Micromouse Contest is a contest in which contestants enter their robots to compete for intelligence and speed while the robots negotiate a specified maze. A robot participating in this contest is termed a micromouse.

Micromouse Robots (micromouse or mice)

• Although the superstructure of the mice may 'bulge' above the top of the maze walls, mice must be subject to the following size constraints - width 25cm, length 25cm.
• There is no height limit.
• Mice must be completely self-contained and must receive no outside assistance.
• All mice should be fitted with a suitable hook or loop, suitable for lifting the mouse out from the centre of the maze, should this prove necessary.
• The method of wall sensing is at the discretion of the builder; however, the mouse must not exert a force on any wall likely to cause damage.
• The method of propulsion is at the discretion of the builder, provided that the power source is non-polluting - internal combustion engines would probably be disqualified on this count.
• If the judges consider that a mouse has a high risk of damaging or sullying the maze they will not permit it to run.
• Nothing may be deposited in the maze.
• The mouse must negotiate the maze; it must not jump over, climb, scratch, damage or destroy the walls of the maze.

The Competition

• The time taken to travel from the start square to the destination square is called the 'run' time.
• Travelling from the destination square back to the start square is not considered a run.
• Each mouse is allowed a maximum of 10 minutes to perform.
• This may have to be reduced to 6 minutes if there are many good mice.
• The judges have the discretion to request a mouse to retire early if by its lack of progress it has become boring, or if by erratic behaviour it is endangering the state of the maze.
• When the mouse reaches the destination square, it may stop and remain at the maze centre, or it may continue to explore other parts of the maze, or make its own way back to the start.
• If the mouse chooses to stop at the centre, it may be lifted out, manually, and restarted by the handler.
• The time for each run (run time) shall be measured from the moment the mouse leaves the start square until it enters the destination square.
• The mouse handler is given 1 minute, from the moment the mouse is taken out of the cage, to make any adjustments (if any) to the mouse sensors.
• However, no selection of strategies must be made and no information on the maze configuration entered or captured into the memory.
• The time clock will commence after the expiry of the 1 minute time limit even if the handler is still making adjustments to the sensors.
• If a mouse 'gets into trouble' the handlers can ask the judge for permission to abandon the run and restart the mouse at the beginning.
• A mouse may not be re-started merely because it has taken a wrong turning - the judges' decision is final.
• If no successful run has been made, the judge will make a qualitative assessment of the mouse's performance, based on distance achieved, 'purposefulness' versus random behaviour and quality of control.
• If a mouse elects to retire because of technical problems, the judges may, at their discretion, permit it to perform again later in the contest.
• This permission is likely to be withdrawn, if the programme is full or behind schedule.
• The judges will use their discretion to award the prizes, which in addition to the major prizes may include prizes for specific classes of mouse - perhaps lowest cost, most ingenious, best presented and most entertaining.
• Before the maze is unveiled, the mice must be accepted and caged by the contest officials.
• The handlers will place the mice at the start under the officials' instructions.
• Under normal circumstances, no part of the mouse may be transferred to another mouse.
• However, the judges may allow a change of batteries or controller in exceptional cases, if due to accidental damage.