This manual guides you through a high-tech competition where drones and ground robots are used to simulate an emergency response mission inside a nuclear power plant. Just like real-world energy professionals, you’ll navigate tight and hazardous spaces, restore communications, and safely handle dangerous materials using unmanned systems. Through these challenges, you’ll gain hands-on insight into how robotics and cybersecurity keep critical infrastructure safe and running.
COMPETITION MANUAL
AERIAL DRONE COMPETITION PRO RECF DRONES.RECF.ORG VERSION 1.0
REC Foundation Permission This Competition Manual is the exclusive intellectual property of Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Inc. (“RECF”). RECF grants you a limited license to use this Competition Manual only in connection with official RECF events. All other uses are expressly prohibited without RECF’s written authorization. You may not modify, copy, prepare derivative works, publicly display, distribute, or remove any copyright or other proprietary notations in this manual. Any use of this manual for commercial purposes without RECF’s permission is strictly prohibited. To request authorization to use this manual for any other purpose, or if you have any questions about the scope of permissible uses, please contact RECF at Drones@recf.org.
Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Aerial Drone Competition
Version 1.1 03.25.26
©2026, Robotics Education & Competition Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
AERIAL DRONE COMPETITION PRO • RECF
Table of Contents
04 Section 1 - Introductions 04 Overview 06 ADC Pro Missions 08 Note from the ADC Pro Game Design Committee (GDC) 09 The Q&A System 10 Changelog 10 Quick Guide Reference
54 Section 4 - Skills Missions 54 Skills Mission Overviews 55 Skills Mission Field Overview 56 Skills Mission Definitions
63 Skills Mission Scoring 71 Skills Mission Rules 73 Autonomous Skills Mission Specific Rules 75 Piloting Skills Mission Specific Rules 76 Skills Ranking
15 Section 2 - General Definitions & Rules 15 General Competition Definitions 22 General Competition Rules 26 Safety Rules 28 Tournament Rules 32 ADC Pro Championship Qualifying Process 33 Section 3 -Teamwork Mission 33 Teamwork Mission Overviews 34 Teamwork Mission Match Overview 34 Teamwork Mission Field Overview 35 Teamwork Mission Definitions 41 Teamwork Mission Scoring 47 Teamwork Mission Rules 50 Teamwork Mission Matches & Ranking
77 Section 5 - Communication Mission & Awards 77 Overview
77 Communication Mission Rules 78 ADC Pro Competition Awards
80 Section 6 - Drone and Robot Rules
85 Section 7 - Teamwork Field Layout & Measurements
88 Section 8 - Skills Field Layout & Measurements
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1 INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation’s (RECF) Aerial Drone Competition Pro (ADC Pro) offers a unique hands-on learning experience that fosters essential STEM skills, including design, piloting, programming, and problem-solving, all within the context of unmanned aerial vehicles (“Drones”) and unmanned ground vehicles (“Robots”). The competition environment mirrors real-world scenarios, demanding teamwork, critical thinking, and innovation to overcome mission challenges. Students learn to collaborate effectively, hone their communication skills, and build the resilience needed to tackle future obstacles. Along the way, they gain a deep understanding of flight principles, engineering design, computer science, documentation, and interpersonal skills, while igniting a passion for drone-related careers.
Mission 2026-2027: “Off Grid” Drones and robots aren’t just for sci-fi movies. They’re transforming how we power the world from the inside out. Inside power plants and other energy facilities, drones can fly through tight spaces like boiler rooms, turbine halls, and ventilation shafts to inspect equipment up close. Using downdraft and other integrated actuation systems, drones can interact with their surroundings to perform tasks such as moving objects, clearing debris, or triggering switches. This helps maintain critical systems in hard- to-reach or hazardous areas without direct human contact. Ground robots can safely navigate through areas with high heat or radiation to collect data or perform small tasks. This kind of technology keeps workers out of harm’s way and helps keep the power flowing smoothly and safely. In this competition, you’ll step into the role of a high-tech first responder, using drones and robots to simulate a hacking response mission at a nuclear power plant. Just like real-world technicians, you’ll use aerial drones and ground robots to restore communications and safely move hazardous material. This hands-on experience mirrors the way professionals in the energy industry use unmanned systems to respond to emergencies, perform maintenance, and keep critical infrastructure running. By completing these competition tasks, you’ll get a glimpse of how cutting-edge technology is used in real careers. You might even discover a future in cybersecurity, robotics, or the power industry waiting for you.
