Rules for the Maze

• The sides of the maze walls shall be white, and the top of the walls shall be red. The floor shall be black. The track of the maze shall be made of wood finished with non-gloss black paint.
• The maze shall be composed of multiples of an 18 cm x 18 cm unit square. The maze shall comprise 16 x 16 unit squares. The walls constituting the maze shall be 5 cm high and 1.2 cm thick. (See Figure A)
• The start of the maze shall be located at one of the four corners. The mouse shall begin negotiating the course in a clockwise direction. The destination of the maze shall be the 4 unit squares located at the center.
• Small square zones, each 1.2 cm x 1.2 cm, at the four corners of each unit square are called lattice points. The maze is so constituted that there is at least one wall at a lattice point, except for the destination square. (See Figure A and B)
• The entire maze will be completely surrounded by exterior walls (see Figure A).

The Maze

• The maze shall comprise 16 x 16 multiples of an l8cm x l8cm unit square.
• The walls constituting the maze shall be 5cm high and 1.2cm thick.
• Passageways between the walls shall be l6.8cm wide. The outside wall shall enclose the entire maze.
• The sides of the maze walls shall be white, and the top of the walls shall be red.
• The floor of the maze shall be made of wood and finished with a non-gloss black paint.
• The coating on the top and side of the wall shall be selected to reflect infra-red light and the coating on the floor shall absorb it.
• The start of the maze shall be located at one of the four corners.
• The starting square shall have walls on three sides.
• The starting square orientation shall be such that when the open wall is to the 'north', outside maze walls are on the 'west', and 'south'.
• At the centre of the maze shall be a large opening which is composed of 4 unit squares.
• This central square shall be the destination.
• A red post 20cm high and 2.5cm on each side, may be placed at the centre of the large destination square if requested by the handler.
• Square posts, each 1.2cm x 1.2cm x 5cm high, at the four corners of each unit square are called lattice points.
• The maze shall be constituted such that there is at least one wall touching each lattice point, except for the destination square.
• The dimensions of the maze shall be accurate to within 5% or 2 cm, whichever is less.
• Assembly joints on the maze floor shall not involve steps of greater than 1 mm.
• The change of slope at an assembly joint shall not be greater than 4 degrees.
• Gaps between the walls of adjacent squares shall not be greater than 1 mm.
• A start sensor will be placed at the boundary between the starting unit square and the next unit square.
• A destination sensor will be placed at the entrance to the destination square.
• The infra-red beam of each sensor is horizontal and positioned 1 cm above the floor.
• Multiple paths to the destination square are allowed and are to be expected.