Brawls & Boogaloos
CIRC has hosted some of the largest hobby robotics competitions in the Midwest featuring RC Combat and autonomous competitions. Currently the club’s interest is focused on autonomous events and we do not have plans to host RC Combats any time soon, though we may at some time in the future as our interests change.
Below you will find the most up-to-date rules for the various events that may be featured at our competitions. If you have any questions about the rules please contact our club officers or bring your question to one of our monthly meetings.
Sumo (example video):
500 gram
3 kg
Line Course (example video):
Line Following
Line Maze
Others
Cone Stalking
Art Bot
RoboMagellan
Checkers on a Sumo Ring
Best in Show
LEGO Sumo
RC Combat (example video):
1 lb (Antweight)
3 lb (Beetleweight)
Competition Plans for 2026
We are planning to hold three Bot Brawl and Build Sessions in 2026. The tentative dates are January 24, April 25, and October 24. Based on interest, we will choose events from the following list based on interest and preparedness:
- Mini Sumo
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Cone Stalking
- Robomagellan
- Pick-n-haul (Rules being developed)
- Lawn Mowing
- Drone
- Line Drag Racing
- Circle Touch
Some events that would be nice to host are as follows. To have these events we’ll need to develop rules, buy the parts, build the robots, and find the time to do the work. One step at a time with a little luck and perseverance, we’ll offer them at some point in 2026.
- Mobile Platform Pull – RC or autonomous yard-wagons pull loads under different conditions.
- Autonomous Lawn Mowing
- Mega Sumo (3 kg)
- Hockey Sumo – Mini sumos on a ring push randomly placed pucks into their respective goals.
- Micromouse Wall Maze – Standard sized micromouse robots and course. Need to build the course.
- Something else we haven’t dreamed about yet. If you have an idea, let us know at president@circpeoria.org.
Our Bot Brawl and Build Sessions are designed to be fun and induce us & you to build hobby robots. The competitions are held in the morning, with trophies awarded to the top three competitors in each event and congratulations awarded to all the competitors. The Build Session is held in the afternoon and is a time to work on bots and talk bots and generate fantastical ideas for bots.
We request that people let us know two weeks beforehand of what events they plan to compete in. Even if you are not certain you will be ready in time, let us know of your hopes to compete so we can plan accordingly and host the event you want. Do this by emailing Bruce at president@circpeoria. The sooner the better.
We will post the final list of events on our web and Facebook pages 2 weeks before each Brawl and Build. The cost to enter will be $10 per bot per event to be paid at check-in. Lunch will be ordered from a local restaurant and a donation jar will be used to cover the cost for those interested. The location will be the clubhouse at Izaak Walton Lake on 725 Seven Hills Road, Metamora, Illinois. Visitors are welcome and there will be no cost to watch.
These competitions will be run with the emphasis on comradery, learning, and the general enjoyment of hobby robotics.
If you have questions or suggestions, email Bruce at president@circpeoria.org.
December 11, 2025 at 10:12 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos, Competitions | No comment
Bot Boogaloo 2025 Fall
We have tentatively selected the date and events for our final Bot Boogaloo of the year. The date will be November 15, 2025. We will hold it at the same place as the last few have been held, the Izaak Walton Lake clubhouse located at 725 Seven Hills Road, Metamora, IL. Registration for each robot in each event is $10. Attendance is free to all. Once again this competition will be on the casual side with trophies given to the top three places. The focus is on us all having fun and learning from each other.
For the competitions listed, we will give out trophies for the top three places if there are enough competitors. Robomagellan and Circle Touch will require two or more competitors. The other events will require three or more. If you plan on competing or have questions, please contact us at president@circpeoria.org. Rules will be posted on the Brawls and Boogaloos page. If the rules are final or tentative, they will be marked appropriately.
- Official Competitions
- Mini Sumo
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Robomagellan
- Drag Race
- Circle Touch
- Demonstrations
- Autonomous Drone
- Pick-n-Haul
- Inverted Pendulum
Schedule
- 9:00 AM Registration opens
- 10:00 AM Events start
- 12:30 PM (estimated) Trophies awarded
- 1:00 PM (estimated) Lunch
- 1:30 PM (estimated) Build Session
- 4:30 PM (estimated) Pack up
Our Build Session in the afternoon is an informal opportunity for all those interested to work on their projects, talk robotics, and exchange expertise. All are welcome.
July 24, 2025 at 5:05 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment
Final Lineup Tweaked for Bot Boogaloo 2025 Spring
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Mini Sumo
- Circle Touch – New contest. Run this event to have fun and see how rules stand up.
- Line Drag Race – New contest. Run this event to have fun and see how rules stand up.
- New competition idea demonstrations – Members share new contest idea and demonstrate.
- Pick-n-haul: Plan next steps
- Robomagellan – Maybe discuss club robomagellan bot.
If you plan on attending to watch or participate, please contact president@circpeoria.org so we can plan accordingly.
June 11, 2025 at 8:42 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos, Competitions | No comment
Bot Boogaloo 2025 Spring Date Moved
The date for Bot Boogaloo 2025 Spring has been moved to June 21.
