Match.
<S4>
<S5>
<S6>
Stay in control of your Drone.
<S7>
Batteries must be charged before launch.
<S8>
Wear safety glasses.
<S9>
Additional Safety Practices.
<S10>
Flight Team Members may not stand on objects.
Each Student Team member must have a completed participant release form on file for the event and season.
<S11>
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Tournament Rules
Head Referee
<T1>
Head Referee has ultimate authority on ruling decisions during the Matches.
<T2>
Head Referees must be qualified.
<T3>
Flight Team Members are permitted to immediately appeal the Head Referee’s ruling.
Competition Fields and Matches
<T4>
One Drone at the Field.
<T5>
Flight Team Members are the only Team members allowed at the field.
<T6>
Electronic communication devices are prohibited.
During a Match, Flight Team Members may retrieve their Drone for troubleshooting if the Drone has not completed takeoff.
<T7>
<T8>
Drone Re-Takeoff During a Match.
<T9>
Flooring for competition fields must be consistent with each other.
<T10>
Be prepared for field minor variances.
<T11>
Scoring is evaluated after the Match has ended.
<T12>
Match replays are allowed, but rare.
<T13>
Disqualifications.
Global Rankings
<T14>
Global Team Rankings.
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Teamwork Mission Rules
Teamwork Mission Scoring Definitions and Rules
<TM1> Drop Zone Cleared. <TM2> Loading Station Cleared. <TM3> Introducing Match Load Balls. <TM4> Pillar Cleared.
<TM5> Ball in inner Zone. <TM6> Ball in outer Zone. <TM7> Balls must stay inside the PVC perimeter. <TM8> Warp Loop completed. <TM9> Land on a Small or Large Landing Cube.
<TM10> Land on a Landing Pad. <TM11> Land on the bullseye.
Teamwork Mission General Rules
<TM12> Drone starting position. <TM13> Pilot Station. <TM14> Visual Observer Station.
<TM15> Teams must clearly identify their Team color during a Match . <TM16> Qualification will occur according to the official Match schedule. <TM17> Be at your Match on time.
<TM18> Each Team will be scheduled for at least 4 Qualification Matches. <TM19> Teams are ranked by their average qualification Match scores. <TM20> The Alliance Selection process forms 2-Team Alliances for the Elimination Matches.
10 MISSION 2026 TIME WARP COMPETITION MANUAL V 1.0 <TM21> Send a Team representative to Alliance Selection. <TM22> Each Team may only be invited once to join an Alliance. <TM22> Number of Alliances for Elimination Matches. <TM22> Elimination Matches are played sequentially in rounds. <TM22> Tiebreakers for Quarterfinal and Semifinal Elimination Matches. <TM22> Tiebreakers for Finals Elimination Matches. <TM22> Division Finals.
AERIAL DRONE COMPETITION • REC FOUNDATION
Autonomous Flight Mission Rules
Autonomous Flight Mission Scoring Definitions and Rules
<AM1> Take off. <AM2> Fly Under Blue or Red Arch Gate. <AM3> Fly through Green or Yellow Keyhole Gate. <AM4> Fly through Tunnel. <AM5> Identify the color of Color Mat. <AM6> Fly through Panel. <AM7> Earn Small Hole Bonus. <AM8> Landing.
Autonomous Flight Work Skills Mission General Rules
<AM9>
Autonomous means “no humans.”
<AM10> Drone starting position. <AM11> Pilot/Coding Station. <AM12> Visual Observer station. <AM13> Resetting a Drone during an Autonomous Flight Skills Match. <AM14> Autonomous Flight Skills Mission Schedule. <AM15> Skills rankings.
Piloting Skills Mission Rules
Piloting Skills Mission Scoring Definitions and Rules
<PM1> Take off. <PM2> Piloting Skills Mission Flight Path. <PM3> Repeating the Flight Path. <PM4> Landing.
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Piloting Skills Mission Rules (continued)
Piloting Skills Mission General Rules
<PM5> Drone starting position. <PM6> Pilot station. <PM7> Visual Observer station. <PM8> Piloting Skills Mission schedule. <PM9> Skills Mission rankings.
Communications Mission Rules
Teams and Judges
<C1>
All Teams must receive an interview.
<C2>
No Team may earn more than one judged award.
Judges must follow the criteria and award descriptions as presented in the Guide to Judging.
