Rules
Every URKL team fights with the exact same robot. There's no building bigger blades or heavier armor here: the only thing that separates a champion from the rest of the field is the code. Here's how a fight actually plays out.
Based on the official URKL Competition Rules Manual, V1.0.0 (last updated March 2, 2026).
One Robot, Many Minds
Every team competes on an identical platform: the T800 humanoid robot. The hardware is the same for everyone, right down to the battery. Teams can't touch the core power module or control chip, and destructive or violent modifications are banned outright. What teams can do is write the software: motion control, balance algorithms, perception, decision-making, and fight tactics. It's a battle of code, not a battle of hardware, and the best algorithm wins.
Built to Fight Safely
Robots stand between 75 and 85kg (up to 90kg with protective gear on). Only non-destructive attack components are allowed, things like flexible striking blocks and pressure-sensitive attack heads. Sharp, rigid, or penetrating parts are banned, and so is anything involving high voltage, fire, or chemicals. Every robot also wears protective gear over its torso and head to absorb hits and keep the fight safe.
How a Fight Is Won
Each match is best-of-three rounds, and each round runs 5 minutes of net play time (the clock stops for pauses, resets, and repairs). A robot wins a round by knockout if its opponent goes motionless for 10+ seconds, can no longer stand or move, or loses its protective gear entirely. A round can also end in technical knockout if a robot suffers a malfunction that can't be fixed, or a team withdraws. If time runs out with no KO, the round goes to the team with more points, and a tied round goes to a 2-minute overtime, first to score or take control wins.
Falls and Resets
A robot has fallen when any part of its torso touches the ground and it can't get back up on its own within 10 seconds. When that happens, a referee can manually stand the robot back up in the reset zone, but each team only gets 2 manual resets per match. Run out of resets and go down again, and it's a technical knockout.
Timeouts and Repairs
Each team gets 2 tactical timeouts per match (60 seconds each) to regroup or swap batteries, and 1 emergency repair per match (up to 5 minutes) if something breaks mid-fight. Repairs are limited to fixing the malfunction, not swapping out major components.
The Road to the Championship
URKL runs as a season-long tournament. Open qualifiers start with an online simulation stage, followed by offline testing on real hardware. The top 16 teams split into four groups for a round-robin stage, with the top 2 from each group advancing to the quarterfinals. From there it's a single-elimination bracket through the semifinals, third-place match, and grand final.
What's at Stake
URKL's champion walks away with a gold championship belt worth 10 million yuan, with cash prizes for every team that finishes in the top 8. Every team that makes the top 16 keeps a T800 robot of their own.
The Arena
Fights happen inside a 6m by 6m hard-surface ring surrounded by a 2-meter safety fence, with red and blue zones marking each team's side. High-definition cameras and sensors ring the arena, tracking every hit, fall, and second on the clock.