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ADC PRO MISSIONS Teamwork Mission
1
The mission is played on a 20’x20’ divided field that has a 10’ high netted enclosure. In Teamwork matches, two Alliances, one “red” and one “blue”, composed of two Teams each, compete in two-minute Teamwork Matches. Each team competes with one drone and one robot. Teams must work together with their Alliance partner to attain a higher score than the opposing Alliance. The Teams are randomly paired with their Alliance partners during the initial Teamwork Qualification Matches, and then the top-ranked teams will select their Alliance partners to compete in the Teamwork Elimination Matches. Autonomous Flight Skills Mission In this challenge, Teams compete individually to program both a drone and a robot to operate entirely autonomously, earning points as they complete various tasks. Each Autonomous Skills Match is 60 seconds, and teams will have the opportunity to complete up to three Autonomous Skills Matches at an event. Piloting Skills Mission In this challenge, Teams compete individually to pilot a drone and drive their robot through obstacles, and strive to optimize their time to complete the tasks. Each Piloting Skills Match is up to 60 seconds, and teams will have the opportunity to complete up to three Piloting Skills Matches at an event. Communications Mission During the Communications Mission, Teams will interview with Judges to answer questions about their Team, game strategies, engineering design process, programming, safety practices, careers, and competition notebook.
2
3
4
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Teamwork Mission Field
Figure 1.1 Teamwork Mission Field
Skills Missions Field
Figure 1.2 Skills Mission Field
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NOTE FROM THE ADC PRO GAME DESIGN COMMITTEE (GDC) The rules contained in this competition manual are written to be enforced by human Head Referees. Many rules have “black-and-white” criteria that can be easily checked. However, some rulings will rely on a judgment call from this human Head Referee. In these cases, Head Referees will make their calls based on what they and the Scorekeeper Referees saw, what guidance is provided by their official support materials (the competition manual and the Q&A), and most crucially, the context of the Match in question. The ADC Pro competition does not have video replay, the fields do not have sensors to count scores, and events do not have the resources for extensive review conferences 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 in the moment. The ADC Pro GDC designs games and writes rules, with this expectation (constraint) in mind.
GDC GAME DESIGN COMMITTEE
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THE Q&A SYSTEM When first reviewing the competition manual, it’s natural to have questions about situations that may not be immediately clear. Navigating the manual and finding answers to these questions is an important part of understanding the rules. In many cases, the answer may be located elsewhere in the document. If there is no rule explicitly prohibiting something, it is typically allowed! However, if a team is still unsure after thoroughly reviewing the relevant rules, they can submit their questions to the REC Foundation ADC Pro Question & Answer (Q&A) forum for official interpretations. All responses in the Q&A system are official rulings from the ADC Pro Game Design Committee and represent the correct interpretation of the rules. The ADC Pro Q&A forum is the only official source, aside from the competition manual, for rule clarifications. The ADC Pro Q&A Forum:
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 were 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 relevant clarifications that are needed should always be re-asked in the current season’s Q&A.
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UPDATES AND CHANGELOG This manual may be updated over the course of the season. Each version is official and must be used in official events until the release of the next version, upon which the previous version becomes void. Any updates will be listed below in the Changelog.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
General Competition Rules <G1>
Treat everyone with respect.
<G2> <G3>
The ADC Pro Competition is a Student-centered program.
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>
<G5> <G6> <G7>
The Q&A system is an extension of this competition manual. Only registered Teams may compete in an ADC Pro Competition.
Only official ADC Pro Events are allowed.
The Event Partner has ultimate authority regarding all non-gameplay decisions during an event.
<G8>
<G9>
ADC Pro Events must follow the ADC Pro Qualifying Criteria.
Safety Rules <S1>
Teams may only fly their drones in a designated Flight Zone.
<S2> <S3> <S4> <S5> <S6>
Students must be accompanied by an Adult.
Stay in control of your Drone.
Stay in the Alliance or Mission Crew Stations and out of the field during a Match.