<C3>
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Updates and Change log This manual will have a series of “major” and “minor” updates throughout the season. Each version is official and must be used in official Aerial Drone Competition until the release of the next version, upon which the previous version becomes void. The latest version of the Competition Manual can always be found on our in the REC Library.
Known major release dates are as follows:
September 9, 2025 Version 1.0
Initial Competition Manual Release
Minor typographical errors or formatting issues found in the initial release; very few rule changes are expected May include game play or rule changes inspired by input from the official Q&A system and the community May include game play or rule changes inspired by mid-season events
October 14, 2025
Version 1.1
December 2, 2025
Version 2.0
February 10, 2026
Version 3.0
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2 Definitions
Adult Anyone who is not a Student or another defined term (e.g., Head Referee).
All Clear A signal given by the Head Referee that Teams may retrieve their Drone.
Alliance A pre-assigned grouping of two (2) Teams that are paired together during a Teamwork Mission Match.
Alliance Score Points scored in a Teamwork Mission Match that are awarded to both Teams.
Alliance Captain A Team that has earned the right to choose their Alliance Partner during Alliance Selection to play in Teamwork Mission Elimination Matches. Alliance Partner • In Teamwork Mission Qualification Matches, Alliance pairings are randomly assigned by the competition software. • In Teamwork Mission Elimination Matches, Alliances are formed by Teams using the Alliance Selection procedure. Alliance Selection The process of choosing Alliances for Teamwork Mission Elimination Matches. See <TM20> for more information.
Autonomous Flight Skills Match A Match where a Drone is programmed by Students to operate completely autonomously.
Coach An Adult mentor who supports and facilitates student learning. A Coach may provide instruction, guidance, and feedback but may not repair, code, update, or directly work on a Drone in any capacity without Students present who are actively engaged/learning. All decisions and actions during a Match must come from the Students on the Team, reflecting their understanding and ownership of the competition. During Matches, Coaches may not dictate game strategy or provide instructions to Students. See the RECF Student Centered Policy and <G2>.
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Coder A Student on the Team who is responsible for creating the code that allows the Drone to fly autonomously.
Co-Pilot A member of the Flight Team who stands in the Pilot station, and who may assist the Pilot and/or operate the Drone during the Match. Cleared A Drone is considered to have successfully Cleared an Arch Gate, Keyhole Gate, or Tunnel when all parts of the Drone have completely passed through it in the designated direction. Disqualification A penalty applied to a Team for a Major Violation. A Team that receives a Disqualification in a Teamwork Qualification Match receives zero points for the Match. When a team receives a Disqualification in a Teamwork Elimination Match, the entire Alliance is Disqualified and receives zero points for the Match. A Team that receives a Disqualification in an Autonomous Skills Match or Piloting Skills Match will receive a score of zero for that Match.
At the Head Referee’s discretion, repeated Violations and/or Disqualifications for a single Team may lead to its Disqualification for the entire tournament.
Drone A machine designed to perform one or more tasks autonomously or under the control of a Flight Team Member. For Mission 2026: Time Warp, the following Drones are permitted: the CoDrone EDU, CoDrone EDU JROTC Edition, and the Parrot Mambo. Event Partner The volunteer tournament coordinator who serves as an overall manager for the volunteers, venue, event materials, and all other event considerations. Event Partners serve as the official liaison between the RECF, the event volunteers, and the event attendees.
Event Staff Any Volunteer that helps an Event Partner run an event.
Flight Clearance Inspection The process of confirming that Teams and equipment are in compliance with regulations in the Competition Manual. Flight Team Member A Student who is a Pilot, Co-Pilot, Coder, or Visual Observer at the field during a Match. Only Students on the Team are allowed to be Flight Team Members.
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Figure 01
Flight Zone An area in which Drones are allowed to fly at the Teamwork Mission Competition Fields, Skills Mission Competition Fields, and designated practice and testing Areas. All Flight Zones have a virtual ceiling of approximately 10 feet. • The Flight Zone for a Teamwork Mission Competition Field is a conceptual area, as illustrated in Figure 01. • For Mission 2026: Time Warp, Event Partners must clearly mark the non-PVC boundaries of the Teamwork Mission Flight Zone using tape, rope, cones, or similar materials. • The Flight Zone for a Skills Mission Competition Field is defined by the outer edges of the Field Elements. • The Event Partner may designate additional Flight Zones to be used as practice or testing areas.
