FOLLOW THE TRAIL

PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Build an autonomous line follower robot which can negotiateinversions, discontinuities, bridges and reach the end of the track in the stipulated time.

Prelims:

• The bot will have to traverse a black line on a white flex sheet and reach a checkpoint. The bots which take the least time will be shortlisted.Complete the course as fast as possible and only ONE try will be given per team.The prelims track is as shown below,

Finals:

The designed track mightconsist of straight lines, smooth curves ,sharp turns, bridges and discontinuities. The track is a black line on a white flex sheet.Discontinuities will not be more than 20cm.The bot will have to negotiate the turns, cross the discontinuities and navigate till the end point.the track will be unveiled on the day of the event.The participants who have qualified for the finals can see the final track and will be allowed to code for the program for 15 min. After that no recoding will be allowed.

DIMENSIONS AND FABRICATIONS

• The track width is 3cm.

• The bot must fit within a square of dimensions 30cm x 30cm x 30cm.

• 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.

• 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 teams are allowed to use readymade sensor kits and readymade PCBs for handling microcontrollers. Lego kits are not allowed.

POWER SUPPLY AND PROPULSION

• The bot must use an on-board power supply. No external power supply will be allowed.

• Each team shall prepare its own power supply for all its machines.

• The potential difference between any two points on any of the machines must not exceed 12 V DC.

CONTROLS

• The bot must be completely autonomous.

• It should not receive any external help during the course of the run.

EVENT RULES

All teams will be given a calibration time of 10 minutes.
Each team is allowed a maximum of 2 trials. All trials require the approval of the presiding judges before the machine can be removed from the arena. In each trial, the timer will be setback to zero.
A robot that goes off of the line will be allowed to be placed on the track only for three time. A robot shall be deemed to have left the arena when all wheels, legs, or tracks have moved completely off the arena surface.
During a trial, the machine will have to be restarted by putting it back on the start zone. For atrial, the machine will have to be in Power Off mode and turned on again at the start zone onthe signal of the judges.
Between trials, participants may not feed information about the arena to the machine.However, participants are allowed to: Adjust sensors (Gain, Position etc.), Change speed settingsand Make repairs. However, a participant may not alter a machine in a manner that altersits weight (e.g. removal of a bulky sensor array or switching to lighter batteries to get betterspeed). The judges shall arbitrate. The points earned by the team till that time will be retained.
Participants are not allowed to keep anything inside the arena other than the machine.
The judges may stop any robot at any time if they feel that it is performing, or is about toperform, any action that is dangerous or hazardous to people or equipment. No robot is allowedto use any flammable, combustible, explosive or potentially dangerous processes.
Readymade sensors (eg. line array sensors) could be used.

TEAM COMPOSITION

• Maximum of 2 participants per team.

• Teams should register themselves online.

• No person shall be a member of two teams.

• Maximum of ten teams will be shortlisted for the finals.

• A team can constitute of member from different colleges.

• Participants are requested not to assume any details.

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

GENERAL RULES

The time measured by the organizers will be final and will be used for scoring the teams. Timemeasured by any participant by any other means is not acceptable for scoring.
In case of any disputes / discrepancies, the organizers’ decision will be final and binding.
Participants must bring their own computers, programmers and software if they wish toprogram their robots at the competition site.
The participants are requested not to assume anything without discussing with the eventmanagers.
The organizers reserve the rights to change any or all of the above rules as they deem fit.
All participants need to send a picture of their bot with all dimensions and their development board used for the bot. They are also requested to send in their maximum supply ratings between two end terminals to linefollower.derroche2k13@gmail.com
Online registration is compulsory.Unregistered students will not be allowed to participate in any event.
All participants must register and bring the confirmation mail in hard copy at the day of the event .