Mission Crew Members may not stand on objects.
Wear safety glasses.
Each Student Team member must have a completed participant release form on file for the event and season.
<S7>
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Tournament Rules <T1>
The Head Referee has ultimate authority on ruling decisions during the Matches.
<T2> <T3> <T4> <T5>
Head Referees must be qualified.
Mission Crew Members are permitted to immediately appeal the Head Referee’s ruling. Mission Crew Members are the only Team members allowed at the field.
Electronic communication devices are prohibited.
Fields at a competition must use official ADC Pro Field and Game Elements purchased from Drone Competition Gates unless otherwise noted.
<T6>
<T7> <T8> <T9>
Fields at a competition, must be consistent with each other.
Be prepared for field minor variances. Match replays are allowed, but rare.
<T10> Disqualifications. <T11> World Skills Rankings.
Teamwork Mission Scoring
<TS1> It’s not over until it’s over. <TS2> Scored Pump. <TS3>
Score a Power Cell on the Comms Tower Drop Zone. <TS4> Score a Power Cell in the Comms Tower Supply Station. <TS5> Scored Fuel. <TS6> Parked Drones and Robots. <TS7> Docked Drone.
Teamwork Mission Rules
<TM1> Starting A Match.
Mission Crew Members will report to their Alliance Station after placing their Drones and Robots.
<TM2>
<TM3> Hands out of the Teamwork Mission Field. <TM4> Keep Scoring Objects in the field. <TM5> Entanglement with the net. <TM6> Don’t enter your opponent’s Field Zone. <TM7> Robot interaction with Fuel is limited.
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Teamwork Mission Matches & Ranking <TMR1>
Qualification Matches follow the Match schedule. Each Team will have at least five Qualification Matches.
<TMR2> <TMR3>
Qualification Matches contribute to a Team’s ranking for Alliance Selection.
<TMR4> Send a Team representative to Alliance Selection. <TMR5> Each Team may only be invited once to join one Alliance. <TMR6> The number of Alliances is determined by the number of teams at that event. <TMR7> Each Elimination Alliance gets one three-minute Time Out. <TMR8> Elimination Matches follow the Elimination Bracket. <TMR9> Elimination Matches are a blend of “Best of 1” and “Best of 3”. <TMR10> Ties in Elimination Matches lead to limited rematches.
Skills Mission Scoring <SS1> Real Time Scoring - it’s a team effort! <SS2> Scoring Tasks are only counted once per Match. <SS3> Fly through the Panel Holes. <SS4> Complete a Color Match on a Multi-color Pad.
<SS5> Fly under the Arch Gate. <SS6> Fly through Keyhole Gate. <SS7>
Score the Canister in a Decontamination Zone. <SS8> Park the Drone and Robot in the Containment Bay. <SS9> Docked Drone. <SS10> Finish your Piloting Match early.
Skills Mission Rules <SM1>
Drone and Robot starting positions.
Mission Crew Members will report to their Mission Crew Station after placing their Drones and Robots.
<SM2>
<SM3> Hands out of the Skills Mission field. <SM4> Skills Field Element and Scoring Object starting positions. <SM5> Robots need to stay in the Field. <SM6> Drones need to stay in the Flight Zone.
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Autonomous Skills Mission Rules <AM1>
Autonomous means “no humans.” <AM2> Resetting a Drone or Robot during an Autonomous Skills Match.
Piloting Skills Mission Rules
<PM1> Piloting Skills Control. <PM2> No resetting during a Piloting Skills Match. <PM3> Piloting Skills Match Stop Time.
Skills Mission Matches and Ranking <SMR1> Skills Mission Match Schedule. <SMR2> Autonomous Flight and Piloting Mission Skills rankings.
Communication Mission Rules <C1>
All Teams must receive an interview.
<C2> <C3> <C4>
No Team may earn more than one judged award.
Judges must follow the criteria and award descriptions as presented in the Judges’ Guide. Judges must follow the criteria and award descriptions as presented in the Judges Guide.
Piloting Skills Mission Rules
The following awards are official ADC Pro Competition awards that may be given out at local events.
<A1>
<A2>
Larger events can give out additional Performance Awards.