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Game Design Committee (GDC) The creators of the Aerial Drone Competition Missions and the authors of this competition manual. The GDC is the only official source for rules clarifications and Q&A responses. Grounding A penalty applied to a Team during a Match for a safety Violation. When a team is Grounded, the Pilot must immediately land the drone and place their controller on the ground, and may not operate the drone for the rest of the Match. A Grounding is not the same as a Disqualification. Head Referee An impartial Volunteer responsible for enforcing the rules as written. Head Referees are the only individuals who may discuss ruling interpretations or scoring questions with Teams at an event. Match A set time in which Teams play to earn points. Teams compete in Teamwork, Piloting Skills, and Autonomous Flight Skills Matches. Match Stop Time The time remaining (i.e., displayed on the timer or audience display) when an Alliance ends the Match early when drones are no longer flying and Pilots have placed their controllers on the ground. Match Stop Time is only considered when there is a tie for first place in Finals Elimination Matches The Match Stop Time is rounded down to the nearest even number. For example, if controllers are set down when the displayed time is 13 seconds, the Match Stop Time is recorded as 12 seconds. If an Alliance does not finish the Match early, they receive a default Match Stop Time of 0 seconds.
No-Fly Zone Anywhere in or around a venue that is not a Flight Zone.
Pilot A member of the Flight Team who operates the Drone during the Match.
Piloted The Drone can be Piloted by using a controller or a computer. When using a computer, the CoDrone EDU and CoDrone EDU JROTC editions require the controller to be connected to the computer with a USB cable. As a result, Teams are permitted to bring a controller, a computer, and a USB cable to connect them on the competition field during a Match.
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Student A person is considered a Student if they meet both of the following criteria:
1. Anyone who will be earning or has earned credit toward a high school diploma, certificate, or other equivalent after August 1, 2025. Courses earning credits leading up to high school would satisfy this requirement. 2. Anyone born after May 1, 2006. Eligibility may also be granted based on a disability that has delayed education by at least one year. • Middle School Student: A Student born after May 1, 2010 (i.e., who will be 15 or younger in April 2026). An elementary school Student may compete as a Middle School Student. • High School Student: Any eligible Student who is not a Middle School Student. A Middle School Student may “play up” and compete as a High School Student. Team One or more Students make up a Team. • A Team consists of Pilot(s), Co-Pilot(s), Coder(s) and Visual Observer(s) and other support members. • A Student may have more than one role on the Team and can change roles at any time within their Team. • T eams may be associated with schools, community/youth organizations, or a group of neighborhood Students. • T eams are either considered Middle School or High School. • High School Team : A Team is classified as a High School Team if any of its members are High School Students. • Middle School Team: A Team is classified as a Middle School if none of its members are High School Students.
Team Representative A Student who represents a Team during Alliance Selection.
Teamwork Match A Match during the Teamwork Mission.
Tournament An event that provides the opportunity for Teams to participate in all 4 missions: Teamwork Mission, Piloting Skills Mission, Autonomous Flight Mission, and Communications Mission. Visual Observer A Student on the Team who helps the Pilot navigate the course and places Match loads into the Loading Station.
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Violation The act of breaking a rule in the competition manual. Minor Violation - A Violation which does not result in a Disqualification.
• A ccidental, momentary, or otherwise non-Score Affecting Violations are usually Minor Violations. • M inor Violations usually result in a verbal Warning from the Head Referee during the Match, which should serve to inform the Team that a rule is being violated before it escalates to a Major Violation. Major Violation - A Violation which results in a Disqualification. • U nless otherwise noted in a rule, all Score Affecting Violations are Major Violations. • M ultiple Minor Violations within a Match or Tournament may escalate to a Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. Score Affecting Violation - A Violation that improves an Alliance’s score at the end of a Match. • M ultiple Violations within a Match can cumulatively become Score Affecting. • W hen evaluating whether a Violation was Score Affecting, Head Referees will focus primarily on any actions that were directly related to the Violation. • D etermining whether a Violation was Score Affecting can only be done once the Match is complete and the score has been calculated.
Volunteer An individual who is assisting an Event Partner in running an event.
Warning A verbal cue given to a Team by a Referee to indicate that their actions are in Violation or in danger of being in Violation of a rule.
