HTC

HTC - Technical Regulations

Technical Regulations.

All vehicles participating in the "Hard Truck Contest" competitions must meet the following requirements:

1. Models of the freight trucks build with LEGO are participating.
1.1 Models of the real trucks as long as verisimilar models of own design are allowed to compete. Various futuristic vehicles are not allowed.
1.2. Models made in "Technic" style (i.e. hollow frame solutions) are prohibited, since such imitation can not result in scaled model of the prototype, and the model will be much lighter than the rest of competitors. It is assumed that the "System" body will be built on "technic" base, however wide usage of other elements (Technic beams) is allowed, the main object is the absence of unnecessary holes in the body.

2. The scale of the trucks is 1 to 22. In this scale:
2.1. The main width is 14 studs (this corresponds to the maximum width of the truck 2500 mm). It is measured on the front bumper, fenders, wheels, fuel tanks (side fairing).
2.2. The deviation of + / -0.5 stud is acceptable, as well as small protruding elements (ring wings, wheels, mirrors, pipes).
2.3. The external diameter of the wheels must be 43.2 mm (a list of suitable wheel is stated in Annex 3).

3. Number of axles, including steering and drive is not regulated.

4. LEGO Power Functions (PF) system is used to drive the truck.
4.1. Traction motor - 1 XL motor of Power Functions system.
4.2. The main transmission gear ratio is fixed - drive-up 3:5. That is, every 3 turnovers the XL motor shaft accounts for 5 turnovers of the driving wheels.
4.3. The steering system may contain any number of any LEGO motors. We recommend using one the M motor as the most accessible and directly compatible with the PF.
4.4. You can use custom design remote transmitters compatible with the PF protocol.
4.5. Participant must use only one channel (assigned at the draw). Unauthorized switching to other channels, as well as obstruction to other users is prohibited.
4.6. Only one standard battery pack with six AA elements (batteries or rechargeable batteries) is allowed, the total voltage of no more than 9V.
4.7. All electrical items must be mounted on the truck and to be hidden or incorporated in the design of the model.

5. The coupling mechanism of the truck must have the characteristics specified in Annex 4 to be compatible with trailers.

6. The following modified and non-Lego components are allowed, as long as that they do not affect the running characteristics and are not dangerous to the other competitors:
6.1. Flat stickers. Must not be structural element design (stick together the different parts) and occupy more than 50% of the surface of the model.
1.2. Painted elements. Coverage should not be "glue" parts, painted structures should remain dismountable. Painted elements may occupy no more than 20% of the surface of the model.
1.3. Rubber rings, tubes. Should not be the structural element.
1.4. Cords, ropes, wires. Should not be the structural element.
1.5. Lamps, LEDs, sound devices. If used should be completely covered with LEGO elements.
1.6. Small (no more than 2x2x2 studs) decorate elements: icons, manufacturer logos, figures on the hood. No more than 6 pieces per model.
Note 1: Using of any non-standard parts in the drive-wheel is prohibited
Note 2: The participant must notify the organizers if any non-standard parts are used no later than three days prior to the race round. The notification should be accompanied by high quality photos of all parts of the model to be studied by the commission of judges. In case of missing notification the organizers reserve the right to disqualify the model in accordance with violation of the requirements set forth

HTC - General Rules

The main object of the race is to drive through the circuit and transport a certain amount of cargo.

1. Type of cargo and other details are determined by the organizers before the competition. Cargo and trailers are provided by the organizers.

The judge is selected to monitor the following to the rules and to make decisions in difficult situations. One or several assistants from the spectators could be chosen by the judge for more accurate monitoring. Competitors may participate in the organization process, but can not be judges or assistants.

3. The judge or a special technical assistant checks the models for the technical regulations compliance before the competition. Trucks not meeting the technical restrictions are not allowed to compete.

4. After the technical inspection the participants are registered for the competition. Each truck is weighed, if its weight is less than minimum allowable for the race (the recommended minimum is 1 kg), it receives the additional load (provided by organizers) to the meet required minimum.

5. After the technical inspection and registration for the drawing is held.
There may be different formulas of the competition, but you will need to ensure that:
5.1. Each race is attended by 4 or even 3 participants. Due to PF IR remote control limitations no more than 4 people can participate simultaneously (4 different control channels). The number of participants less than 3 simplifies the race and reduces amount of entertainment.
5.2. The final stage is following the cup system - the half of the participants are eliminated after each round, while at the preliminary stage would benefit multiple and repeated rounds.

This is due to the fact that many newcomers (despite repeated recommendations) are paying insufficient attention to the reliability of the models of the trucks. So giving them a few attempts at the very beginning of the competition is essential. Usually experienced racers take part in the final stages do not need additional training, and multiple rounds lower the rate of the competition. Examples of the competition with the different number of participants are shown in the Annex 1.

6. The typical scenario of a single round as follows:
6.1. The participants align their trucks (with no trailers attached) along the start line in numerical order of channels allocated to them.
6.2. The trucks begin moving according to the judge's signal.
6.3. The challenge is drive through the specified circuit and carries out all tasks (to carry the load).
An example of the round and the typical configuration of the circuit are given in the Annex 2.

7. Points are scored as following: the participant, finished first, receives 4 points, the next - 3 points, then - 2 points and the last gets 1 point. In addition, depending on the number of completed tasks, each participant may receive up to 6 additional points; the total maximum is 10 points.

8. Before the distribution of places among the participants of the round, the half of the points earned in "beauty contest" is added to the points received in the race, with the exception of the final round, when all points from the "beauty contest" are taken into account.

9. During the racing round, the participants are not allowed to touch the trucks on the circuit, except specially provided repair sites. Simple repairing of the trucks is allowed in these areas (without using additional elements details), but the truck has to get to repair site on its own.

10. The truck received physical damage remains in the race. The truck is eliminated from the race only if it loses control due to the significant damage. The truck eliminated from the race is assigned the last position possible (the truck eliminated second is assigned the second position, counting from the last and so on).

11. Only judge is allowed to step to the race track. The judge appears on the race track only in the situations when participants can not continue the movement not due to their fault, e.g. traffic jam. In this case all participants are to lay down their remote controllers by the judge's signal and do not touch them until the problem is resolved and new signal.

12. Each participant may prepare several trucks for the competition. If several trucks of one owner are taking part in one round inviting the driver is possible.

New Hard Truck Contest dates

The next round of Hart Truck Contest will take place on 4 April 2009 in MAMI University in cooperation with Russian radio controlled model cars Championship. The participants from different cities as well as different countries are expected. Prior to this, the test and training stage will be held on 22 March 2009 in secondary school #996. The participants and spectators are to pre-register to pass to the event.

Hard Truck Contest

What is Hard Truck Contest?

This is exciting new competition and anyone can take part in it. The main objective of the project is a cheerful challenge, which main characters are your own-built models of trucks!
This is freightage and display of driving and design skills. The beauty and design are as important as durability and reliability. Each challenge will have its own interesting goals and features, and each participant will be able to feel like real truck driver!

1. First you build the model of a truck on a scale of 1 to 22.