Mission 2026-2027 ‘Industry Insights Award’ Topic: Powering the Future with Drones and Ground Robots
<A3>
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Drone and Robot Rules
Teams must bring at least one Teamwork Drone, Skills Drone and Robot to an ADC Pro Com- petition.
<DR1>
<DR2>
Drones and Robots at the field must be ready to play.
<DR3> Drones and Robots must pass inspection. <DR4> One Drone and one Robot at the Field.
Drones and Robots may not include materials that pose a safety risk or may damage the field or floor.
<DR5>
<DR6> Fabricated parts must be made by Team Members. <DR7> Keep your Drones and Robots together. <DR8> Don’t intentionally clamp or entangle your Drone or Robot to the Field. <DR9> Teamwork Drone Requirements. <DR10> Skills Drone Requirements. <DR11> Teamwork and Skills Robot Requirements. <DR12> Teamwork Drones and Robots must have license plates. <DR13> Decorations are allowed. <DR14> There is a difference between accidentally and willfully violating a Drone and/or Robot rule.
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2 General Definitions & Rules
GENERAL DEFINITIONS These terms apply to all aspects of the ADC Pro Mission 2026-2027 Competition. See the Teamwork Mission and Skills Mission sections for specific definitions for those Match types. Adult Anyone who is not a Student or another defined term (e.g., Head Referee). All Adults must abide by the RECF Student Centered Policy <G2> and follow the rules described in the definition of a Coach regarding interactions with Students and competition vehicles.
All Clear A signal given by the Head Referee that Teams may retrieve their Drones and Robots.
Coach An Adult mentor who supports and facilitates student learning. A Coach may provide instruction, guidance, and feedback, but may not design, repair, code, update, or directly work on the competition vehicles (Drones or Robots). All work on competition vehicles 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 Students on the Team, reflecting their understanding and ownership of the competition. See the RECF Student Centered Policy <G2>. Disablement A penalty applied to a Team for a safety Violation. A Team that receives a Disablement is not allowed to operate their Robot and/or Drone for the remainder of the Match at the Head Referee’s discretion. • If the Drone receives a Disablement, then the Pilot will be asked to land their Drone, if the Drone is not already landed, and place their controller on the floor. • If the Robot receives a Disablement, then the Driver will be asked to place their controller on the ground. • The Head Referee can decide to apply the Disablement to one or more vehicles during a Match.
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Disqualification A penalty applied to a Team for a Major Violation. A Team that receives a Disqualification in a Teamwork Qualification Match receives zero Win Points, zero Match Points, and zero Strength of Schedule points for the Match. When a team receives a Disqualification in a Teamwork Elimination Match, the entire Alliance is Disqualified, and they receive a loss 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.
Note: 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 An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that has passed inspection, designed to execute one or more tasks autonomously or using a controller. The ADC Pro competition utilizes two types of Drones: • Teamwork Drone: A customizable drone used only in the Teamwork Matches. See <DR9>. • Skills Drone: A stock drone used only in the Autonomous Skills Matches and Piloting Skills Matches. See <DR10>. Entanglement A Robot or Drone status. A Robot or Drone is Entangled if it has grabbed, hooked, or attached to an opposing Robot, Drone, or a Field Element.
Event Staff Any Volunteer who helps an Event Partner run an event.
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 REC Foundation, the event volunteers, and the event attendees. Field A designated area to conduct Matches that includes Field Elements and Game Elements specific to the Match type. • The Teamwork Field consists of the Teamwork Field Perimeter, Teamwork Field Elements, Teamwork Game Elements, and the Floor. • The Autonomous Skills and Piloting Skills Fields are configured the same and consist of Skills Field Elements and Skills Game Elements.