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Field Element Definitions Arch Gate A red or blue arched Field Element. (Figure 02)
• Outer Dimensions: Approximately 102 inches wide and 74 inches tall from the floor. • Inner Dimensions: Approximately 60 inches wide and 63 inches tall from the floor. • Tension Wire: Spans approximately 102 inches
Figure 02
Color Mat A red, blue, or green vinyl mat. (Figure 03) • Color Mat Dimensions: 24” x 24”
Cube A fabric pop-up Cube. (Figure 04)
• Large Cube Dimensions: Approximately 17” x 17” at the top and 20” tall. • Small Cube Dimensions: Approximately 12” x 12” at the top and 13” tall. Field Element Elements on the competition field from the Field Element Kit. Includes Arch Gates, Keyhole Gates, Landing Pads, Cubes, Programming Mats, and
Figure 03
Color Mats. (Figure 05)
Keyhole Gate A yellow or green circular Field Element. (Figure 06)
• Outer Diameter: Approximately 30 inches • Inner Diameter: Approximately 24 inches
Figure 04
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Figure 05
Figure 06
Figure 08
Figure 07
Landing Pad A red or blue circular Field Element. (Figure 07)
• Outer Diameter: Approximately 30 inches • Bullseye Diameter: Approximately 10 inches
Programming Mat A vinyl mat specially designed to be placed on sections of the floor to aid in setup and consistent sensor readings during Autonomous Flight Missions. (Figure 08) • Programming Mat Dimensions: 96” x 42”
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Mission Specific Definitions
Ball A spherical Game Element. (Figure 09)
• Weight: 3.4 grams • Diameter: 4.2 cm • Quantity: 37
Drop Zone A Game Element featuring holes where Balls fall through and drop onto the field during Teamwork Matches.
Figure 09
• Top Width: 20” • Top Length: 30” • Quantity: 2
Game Element Elements on the competition field from the Game Element Kit. Includes Balls, Drop Zone, Launchers, Mini Arch Gate, Panels, Pillars, Ramps and Tunnel. Launcher A Game Element equipped with a see-saw mechanism designed to transfer Match Load Ball(s) from the Loading Station into the field. • Top Width: 16” • Top Length: 32” • Quantity: 2 Loading Station The designated area where Visual Observers place Balls onto the Launchers during a Match. There are two Loading Stations, each with 8 Balls at the start of the Match. Reference Figure 40 for Loading Station.
Figure 10
Figure 11
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Match Load Ball A Ball that can be introduced to the field using the Launcher during the Match.
Mini Arch Gate A black arched Field Element (Figure 12)
• Outer Dimensions: Approximately 37 inches wide and 32 inches tall from the floor • Inner Dimensions: Approximately 28 inches wide and 28 inches tall from the floor • Fabric width: Approximately 4.5 inches wide • Tension string: Approximately 4.5 inches from the floor • Quantity: 1
Figure 12
Panels
Solid Panel Panel made of corrugated plastic that is mounted to a Keyhole Gate pole. (Figure 13) • W idth: 18” • L ength: 18” • Q uantity: 2 Assembly Instructions and Additional Measurements Fly Through Panel (Figure 14) A tri-fold Panel made of corrugated plastic, featuring two fly-through holes on each side. • Panel Width (each section): 20 inches • H eight: 36 inches • L arge Hole (bottom): 10-inch diameter • S mall Hole (top): 8-inch diameter • Q uantity: 1 Additional Measurements
Figure 13
Figure 14
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Pillar A foam cylindrical game element. (Figure 15) that is approximately 12” tall and 3” diameter. • H eight: 12” • D iameter: 3” • Q uantity: 5 Ramp A plastic game element with a sloped surface, designed for Balls to roll across. (Figure 16)
• L ength: Approximately 7 inches • W idth: Approximately 5 1/4 inches • Top Opening: Roughly 2 inches wide • E levated End Height: About 5/8 inch tall
Figure 15
Tunnel A fabric tube Game Element that is open at both ends, designed for a Drone to fly through. (Figure 17) • D iameter - 23.5 inches • L ength 19 inches Please note that these images are not shown to scale, but are provided for reference purposes only.
Figure 16
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Figure 17
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Figure 17
Scoring Zones
Inner
Outer
Scoring Zone A designated scoring zone for Balls.
