Micromouse - Professional Category

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1. Problem Statement

Micromouse is an autonomous self contained machine designed to get to the centre of a maze in the shortest possible time. A Micromouse essentially comprises of a drive motor or motors to move it; a steering and turning method; sensors to detect the presence or absence of maze walls; sensors or control logic to oversee the action of the rest and keep the vehicle 'on track' or to solve the maze; batteries to provide power.

Prizes worth INR 20,000 to be won.

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2.1 Maze Specifications

1. The maze shall comprise 16 x 16 multiples of an 180 mm x 180 mm unit square. The walls constituting the maze shall be 50 mm high and 12 mm thick. Passageways between the walls shall be 168 mm wide. The outside wall shall enclose the entire maze.
2. The sides of the maze shall be white, and the top of the walls shall be red. The floor of the maze shall be made of wood (plywood) and finished with non-gloss black paint (black-board paint).
3. Caution: 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 and may be quite slick.
4. The start of the maze shall be located at one of the four corners. The starting square shall have walls on three sides. The starting square orientation shall be such that when the open wall is to the "north", outside maze walls are on the "west" and "south". At the center of the maze shall be a large opening which is composed of 4 unit squares. This central square shall be the destination.
5. Small square posts, each 12 mm x 12 mm x 50 mm high, at the four corners of each unit are called lattice points. The maze shall be constituted such that there is at least one wall touching each lattice point, except for the destination square.
6. The dimensions of the maze shall be accurate to within 5% or 20 mm, whichever is less. Assembly joints on the maze floor shall not involve steps greater than 0.5 mm. The change of slope at an assembly joint shall not be greater than 4. Gaps between the walls of adjacent squares shall not be greater than 1 mm.
7. Multiple paths to the destination square are allowed and are to be expected.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

View the Mouse Specifications »

3.1 Mouse Specifications

1. A Micromouse should be self contained. It should not use an energy source employing a combustion process.
2. Although the superstructure of the mouse may 'bulge' above the top of the maze walls, the mouse must be subject to the following size constraints - width 250 mm, length 250 mm. There is no height limit. The mouse must be completely self-contained and receive no outside assistance.
3. The method of wall sensing is at the discretion of the builder (contact, reflective etc). However, the mouse must not exert a force on any wall likely to cause damage (Judges can debar any machine if it is likely to cause damage to the maze in anyway).
4. The method of propulsion is at the discretion of the builder, provided that the power source is non-polluting. If the judges consider that a mouse has a high risk of damaging or sullying the maze they will not permit it to run. Nothing may be deposited in the maze.
5. A Micromouse shall not leave anything behind while negotiating the maze.
6. A Micromouse shall not jump over, climb, scratch, damage, or destroy the walls of the maze.

View the Rules »

4.1 Competition Rules

1. Participants have to submit their machines to organizers at the time of registration at IIT Bombay.
2. All contesting machines shall be collected before the maze is unveiled.
3. A Single mouse can not participate in both Student as well as Professional Category.
4. After the maze is unveiled, the mouse handler is given 2 minutes, before the start of his run, to make any adjustments (if any) to the mouse sensors and calibrate the sensors. However, NO selection of strategies must be made and NO information on the maze configuration should be entered or captured into the memory. Any participant doing so will be disqualified instantaneously.
5. Each contesting Micromouse is allocated a total of 5 minutes of access to the maze after the 2 minutes sensor adjustment time. The maze-time clock will commence after the expiry of the 2 minutes time limit even if the handler is still making adjustments to the sensors.
6. Any time used to adjust a mouse between runs is included in the 5 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. 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
7. 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 Touch Penalty will be added.
   A search penalty will also be imposed on the mouse. Search time is defined as the time taken by a mouse to reach the center for the first time.
8. Winners will be decided on the basis of shortest official time which is calculated as:
   Points criteria:
   Official Time = Best Run Time + Touch Penalty + Search Penalty
   Search Penalty = 1/30th of the Search Time, in seconds
   Touch Penalty= (N/5)*(Best Run Time) Where N = Number of touches prior to the best run.
   For example, if a micromouse, after being on the maze for 4 minutes starts a run that takes 20 seconds to reach the destination after being touched twice ; the run will have a Official time of 20 + (2/5)*20+ 1/30th of (4 x 60 seconds) = 36 seconds.
   NOTE, again, that the 5-minute timer continues even between runs. If Micromouse does not reach the center of maze then judges will make a qualitative assessment of the Micromouse's performance, based on distance achieved, 'purposefulness' versus random behavior and quality of control.
9. All mice that enter the center square within their 5 minute allotment are ranked higher than those who do not enter the center square.
10. The starting procedure of the mouse should be simple and must not offer a choice of strategies to the handler. For example, a decision to make a fast run to the centre as time runs out must be made by the Micromouse itself. The starting procedure should be submitted to the judges when the mouse is registered on the day of the contest.
11. If a mouse 'gets into trouble' the handlers can ask the judge for permission to abandon the run and restart the mouse at the beginning (Touch penalty shall be added in this case).
12. Do not make any assumptions about the amount of sunlight, incandescent light, or fluorescent light that may be present at the contest site.
13. 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. The finish line is at the entrance to the destination square.
14. 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.
15. The mouse may, after reaching the destination square, continue to navigate the maze, for as long as their total maze time allows.
16. 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 5-minute timer continues to run. When the mouse next leaves the start square, a new run will start. Thus, for better "Run time", a mouse may make several runs without being touched by the operator. It should make its own way back to the beginning to do so.
17. 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).
18. 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:
    
    • Replace batteries between runs
    • Adjust sensors (gain, position etc.)
    • 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 declared is not allowed). The judges shall arbitrate.
19. The contestants should be prepared with the circuit diagrams, algorithms and code listings to convince the judges that any alteration they do in the total 5 minutes span does not add topological information about the maze to the mouse.

