WEEK 7

Literature Review

Rules and Specifications for the Competition 

Specifications:                 

  The micromouse must be self-contained and not use an energy source employing a combustion process. The length and width is restricted to a square region of 25 cm x 25 cm even if the dimensions change its geometry during a run shall not exceed 25 cm x 25 cm. The height is unrestricted. The micromouse should not jump over, climb, scratch, damage, or destroy the walls.                                

 Maze:                                 

  The maze comprised of 16 x 16 multiples of an 18cm x 18cm unit square. The walls were 5 cm high and 1.2 cm thick. Passageways between the walls were 16.8 cm wide. An exterior wall enclosed the entire maze. The sides of the maze were painted white and the top of the walls red. The floor of the maze was made of wood and finished with non-gloss black paint. The coating on the top and sides of the walls were selected to reflect infrared light and the coating on the floor to absorb it.                                                                      

 Time:                                  

  Each participant in the competition was given a time limit of 15 minutes to have their robot run through the maze. Within this time limit, a micromouse can make as many runs as possible.                                  

 Accuracy:                           

  The micromouse was able to detect and avoid collisions with walls. The robot needed to make 90 degree turns and be able to correct itself with proper alignment. The micromouse is evaluated based on the time taken to go from the starting square until it reaches the finish square (the center of the maze). Once the center is reached initially, the mouse needs to continue to explore the maze until it finds the shortest path. The total time is measured from the time the robot is first activated. The team whose mouse compiles the lowest.