PATH RAIDER

PROBLEM STATEMENT Build an autonomous line-tracking robot to find the total number of discontinuities in the arena, stop at a checkpoint, and trace a path with least number of discontinuities from the checkpoint to the finishing zones.

SPECIFICATIONS

Robot

1. Each robot must fit inside a cube of side 25 cm before the commencement of the event. 2. The autonomous robots should be on-board processing robots, i.e., the robots cannot be controlled by a remotely kept computer. 3. LEGO kits and its spare parts or ready-made mechanical parts are not allowed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms) 4. Ready-made gearboxes, sensors, development boards can be used but no other part of the robot should contain any ready-made components. Simple car bases with no extra features may be used. 5. The robots must not damage the arena in any way. If it does so, the team may be disqualified. 6. The robot can be powered on-board as well as off-board. 7. Participants will have to bring their own programmers, cables and software. No programmers will be supplied. Arena 8. The arena will have a white background with black-colored tracks for the bots to follow. 9. The minimum distance between two turns/intersections is 30 cm. Discontinuities however may be placed on these sections of track as and when required. 10. The width of the track and the length of a discontinuity are set to 3 cm. 11. The dimensions of the starting zone, the checkpoint, and the three finishing zones are 20cm*20cm. 12. All turns and intersections are at right angles.

EVENT FORMAT 1. The bot is expected to start from the starting zone and negotiate the entire arena to find out the total number of discontinuities present. 2. After finding out the total number of discontinuities, the bot must stop at the checkpoint for a minimum of five seconds and display the number in a suitable manner, preferably by LCD or 7segment LED displays. Binary representations are also accepted. 3. For the return stage, the bot must next choose and trace a path from the checkpoint zone to alpha with the least number of discontinuities, which may not necessarily be the shortest path distance wise to alpha. 4. Points will be deducted for the bot choosing a path with more discontinuities than the least possible. 5. On reaching alpha, the bot must reach one of the three finishing zones. Each zone is allotted a value from 0, 1 and 2. To finish, the bot must reach and stop in the zone that corresponds to the least number of discontinuities possible. 6. In case a bot reaches alpha and lands in the zone that corresponds to minimum discontinuities possible for the given track conditions, but does not trace the path with least number of discontinuities, points will not be awarded. 7. To view the animation of a sample arena http://vision2012.org.in/assets/Line%20tracer.swf

RULES General 1. Each team may consist of a maximum of 4 members. 2. Each team should have unique participants i.e. no two teams can have even a single participant common. 3. The team members can be from different institutes or colleges. 4. In case of disputes, decisions made by the organizers are final and binding.

Event 1. The bot must initially start from the starting zone only, as indicated in the arena image, and not anywhere else. 2. The arena displayed will be the one used on the day of the event. 3. Several discontinuities will be placed on the tracks of the arena, even on tracks leading to dead ends. 4. The number of discontinuities will vary from 6 to 9, and will be decided on the spot for each trial by random drawing of chits by a team member. 5. Placement of the discontinuities is solely based on the discretion of the organizers and is non-contestable. 6. Each team will be given two trials and a maximum of 5 minutes for completion each trial. 7. Sum of scores of both trials will decide the ranking. 8. Calibration time will be provided before the start of the event. 9. If the bot leaves the track, the teams are allowed to set the bot at the position where it leaves a maximum of three times, after which the bot must be placed back at the start zone. Points will be deducted every time a team member has to reset the bot on the track/starting zone. 10. The timer, once started, will not be reset or paused till the trial is complete.

SCORING 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Score is out of a maximum of 750 points. Time taken in seconds for completion of trial is subtracted from 300. 50 points is awarded if check point is reached. 100 points is awarded if bot stops and total number of discontinuities is displayed correctly for 5 seconds. 200 points if alpha is reached from the checkpoint. 50 points will be deducted for each additional discontinuity over the least possible discontinuities. 100 points if correct destination is reached after tracing the correct path. 5 points will be deducted every time the bot is reset on the track/starting zone in a trial. Final score=300-(time taken for completion in seconds) +50(check point is reached) +100(total number of discontinuities is displayed correctly for 5 seconds) +200-50*D(After reaching alpha) D= (number of discontinuities of the path taken) - (number of discontinuities of the path with least discontinuities) +100(correct destination is reached after tracing the correct path) -5*R R=number of resets in a trial

REGISTRATION 1. Download the TDP and complete it. 2. Please name your files as pathraiders_<team name> and send as a pdf file to pathraiders.vision2012@gmail.com 3. The deadline for submission of TDP will be posted on the site soon. 4. Download TDP here http://vision2012.org.in/assets/tdp.pdf