The events will be:
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Cone Stalking
- Robomagellan –
- Demonstrations or competitions
- Circle Touch – New event. Tabletop competition similar to Cone Stalking. Developing rules and course.
- Lawn mowing – Demonstration possibly.
- Drag Race – Developing rules and course.
- Inverted pendulum demonstration.
The line up of events may change depending on interest and preparedness. The final line up will be finalized May 14th. If you will be competing, let us know so we can plan accordingly. Contact president@circpeoria.org with questions or registration. Details will be posted here and on our Facebook page.
April 25, 2025 at 3:38 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos, Competitions | No comment
Bot Boogaloo 25 Winter Almost Here
February 18, 2025 at 1:04 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment
Bot Boogaloo 2025 Winter
The first of our three Bot Boogaloos 2025 is fast approaching. Saturday, February 22nd is the date. The confirmed events for Bot Boogaloo 2025 Winter will be –
- Mini Sumo
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Cone Stalking
We hope to have some robotic demonstrations.
We may have a head-to-head line follow drag race competition. We’re still figuring out if we’ll have enough time to get bots and a drag strip ready. Time time time.
Details for the event are posted below. If you have questions, contact Bruce at president@circpeoria.org.
Non-members are welcome to compete or just watch. No charge for admission. There will be a registration fee for each bot entered of $10. Lunch will be provided for a charge to cover the cost.
January 16, 2025 at 9:53 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos, Competitions | No comment
Competition Plans for 2025
CIRC will host three Bot Boogaloos in 2025! They will be held about 4 months apart. The starting time will be 10:00 AM. The extra time in the afternoons will be used as a Build Session.
Planned dates and events are as follows:
February 22 (Saturday after President’s Day weekend)
- Mini Sumo
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Cone Stalking
- Demonstrations
June 21
- Line Follow
- Line Maze
- Cone Stalking
- Robomagellan
- Demonstrations
September 27 (Saturday about halfway between Labor and Columbus Days)
- Mini Sumo
- Pick-n-haul (Rules being developed)
- Robomagellan
- Lawn Mowing
- Drone
- Demonstrations
The events may change from the list above based on interest, preparedness, and the season. Some additional events that the club has interest in and may add are:
- Mobile Platform Pull – RC or autonomous yard-wagons pull loads under different conditions
- Line Racing – Head-to-head racing of bots on a course of parallel lines
- Mega Sumo (3 kg)
- Hockey Sumo – Mini sumos on a ring push randomly placed pucks into their respective goals
- Micromouse Wall Maze – Standard sized micromouse. Need to build the course.
We request that competitors pre-register one month beforehand by emailing president@circpeoria.org. The final list of events will be finalized one month before each Boogaloo. The cost to enter will be $10 per bot per event to be paid at check-in. Lunch will be ordered from a local restaurant and a donation jar will be used to cover the cost for those interested. The location will be the clubhouse at Izaak Walton Lake on 725 Seven Hills Road, Metamora, Illinois. Visitors are welcome and there will be no cost to watch.
These competitions will be run with the emphasis on comradery, learning, and the general enjoyment of hobby robotics.
If you have questions or suggestions, email Bruce at president@circpeoria.org.
November 24, 2024 at 4:02 pm | Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment
Bot Boogaloo 2024 Update
As our Bot Boogaloo 2024 approaches we are wrapping up our final planning and organizing. We have heard from some competitors that they will be attending. If you plan to attend, please email us at president@circpeoria.org. This will help us ensure we have what we need to make this a fun competition.
The address for Izaak Walton Lake clubhouse is 725 Seven Hills Road. The clubhouse is at the end of the road.
For more details, see the post below.
October 15, 2024 at 12:41 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment
Announcing Bot Boogaloo 2024
Central Illinois Robotics Club [CIRC] will be hosting their Bot Boogaloo 2024 on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Start time will be 10:00 AM. The end time will be determined by the number of contestants. The location will be at the clubhouse for Izaak Walton Lake, Metamora, IL.
All the events are autonomous unless indicated otherwise. Rules are available for each event via the links below. If the event does not have a link, the rules have not been finalized yet and will be finalized at the competition.
Mail-in entries will be accepted. Live streaming of all events is planned.
If you have questions or suggestions, email president@circpeoria.org.
Registration will be the day of or in advance. If you plan on competing, please let us know at the email above so we can plan appropriately.
After the competitions, we will have a Build Session where people work on their projects as they see fit. The Build Sessions are very informal and fun.
Events planned are:
-
Line
-
Sumo
-
Way Point
-
Lawn Mowing
-
RC Drone competition
Demonstrations possible:
-
ROxX
-
Hockey Sumo
- Line Racing
-
Wall Maze (simple)
-
Inverted Pendulum
February 10, 2024 at 2:54 pm | Announcements, Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment
Bot Brawl Cancelled for 2021
We will not be hosting a Bot Brawl in 2021. We had hoped that the global pandemic would have settled down enough by now, but there is still too much uncertainty. Hopefully by August 2022, conditions will allow for us to again have fun hosting one of the best and biggest RC Combat competitions for Ant and Beetle weights.
July 7, 2021 at 12:54 pm | Brawls & Boogaloos | No comment