Drone Soccer
Drone Soccer
Drone Soccer is a team competition played with sUAS (small Uncrewed Aerial System) aircraft enclosed in protective spherical cages. Matches take place within a netted playing area with teams standing outside each end zone. During each Set, a designated aircraft for each team, the “Striker”, attempts to score by flying through the opposing goal. All other aircraft act as defense to block the opposing team. The team with the most goals in the three minute duration wins the Set, and the Match is determined by best out of three Sets.
Drone Soccer 3D Field
Drone Soccer 20 CM.
Drone Soccer 40 CM.
Categories
20cm Competition (Team)
Primary School (Approximately ages 6-12)
- Junior High School (Approximately ages 12-15)
40cm Competition (Team)
- Junior High School (Approximately ages 12-15)
- Senior High School (Approximately ages 15-18)
Rules
Competition field
Playing Area
- Aircraft operate within a netted enclosure with participants and officials standing outside.
Dimensions
- 20cm competitions: 3m x 6m x 3m (10x20x10ft).
- 40cm competitions: 6m x 12m x 4.5m (20x40x15ft).
Markings
- Center Line divides offensive and defensive zones.
- Optional Starting Zone: 1m (20cm) or 2m (40cm) from the end zone line.
Pilot Area
- Extends 10 feet outside the end zone, within lateral confines.
- 20cm: Only active pilots in the Pilot Area; others assist from standby.
- 40cm: One coach may assist pilots in the Pilot Area.
Goals
- 20cm class: 40cm interior diameter, 60cm outer diameter, up to 10cm depth.
- 40cm class: 60cm interior diameter, 100cm outer diameter, up to 20cm depth.
Aircraft Size & Weight
- Two aircraft classes: 20cm and 40cm diameter cages.
- Cage must fully enclose aircraft components with up to 2cm truncation for stability.
- Max weight: 300g (20cm class), 1.1kg (40cm class).
- Largest cage opening: 150cm².
- Batteries: up to 4S (20cm class), 6S (40cm class).
- Cage must be durable to prevent propeller damage during collisions.
- FPV allowed for recording but not for piloting during gameplay; video channels must be coordinated with officials.
Team and Position Colors
- Airframes and cages should use bright team colors; avoid dark colors like black. Use a secondary color for rear orientation.
- Aircraft must have programmable LEDs in uniform team colors, visible from at least ¾ of the circumference.
- Rear and top LEDs indicate team positions:
- Striker: Green
- Forward: Red
- Center: Blue
- Sweeper: Yellow
- Keeper: White
- Tags on the bottom of the cage identify offensive aircraft: Striker (Green), Forward (Red).
Scoring & Defense
Scoring
- Only the Striker or eligible Forward can score by flying through the opposing goal.
- After scoring, all team aircraft must return to the defensive zone before another goal attempt.
Defense
- Any aircraft can block opponents, but hovering within or flying backward through their own goal is prohibited.
- Defensive maneuvers must adhere to specific guidelines to prevent penalties.
Competition Rules
Match Duration
- Each match lasts 30 minutes, including staging, game time, and repair intervals.
- Matches consist of 3 sets, each lasting three minutes.
- Repair intervals last 5 minutes but can be shortened if both teams are ready.
Results
- The team with the most points in each set wins.
- Matches are decided by the best of three sets. If tied, the winner is determined by sudden death overtime.
Pilots & Aircraft
- Five pilots control five aircraft per team. Substitutions are only allowed during repair intervals.
- Aircraft must be staged on time, and failure to field a minimum number of aircraft results in forfeiture.
Start Procedures
- Pilots place aircraft in the starting area, connect batteries, and verify readiness before leaving the playing area.
- The match starts after a ten-second warning from the official.
Awards
Prizes will be allocated based on the ranking of the competing teams. Certificates will be awarded to the winners of each category by Space Challenge Asia.
FAQs
The playing area for 20cm class drones is 3m wide, 6m long, and 3m tall. For 40cm class drones, the area is 6m wide, 12m long, and 4.5m tall.
- If the match is tied after three sets, the winner is determined by sudden death overtime. The first team to score in overtime wins the match.
Each team is allowed five pilots controlling 5 drones during gameplay. Substitutions can be made during the repair intervals but not during the set.
If a drone is damaged and cannot fly, the pilot must disarm the aircraft and place the radio on the ground. If the Striker is retired, the Forward may take over scoring duties through an in-air substitution.
A goal is scored when the Striker or an eligible Forward flies completely through the opposing team’s goal in the forward direction.
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