
Maze Solver Challenge
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T the challenge is to build a small self-contained autonomous robot (Micromouse) to negotiate a maze in the shortest possible time. The Robot which will start on the START tile and reach the FINISH tile in the shortest time will be nominated as the winner.
- 300 Teams to participate in the Maze Solver challenge.
- All participants will get a certification of Participation from “All India Council For Robotics & Automation (AICRA)” and the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Govt of India.
- INR 100,000 to be awarded to winning teams.
- Eligibility Criteria: Entry is open for all age groups below 24.
Construction:
- Any robot kit or building material may be used if the robot fits the above specifications and if the design and construction are primarily the original work of the team.
- The robot must be controlled autonomously with no human aid. A MicroMouse shall not use an energy source employing a combustion process.
- A MicroMouse shall not leave any part of its body behind while navigating the maze.
- A MicroMouse shall not jump over, fly over, climb, scratch, cut, burn, mark, damage, or destroy the walls of the maze.
- The controller unit should be embedded in the robot and cannot be placed outside the robot.
- Prepare a video of 1 minute to 5 minutes (maximum 100 MB), showcasing team readiness, creativity, preparing for challenges, or anything to show passion to participate in TechnoXian. Share the video either on email at videosubmission@technoxian.in (as google drive or V transfer) or WhatsApp at +91 8924934336/9289095404 mentioning Your Team Registration ID. All videos will be uploaded on TechnoXian YouTube channel. The top 5 Maximum views will have special recognition at the tournament.
Dimensions: The following size limitations apply to each robot
- Width – maximum 15 centimeters
- Length – maximum 15 centimeters
- Height – 15 centimeters
Power Source:
- The robot must be powered by a power source such as a battery fixed on the robot.
- The Robot cannot be powered by a stationary power source connected to the robot by a cord.
- The COMPETITION FIELD consists of 16X16 SqF. The walls of the maze are 10 cm high and 1 cm thick (assume 5% tolerance for mazes). The maze comprises up to 14X14 SqF, for a total maze size of up to 196 SqF (assume 5-7% tolerance for mazes). The outside wall encloses the entire maze.
- The sides of the maze walls are white, the tops of the walls are red, and the floor is black. The maze is made of wood, finished with non – gloss paint.WARNING: 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.
- The maze floor may be constructed using multiple sheets of plywood. Therefore, there may be a seam between the two sheets on which any low hanging parts of a mouse may snag
- The start of the maze is located at one of the four corners. The start square is bounded on three sides by walls.
- 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.”
- 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.
- Small square zones (posts), each 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm, at the four corners of each unit square are called lattice points. The maze is so constituted that there is at least one wall at each lattice point.
- 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.
- Small changes will be made in final Arena.
- Note: Actual track design may vary from the one shown in the image below and subject to change before the event commence.
3D Model Arene: Move Cursor to View 360 degree
- Race clock: There are optical sensors that detect the robot’s start and stop movement. When the robot starts off from the START tile, the timer automatically starts to count the race time. As the robot reaches the FINISH tile, the timer automatically stops, and the recorded time value is saved.
- Trials: Every team will have maximum of 3 trial runs. After the trials are over, the fastest time achieved during those trials will be chosen for the team. One trial should not last more than 4 minutes. After the trial time is over, the TIME-UP BUZZER will sound, and the team will be asked to remove the robot from the COMPETITION FIELD. If the robot is on the field halfway and operating during the TIME-UP BUZZER sound, the team will be given 2 more minutes, so the robot operation is not interrupted.
- Contestants have 12 minutes of total access time to the track. Any time used to adjust a robot between runs is included in the 12 minutes. Maximum 3 attempts are allowed for each team and the best time out of these 3 trials will be the official runtime of the robot. Each run (from the start cell to the centre zone) in which a robot successfully reaches the destination square is given a run time. The minimum run time shall be the robot’s official time. First prize goes to the robot with the shortest official time. Second prize to the next shortest, and so on.NOTE, again, that the 12-minute timer continues even between runs. Robots that do not enter the centre square will be ranked by the maximum number of cells they consecutively transverse without being touched. All robots who enter the centre square within their 12-minute allotment are ranked higher than those who do not enter the centre square. If a robot is in mid-run when the ten-minute total time elapses, that attempt is finished and does not count. If no robots (or less than 3) finish their runs in under twelve minutes, ranking will be determined by the sole discretion of the judges. Robots that do not enter the centre square will be ranked by the maximum number of cells they consecutively transverse without being touched. However, judges are not required to give any rankings to robots who do not finish and may declare no winners or declare less than 3 winners at their discretion.
- Each run shall be made from the starting cell. 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 runtime of that run.
- Two timers are used for each contestant. One for the 12-minute total time, and a separate timer for each run within the total time.
- After the maze is disclosed, the operator shall not feed information on the maze into the MicroMouse however, switch positions may be changed for the purpose of changing programs within the robot (changing algorithms is allowed. Entering info on the maze is not allowed and does not constitute “changing algorithms.).
- 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).
- Beware: 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 robot crosses the start line and stops when the front edge of the robot 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 robot leaves the start square, a new run begins. If the robot has not entered the destination square, the previous run is aborted. For example, if a robot 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 robot may, after reaching the destination square, continue to navigate the maze, for as long as their total maze time allows.
- If a robot continues to navigate the maze after reaching the destination square, the time taken will not count toward any run. Of course, the 12-minute timer continues to run. When the robot next leaves the start square, a new run will start. Thus, a robot 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 robot).
- 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 can:
- Change switch settings (e.g. to change algorithms (for example from left-turning to right turning – again, entering data on maze size or content is NOT inclusive of this rule.)
- Replace batteries between run
- Adjust sensors
- Change speed settings
- Make repairs
Fastest reaching robot to finish line, will be considered as winner. Maximum 3 trials will be given to a team. Best time out of 3 trials will be considered. No human touch is allowed once robot activation button is pressed.
Team Members & Mentors:
- Minimum 2 members and maximum 10 members are allowed in each participating team. Multiple teams from same school/college can participate in the competition.
- Different Teams from the same school/college must use their own individual robots for the competition.
- It’s not mandatory to have coach for each team but a team can have a coach (only one) from the school or outside as a technical advisor.
- The coach will be seated in a supervisory position around the competition area and is not allowed to touch or repair the robots during the competition
- The coach should not be involved in the launching of the robots as this may lead to disqualification
- The robot must follow the design specifications provided. Any deviation from the mentioned specifications will lead to disqualification.
Fair Play:
- Robots that cause deliberate interference with other robots or damage to the field will be disqualified
- Humans that cause deliberate interference with robots or damage to the field will be disqualified.
- It is expected that the aim of all teams is to play a fair and clean game.
Behavior:
- Participants who misbehave may be asked to leave the competition area and risk being disqualified from the contest.
- The rules will be enforced at the discretion of the referees, officials, and local law enforcement authorities.
Organizing Committee:
- The organizing Committee is a union that consists of few communities and associations. The organizers of this competition are All India Council For Robotics & Automation (AICRA).
- All decisions about scoring, game play and timing are made by the juries. Teams should completely respect their vote and decisions. Members of the jury will be from different fields of the robotic science.
Venue : Noida Indoor Stadium, Noida-Delhi/NCR (India).
Registration Fee :
- For Indian resident: INR 2950/- (Inclusive GST) per team.
- For Non India resident: USD 200 per team.
Prize Bifurcation :
- INR 60,000 (1st Prize) | INR 25,000 (2nd Prize) | INR 15,000 (3rd Prize)
Registration mode : Online.
Accommodation : Hospitality Partners would provide accommodation at very affordable cost.
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