• Outer Warp Zone: The area on the field floor beyond the Ramp, highlighted in green (Figure 18). • Inner Warp Zone: The area on the field floor beyond the Mini Arch Gate, but not including the Outer Warp Zone. This area is highlighted in blue (Figure 18).
Figure 18
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3 General Rules
General Rules are rules that apply across all 4 Missions of the Aerial Drone Competition.
<G1> Treat everyone with respect. All Students and Adults associated with a Team are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and positive manner while participating in the Aerial Drone Competition. If Team members are disrespectful or uncivil to staff, Volunteers, or fellow Teams at an event, the Team may be disqualified from their current or upcoming Match. Judges will also consider Team conduct and ethics when determining awards. In all aspects of the Aerial Drone Competition, the Students make the decisions and “do the work” with Adult Mentorship. The RECF community prides itself on being a positive learning environment where no one is bullied, harassed, or berated. Teams should avoid placing unnecessary stress upon Students and event Volunteers; instead, challenging situations are viewed as teachable moments to model positive behaviors and good sportsmanship. This rule exists alongside the RECF Code of Conduct. Violation of the Code of Conduct can be considered a Violation and can result in Disqualification from a current Match, an upcoming Match, an entire event, or (in extreme cases) an entire competition season. When dealing with difficult and stressful situations, it is… Okay for Teams to be gracious and supportive when your Alliance Partner makes a mistake. Not okay for Teams to harass, tease, or be disrespectful to your Alliance Partner when a Match does not go your way. When a Team does not understand a Match ruling or score, it is… O kay for Flight Team Members to consult with a Head Referee to discuss a ruling in a calm and respectful manner. N ot okay for Flight Team Members to continue arguing with the Head Referee after a decision has been finalized, or for Adults to approach a Head Referee with ruling/ scoring concerns. When Teams are getting ready for an upcoming Match, it is… O kay for Teams in an Alliance to develop a game strategy to cooperatively compete. N ot okay for one Team in an Alliance to ask another Team to sit in a corner during the Match or to intentionally play beneath their abilities.
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<G2> The Aerial Drone Competition is a Student-centered program. Adults may provide instruction, guidance, and feedback but may not design, repair, code, or update Drones. All work on Drones and programming code must be completed by Students, with the Coach serving only in a teaching or advisory role. During Matches, Coaches may not dictate game strategy or provide instructions to Students. All decisions and actions during a Match must come from the Stu- dents on the Team, reflecting their understanding and ownership of the competition. Students must be prepared to demonstrate an active understanding of their Drone and coding to judges or event staff. Some amount of Adult mentorship, teaching, and/or guidance is an expected and encouraged facet of competitions. No one is born an expert. However, obstacles should always be viewed as teaching opportunities, not tasks for an adult to solve without Students present and actively participating. When a Drone fails, it is… O kay for an Adult to help a Student investigate why it failed, so it can be repaired. Not okay for an Adult to repair the Drone without Students present and actively participating. When a Team encounters a complex programming concept, it is… O kay for an Adult to guide a Student through a flowchart to understand its logic. N ot okay for an Adult to write a code for that Student to copy/paste. During competition, it is… O kay for an Adult to provide cheerful, positive encouragement as a spectator. N ot okay for an Adult to explicitly shout step-by-step commands or instructions from the audience.
This rule operates in tandem with the RECF Student Centered Policy, which is available in the REC Library for Teams to reference throughout the season.
Violation Notes: Potential Violations of this rule will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. By definition, all Violations of this rule become Match Affecting as soon as a Robot which was built or coded by an Adult wins a Match. By definition, all Violations of this rule become Score Affecting as soon as a Drone which was coded by an Adult scores points in a Match.
