3D Rulebook

The Official Rulebook & Contest Manual, page by page. Pages marked with an A are interactive: try a new maze, compare a search run with a speed run, check your robot's size and work out your score.

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Contents1.Introduction & Objective ................................................................................................................ 32.Terminology & Lexicon.................................................................................................................. 32.1The Robot .............................................................................................................................. 32.2The Maze ............................................................................................................................... 42.3The Match & Timing ............................................................................................................. 52.4Strategy & Algorithms........................................................................................................... 53.Team Eligibility & Registration ...................................................................................................... 54.Rules for the Micromouse ............................................................................................................... 65.Rules for the Maze .......................................................................................................................... 66.Rules for the Contest & Tournament Structure............................................................................... 76.1General Contest Rules ........................................................................................................... 76.2Tournament Phases ................................................................................................................ 76.3Scoring, and Tie-Breakers ..................................................................................................... 87.Awards and Recognition ................................................................................................................. 98.Official Event Schedule ................................................................................................................ 109.Organizer Contact and Event Support .......................................................................................... 119.1How to Get Help on Event Day ........................................................................................... 119.2Official Venue Desks........................................................................................................... 11

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1. Introduction & ObjectiveWelcome to the Micromouse Maze Solver Contest 2026 (MMRC26). Hosted by the IEEE RASStudent Branch Chapter at Al-Hussein Technical University, this event challenges you to push thelimits of autonomous robotics, algorithmic efficiency, and mechanical design.The Objective: Each team must design and build an autonomous robotic "mouse" that navigatesa maze of standard dimensions from a specified corner to its centre aiming to achieve the highestscore by maximizing its number of successful runs while minimizing its run time.By registering for MMRC26, your team agrees to adhere fully to the rules, physical constraints,and tournament procedures outlined in this official document.2. Terminology & LexiconThis section defines the core operational and strategic vocabulary for the MMRC26.2.1 The Robot2.1.a Micromouse / Mouse: The autonomous robot designed and programmed by the competingteam.2.1.b Geometry: The physical footprint of the robot. If a robot mechanically unfolds or expandsafter starting, its maximum expanded geometry must still not exceed limits.2.1.c Self-Contained: Operating entirely on onboard battery power and internal logic, with noexternal processing, remote controls, or wireless data tethers permitted.2-1 : Examples of Micromouse Robots

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2-2: MMRC26 maze engineering schematic (Not the official MMRC26 maze)2.2 The Maze2.2.a Cell / Unit Square: A single 18 cm × 18 cm navigable space within the maze. (Thedimension from the inside of the walls is 18 cm × 18 cm).2.2.b Lattice Point (Post): The 1.2 cm × 1.2 cm square intersection at the four corners of any unitsquare where the physical maze walls connect.2.2.c Start Square: The specific cell located in one of the four corners of the maze where the robotmust begin every run. It is bounded on three sides by walls.2.2.d Destination Zone (Centre): The target configuration of four cells at the exact centre of themaze. It has only one entrance.2.2.e Start Line / Finish Line: The invisible thresholds between cells that trigger or stop theofficial timing system.2.2.fSimply Connected Maze: A maze layout containing no closed loops and no isolated wallsections.2.2.g Island Goal: The specific configuration used for the MMRC26 Destination Zone. The wallsforming the centre are completely detached from the outer perimeter wall of the maze.Note: This is an example maze for illustrative purposes only and is not the official MMRC26layout

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2.3 The Match & Timing2.3.a Match (Allotted Time): The total, continuous 8-minute window granted to a team to accessthe maze. The timer does not stop between runs.2.3.b Run: A single, continuous attempt by the robot to travel from the Start Square to theDestination Zone.2.3.c Run Time: The specific time recorded for one successful Run.2.3.d Official Time: The absolute shortest Run Time the robot achieves during its 8-minute Match.2.3.e Touch: Any physical contact made by a human operator with the robot after a Run hasofficially started.2.3.fAbort: When an operator manually ends an active Run, usually by executing a Touch torescue a stuck or malfunctioning robot.2.4 Strategy & Algorithms2.4.a Wall-Hugging: A basic algorithmic strategy that simply follows a continuous wall. Becausethe MMRC26 utilizes an Island Goal, wall-hugging algorithms will result in an infinite loop.2.4.b Search Run (Mapping Run): A robot's initial, typically slower run where it explores themaze, detects walls, and builds an internal map.2.4.c Speed Run (Fast Run): A subsequent run where the robot utilizes its internally generatedmap to calculate the optimal path and navigates to the centre at maximum speed.2.4.d Shortest Traversable Path: The most efficient route to the centre that avoids all physicalwalls.3. Team Eligibility & Registration3.aThe Micromouse entry may be the effort of an individual or a team.3.bA team may consist of up to 3 members.3.cThe contestant(s) will make a brief presentation of their mouse design prior to thecompetition (5 minutes maximum) if time allows.