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Field Element The equipment used to conduct Matches and are specific to the Match type. • Teamwork Field Elements consists of the Teamwork Field Perimeter, Cooling Pools, Comms Tower, and Recovery Pads. • Autonomous Skills and Piloting Skills Field Equipment consists of the Arch Gate, Barriers, Coding Mats, Keyhole Gate Assembly Multi-color Pads, and Fly Through Panels. 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 physical or virtual ceiling of approximately 10 feet. • The Flight Zone at a Teamwork Mission Competition Field is the internal volume enclosed by the netted Teamwork Field Perimeter. • The Flight Zone at a Skills Mission Competition is identified by the outer edges of the Coding Mats. See <SM6>. • The Flight Zone at Practice or Testing Areas will be defined by the Event Partner. Floor • Teamwork Match Floor: The interior part of the Teamwork Field that is bounded by the Teamwork Field Perimeter. See Rule <T7> about allowable Floor Types for Teamwork Matches. • Skills Match Floor: The floor of the Skills Fields consists of the four Coding Mats included in the official Skills Field Kit. • Venue Floor: The floor of the event venue that is outside of the Teamwork Match Floor or Skills Match Floor. Game Design Committee (GDC) The creators of the ADC Pro Competition and the authors of this competition manual. The GDC is the only official source for rules clarifications and Q&A responses. Head Referee An impartial volunteer responsible for enforcing the game rules as written. Head Referees are the only individuals who may discuss rule interpretations or scoring questions with Teams at an event.
Judge Advisor An impartial volunteer responsible for managing the Judging process and Judges at an event.
Judge A volunteer responsible for interviewing Teams at an event to evaluate the Judged Awards.
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Match A set time period during which Teams play a defined version of Mission 2026-2027: Off Grid. Teams compete in Teamwork, Piloting Skills, and Autonomous Skills Matches.
Autonomous Period (m:ss)
Pilot / Driver Controlled Period (m:ss)
Match Type
Participants
Two Alliances (red/blue), each composed of two Teams with one Teamwork Drone and Robot each One Team with one Skills Drone and Robot One Team with one Skills Drone and Robot
Teamwork Match
None
2:00
Autonomous Skills Match
1:00
None
Piloting Skills Match
None
1:00
Mission Crew Member(s) A Student on their Team who stands in the designated area at the field and oversees the operation of the Drone and/or Robot during the Match. Adults are not allowed to be Mission Crew Members. Mission Crew Members can be one of the following roles: • Driver: A Student who operates the Robot during the Match. • Pilot: A Student who operates the Drone during the Match. • Mission Specialist: Additional Student who supports the Driver and Pilot during the Match.
Mission Crew Station Designated area next to the Skills Field where Mission Crew Members stand during a Skills Match.
No-Fly Zone Anywhere in or around a venue that is not a Flight Zone.
No-Show If no Students from a Team are at the Field at the start of a Teamwork Match, the Team will be considered a “No-Show” and receive a score of zero for the Match, zero Win Points, and zero Strength of Schedule Points. Robot An unmanned ground vehicle that has passed inspection, designed to execute one or more tasks autonomously and/or by remote control from a Driver. Robots are used in Teamwork Matches, Autonomous Skills Matches, and Piloting Matches.
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Scored A status applied to a Scoring Object.
Scorekeeper Referee A Volunteer who is designated to score the Teamwork Mission or Skills Mission Matches. Scoring Object A game object used to score points in a Match. • Teamwork Scoring Objects: Fuel, Power Cells, and Pumps. • Skills Scoring Object: Canister Student A person is considered a Student if they meet both of the following criteria: 1. Anyone who is earning or has earned credit toward a secondary school (i.e. 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. Note: The ADC Pro Competition is designed for High School Students (13+ years old). Younger students (i.e., Middle School) may “play up” and compete as High School Students, but Coaches and parents should carefully consider safety and age level recommendations by the vehicle manufacturers to determine if it is appropriate. Team One or more Students make up a Team. • A Team is made up of Pilot(s), Driver(s), Mission Specialist(s), Coder(s), Builder(s), Designer(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 own Team during an event and throughout the competition season. • Students may only be associated with a single Team throughout the competition season. Teams are not allowed to borrow Students from other Teams, including teams from their school or organization (See <G4> for more details and allowable exceptions). • Teams may be associated with schools, community/youth organizations, or a group of neighborhood Students. • All Teams are considered High School Teams.
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In the context of this Competition Manual, Teams include three types of Student roles relating to the building, design and coding of the Drones and Robots. Adults may not fulfill any of these roles (Refer to the RECF Student-Centered Policy for full details. See Rule <G2>). • Builder: The Student(s) on the Team who assembles and repairs the Drones and/or Robot. • Coder: The Student(s) on the Team that develops the code used to control the Drones and/or Robot. • Designer: The Student(s) on the Team who design the Teamwork Drone and Robot.