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<G3> Use common sense. When reading and applying the rules in this document, please remember that common sense always applies in the Aerial Drone Competition. Some examples may include : • If there is an obvious typographical error, this does not mean that the error should be taken literally until corrected in a future update. • When in doubt, if there is no rule prohibiting an action, it is generally legal. However, if you have to ask whether a given action would violate <S1>, <G1>, or <T1>, then that’s probably a good indication that it is outside the spirit of the competition. • In general, Teams will be given the “benefit of the doubt” in the case of accidental or edge-case rule infractions. However, there is a limit to this allowance, and repeated or strategic infractions will still be penalized. <G4> Each Student can only belong to one Team, and all work must represent the skill level of the Students on the Team. Teams cannot “borrow” Students from other Teams to serve as Pilot(s), Co-Pilot(s), Visual Observer(s), or Coder(s). Students may swap roles or have more than one role on the Team (e.g., the Pilot may also be the Coder, the Coder may also be a Visual Observer) a. The Team’s coding must represent the skill level of the Students currently on the Team. i. Students are encouraged to explore and learn from external libraries, example code, and online resources to build their skills. However, all code used must be assembled and authored by the Team’s own Students to reflect their current skill level. ii. While Teams may be inspired by publicly available strategies or code, they should not directly copy or rely on code written by others, including Adults, Mentors, or educators. Instead, Students should use those resources as learning tools and develop their own unique solutions. b. Team members may only move from one Team to another for non-strategic reasons outside of the Team’s control. i. Examples of permissible moves may include but are not limited to, changing schools, conflicts within a Team, or combining/splitting Teams. ii. Examples of strategic moves in Violation of this rule may include but are not limited to, one Coder “switching” Teams in order to write the same program for multiple Teams, or one Student writing the Competition Logbook for multiple Teams. iii. If a Student leaves a Team to join another Team, <G4> still applies to the Students remaining on the previous Team. For example, if a Coder leaves a Team, then that Team’s code must still represent the skill level of the Team without that Coder. One way to accomplish this would be to ensure that the Coder teaches or trains a “replacement” Coder in their absence.
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c . When a Team qualifies for a Regional Championship, the Students on the Team attending the Championship are expected to be the same Students on the Team that was awarded the spot. Students can be added as support to the Team, but may not be added as a Flight Team Member. i. An exception is allowed if only one member of the Team is able to attend the event. The Team can make a single substitution of a Flight Team Member for the Championship event with another Student, even if that Student has competed on a different Team. This Student will now be on this new Team and may not substitute back to the original Team during the season. Teams cannot “borrow” Students from other Teams to serve as Flight Team Members, This includes Visual Observers. However, Teams can add permanent members throughout the season under the guidelines of this rule. Event Partners should keep <G3> in mind and apply common sense when enforcing this rule. The intent is not to penalize a Team that experiences changes in Team members during the season due to illness, school transfers, internal conflicts, or similar circumstances. Event Partners and Referees are not expected to track every Student who has ever served as a Flight Team Member. Instead, this rule is meant to prevent the deliberate loaning or sharing of Team members solely to gain a competitive advantage.
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4 Drone Rules
<D1> Teams must use the CoDrone EDU, CoDrone EDU JROTC Edition, or Parrot Mambo. All Teams must use the CoDrone EDU, the CoDrone EDU JROTC Edition, or Parrot Mambo.
<D2> Teams may not modify the Drone or Drone electronics. Teams may not modify the Drone (except as permitted in <D3>) or its electronics. When replacing motors, propellers, frames, or drone batteries, only identical official parts may be used. External battery packs are permitted for use with controllers. <D3> Decorations are allowed. Teams are permitted to decorate their Drones (e.g., painting the frame or adding stickers), provided all rules in this competition manual are followed. Decorations must not create safety hazards or interfere with the Drone’s ability to sustain flight. All decorations should reflect the spirit of an educational competition. <D4> Drones must be running current firmware. CoDrone EDUs must be running the Firmware approved by Robolink. The most current list of approved versions can be found at Robolink. The Parrot Mambo does not offer Firmware updates. <D5> There is a difference between accidentally and willfully violating a Drone rule. Any Violation of Drone rules, accidental or intentional, will result in a Team being unable to play until given Flight Clearance by a Head Referee. However, Teams who intentionally and/or knowingly circumvent or violate rules to gain an advantage over their competitors are in violation of the spirit and ethos of the competition. Any Violation of this sort should be considered a Violation of the RECF Code of Conduct. A Team that circumvents a Drone rule for a competitive advantage should receive an immediate Disqualification for the current Match and be reported to the Event Partner for discussion with the RECF Regional Support Manager, who may recommend that the Team be Disqualified from the event. The Violation should also be reported to the RECF Rules and Conduct Committee following the event. a . If a Drone is found to be in Violation of a Drone rule during or immediately following a Match by a Head Referee, the Team will be Disqualified from that Match. This is considered a Major Violation. This is the only Match that will be affected; any prior Matches that have already been completed will not be revisited. <D5b> will apply until the Violation is remedied and the Drone is given Flight Clearance by a Head Referee. b . If a Drone is determined to be in Violation of a Drone rule before a Match begins, the Drone will be removed from the Field. A Flight Team Member may remain at the Field so that the Team does not get assessed as a “no-show” (per <T15>).
