Micromouse
In this contest the contestant or team of contestants design and build small self-contained robots (micromice) to negotiate a maze in the shortest possible time.
The Micromouse Maze
• The micromouse maze shall comprise 16 x 16 multiples of an 18cm x 18cm unit square. The walls constituting the micromouse maze shall be 5cm high. Passageways between the walls shall be l6.8cm. The outside wall shall enclose the entire micromouse maze.
• The maze is made of wood.
• At the centre of the micromouse maze shall be an opening composed of 4 unit squares. This central square shall be the destination.
• The sides of the maze walls are white, the tops of the walls are red, and the floor is black.
Note: Do not assume the walls are consistently white, or that the tops of the walls are consistently red, or that the floor is consistently black. Fading may occur; parts from different mazes may be used. Do not assume the floor provides a given amount of friction. It is simply painted plywood .
• The start line is located between the first and second squares. That is, as the mouse exits the corner square, the time starts. The destination goal is the four cells at the center of the maze. At the center of this zone is a post, 20 cm high and each side 2.5 cm. (This post may be removed if requested.) The destination square has only one entrance.
• The dimensions of the micromouse maze shall be accurate to within 5% or 2cm, whichever is less. Assembly joints on the micromouse maze floor shall not involve steps or gaps of greater than 1mm.
• Multiple paths to the destination square are allowed and are to be expected.
• The destination square will be positioned so that a wall-hugging mouse will NOT be able to find it.
Micromouse
• A micromouse shall be self-contained (no remote controls).
• The power source will normally be batteries, however alternative power sources will be permitted at the discretion of the judges.
• The micromouse must negotiate the micromouse maze; it must not climb or jump over the walls of the micromouse maze.
• Each micromouse should be fitted with a suitable hook or loop, for lifting the micromouse out from the centre of the maze, should this prove necessary. Contestants may not be allowed to climb over the micromouse maze.
• A MicroMouse should not jump over, fly over, climb, scratch, cut, burn, mark, damage, or destroy the walls of the maze.
• The dimensions of a MicroMouse that changes its geometry during a run shall not be greater than 25 cm x 25 cm. There are no restrictions on the height of a MicroMouse.
• The method of wall sensing is at the discretion of the builder; however, the micromouse must not exert a force on any wall likely to cause damage.
• In any case, the judges’ word shall be final and binding.
Abstract Submission
The participants are required to submit an abstract latest by 20th Feb, 2010. The abstract should contain following details:
• Mechanism used
• Robot specifications which will include weight ,dimensions, power
• Each and every possible detail of the robot as per the guidelines mentioned below.
Rules
• A team may consist of up to five people.
• Each contesting Micromouse is allocated a total of 15 minutes of access to the maze. Any time used to adjust a mouse between runs is included in the 15 minutes. Each run (from the start cell to the center zone) in which a mouse successfully reaches the destination square is given a run time. The minimum run time shall be the mouse’s official time.
Note:The 15-minute timer continues even between runs.
• All mice who enter the center square within their 15 minute allotment are ranked higher than those who do not enter the center square.
• Each run shall be made from the starting square. The operator may abort a run at any time. If an operator touches the Micromouse during a run, it is deemed aborted, and the mouse must be removed from the maze. If a mouse has already crossed the finish line, it may be removed at any time without affecting the run time of that run. If a mouse is placed back in the maze for another run, a one-time penalty of 30 seconds will be added to the mouse’s next run time.
• After the maze is disclosed, the operator shall not feed information on the maze into the Micromouse however, switch positions may be changed.
• The illumination, temperature, and humidity of the room shall be those of an ambient environment. (40 to 120 degrees F, 0% to 95% humidity, non-condensing).
Note: Do not make any assumptions about the amount of sunlight, incandescent light, or fluorescent light that may be present at the contest site.
• The run timer will start when front edge of the mouse crosses the start line and stops when the front edge of the mouse crosses the finish line. The start line is at the boundary between the starting unit square and the next unit square clockwise. The finish line is at the entrance to the destination square.
• Every time the mouse leaves the start square, a new run begins. If the mouse has not entered the destination square, the previous run is aborted. For example, if a mouse re-enters the start square (before entering the destination square) on a run, that run is aborted, and a new run will be deemed begun, with a new time that starts when the starting square is exited.
• The mouse may, after reaching the destination square, continue to navigate the maze, for as long as their total maze time allows.
• If a mouse continues to navigate the maze after reaching the destination square, the time taken will not count toward any run. Of course, the 15- minute timer continues to run. When the mouse next leaves the start square, a new run will start. Thus, a mouse may and should make several runs without being touched by the operator. It should make its own way back to the beginning to do so.
• The judges reserve the right to ask the operator for an explanation of the micromouse. The judges also reserve the right to stop a run, declare disqualification, or give instructions as appropriate (e.g., if the structure of the maze is jeopardized by continuing operation of the mouse).
• A contestant may not feed information on the maze to the Micromouse. Therefore, changing ROMs or downloading programs is NOT allowed once the maze is revealed.
However, contestants are allowed to:
- Change switch settings (e.g. to select algorithms)
- Replace batteries between runs
- Adjust sensors
- Change speed settings
- Make repairs
• However, a contestant may not alter a mouse in a manner that alters its weight (e.g. removal of a bulky sensor array or switching to lighter batteries to get better speed after mapping the maze is not allowed). The judges shall arbitrate.
• First prize will go to that mouse which travels from the start square to the destination square in the least amount of time. Second and third prizes will be awarded to the second and third fastest respectively. Mice that do not enter the center square will be ranked by the maximum number of cells they consecutively transverse without being touched. All mice who enter the center square within their 15 minute allotment are ranked higher than those who do not enter the center square.
• If requested, a break will be provided for a mouse after any run. The 15-minute timer will stop. When the mouse is re-entered, the timer will continue. The judges shall arbitrate on the granting of such breaks.
Contacts
G. Sankeerth
+91 95090-49777
sankeerth@bits-apogee.org
Rahul Raushan
+ 91 99835-26206
Shan Mohan
+91 9950675565
shanmohan@bits-apogee.org