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4. Rules for the Micromouse4.aA Micromouse shall be self-contained (no remote controls).4.bA Micromouse shall not use an energy source employing a combustion process.4.cA Micromouse shall not leave any part of its body behind while navigating the maze.4.dA Micromouse shall not jump over, fly over, climb, scratch, cut, burn, mark, damage, ordestroy the walls of the maze.4.eA Micromouse shall not be larger either in length or in width, than 25 centimetres. duringthe entire match. There are no restrictions on the height of a Micromouse.4.fAny violation of these rules will constitute immediate disqualification.5. Rules for the Maze5.aThe maze is composed of multiples of an 18 cm x 18 cm unit square. The dimension of onecell from inside of the walls is 18 cm x 18 cm. The maze comprises 10 x 10 unit squares.(assume 5% tolerance for mazes). The outside wall encloses the entire maze.5.bThe sides of the maze walls are white, the tops of the walls are red, and the floor is black.The maze is made of wood, finished with non-gloss paint. Do not assume the walls areconsistently white, or that the tops of the walls are consistently red, or that the floor isconsistently black. Fading may occur. Do not assume the floor provides a given amount offriction. It is simply painted plywood and may be quite slick.5.cThe start of the maze is located at one of the four corners. The start square is bounded onthree sides by walls. The start line is located between the first and second squares. That is,as the mouse exits the corner square, the time starts. The destination goal is the four cells atthe centre of the maze. The destination square has only one entrance.5.dThe maze is constituted so that at least one wall is attached to every lattice point.5.eMultiple paths to the destination square are allowed and are to be expected. The destinationsquare will be positioned so that a wall-hugging mouse will NOT be able to find it.because the layout utilizes an Island Goal configuration rather than a Simply ConnectedMaze.

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6. Rules for the Contest & Tournament Structure6.1 General Contest Rules6.1.a Each contesting Micromouse is allocated a total of 8 minutes of access to the maze from themoment the contest administrator acknowledges the contestant(s) and grants access to themaze. Any time used to adjust a mouse between runs is included in the 8 minutes. Each run(from the start cell to the centre zone) in which a mouse successfully reaches the destinationsquare is given a run time. The minimum run time shall be the mouse's official time.6.1.b The 8-minute timer continues even between runs.6.1.c Each run shall be made from the starting square. The operator may abort a run at any time. Ifan operator touches the Micromouse during a run, it is deemed aborted, and the mouse mustbe removed from the maze. If a mouse has already crossed the finish line, it may be removedat any time without affecting the run time of that run.6.1.d After the maze is disclosed, the operator shall not feed information on the maze into theMicromouse; however, switch positions may be changed. Feeding any maze information isstrictly prohibited, and all source codes will be collected and checked by the judges to ensurecompliance.6.1.e The illumination, temperature, and humidity of the room shall be those of an ambient. Do notmake any assumptions about the amount of sunlight, incandescent light, or fluorescent lightthat may be present at the contest site.6.1.fThe run timer will start when the front edge of the mouse crosses the start line and stops whenthe front edge of the mouse crosses the finish line. The start line is at the boundary betweenthe starting unit square and the next unit square clockwise. The finish line is at the entrance tothe destination square.6.2 Tournament Phases6.2.a Check-In and Randomization: Once the registration window closes at 09:00, the organizerssoftware will generate a randomized run order. This release will also assign the specific timeslots for judging evaluations. Any team that fails to present their robot at the arena duringtheir assigned slot will forfeit their Phase 1 run and therefore forfeit from the competitionentirely.6.2.b Phase 1: The Qualifiers: All registered teams play sequentially on a standardized officialmaze. Teams have their standard 8-minute Match window to achieve their best Score.6.2.c Phase 2: The Knockout League: The advancing teams are seeded into a single-eliminationbracket (e.g., Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals). Two teams share a simultaneous 8-minute match timer on identical side-by-side mazes. The winner of each head-to-headmatchup advances.

