WALL FOLLOWING ROBOT

🎯 Overview

• The Wall Following Robot challenge tasks participants with building a bot that can detect and follow walls using sensors and programmed logic. This event emphasizes autonomous navigation, sensor integration, and intelligent movement, giving students a taste of how robotics interact in real-world automation systems.

👥 Team Composition

• Each team may consist of up to 3 members
• Only one robot per team is permitted.
• Open to students from Grade 6 to Grade 12
• Mentors are not allowed to interfere during active runs.

🤖 Robot Specifications

1. Dimensions:

• The robot must fit within a 25 cm × 25 cm × 25 cm box during verification.

2. Control System:

• The robot must be fully autonomous — no manual or wireless control is allowed.
• Robots must use microcontroller-based logic (e.g., Arduino, ESP32, Raspberry Pi, etc.).
• Programs must be uploaded prior to the run; no live codingor reprogramming is permitted during execution.

3. Sensors:

• Strictly prohibited: IR sensors (as they are affected by sunlight/UV in outdoor conditions).
• Allowed: Ultrasonic sensors or any sunlight-resistant sensors (e.g., LiDAR, Time-of-Flight sensors).
• The number and placement of sensors are left to the team’s discretion.

4. Power Supply:

• Power must be supplied by Li-Ion or Li-Po batteries (maximum 12V).
• Batteries must be securely mounted and properly insulated

5. Mobility:

• No restriction on the number of motors, provided they are safe and suitable for the maze environment.

🏟️ Arena Setup

• The arena will be a plywood maze, suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Features include:
• One entrance and one exit point.
• Multiple turns, dead ends, and wall sections to test navigation.
• Robots must continuously follow a wall (left or right) until they reach the exit.
• The maze layout will not be disclosed before the competition begins.

🧾 Scoring Criteria

• Completion → Successfully reaching the exit point.
• Time Taken → Faster completion times rank higher.
• Wall-Following Accuracy → Robots must maintain consistent proximity to the wall; large gaps or cutting corners may result in penalties.
• Design & Innovation → Bonus points for efficient, unique, or creative mechanisms.

📋 Competition Rules

• Only one team competes at a time.
• Each team will have a fixed time limit per run, as decided by the organizers.
• Robots must start from the designated entrance point.
• No physical contact or resetting is allowed once the run begins (unless approved by the referee).
• Teams must ensure sensor calibration and code readiness before starting.
• Referee and judge decisions are final and binding.

⚖️ Penalties & Disqualification

• Failure to reach the exit within the allotted time.
• Robot remains stationary for more than 10 seconds without movement.
• Any manual interference during the run.
• Use of prohibited IR sensors.
• Unsafe design, damage to the maze, or violation of size/power regulations.

🔒 Safety Requirements

• Robots must not have sharp edges, hazardous materials, or exposed wiring.
• Robots must be designed for safe autonomous operation.
• Officials must be able to immediately stop the robot if necessary.

👥 Team Conduct Expectations

• Maintain respect toward judges, mentors, and fellow participants.
• Handle robots and arena materials professionally and carefully.
• Teams should manage time effectively and maintain readiness.
• Workspaces must be kept clean and organized after each match.