MICS 2022 Robotics Contest: Maze Run
The MICS 2022 robot contest will consist of 3 timed runs of your robot through 3 different mazes. The goal of each
maze run is to cross to the opposite corner, pickup a flag, and return the flag to the starting square in the least
amount of time. Each maze run is allotted up to 3 minutes. The winner is the robot with the lowest of three
combined run times. A robot not completing a maze run will receive a default run-time of 250 seconds.
The maze will be made from two 4’x 4’ panels completely enclosed by black walls made of 2”-by-4” lumber (so
they are about 3.5” tall). The top surface of the panels will be white (competition boards will be prefinished white
melamine panels). Three parallel lines of black 0.75” vinyl electrical tape will be evenly spaced between the long-
sided walls. Seven parallel lines of red 0.75” vinyl electrical tape will be evenly spaced between the short-sided
walls (the red tape lines will cross over-the-top of the black tape). A sample grid-world without obstacles is shown
below.
A robot will start in the square opposite from square containing the flag, and the flag will always start in the corner
of the board. A robot’s task is to cross the grid-world and return the flag anywhere within its start square in the least
amount of time. Navigation of the grid-world will be complicated by up to four obstacles randomly placed within
the grid-world by the judges. All robots will attempt to navigate the same three random mazes.
48"
All four walls are about 3.5" tall
(std. 2"-by-4") and painted flat black.
96"
Obstacle Shapes:
27"
18"
18"
18"
18"
9"
Each maze will have up to four randomly placed obstacles.
Robot's Start
Flag Square
and End Square
with flag in
corner
Obstacles will be painted flat-black and made from 4"x 4" lumber (or two 2-by-4's screwed together). Obstacle
shapes are shown above. The obstacles will be oriented such that the 4" lumber is centered on grid lines. The
starting/ending grid square and flag square will be reachable by all sides, i.e., no obstacles on the lines of these two
grid squares.
The Winner:
All robots will attempt to navigate the same three random mazes. Each maze run is allotted up to 3 minutes. The
winner is the robot with the lowest three combined run times. A robot not completing a maze run will receive a
default run-time of 250 seconds for that run. A maze run is completed if it is able to cross the grid-world maze,
retrieve the flag, and return the flag to the start-grid square within 3 minutes.
Additional Rules:
1. Each robot must be fully autonomous, i.e., no communication to an external computer or human operator.
2. Robots may not fly (e.g., no drones), but jumping is allowed.
3. The maximum size of a robot in its start configuration is 12" by 12" by 18'' (vertical). After a match starts, a
robot may exceed these dimensions.
4. A robot which, as determined by the judges, intentionally damages the playing field in any fashion will be
disqualified immediately. This includes leaving any “trail of bread crumbs, “ or mark its path in any way. Once
a robot is disqualified, the robot shall not be permitted to engage in any additional matches. Pushing on
obstacles is allowed.
5. At any point during a match, a team can decide to restart their robot from the start square, but the clock will
continue to run. If the robot has retrieved the flag, the flag will be returned to its original location. The robot
must be restarted with the same program being run.
6. Robots may NOT be reprogrammed or physically modified between matches. The robot must run the same
program when restarted during a match, but any knowledge about the grid-world obtained before it was restarted
can be retained. The only allowed repair is changing batteries or those necessary to return a robot its original
configuration, and these must not result in a delay of the competition.
7. Before the competition starts, all robots must be checked in and be left with the judges. (Remote teams should
have a faculty member to act as a local judge.)
8. Matches are started using the following sequence of events:
a. the judge positions the obstacles (or instructs remote teams where to position obstacles)
b. the team positions their robots such that at least one wheel is touching the start square.
c. the judges says “Ready, Set, Go”
d. the team start their robots immediately after the judge says “Go”
9. Any robot that violates the spirit of the contest rules, in the judgment of the organizers, will be eliminated from
competition. All decisions by the judges are final!
10. An enlarged picture of the flag is shown below. Flags are constructed from three lego pieces and a steel washer:
• gray Technic Gear 40-teeth, part #: 4285634 (or 3649)
• gray Technic Crown Gear 24-teeth, part #: 4211434 (or 3650b)
• black Technic Axle length 6, part #: 370626 (or 3706)
• 3/16” x 1” zinc plated, steel Fender washer (3/16” hole, 1” diameter washer)
Note: The washer will be free to move on the axle.
Questions about the rules can be emailed to