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5 Safety Rules
<S1> Teams may only fly their Drone in a designated Flight Zone. Teams may not fly their Drones in any area that is not designated as a Flight Zone and must adhere to the specific rules of that Flight Zone (e.g., where to stand when Piloting the Drone and when it is okay to retrieve the Drone). All other areas, including but not limited to parking lots, fields, hallways, etc., are No-Fly Zones before, during, and after the event. Violations may result in a Team being disqualified from the event and the Team will be required to remove the Drone from the venue. <S2> Students must be accompanied by an Adult. No Student may attend an Aerial Drone Competition event without a responsible Adult supervising them. The Adult must obey all rules and be careful to not violate Student-centered policies, and must be present for the full duration of the event in the case of an emergency. <S3> If a Team is Grounded, they must land their drone immediately. A Team that is grounded is not allowed to operate their Drone for the remainder of the Match. The Pilot will be asked to land their Drone, if the Drone is not already landed, and place their controller on the floor. <S4> Teams must pass Flight Clearance Inspection and use the Pre Flight Checklist at competitions. When a Team arrives at a Tournament, they must go through a Flight Clearance inspection to confirm the following: a. Teams and equipment are in compliance with regulations. b. Teams are required to inspect their Drone and controller using a Pre Flight Checklist before every Match. Inspectors are not expected to inspect every Drone that is brought to the competition, but rather, confirm verbally with the Teams that all Drones are in compliance with the rules. A Flight Team member will sign the Flight Clearance inspection checklist to confirm the agreement.
FLIGHT CLEARANCE INSPECTION
PRE FLIGHT CHECKLIST
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<S5> Flight Team Members must stay in the Pilot station or Visual Observer stations and out of the field during a Match. Once a Drone is placed in a legal starting position at the beginning of a Match, Pilots and Visual Observers must stay in their Pilot station or Visual Observer station until the Referee gives the All- Clear.
Flight Team Members should not break the plane of the Flight Zone other than during the interaction allowed by rules <TM3>, <T7>, or <AM12>
a . Flight Team members are allowed to momentarily step out of the Pilot Station or Visual Observer Station for safety reasons. b . Flight Team members are expected to return to the Pilot Station or Visual Observer Station as soon as it is safe to do so. c . Flight Team members are not allowed to leave the Pilot or Visual Observer Station for a strategic advantage. d. After a Match is completed, the Visual Observer may move to the Pilot Station. <S6> Stay in control of your Drone. Drones should remain within the Flight Zone. If a Referee determines that there is an immediate safety issue (e.g., Team isn’t in control of the Drone, or the Drone is too close to the audience), Grounding will be commanded.
Per <S3>, if a Referee determines that there is an immediate safety issue (e.g.,Team isn’t in control of the Drone, or the Drone is too close to the audience), Grounding will be commanded.
Examples Safe: The Drone momentarily moves outside of the Flight Zone. The Pilot returns the Drone quickly to the Flight Zone and remains in control of the Drone at all times.
Safe: The Pilot is maneuvering the Drone to move balls along the edge of the PVC and is in con- trol of the Drone at all times.
Unsafe: The Drone is 5 feet away from the Flight Zone and the Pilot is struggling to return to the Flight Zone.
Unsafe: The Pilot is flying close to the Referee or Visual Observer’s face.
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<S7> Batteries must be charged before launch. Teams will not be permitted to launch if the Drone indicates a low battery level. Teams are required to check the battery levels prior to a Match to ensure that the Drone is ready for flight before their Match.
<S8> Wear safety glasses. Team members are required to wear safety glasses in and around the Flight Zone.
<S9> Additional Safety Practices. Additional safety practices that a Team Coach or Flight Team Member have as part of their Team safety plan are allowed as long as it does not violate any of the rules listed in the Competition Manual.
Examples of optional safety practices: 1. Tie hair back 2. Remove loose jewelry 3. Wear a hard hat or safety vest 4. Wear closed-toe shoes
While a Team Coach or Flight Team Member may choose to implement additional safety practices for their own Team, an Event Partner is not allowed to add/enforce additional safety rules or practices at the Teamwork or Skills Fields that are not required in the Competition Manual.