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6.3 Scoring, and TiebreakersIn both Phase 1 and Phase 2, robots are ranked using the Division Index Bonus formula. The teamwith the higher Final Score ranks higher.The Formula:Final Score = (𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑢𝑐𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑂𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒) ∗1000Scoring Example:● Team A completes 4 successful runs. Their fastest single run is 25 seconds.Calculation: (4 / 25) * 1000 = 160.0● Team B completes 1 successful run. Their fastest single run is 18 seconds.Calculation: (1 / 18) * 1000 = 55.5 (Team A ranks higher).Unfinished Mazes & Tiebreakers● All mice who enter the centre square within their 8-minute assigned match are ranked higherthan those who do not enter the centre square.● Mice that fail to reach the central destination are ranked by their remaining path distance, withlower values on the traversable path chart indicating a higher placement, as illustrated below:6-1: Maze cell distance map on a simply connected maze (Not the official MMRC26 maze)The numbers shown in the maze map indicate the remaining block count to reach the destination(finish line); therefore, the score for an unfinished run is determined by the value of the final blockwhere the robot stops.Example: A robot begins its run at block 57 and terminates its movement "STOPED" at block 20, theresulting score for that attempt run will be 20.•In the event of a tie between competing teams, the final determination will rest solely at thedecision of the judges.

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7. Awards and Recognition•1st Place (MMRC26 Champion): Awarded to the winner of the Grand Final Match.•2nd Place: Awarded to the runner-up of the Grand Final Match.•3rd Place: Awarded to the winner of the Semi-Final runner-up bracket.•Best Code Award: Granted to the team demonstrating the most elegant logic, algorithmicefficiency, or innovative mapping techniques (evaluated during the mandatory source codeaudit).•Best Creative Design Award: Granted to the team with the most exceptional physical build(unique hardware solutions, custom PCB layouts, or innovative chassis geometry).

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8. Official Event ScheduleTimeActivityLocation08:00 - 09:00Team Check-In, Registration & Hardware InspectionRegistrationDesk09:00 - 09:30Opening Briefing & Phase 1 Schedule ReleaseMain Arena09:30 - 13:30Phase 1: Single-Maze QualifiersMain Arena13:30 - 14:30Lunch Break & Phase 2 Cutoff AnnouncementCampus / PitArea14:30 - 17:30Phase 2: Dual-Maze Knockout League (up to Semi-Finals)Main Arena17:30 - 18:00Closing Ceremony & Secondary Technical AwardsMain Arena18:00 - 18:20The Grand Final MatchMain Arena18:20 - 18:45Winner Announcements & Trophy PresentationMain ArenaSchedule Disclaimer: All times are approximate and subject to change on the day of the event.Teams are strictly responsible for monitoring live announcements in the venue for any scheduleupdates.

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9. Organizer Contact and Event SupportThe MMRC26 is hosted and managed by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS)Student Branch Chapter at Al-Hussein Technical University (HTU).Because the event floor will be busy, we have structured our support team by zone. All officialorganizing committee members and judges can be easily identified by their Official EventBadges and Uniforms.9.1 How to Get Help on Event DayInstead of seeking out specific individuals, please direct your questions to the designated supportteams stationed throughout the venue:•For Match Queueing & Arena Logistics:oSpeak to the Arena Logistics Staff stationed near the maze entrances. They willcoordinate your time slot, manage the staging area, and grant you access to the mazewhen it is your turn.•For Schedule, Roster, or General Venue Inquiries:oGo to the Registration Desk at the main entrance. The team here can assist withname badges, schedule clarifications, and directions around the campus (e.g.,restrooms, food court).•For Major Technical Disputes & Final Rulings:oMajor disputes are handled exclusively by the Lead Organizer and FacultyAdvisors. These must be escalated formally at the Judges' Table.9.2 Official Venue Desks•The Registration Desk: Located at the main entrance. Opens at 08:00 sharp and serves as theprimary information hub throughout the day.•The Judges' Table: Located directly in front of the Main Arena. Teams may only approachthe Judges' Table when officially called for their match, to submit their mandatory code files,or to request a formal rule clarification.•Emergency & First Aid: Basic first-aid kits are located at the Registration Desk and theJudges' Table. In the event of a medical emergency, immediately notify any committeemember to rapidly escalate the situation to campus security and medical personnel.Important Notice: Participation in MMRC26 constitutes an agreement to abide by all ruleswithin this manual. It is the competing team's responsibility to thoroughly read this document andto routinely check their registered email for any official rulebook updates. Access the latestdocumentation, event policies, and live updates by scanning the QR code or visiting the linkbelow.Official MMRC26 Website: https://www.mmrchtu.tech/