Format & Rules
Complete guide to the 2025 WRC Drone Speed Challenge. Each match is a 3-minute 2v2 team competition with two distinct stages.
Competition Overview
Venue Specifications
Arena: 6m x 4m competition field featuring Mission Zone, Player Movement Zone, Obstacle Zone, and Takeoff/Landing Zone. Safety barriers surround the entire arena.
Match Duration
Each match lasts 3 minutes. If the match ends in a tie, a 1-minute overtime is held where the first drone to complete Obstacle D wins.
Competition Stages
1. Group Round-Robin: Teams divided into groups of 4, each team plays every other team once (6 matches per group)
2. Tie-Breaking Stage: Additional matches if the number of group winners is not a power of 2 (e.g., reducing 10 teams to 8)
3. Elimination Stage: Single-elimination tournament format
Equipment Requirements
All teams must bring their own drones meeting these specifications:
- • Aircraft model: Quadcopter (four rotors)
- • Aircraft wheelbase: Maximum 180mm
- • Flight time: At least 5 minutes
- • Takeoff weight: Less than 250g (including protective guard and battery)
- • Protection design: Fully enclosed protective guard for flight safety
- • Control method: Must be controlled via physical remote controller
All equipment will be inspected by organizers before competition.
Stage 1 – Mission Zone
Each team flies their drone in a separate area and tries to knock down all 6 white pins. These are the only pins they're meant to hit. After successfully completing the mission, the drone must return to the take-off zone and notify the referee.
Penalty Pins and Time Penalties
If they knock down any of the 6 yellow pins (Penalty Pins), they receive:
• -3 points for each yellow pin hit
• 5-second time penalty - drone must land in takeoff zone and remain there for 5 seconds before continuing
• Penalty time starts when referee announces "Penalty Start" and ends with "Penalty Over"
Mission Completion
Teams must notify the referee upon mission completion. Only after referee confirmation can they proceed to Stage 2. The first team to complete moves to the Obstacle Zone.
Special Touch Opportunity
Each participant has ONE opportunity per match to intentionally enter the competition zone and touch their drone.
Rules for Special Touch:
- • Must raise hand to signal before entering the zone
- • Must immediately return to operator area after touching the drone
- • Can be used to adjust drone position, remove obstacles, etc.
- • Cannot be used to move objects, interfere with mission, or disrupt opponents
- • NOT allowed in Obstacle Zone
Stage 2 – Obstacle Zone
Both teams navigate through a shared course of four obstacles (A, B, C, D) following different paths based on team color. The finishing order determines Honor Points.
Team Paths
Red Team Path: B → A → C → D
Blue Team Path: A → B → C → D
Point D is the finish line. Rankings are based on the order drones pass through Obstacle D.
Strategic Rules
Teams may strategically disrupt opponent flight paths using drone maneuvers, but physical interference (blocking with hands or objects) is strictly prohibited and results in a red card (disqualification).
No Special Touch Opportunity is allowed in the Obstacle Zone.
Scoring and Ranking System
Teams are ranked using three criteria in this exact order:
1. Honor Points → 2. Regular Points → 3. Mission Zone Time
1. Honor Points – Based on Obstacle Zone finishing order
Awarded according to the combination of drone finishing positions in Obstacle Zone:
2. Regular Points – Used if Honor Points are tied
Calculated as follows:
• +2 points per white pin knocked down
• -3 points per yellow pin hit (penalty pins)
• -3 points per yellow card received
• -10 points per red card received
3. Mission Zone Time – Final tiebreaker
If both Honor and Regular Points are tied, the team with faster Mission Zone completion time (including all penalty seconds) is ranked higher.
Honor Points Award Table:
| Rank Combination | Honor Points |
|---|---|
| 1st place (solo) | 1 point |
| 1st & 2nd place (team) | 3 points |
| 1st & 3rd place (team) | 2 points |
| 1st & 4th place (team) | 1 point |
| 2nd & 3rd place (team) | 0 points |
| 2nd & 4th place (team) | 0 points |
| 3rd & 4th place (team) | 0 points |
Scoring Example:
| Team Name | Honor Points (Based on obstacle finish) | White Pins (+2 pts each) | Penalty Pins Hit (-3 pts each) | Yellow Cards (-3 pts each) | Red Cards (-10 pts each) | Regular Points (Total from above) | Mission Time (s) (incl. penalties) | Final Rank (Final position) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Falcons | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 55 | 1 |
| Blue Hawks | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 60 | 2 |
| Silver Sparks | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 58 | 3 |
| Golden Drones | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -1 | 65 | 4 |
Note: Red Falcons won due to highest Honor Points (3). Even though Silver Sparks had higher Regular Points (7) than Blue Hawks (6), Blue Hawks ranked higher due to better Honor Points (2 vs 1).
Violations and Penalties
Yellow Cards (–3 pts) are issued for minor infractions:
- ◦ Deliberately crossing into restricted zones or using body/objects to touch or block opponent drones
- ◦ Accidentally knocking over obstacles in mission zone (must restore to original position)
- ◦ Crossing into restricted areas and interfering with opponents
- ◦ Ignoring referee warnings or inappropriate behavior
- ◦ Disputing match results without valid grounds (after written appeal review)
Each team allowed up to 2 yellow card warnings. Third yellow card = red card.
Red Cards (–10 pts) are given for serious violations:
- ◦ Intentionally controlling drone to crash into field structures, spectators, or unrelated individuals
- ◦ Using unauthorized modifications or external signal devices to interfere with match
- ◦ Physical interference like blocking with hands or objects (automatic disqualification)
Red card = immediate stop of drone operation. Another team member may take over unless drone is in dangerous position (referee decision).
Safety Guidelines
Safety is our top priority. All participants must:
- • Carefully read and follow drone user manual and safety procedures before operation
- • Stay behind safety barriers when not competing - spectators and non-participants must remain behind barriers at all times
- • Immediately stop drone operation if malfunction occurs or safety risk is detected
- • Follow safety instructions from on-site personnel immediately
- • Never operate drones or related equipment near the venue without permission
Focus on safety, fair play, and showcasing technical skills. Good sportsmanship and respect for referees and opponents are essential.
Equipment Requirements Checklist
6 requirements remaining • Ensure your drone meets all specifications before competition！