Violation The act of breaking a rule in the competition manual.
Minor Violation: A Violation that does not result in a Disqualification. • Accidental, momentary, or otherwise non-Match Affecting Violations are usually Minor Violations. • Minor 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 that results in a Disqualification. • Unless otherwise noted in a rule, all Match Affecting and Score Affecting Violations are Major Violations. • Multiple Minor Violations within a Match or tournament may escalate to a Major Violation at the Head Referee’s discretion. Match Affecting: A Violation in a Teamwork Match that changes the winning and losing Alliance in the Match. • Multiple Violations within a Match can cumulatively become Match Affecting. • When evaluating if a Violation was Match Affecting, Head Referees will focus primarily on any Teamwork Drone or Robot actions that were directly related to the Violation. • Determining whether a Violation was Match Affecting can only be done once the Teamwork Match is complete and the scores have been calculated to determine if the Violation changes which Alliance won or lost the Match. Score Affecting: A Violation in an Autonomous Skills or Piloting Skills Match which improves the Team’s score at the end of a Match. • Multiple Violations within a Match can cumulatively become Score Affecting. • When evaluating whether a Violation was Score Affecting, Head Referees will focus primarily on any Skills Drone or Robot actions that were directly related to the Violation. • Determining whether a Violation was Score Affecting can only be done once the Match is complete and the score has been calculated.
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Some rules include Violation notes to denote special circumstances or provide additional clarifications. If no Violation notes are found in a given rule, then it should be assumed that the above violation definitions apply. To determine whether a Violation may have been Match Affecting in a Teamwork Mission Match, check whether the Team that committed the Violation won or lost the Match. If they did not win the Match, then the Violation could not have been Match Affecting, and it was very likely a Minor Violation. See the flowchart for more information.
Rule is Violated
Does the rule have specific guidance or examples for Major vs Minor Violations?
Evaluate Major / Minor Violations according to rule
Yes
No
Was the Violation Match Affecting or Score Affecting?
Yes
Major Violation and Disqualification
No
Has the Team / Alliance already received multiple Minor Violation for this rule?
Yes
No
Minor Violation and formal warning
Figure 2.1 Violation Flowchart
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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GENERAL COMPETITION RULES
<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 REC Foundation 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 REC Foundation 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… • Okay for Team Members in the Match to consult with a Head Referee to discuss a ruling per the process outlined in a calm and respectful manner. • Not okay for 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… • Okay for Teams in an Alliance to develop a game strategy that utilizes the strengths of both Drones and Robots to cooperatively solve the game. • Not 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. <G2> The ADC Pro Competition is a Student-centered program. Adults may provide instruction, guidance, and feedback, but may not design, repair, code, update, or directly work on the competition vehicles (Drones or Robots). All work on competition vehicles 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
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during a Match must come from the Students on the Team, reflecting their understanding and ownership of the competition. Students must be prepared to demonstrate an active understanding of their Drone and Robot, including their design process 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 or Robot fails, it is… • Okay 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 or Robot without Students present and actively participating. When a Team encounters a complex programming concept, it is… • Okay for an Adult to guide a Student through a flowchart to understand its logic. • Not okay for an Adult to write a code for that Student to copy / paste. During competition, it is… • Okay for an Adult to provide cheerful, positive encouragement as a spectator. • Not okay for an Adult to explicitly shout step-by-step commands or instructions from the audience. • Not okay for an Adult to tell Team Representatives which Alliance Partner to pick.
This rule operates in tandem with the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy, which is available on the REC Foundation website for Teams to reference throughout the season.
<G3> Use common sense. When reading and applying the rules in this document, please remember that common sense always applies in the ADC Pro 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 rules infractions. However, there is a limit to this allowance, and repeated or strategic infractions will still be penalized.
