https://robotcombatwiki.com/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=SPARCSPARC - Revision history2026-11-08T19:51:57ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.11https://robotcombatwiki.com/index.php?title=SPARC&diff=942&oldid=prevRobotRobot: New page: overview of SPARC and its documents2026-10-17T05:30:56Z<p>New page: overview of SPARC and its documents</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>'''SPARC''' ('''Standardized Procedures for the Advancement of Robot Combat''') publishes a free set of rules and guidelines for running robot combat events. The documents are available at '''[https://sparc.tools/ sparc.tools]''' and are the most commonly used reference rules for events in the USA. Most events in the '''[[Robot Combat League]]''' use the SPARC rules or a variant of them.<br />
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==How events use SPARC==<br />
SPARC is not a league or governing body. It is a ready-made rulebook that any event can adopt, so organizers don't have to write their own, and builders can build one robot that is legal at many events.<br />
<br />
* Events can adopt the SPARC documents as-is or change parts of them. The documents point out the rules that events most often change, and offer common alternatives (marked as "options").<br />
* Some things are off by default and only allowed if an event turns them on, such as fire, smoke, tethered projectiles and internal combustion engines.<br />
* An event that changes the SPARC rules is expected to publish its changes before the event.<br />
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'''Builders:''' always read the event's own rules page as well. Even when an event says it runs SPARC rules, local changes are common, especially for arena-related limits like spinner tip speed, magnets and weapon types. See '''[[Rules#Local rules|Local rules]]'''.<br />
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==The documents==<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! Document !! What it covers !! Current version<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Tournament Procedures|Tournament Procedures]]''' || Weight class names, re-weighing during an event, unsportsmanlike conduct || {{SPARC Tournament Procedures}}<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Match Rules|Match Rules]]''' || Loading and activating robots, match length and formats, un-sticks, knock-outs, pins, pits and emergency procedures || {{SPARC Match Rules}}<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Judging Guidelines|Judging Guidelines]]''' || How judges score a match that goes to a decision || {{SPARC Judging Guidelines}}<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Robot Construction Specifications|Robot Construction Specifications]]''' || Safety and build rules: weight bonuses, radios, batteries, pneumatics, hydraulics, forbidden weapons || {{SPARC Robot Construction Specifications}}<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Restricted Class Regulations|Restricted Class Regulations]]''' || Extra limits for the Sportsman and Plastic classes || {{SPARC Restricted Class Regulations}}<br />
|-<br />
| '''[[SPARC Arena Construction Best Practices|Arena Construction Best Practices]]''' || Recommendations for building and running a safe arena || {{SPARC Arena Construction Best Practices}}<br />
|}<br />
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==Versions==<br />
SPARC updates its documents from time to time, and each new version highlights what changed since the previous one. The '''[https://sparc.tools/ sparc.tools]''' home page always links to the current version of each document, and older versions are kept on the '''[https://sparc.tools/archive.html SPARC archive page]''' for reference. If an event names a specific version of a SPARC document, use that version for that event.<br />
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==See also==<br />
* '''[[Rules]]''' &ndash; other rule sets and judging systems<br />
* '''[[RobotClasses|Robot Classes]]''' &ndash; weight classes and weight bonuses<br />
* '''[[Sportsman Classes]]''' and '''[[Plastic Antweights]]''' &ndash; restricted classes<br />
* '''[[Events]]''' &ndash; finding and running events<br />
* '''[[Test Boxes]]''' &ndash; test arenas for your own shop<br />
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{{SPARC documents}}</div>RobotRobot