Frequently Asked Questions

1.Arena specifications are not at all provided. Can you elaborate little
more about arena?

In the 500m closed loop track, in the first 350m the robot has to navigate with the
help of lane detection while avoiding static positive obstacles and crossing
different terrains (sandy terrain about 20m which will be positioned at two
different places each of 10m, gravel terrain about 20m which will be positioned at
two different places each of 10m, staircases of 6 steps up and down (7 inches rise
(17.78cm) & 10 inches tread (25.4 cm)), 8 corrugations(8 inches radius
(20.32cm) & 32 inches pitch (81.28cm)) and it has to navigate 15 deg slope up
and down). The next 150m the robot has to navigate with the help of GPS
waypoints which is an open area (no boundaries will be given).However, the GPS
waypoints will be provided for the full 500m track.

2.It would be helpful if more information is provided about

corrugations?

The robot has to navigate on a corrugation course of 8 corrugations with a radius

of 8 inches and pitch of 32 inches. The corrugation course can be shown in below
fig.

Radius 8”

Pitch 32”

3.Is the track (line) continuous? Is the track even on the stairs, sands
and gravels?

No, track (lane markings) is not continuous. The track is prepared with concrete
and boundaries are demarcated clearly with black and yellow striped lines and
these lines will be there even in staircases, sand, gravel, ramp and corrugation
courses. Robot has to navigate with the help of GPS Waypoints if there are no
lane markings.

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4.Should robot avoid the obstacles or climb over them?

Robot has to avoid the obstacles and cross over ramp, staircase and corrugation
courses.

5.Is it enough if we provide an option of wireless e-stop or is it

necessary to provide wireless e-start also?

As per rules E-Stop is enough.

6. Can we use image processing to sense obstacles in the arena?

Any perception technology can be used to detect the obstacles. Choice of the
perception technology is left to the teams. Even teams can use multiple sensors to
detect the obstacles.

7.Does limiting the speed of the robot by hardware means, it should

be controlled by gear mechanism or the speed can be controlled by
motor speed regulator which is controlled by microcontroller?

While navigating in the course, speed should not exceed 10kmph. For limiting the
speed you can choose any mechanism.

8.What does lane following by color detection mean?

Track is prepared with concrete and lane markings are demarcated with black and
yellow striped lines on the sides of the track. Robot should be able to navigate
with the help of lane markings. Wherever lane marking is not present the robot
has to use waypoints for navigation.

9.Can we actually add extra modules like wireless image transmission

etc., to the robot or should we stick to the requirements of the robot?

Adding extra modules is left to the team, however detachments are forbidden
during the entire course of navigation

10.What is the size & color of obstacle we can expect? Will obstacles
be placed in middle of the line or randomly?

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The obstacles are of irregular shape and sizes will vary from 0.5 x 0.5 x 0.5m to
1.0 x 1.0 x 1.0m. The obstacles will be positioned randomly such that track width
will be kept as minimum as 1.2m. Obstacle colors will not be provided to the
participants.

11.Does navigation of the robot with the help of GPS means it should
navigate with help of maps and landmarks from satellite or the map
with details of arena.

The robot has to navigate with the help of GPS way points when there are no lane
markings. We will give 30 GPS way points (#wp1 to #wp30) through out the
course in sequence. The robot has to navigate in this sequence. GPS waypoints
will be given to the participant three hours before the start of the event. Land
marks and maps will not be provided.

12.What format of GPS data can be use, with base map or just the
NMEA string?

GPS coordinates will be given in simple ASCII text format. The format of the text
GPS data will be latitude (Decimal Degrees) and longitude (Decimal Degrees).
Here is an example set of (total of 30GPS waypoints) data points will be
provided;

Waypoint #1 latitude 13.15781632 N longitude 80.09656778 E

Waypoint # 2 ……………………….. ……………………………
Waypoint # 3 ……………………….. ……………………………
Waypoint # 4 ……………………….. ……………………………
Waypoint # 5 ……………………….. ……………………………
Waypoint # 6 ……………………….. ……………………………
. . . . .
. . . . .

Waypoint # 30 ……………………….. ……………………………

13.Is there any registration fee for competition?

There is no registration fee for the competition.

14.Should the design of the mechanical part be given in detail?

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Yes, the design of the automotive/ structural/kinematics/ mechanisms etc., should
be submitted in brief.

15.Will lane comprise of single color or multi colored strips?

The lane boundary will be of black and yellow strips on either side.

16.What will be the length and height of the robot?

There is no constraint on the length and height of the robot, but the width should
be restricted to less than 1m and a minimum turning radius of 5m.

17.Will the up and down steps be continuous and what will be tread of
the sixth step when it is coming downwards?

The up and down steps will not be continuous. The tread of all the steps will be 10
inches.

18.Is there any limitation on the weight of the robot?

There is no limitation on the weight of the robot, but it should carry an extra
payload of 10 kg during the entire course.

19.Should the design of the electronics part be given in detail? I mean,

is it enough if we submit the block diagram with brief description of
each block?

The brief design details including block diagrams, list of sensors used controllers,
algorithms and approach & methodology has to be submitted.

20.Ambient Conditions: Would the course contain any kind of

extreme lighting or terrain conditions? For example, would there be a
possibility of rain or any other kind of water in the course?

There will be no extreme lighting conditions; The competition will be organized

on a normal day light conditions (9.00hrs to 17.00hrs). In case of any natural
hazards final competition will be conducted the next day.

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21.Whether keeping our laptop on the
robot is allowed.

Yes, you can use the laptop as a computing resource. The robot should move on
its own without external assistance. No communication with laptop is allowed.
The robot navigation has to be autonomous.

22.Detachable Appendage: if at any point of time any detachable

appendage used causes the maximum dimensions of robot to be
exceeded then would it violate the rules?

All attachments have to be intact from start to finish.

23.Would like to know whether the payload would be given

throughout course. Also, would there be an option of choosing a lesser
payload, in the case that the robot is not able to complete the given
course with a 20kg payload.

As per the students request, the pay load is reduced from 20kg to 10kg and the
robot should carry the given pay load through out the course.

24.Is there are any cost constraints, or if there are any limits on the
cost of any component?

There are no cost constraints and no limits on cost of any component. DRDO will
sponsor only Rs 1,00,000(One lakh after qualifying the first phase)

25.In rules for submissions, it has been said that, if team consists of
members from different colleges, it should be reflected in the single
nomination Performa by signatures of the heads of all the respective
institutions, similarly should the undertaking form also be signed by
all the HOD's or is it enough if I get it from one of them.

You can get it endorsed by your HOD/Principal

26.In the pro forma, regarding details (Name, address) about the
colleges of team members who are from different colleges, as the

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space provided is less, can we provide this information in a separate
sheet as annexure to this pro forma?

Yes

27.Also please let us know if the pro forma and undertaking could be
sent together along with the design approach paper or if the pro forma
and undertaking can be sent earlier?

The proforma and undertaking should be sent along with the design approach

28.Each college can nominate a maximum of 2 teams. One of my

team-mate is from a different college. But that particular college
already has 2 teams comprising of only their students. I want to know
if my team-mate will be allowed to take part as a member of my team.

Yes if both the colleges are in agreement

28.My team is a group of friends, among whom one belongs to B.Sc

Physics final year, can he also participate?

No. B.Sc students in this year’s competition

29.We are teaching faculties of IT and related subjects. Are we

eligible to participate?

Only students are eligible to participate.