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<G4> Each Student can only belong to one Team, and all work must represent the skill level of the Students on the Team. A Team is made up of Mission Crew Member(s), Pilot(s), Driver(s), Designer(s), Coder(s), Visual Observer(s), Builder(s), Notebooker(s), and other Student support members. No Student may fulfill any of these roles for more than one ADC Pro Team in a given competition season. Students may swap roles or have more than one role on their own Team. (E.g., a Pilot may also be the Coder, and the Coder can also be a Driver) a. The Team’s Robot and Teamwork Mission Drone design, coding, strategy, and ongoing work must represent the skill level of the Students currently on the Team. i. Teams may use Robot and Drone assembly instructions provided by the vehicle manufacturer or the REC Foundation, but are encouraged to use these only as a starting point that Students modify, improve, or replace as their skills increase. ii. Students are encouraged to explore and learn from external libraries, example code, and online resources to build their skills. However, all code used on the Drones and Robots must be assembled and authored by the Team’s own Students to reflect their current skill level. iii. While Teams may be inspired by publicly available strategies, design ideas, or code, they should not directly copy or rely on designs or code created by others, including Adults, Coaches, or Students from other Teams. Instead, Students should use those resources as learning tools and develop their own unique solutions. b. Team members may 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, illness, 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 programs for multiple Drones, or one Student Driving the Robot 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. c. When a Team qualifies for a Championship event, the Students on the Team attending the Championship event 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 Pilot or Driver. i. An exception is allowed if only one member of the Team is able to attend the Championship event. The Team can make a single substitution of a Pilot or Driver 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.
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Violation Notes: Violations of this rule will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, in tandem with the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy as noted in <G2>, and the REC Foundation Code of Conduct as noted in <G1>. All reported and/or suspected <G4> Violations should be reported to the Event Partner during the event, and should be reported to the REC Foundation Rules and Conduct Committee following the event. Note: Event Partners should bear in mind rule <G3> and use common sense when enforcing this rule. It is not the intent to punish a Team that may have a Team member move to another Team due to illness, changing schools, conflicts within a Team, etc. Event Partners and referees are not expected to keep a roster of any Students. This rule is intended to block any instance of loaning or sharing Team members to other Teams for the sole purpose of gaining a competitive advantage. <G5> The Q&A system is an extension of this competition manual. All Teams must adhere to all ADC Pro rules as written and must abide by the stated intent of the rules. Every Team has the opportunity to ask for official rules interpretations in the ADC Pro Question & Answer (Q&A) system. All responses in this Q&A system should be treated as official rulings from the ADC Pro Game Design Committee, and they represent the correct and official interpretation of the ADC Pro competition rules. The Q&A system is the only source for official rulings and clarifications. The ADC Pro Question & Answer system can be found at https://aerialdroneforum.org/c/2025-26-adc-pro-q-a/19 <G6> Only registered Teams may compete in an ADC Pro Competition. To participate in an official RECF ADC Pro competition event, a Team must first register at www.RECFevents.org. Violation Notes: Violations of this rule will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, in tandem with the REC Foundation Student Centered Policy as noted in <G2>, and the REC Foundation Code of Conduct as noted in <G1>. <G7> Only official ADC Pro Events are allowed. All ADC Pro events must be posted on www.RECFevents.org by Event Partners approved by the REC Foundation. Organizations that are interested in hosting an ADC Pro event should contact the REC Foundation at drones@recf.org.
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<G8> The Event Partner has ultimate authority regarding all non-gameplay decisions during an event. The Game Manual is intended to provide a set of rules for successfully playing an ADC Pro competition; it is not intended to be an exhaustive compilation of guidelines for running an ADC Pro competition event. Rules such as, but not limited to, the following examples are at the discretion of the Event Partner and should be treated with the same respect as the Game Manual. • Venue access • Pit spaces • Health and safety • Team registration and/or competition eligibility (consistent with the RECF Qualifying Criteria) • Team conduct away from competition fields • Adult conduct at or away from the competition fields <G9> ADC Pro Events must follow the ADC Pro Qualifying Criteria. To provide a positive and consistent event experience, ADC Pro events must follow the REC Foundation ADC Pro Qualifying Criteria. This policy outlines event types, Qualifying Event requirements, and the process for qualifying for Championship Events. Exceptions to the ADC Pro Qualifying Criteria must be approved by the REC Foundation prior to or during the Event. Failure to do so may result in the Qualification spots being reduced or removed from the Event. In extreme cases, organizations may lose their Event Partner status at the discretion of the REC Foundation.
