Details

Microhare is a three-round autonomous robotics competition where participants design and program a robot to navigate a maze without human intervention.

Round 1 (Trial) verifies basic functionality. Robots must reach the goal within a fixed time using autonomous control.

Round 2 (Beginner) evaluates navigation logic, decision-making, and efficiency. Scoring is based on completion, time performance, path optimization, and stability.

Round 3 (Final) determines the winner. Robots must execute an optimized speed run using the shortest path. Advanced obstacles test mechanical precision, sensor reliability, and algorithm robustness.

The competition rewards accurate mapping, efficient path planning, smooth control, and engineering quality. Human assistance, remote control, or rule violations result in penalties or disqualification.

Objective: demonstrate intelligent autonomous navigation under structured constraints

Rules & Regulations:
Microhare — Rules and Regulations
1. Eligibility
Open to undergraduate and diploma students.
Team size: 1–3 members.
Each team may register only one robot.

2. Robot Specifications
Fully autonomous operation only.
Onboard power supply only (no external power).
No wired or wireless remote control during runs.
No external computing devices.
Violation → disqualification.

3. Allowed Components
Microcontrollers (Arduino, STM32, ESP32, etc.).
Single-board computers (Raspberry Pi, etc.).
IR sensors, ultrasonic sensors, LiDAR, encoders.
DC motors, servo motors, stepper motors.
Custom PCBs allowed.
Explosives, harmful lasers, or damaging tools prohibited.

4. Arena Rules
Round 3 Maze design will be disclosed only at event start.
Practice runs on final maze are not allowed.
Maze Width size: 25 cm (standard).
Wall height: 10 cm.
Surface may include or texture variations (final round).
Participants may visually inspect the maze before starting.
Touching maze walls intentionally is prohibited.

5. Round Structure
Round 1 — Trial
Objective: reach goal
No scoring; qualification only.

Round 2 — Beginner
One speed run.
Maximum time: 5 minutes.
Scored on time, path efficiency, stability.
Round 3 — Final
One optimized speed run.
Maximum speed run time: 10 minutes.
Robot must complete exploration before speed run.

6. Start and End Conditions
Robot must fit inside start cell.
Robot must start after judge signal.
Timer begins when robot crosses start line.
Run ends when robot reaches goal cell completely.

7. Permitted Interventions
No human touch during active run.
If robot stops:
oTeam may request reset.
oReset penalty: −10 points.
oRobot restarted from start.
Maximum 2 resets per round.

8. Disqualification Conditions
Manual control during run.
Damaging maze structure.
Exceeding size limits.
Unsafe battery use.
Intentional obstruction of other teams.

9. Tie-Breaking Criteria
1.Faster optimized run time.
2.Shorter path length.
3.Fewer penalties.
4.Judge decision.

10. Safety Regulations
Proper battery insulation required.
No exposed high-voltage terminals.
Li-ion batteries must have protection circuit.
Teams are responsible for hardware safety.

11. General Conduct
Teams must report 30 minutes before event.
Late entry not allowed.
Judges’ decision is final and binding.
Organizers reserve the right to modify rules before competition begins.

Evaluation Criteria:
Maze Solver Event — Point-Based Evaluation Criteria
Use a 100-point system in Round 2 and Round 3. Round 1 remains qualification only.

Round 1 — Trial (Qualification Only)
No scoring.
Pass/Fail based on:
oReaches goal within time limit.
oNo human intervention.
oNo structural damage.

Round 2 — Beginner Level (Total: 100 Points)

1. Task Completion — 30 Points
Reaches goal: 20
Fails to reach goal: 0


2. Time Efficiency — 35 Points
Define a benchmark time (Tₘᵢₙ).
Scoring formula:
[ Score = 35 × (Tₘᵢₙ / TeamTime) ]
Fastest team gets full 30.
Others scaled proportionally.


3. Path Efficiency — 20 Points
Compare robot path length with shortest possible path.
[ Score = 20 × (ShortestPath / TeamPath) ]
Encourages optimized algorithms.


4. Mechanical Stability — 10 Points
No wall hits: 10
Minor touches: 6–9
Frequent collisions: 1–5
Stuck/unstable: 0


5. Rule Compliance — 5 Points
Size compliance
No remote control
No external assistance
Violation → deduction.



Round 3 — Final Round (Total: 100 Points)
Higher weight on optimization and difficulty handling.

1. Optimized Speed Run — 35 Points
Second run only.
[ Score = 35 × (Tₘᵢₙ / Team Time) ]
If robot stops or re-maps during speed run → 50% penalty.

2. Shortest Path Accuracy — 30 Points
Robot must use discovered shortest path.
Exact shortest path: 20
+1 cell deviation: 15
+2 cells deviation: 8
2 cells: 0

3. Obstacle Handling — 20 Points
Includes:
Narrow corridor
Surface change
Movable object detection
Clean handling: 13–15
Minor instability: 8–12
Major difficulty: 1–7
Fail at obstacle: 0

4. Control Stability — 10 Points
Smooth acceleration/deceleration
No jerks
No excessive reversing
No spin loss

5. Engineering Quality — 5 Points
Judges assess:
Wire management
Structural rigidity
Sensor placement
Clean design

Penalties (Applied in All Rounds)
Human touch during run → −20
Reset during run → −10
Wall climbing or illegal shortcut → Disqualification
Exceed time limit → 0 in time category



Tie-Breaker Rule
Priority order:
1.Faster optimized run
2.Shorter path length
3.Fewer collisions
4.Judge panel decision

This structure ensures:
Algorithm > luck
Optimization > brute force
Engineering precision > randomness

Date & Time: 2026-04-02, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Venue: New Engineering Building

Faculty Coordinators:
Prof. J K Prajapati
Prof. K J Patel

Student Coordinators:
Suthar Jay Rageshkumar (Coordinator),
Patel Priyansh Alpesh Bhai (Coordinator),
Pandya Vrajesh Vijay Bhai (Co-Coordinator)
Kothari Shailey Ramesh (Co-Coordinator)

Volunteers:
TBD