Category of Event: Autonomous Robotics

Light is something we all crave for, something we all seek. It is time for robots to express those same desires. In this fully autonomous event there are no guides - no lines or walls or objects to look to. The only way forward is to perceive the luminosity of sources scattered around the arena, in an attempt to switch off as many as possible before time runs out.

Insisto Lux Lucis. Follow the Light.

Build one or more autonomous robot(s) that can differentiate between a number of light sources of similar intensity kept inside an isolated room (Arena) and turn each one off.

Download the PDF file here.

The robot has to begin its run from a predefined position in an isolated room with only sources of light kept in different directions w.r.t. the initial position of the robot. There will be no guiding path on the floor of the arena. The robot’s objective is to switch off maximum number of light sources by the end of the runtime.
 

Round 1:

1. There will be a total of 6 light sources placed in the room.
2. All the light sources will be stationary.
3. The total runtime for this round is 5 min.

Round 2:

1. There will be a total of 7 light sources placed in the room:
   • 5 of the light sources would be stationary.
   • 2 of the light sources would be moving at a maximum speed of 4 cm/s.
2. The total runtime for this round is 7 min.

All arena dimensions have a tolerance of 10%.
 

1. The light sources are placed in any arbitrary order and do not fall in any known pattern.
2. The actual positions of the light sources in the arena will be disclosed just before the commencement of the run.
3. The arena will be enclosed by walls on all the sides.

Round-1:

1. The arena is a floor of 6m x 4m.
2. The start position will be a 60 cm sided square in the arena.

          
 Fig: Round 1

Round-2:

1. The arena is a floor of 6m x 4m.
2. The start position will be the same as in the first round.

 
Fig: Round 2

Light Sources -

1. Each light source will be a cylindrical setup of height 25 cm and diameter 25 cm.
2. The intensity distribution of the each light source measured individually, in a completely dark room, will be the same.
3. All dimensions have a tolerance of 10 %.
4. The rating of the bulb to be used in the light sources is 100 Watt, 220V.

Fig: Light source (Fixed)

Fig: 3D view of the stationary light source

Fig: Moving light source

Fig: Moving light source (view from below)

Click here to view the deactivation method of the light source.

Rewards

1. No. of stationary light sources Deactivated : (S)
2. No. of moving light sources Deactivated: (M)
3. Time Bonus: {B = (Total Time- Run Time)/2}

Penalties

1. No. of times the robot hits an already deactivated light source: (D)
2. No. of Timeouts taken: (T)
3. No. of Restarts taken: (R)

The teams will start their run with an initial score of 500 from which the points will be deducted or added. 

Final Score = 500 + (S*80) + (M*120) + (B) – (D*30) – (T*20) – (R*50).

1. No abstract submission is required for this event.
2. Each team can consist of a maximum of 4 members.
3. Each team should have unique participants i.e. no two teams can have even a single participant common.
4. The team members can be from different institutes or colleges.
5. The right spirit of participation is expected from the participants.
6. The decision of Team ROBOTIX will be final and binding.

Stationary sources

1. There would be stationary light sources present in the arena in both the rounds.
2. The intensity distribution of the each light source measured individually, in a completely dark room, will be the same.
3. The robot has to reach each light source and bump into the metal plates kept around each light source. This would deactivate the light source, i .e. it would be switched off.

Moving sources

1. There would be two moving light  sources present in the arena in the second round of the event.
2. The moving light sources would be autonomous and would be moving in an arbitrary path.
3. These light sources can be deactivated in the same way as a stationary light source.
4. The moving light sources stop moving once they are deactivated.

Traversal

1. The robot must avoid colliding with already deactivated light sources as it traverses towards another light source. Hitting any deactivated light source will lead to a penalty.
2. For the time bonus to be rewarded, it is compulsory to deactivate at least 2 (Two) light sources before the end of the run.

Initial Orientation of Robot(s)

1. The participant is allowed to decide the initial orientation of his robot(s) but its should be such that it does not face any light source directly.
2. Team ROBOTIX reserves the right to disallow any initial orientation of the robot(s) inside the starting zone if it gives the participant an undue advantage solely based on the judge's discretion.

Restarts & Timeouts

1. A maximum of 2 Timeouts of 2 minutes each may be taken in the first round. For the second round a maximum of 3 Timeouts of 2 minutes each may be taken.
2. In both the rounds, a Penalty will be awarded for each timeout and the robots will start from the last light source it has deactivated, if none have been deactivated then from the start zone. In case of multiple robots, this rule is applicable to each of the robots individually.
3. The participant's robots can have a maximum of three restarts in both the round. Restarts, if any, will apply to all the robots. A penalty will be imposed on the team for every restart that they take..
4. In case of a restart the participant's robots will be set to their initial positions. Timer will be set to zero and the run will start afresh with the addition of the penalty for restart.

1. The robot(s) must fit inside a cube of side 55cm when measured. No part/mechanism of/on the bot should exceed the given dimensions before the commencement of the event run. The robots can exceed their respective dimensions once the event commences.
2. The autonomous robots should be On board processing robots, i.e., the robots cannot be controlled by a remotely kept computer. The Processor used on the bot can be a 16 bit processor or less.
3. LEGO kits or its spare parts or pre-made mechanical parts are not allowed. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mindstorms)
4. Ready made gearboxes, sensors, development boards can be used but no other part of the robot should contain any ready made components. Simple car bases with no extra features may be used.
5. The robots should not harm the arena in any way. If it does so, a penalty will be imposed on the team. The magnitude of the penalty will be decided by Team ROBOTIX.

1. All the dimensions are to be considered with a tolerance of 10 %.
2. The robot can be powered on-board as well as off-board.
3. No kind of external control will be allowed.
4. All circuitry and sensory equipment should be placed on the robot adhering to the ROBOT SPECIFICATIONS.
5. Participants will have to bring their own programmers, cables and softwares. No programmers will be supplied.

For any queries or doubts regarding the event Lumos, visit our forum forum.robotix.in or contact:

Facebook Discussion group for the event Lumos.

Aditya Agarwal
aditya@robotix.in
+91 750 135 1939

Ishan Garg
ishan@robotix.in
+91 980 064 8888

The tutorial for this event is available on the Lumos tutorial page.

You can discuss your doubts regarding this event at out Lumos Forum

Facebook Discussion group for the event Lumos.

Click here to register for Lumos.

Read a Do-It-Yourself guide for the event Lumos for a robust and efficient approach to the problem statement here.

Watch the demonstration of the Do-It-Yourself for the event Lumos over here.

Moving light sources revealed. Click here to watch the video.

Accommodation details are now uploaded on the Kshitij website. Fill the forms as soon as possible.

Get an insight into the algorithms that can be used for Lumos, by reading the tutorial here.

Add yourself to the Facebook Group to get notified of the event changes immediately.

Read the Do-It-Yourself guide and make your Lumos bot before everybody else.

To see the variation in the Resistance of an LDR due to the light source, visit here.

Watch the Do-It-Yourself demonstration for Lumos.