SAFETY RULES
<S1> Teams may only fly their drones in a designated Flight Zone. Teams may not fly their Drones in any area that is not designated as a Flight Zone. Teamwork Drones are required to be flown in an enclosed netted area. 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 ADC Pro event without a responsible Adult supervising them. The Adult is subject to all rules of the ADC Pro event and must be present in case of an emergency. If an Adult is removed by the Event Partner due to inappropriate conduct and they are the only Adult at the event supervising the Team, then the entire Team will be required to leave unless they can designate another Adult representative.
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<S3> Stay in control of your Drone. a. Skills Drones should remain within the Skills 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), the Referee can instruct the Team to land and Disable the Drone. b. Teamwork Drones should be flown with control, and should not damage the Field Perimeter, Field Elements, other Drones, or Robots. The Head Referee will have final discretion and can instruct the Team to land and Disable their Drone if the Team poses a safety risk during a Match. <S4> Stay in the Alliance or Mission Crew 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, Mission Crew Members must stay in their designated Alliance Station or Mission Crew Station until a Referee gives the all-clear. a. Mission Crew Members should not break the plane of the Flight Zones other than during the interaction allowed by rule <TM3> or <SM2>. b. Mission Crew Members are allowed to momentarily step out of the Alliance or Mission Crew Stations for safety reasons, but should return when it is safe to do so.
<S5> Mission Crew Members may not stand on objects. Standing on any sort of object (e.g., boxes, step stools, ladders) during a Match is prohibited.
<S6> Wear safety glasses. Team members are required to wear safety glasses in and around the Flight Zones.
<S7> Each Student Team member must have a completed participant release form on file for the event and season. All Students on Teams must have a completed participant release form on file in RECFevents.org to participate in ADC Pro events. • Primary and/or Secondary Coaches are responsible for ensuring the Participant Release Forms are uploaded prior to the competition day. • Event Partners will have Volunteers verify that the completed participant release forms have been uploaded during Team Check-in.
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TOURNAMENT RULES
<T1> The Head Referee has ultimate authority on ruling decisions during the Matches. a. Scorekeeper Referees score the Match and may serve as observers or advisers for the Head Referees, but may not determine any rules or infractions directly. b. Violations of the REC Foundation Code of Conduct may involve additional escalation beyond the Head Referee’s initial ruling, including (but not limited to) investigation by an REC Foundation representative. <G1>, <G2>, and <G4> are the only rules for which this escalation is likely to be required. c. Event Partners may not overrule a Head Referee’s decision. d. Every Match on the Teamwork Mission competition field must be watched by a Head Referee. e. Event Partners may designate a second Head Referee to oversee the Skills Mission Matches.
<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 ADC Pro Head 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> Mission Crew Members are permitted to immediately appeal the Head Referee’s ruling.
If the Mission Crew Members wish to dispute a score or ruling, at least one of the Mission Crew Members for that Match must stay at the Field in the Alliance station or Mission Crew Station until a Head Referee talks with them. The Head Referee may choose to meet with the Mission Crew 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. 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, Disablement, 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 an important life skill for Students to practice and learn. In ADC Pro 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. <T4> Mission Crew Members are the only Team members allowed at the field. During a Match, each Team may have up to three Mission Crew Team Members at the field and must remain in the identified Alliance or Mission Crew Station. It is up to the Team’s discretion on which students are in the Mission Crew for each Match, but once a a. Team has reported for a Match, the Mission Crew Members must remain the same for the duration of the Match. b. During a Match, Students in the Mission Crew can interchange roles during a Match. For example, a Student who is driving a Robot for the first 30 seconds of a Match can hand over the control to another Driver for the remainder of the Match. <T5> Electronic communication devices are prohibited. Mission Crew Members are prohibited from bringing/using any sort of communication devices into the Alliance or Mission Crew Stations, even if powered off. This includes any device that provides audio, camera, or video images. Devices with communication features turned off (e.g., a phone in airplane mode) are allowed. a. Students are allowed to use headphones during a Match, provided the headphones are not used to communicate with other devices. The Student may be asked to demonstrate to the Head Referee that the headphones are not communicating with other devices (example: Airplane mode.)
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