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Re: Schools Rules
Duncan and everyone,
A few suggestions:
"Prizes - Most completely described mouse. The judges will take into consideration the presence of
circuit diagrams, parts lists, mechanical drawings/photographs, software listings etc. Information
on a website is better than on paper."
I suggest changing this to:
"Prizes - Most completely described mouse. The judges will look for:
- How readily someone else could build a copy of the mouse based on the documentation. Circuit
diagrams, mechanical drawings, parts lists, software listings and any other necessary information
should be included.
- Whether the documentation demonstrates the teams' understanding of how the mouse operates.
- How well presented the documentation is. Spelling and grammar may be taken into consideration.
- Whether the documentation is available electronically (teams must provide one hard copy for the
actual judging).
The judges are not particularly looking for a diary of how the mouse was developed, although if
this is presented in an interesting form, it may contribute to the marks for presentation."
"6. A lifting hook near the point of balance must be fitted to all mice so that in the event of
failure they can be recovered without the need to walk on the competition track." Is this rule
really relevant any more? The original intention was to mirror the similar requirement in the senior
competition, but as far as the teams are concerned it's just a pointless requirement.
"13 Scrutineers will reject a mouse if it does not comply with rules 1 to 7, if in their opinion it
is hazardous, likely to cause damage to the track or has not been constructed within the spirit of
the competition"
Change to
"13 The Judges, or scrutineers appointed by them, will reject a mouse if it does not comply with
rules 1 to 7, if in their opinion it is hazardous, likely to cause damage to the track or has not
been constructed within the spirit of the competition."
"16 Any touch by the mouse handler once the mouse is running on the circuit will incur a 10-second
penalty being applied to that lap or timed run."
Change to
"16 Any touch by the mouse handler once the mouse is running on the circuit will render that lap or
timed run void."
introduction to F1:
"Two Rats will race against each other in a knockout competition where the fastest rat in the final
will be classed as the winner. "
change to
"Two Rats will race against each other in a knockout competition where the winning rat in the final
will be classed as the champion.
"1.4. Rats falling off the edge of the course will be disqualified and the other mouse declared the
winner of the run
1.5. Rats hitting the end wall will be penalised 5 seconds"
Change these to
"1.4. Rats falling off the edge of the course or touching the safety barriers at the edge of the
course (if fitted) before the finish line will be disqualified and the other mouse declared the
winner of the run.
1.5. Rats falling off the edge of the course or touching the safety barriers at the edge of the
course (if fitted) after the finish line or hitting the end wall will be penalised 5 seconds"
F1 Track details
"A 300 mm high start and finish gantry will straddle the track at the start and finish lines.
There will be a gap of at least 375mm between the edges of the two lanes. Any mouse touching any
part of the other lane will be disqualified."
Change to
"A 300 mm high finish gantry will straddle the track at the finish line. This may not be used as a
physical stop to halt the mouse, but may be used by sensors on the mouse to provide a stop signal."
There will be a gap of at least 375mm between the edges of the two lanes. Any mouse touching any
part of the other lane will be disqualified. Alternatively, the track may be provided with safety
barriers to prevent rats falling off the side of the track".
"2.3. Mice must not cut corners or deviate far from the course on corners. The judges may put
obstacles such as cotton reels with their inside edges no less than 130 millimetres from the edge of
the line (inside and outside the course) at points that they choose. If a mouse moves one of the
obstacles, that lap cannot be used for scoring/a 10 second penalty shall be incurred."
Change to
"2.3. Mice must not cut corners or deviate far from the course on corners. The judges may put
obstacles such as cotton reels with their inside edges no less than 130 millimetres from the edge of
the line (inside and outside the course) at points that they choose. If a mouse moves one of the
obstacles, that lap cannot be used for scoring" Same change to rule 3.3
"4.6 Each mouse is allowed a maximum of 4 minutes to perform. This may have to be reduced to 2
minutes if there are many good mice. The judges have the discretion to request a mouse to retire
early if by its lack of progress it has become boring, or if by erratic behaviour it is endangering
the state of the maze. Each mouse is allowed one visit to the maze but the judges may exercise their
discretion to allow more visits."
Change to:
"4.6 In order to complete the competition in the available time, the judges may place restrictions
on the number of attempts by each Micromouse to record its fastest lap. Such limit shall not be less
than 4 laps or a total of 5 minutes track time, whichever occurs first. The judges have the
discretion to request a mouse to retire early if by its lack of progress it has become boring, or if
by erratic behaviour it is endangering the state of the maze."
Jerry
Jerry Niman Tel +44 (0)161-247 1474
Head of Information Systems Email J.Niman@mmu.ac.uk
the Manchester Metropolitan University Mobile +44 (0)7770 638104