<S10> Flight Team Members may not stand on objects. Standing on any sort of object (e.g. boxes, step stools, ladders) during a Match is prohibited.
<S11> Each Student Team member must have a completed participant release form on file for the event and season. A Student Team member cannot participate in an event without a completed release form on file.
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6 Tournament Rules
Tournament Rules apply to the Teamwork Mission, Piloting Skills Mission, and Autonomous Flight Mission. Head Referees <T1> Head Referees have ultimate authority on game play and drone rules during the event. a . Scorekeeper Referees are responsible for recording scores and may serve as observers or advisors to the Head Referee, but they may not make final decisions on rules or infractions. b . Violations of the RECF Code of Conduct may involve additional escalation beyond the Head Referee’s initial ruling, including (but not limited to) investigation by a RECF representative. Such escalation is typically reserved for serious cases related to rules <G1>, <G2>, and <G4>. c . Event Partners may not overrule a Head Referee’s decision. d . Every Qualification Match and Elimination Match must be watched by a certified Head Referee. 1. Head Referees may only watch one Match at a time; if multiple Matches are happening simultaneously on separate Fields, each Field must have its own Head Referee. e . At a minimum, every Skills Match must be watched by a trained Scorekeeper Referee, who may only watch one Match at a time. 1. If multiple Skills Matches are happening simultaneously on separate Fields, each Field must have its own Scorekeeper Referee. 2. A certified Head Referee must be available at the event to explain a rule, Disqualification, Violation, or other penalty to Teams in Skills Matches as needed in support of the Scorekeeper Referees at skills Fields.
<T2> Head Referees must be qualified. Head Referees must have the following qualifications:
a. Be at least 18 years of age and not a high school Student. b. Be approved by the Event Partner. c. Complete the Aerial Drone Competition Referee training. d. Possess the following attributes:
i. Thorough knowledge of the current missions and rules of play. ii. Effective decision-making. iii. Attention to detail. iv. Ability to work effectively as a member of a team. v. Ability to be confident and assertive when necessary. vi. Strong communication and diplomacy skills.
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<T3> Flight Team Members are permitted to immediately appeal the Head Referee’s ruling. If the Flight Team Members wish to dispute a score or ruling, the Pilot and Co-Pilot must stay at the field in the Pilot station until the Head Referee talks with them; the Visual Observer may move to the Pilot station. The Head Referee may choose to meet with the Flight Team Members at another location and/or at a later time so that the Head Referee has time to reference materials or resources to help with the decision. Once the Head Referee announces that their decision has been made final, the issue is over and no more appeals may be made. The Event Partner may not overrule the Head Referee’s decision (see rule <T1>). a . Head Referees may not review any photo or video Match recordings when determining a score or ruling. b . Head Referees are the only people permitted to explain a rule, Disqualification, Violation, Warning, or other penalty to the Team. Teams should never consult other field personnel, including Scorekeeper Referees, regarding a rule clarification. Communication and conflict resolution skills are important life skills for Students to practice and learn. In Aerial Drone Competitions, we expect Students to practice proper conflict resolution using the proper chain of command. Violations of this rule may be considered a Violation of <G1> and/or the Code of Conduct. Competition Fields and Matches <T4> One Drone at the Field. Teams may bring any number of Drones to a event, but only 1 Drone may be taken to the field for each Match. <T5> Flight Team Members are the only Team members allowed at the field. During a Match, each Team may have up to 3 Flight Team Members at the field and must remain in the identified Pilot and/or Visual Observer stations. <T6> Electronic communication devices are prohibited. Flight Team Members may not have/use any sort of electronic communication device in the Pilot Station or Visual Observer station. This includes any device that provides camera or video images. Devices with communication features turned off (e.g., a phone in airplane mode) are allowed. <T7> During a Match, Flight Team Members may retrieve their Drone for troubleshooting if the Drone has not completed takeoff. If after the start of a Match, the Drone has not completed a takeoff, then Students may momentarily reach into the Flight Zone to retrieve their Drone and troubleshoot. Common troubleshooting may include: • Turning the Drone on or off.
• Connecting or replacing a battery. • Pairing the Drone to the controller. • Performing minor, quick repairs.
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