Problem Statement

Build an autonomous line follower robot which would negotiate the obstacles and navigate to the empty parking slot through an inversion track

Arena Specifications

The arena will have 3 parallel tracks which are indicated by lines of width 3 cm. The designed track will have inversion (both black lines on white background and white lines on black background ) The distance between any two adjacent tracks will be 30 cm. Obstacles will be placed on each track *. The bot has to navigate to the empty parking slot and indicate the completion of the task. Before entering the parking zone, the bot has to indicate the reach of checkpoint. At the checkpoint, 5x5 array of IR-LED’s will be placed at the right side of each track. The obstacle will be a white color wooden block of dimensions 5 cm x 5 cm x 10 cm. The arena has a 3 X 3 square grid and may have sharp turns. There are parking slots available at one end of the arena. At any point of time, only one parking slot is empty. The filled in parking slot will be a space of 30cm x 30cm x 20cm 3-walled box as shown below. The same can be used for signaling the completion of task.

Sample Arena

The lines specified are not straight necessarily.
The diagram is not to scale. 

Dimensions and Fabrication

1. The bot must fit within a square of dimensions 20cm x 20cm. There are no heightconstraints.
2. Each machine must be stable and should be able to stand on its own at the beginning of the race when put in the start zone. Machines not fulfilling this criterion will be disqualified.
3. During the run, the machine can expand itself provided it does not damage the arena in anyway. However, it is not allowed to leave anything behind or make any marks while traversing the arena. No machine can separate or split into two or more units. All machines found damaging the arena will be immediately disqualified. The final decision is at the discretion of the judges.
4. The teams are allowed to use readymade sensor kits. But use of Lego kits and any other readymade components is not allowed.
5. Each machine brought in by the team must be clearly labeled with the team name.

Power Supply and Propulsion

1. The bot must use an on-board power supply. No external power supply will be allowed.
2. Each team shall prepare its own power supply for all its machines.
3. The potential difference between any two points on any of the machines must not exceed 12 V DC.

Controls

1. The bot must be completely autonomous.
2. It should not receive any external help during the course of the run.

Game Rules

1. Maximum time given for completing the task is 10 minutes.
2. The robots shall be placed completely within the Start Areas. The starting procedure of the robot should be simple and should not involve giving the machine any manual force or impulse in any direction.
3. Before each match begins, the participants should clearly describe how their robot detects the obstacles and indicates at the check point and on task completion.
4. Each Machine is supposed to indicate with a suitable indicator (LED, Buzzer, etc.), clearly visible to the judges, when the bot has reached the check point and on completion of the task. This indicator should be off at all other times. Any team unable to indicate this accurately, will incur a penalty.
5. A robot may be asked to start on either the leftmost or the rightmost track. The participants must be able to specify this input dynamically (e.g. : using switches ).
6. During a restart, the machine will have to be restarted by putting it back on the respective start zone. For a restart, the machine will have to be in Power Off mode. And turned on again at the start zone on the signal of the judges. In a restart, the timer will not be set back to zero.
7. During restarts, a contestant may not feed information about the arena to the machine. However, contestants are allowed to: Adjust sensors (Gain, Position etc.), Change speed settings and Make repairs. However, a contestant may not alter a machine in a manner that alters its weight (e.g. removal of a bulky sensor array or switching to lighter batteries to get better speed). The judges shall arbitrate. The points earned by the team till that time will be retained.
8. Each team is allowed a maximum of 5 restarts. All restarts require the approval of the presiding Judges before the machine can be removed from the arena.
9. The participants are requested not to assume anything without discussing with the event managers. Members will not be allowed to handle the blocks. Only officials are allowed to handle the boxes in any situation (e.g. to clear the delivery area, etc.)
10. Participants are not allowed to keep anything inside the arena other than the machine.
11. The judges may stop any robot at any time if they feel that it is performing, or is about to perform, any action that is dangerous or hazardous to people or equipment. No robot is allowed to use any flammable, combustible, explosive or potentially dangerous processes.

General Rules
 

1. Each team can have a maximum of four participants.
2. The time measured by the organizers will be final and will be used for scoring the teams. Time measured by any contestant by any other means is not acceptable for scoring.
3. In case of any disputes / discrepancies, the organizers' decision will be final and binding.
4. Computers with parallel and serial ports will be provided on the competition spot. Participants must bring their own programmers and software if they wish to program their robots at the competition site. The operating systems provided will be Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.04.
5. The participants are requested not to assume anything without discussing with the event managers.
6. The organizers reserve the rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit.

Team composition

1. Can have maximum of 4 members per team.
2. Teams should register themselves online.
3. No person shall be a member of two teams.
4. Maximum of ten teams will be shortlisted for the finals.

Participants are requested not to assume any details.

Other details regarding the arena can be clarified directly with the event managers.

Sarath

+91 94434 19842

Ajay Balan

+91 90037 11900


 

Vinoth

+91 90035 75450