4.2 General Rules

1. Any team that is not ready at the time specified will be scratched from the competition automatically.
2. The machine will be checked for its safety before the race and will be discarded if found unsafe for other participants and spectators.
3. The name of your machine must be prominently displayed on the machine.
4. Judges decision shall be treated as final and binding on all.
5. The organizers reserve the rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit. Change in rules, if any will be highlighted on the website and notified to the registered participants.

4.3 Team Specifications

A team may consist of a maximum of 3 members.

4.4 Certificate Policy

1. Certificate of Excellence will be given to all the winners.
2. Certificates of Participation will be given to all the teams that are able to clear the elimination round at Techfest 2009.

4.7 Registration

Registration for Micromouse has started. Click here to register.

4.8 Accommodation

• Due to the limited accommodation facilities, teams will be short listed for accommodation based on the following abstract provided by the team. Please note that even if your abstract does not get short listed, you are still eligible to participate in the competition.
• All participants who want accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest should fill the abstract form and rename the .doc file as "<Team_no>.doc" and email the form to micromouse[at]techfest[dot]org. The abstract should reach us latest by 2359 hrs on 25th December 2008. No more requests for accommodation will be entertained thereafter.
• Click here to download the abstract format.
• Accommodation registrations have started. To register for accommodation, click here.

4.9 Important dates

1. Last date for registration for participant who don't require accommodation at IIT Bombay is 25th December, 2008. Participants need not send the abstract if they don't want the accommodation.
2. Last date for submitting the abstract for participants who require accommodation at IIT Bombay is 25th December, 2008.
3. Last date of registrations for the participants who wish to avail accommodation at IIT Bombay is 25th December, 2008.

View the FAQs »

5.1 FAQs

1. Am I eligible to participate in Micromouse?
   All those who have passed out from an educational institute are eligible to participate in the competition. A team may consist of a maximum of 3 members. Students from different educational institutes can form a team.


2. How can I register for the competition?
   Registration Process in online in nature. To register click here .


3. Is there any registration fees for the competition?
   Techfest does not charge any registration fees to any of the student/participant.


4. What is the Last date of Registration?
   Last date for registration for participant who don't require accommodation at IIT Bombay is 25th December, 2008. Participants need not send the abstract if they don't want the accommodation.
   Last date of registrations for the participants who wish to avail accommodation at IIT Bombay is 15th December, 2008.


5. How can I register for the accommodation?
   Teams will be short listed for accommodation based on the abstract provided by the team. All participants who want accommodation at IIT Bombay during Techfest should fill the abstract form and rename the .doc file as ".doc" and email the form to micromouse[at]techfest[dot]org. The abstract should reach us latest by 2359 hrs on 15th December 2008.
   Last date for submitting the abstract for participants who require accommodation at IIT Bombay is 15th December, 2008.
   Last date of registrations for the participants who wish to avail accommodation at IIT Bombay is 15th December, 2008.


6. What if my abstract doesn't get shortlisted?
   Please note that even if your abstract does not get short listed, you are still eligible to participate in the competition.


7. What if my machine exceeds the dimensions specified?
   Your machine must not exceed 250x250 (all are in mm).There is no restriction on height. You'll be disqualified from the competition if you don't adhere to given dimensions.


8. I am eligible for student or professional category?
   If you are a part of educational institute and hold a valid institute card then you qualify for the student category. However if you have passed out of educational institute and are working or self-emloyed then you fall under professional category. Note that no crossover is allowed for competition.


9. Is there any difference between Micromouse Professional Category and Student Category?
   Apart from the different sections that each targets, there is a slight difference in the point systems. A search penalty is imposed on the Professionals.
   For more details refer Competition Rules of both the problem statement.


10. Can I use a manually controlled machine for Micromouse?
    Micromouse is strictly for autonomous machines and manually controlled machines are not allowed.


11. If I use pcb's designed by us but printed and/or soldered from some professional firm, Then will it be considered readymade or not?
    No. It will not be considered readymade if you have designed it by yourselves. You need to prove that, the board is designed by yourselves. We will be checking eagle files(or any other software file) for the same.


12. Can I power supply be external?
    No. Power supply and all other circuit and their components should be onboard.


13. What material exactly will the arena be of? Will the paint be gloss finish or matte?
    The exact details of the arena has been updated at the website.
    For more details refer to Section 2.1 of the Problem Statement.


14. For how much time will I get to complete the maze?
    You will get a maximum time of 7 minutes which includes all the run times(including all reruns) as well as the time taken by the participant to make minor changes in their machines in between the runs. Before the run time you will get 3 minutes of calibration time. Note that even if you calibrate your machine before 3 minutes, the time will not be added to the run time.


15. Will all the teams get a certificate of participation?
    Your mouse should cover at least 16 cells and make at least two turns to qualify elimination rounds and hence get certificate of participation.


16. I have some more queries that are not given in this list. What should I do?
    You may contact micromouse[at]techfest[dot]org for any further doubts.