Autonomous Robot Speedway Competition (ARSC)

RULES

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Robot competitions are entertaining and a means for evaluating the performance of mobile, autonomous robots for a given fitness evaluation. Ranging from mobile, autonomous wheeled vehicles such as the Grand DARPA Challenge to cooperative teams of humanoid robots that compete in soccer, such as RoboCup, the challenges are typically representative of the kind of engineering problems that extend the boundary in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, and Automation. The fitness evaluation can be duration in time to complete a task, ability to complete a sequence of tasks to meet a goal, and ability of robots to handle uncertainty. This is the second annual small autonomous robot speedway race. For this race, the metrics are measuring endurance and speed for an autonomous robot around a circuit (track) for a total of 1 mile.

SAFETY FIRST

At the beginning of each racing event, your robot will run a short sprint to demonstrate its safety features. During this sprint, officials will determine the safety and ability to compete with other robots while on the track.

People may not loiter near the track and field during competition, tryouts, or when robots are being tested. Spectators and miscellaneous team members must view from the stands. Anyone wearing clothing the shade of the traffic cones will not be permitted near the competition site.

LOCATION

The location will be the University of Maryland College Park campus. A backup indoor location will be available in case of inclement weather. 

REGISTRATION

All teams must register by September 30, 2009. The registration fee is $50. All checks should be made out to the University of Maryland, and mailed to:

ARSC Competition
University of Maryland
2457 A.V. Williams Bldg
College Park, MD 20742

Please check the competition website regularly for updates on the event.

COMPETITION DATE

The date for the competition is October 24, 2009 and will be held at the University of Maryland College Park campus and hosted by the UMD-ECE Department.

RACEWAY SPECIFICATIONS

1. The raceway will be constructed using a series of traffic cones that are 23 cm tall and 12 cm wide at the base. 
2. The cones will be placed to make an oval-shaped raceway with 2-axis of symmetry.
3. The width between the inner cone and the outer cones will be 150 cm.
4. The raceway turning radius will be between 5 and 20 meters.
5. The color of the inner and outer cones will be orange.
6. The raceway surface will be pavement if the event is held outdoors and TBD if it is held at the backup indoor location.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. The robot size must be between of 10x10x10 cm to 100x100x100 cm.
2. The robot must be wheeled. No tracked robots are allowed on the asphalt or grass surface.
3. Robots must be completely, and truly autonomous. Remote operators must start/stop their robots in their tracks by a single dedicated remote operator/driver. The remote operator must be designated at the start of the competition.
4. Robots cannot be tethered.
5. Robots that run on fuel or any alternative energy are permitted.
6. Each team's RC transmitter’s frequency channel must be registered before competing. In the event that a team has the same channel as another team, the teams will have to take turns testing their robots.
7. The FCC does not permit RC aircraft transmitters 72 MHz for use in surface vehicles. Aircraft RC transmitters will not be allowed during the competition. Refer to a radio frequency charts for allowable surface RC frequency channels at: http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/frequency.html and http://www.easyrc.com/radiosystems/radiosystems5.html.  As an alternative, spread spectrum RC transmitters may be used which have no interference.

RACEWAY COMPETITION RULES

1. Each robot will be run separately on the raceway.
2. No work by the crew or driver may be performed on any robot at any time during an attempt.
3. Competitors must not wear any shade of orange during tryouts or competition.
4. Team members must wear protective shoes such as sneakers. Open toe shoes will not be allowed.
5. Each competitor will be allowed three race attempts. The score from the best of the three attempts will be used.
6. The robot will start with all parts of the robot behind the starting line.  The attempt will begin upon indication of the judges.
7.  If any portion of the robot crosses over the finish-line after traveling the designated number of laps required to travel 1 mile, the attempt will terminate.
8. If in the opinion of the judges, the robot is not running at competitive speed, the attempt will be terminated.
9. If in the opinion of the judges, the robot is behaving erratically, the attempt will be terminated. 
10. The robot must stay on the circuit defined by the inner and the outer cones. If the entire robot leaves the circuit, the attempt will be terminated.
11.  Timing will begin when any portion of the robot crosses the starting line and will end when the race terminates.
12. The distance traveled will be measured from the starting line to the point of the robot farthest forward when the race is terminated.
13. A robot that knocks over or displaces a cone will receive a penalty. For each penalty during an attempt, ten seconds will be added to the time when computing the score for the attempt.
14. Distance traveled and time taken will be equally weighted in determining the score for this competition.

DESIGN COMPETITION RULES

1. Competitors will prepare a poster describing the design of their robot which may include the design philosophy, components and algorithms used, rationale for selection of key components and algorithms, and other relevant information.
2. Competitors will give an oral presentation on their robot lasting no more than 10 minutes to the judges.  Presentations will be stopped precisely at 10 minutes.
3. Competitors will allow the judges to examine their robots and respond to questions posed by the judges during a 10-minute Q&A session immediately following the oral presentation.
4. Scores for the poster, oral presentation, and Q&A session will be weighted equally.

GRAND AWARD COMPETITION RULES

1. The Grand Award competition winner will be determined by combining the equally-weighted Raceway Competition and Design Competition Scores.

SPECTATOR RULES

1. Spectators must remain in the bleachers and never approach the track-and-field at any time during a competition or tryout.
2. Spectators must not wear orange on tryout or dates of competitions.
3. Spectators must wear sneakers or other protective shoes.

PRIZES

First, second, and third place winners will be recognized in each of the following three categories:

1. Raceway Competition
2. Design Competition
3. Grand Award

QUESTIONS?

Please contact us.

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