ECE 100 - Fall 2012

Introduction to the Professions (ITP)

Competition Round 0

The maze competition will test your robot's navigation skills via touch sensors. The key to a winning performance lies in your robot's obstacle avoidance algorithm.

The competition rules are as follows:

1. All angles will be 90 or 270 degrees, i.e., square corners.
2. Dead ends are possible.
3. The maze will be constructed from the 2 foot and 4 foot lumber used in previous labs.
4. The narrowest path will be 2 feet wide.
5. The overall outside dimensions of the maze will be approximately 10 feet by 10 feet.
6. Your robot must start completely behind the starting line, i.e., outside the maze. In fact, your robot will be positioned by the TA, facing forward at the starting line.
7. Your robot must finish completely beyond the finish line, i.e., outside the maze.
8. Each team will run two trials.
9. The maximum time allowed per trial is 90 seconds. If your robot does not finish within 90 seconds, then it's position will be recorded.
10. If no robot finishes the maze, then the robot which gets closest to the finish during its trials will be declared the winner.
11. Both trials will be blind. Your robot will be tested on the maze, but you will not see the maze, nor watch your robot.
12. The laboratory TA will test your robot on the maze, record the outcome of the first trial and report back to you. You may then modify your robot in preparation for the second trial.
13. In each laboratory section, the top team will be awarded bonus points (0.2*teamwork_score) as described in the Lecture 1 slides.
14. The top four teams, across all of the laboratory sections, will compete in a lecture runoff on the Monday following the laboratory competitions.