Micromouse is an event where smallrobotmice solve a 16x16 maze. It began in late 1970s, although there is some indication of events in 1950. Events are held worldwide, and are most popular in the UK, U.S., Japan, Singapore and South Korea.
The maze is made up of a 16 by 16 grid of cells, each 180 mm square with walls 50 mm high. The mice are completely autonomous robots that must find their way from a predetermined starting position to the central area of the maze unaided. The mouse will need to keep track of where it is, discover walls as it explores, map out the maze and detect when it has reached the goal. Having reached the goal, the mouse will typically perform additional searches of the maze until it has found an optimal route from the start to the center. Once the optimal route has been found, the mouse will run that route in the shortest possible time.
Mice can run at up to three meters per second, with current world records around 15 seconds, depending on the maze design.
AMD Says U.S. Ends Antitrust Probe with No Action Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:37:59 -0400
A probe into potential antitrust violations involving graphics chips makers has ended, and no action was taken by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to Advance Micro Devices. - NEW YORK, Oct. 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice
has ended its probe into potential antitrust violations
involving graphics chips makers and taken no action, Advance
Micro Devices said on Monday.
The company said the DOJ had informed AMD and ATI
Technologies on Friday that it had ... McAfee Notes Spread of Bogus Security Software Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:26:08 -0400
McAfee warns of an increase in malware posing as legitimate security software in its bi-annual Security Threat journal report. McAfee also noted a jump in Trojans using social engineering techniques to spread, and reveals evidence that freecreditreport.com is the most popular domain for typosquatting. - Think it's safe to download a patch from your e-mail? Not so fast.
According to a new report by McAfee, cyber-criminals are increasingly capitalizing on users looking to protect their PCs with the latest updates. In its bi-annual Security Journal threat report, McAfee noted a jump in the amount o... eWeek Newsbreak, October 13, 2008 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:16:08 -0400
Apple's iPhone may finally have some competition. Last week RIM and Verizon Wireless unveiled the new touch screen smartphone called the Blackberry Thunder. Speaking of smart phones, the work force is fast becoming a mobile one. Whether they¹re using company issued Blackberries or their personal iPhone, users are accessing data, applications, e-mail and schedules. It¹s often unofficial and outside the bounds of IT, but Gartner research shows it¹s only a matter of time before they make it official and ask for IT support. The study also breaks down who's footing the bill, and how soon your company could be too. Security vendors such as Symantec, Trend Micro, Secure Computing, CA and Sophos made no fewer than 11 significant acquisitions in 2008. Find out who's buying who and how hefty the price tag. Own a Mac OS X 10.5 or Mac OS X 10.4.11? If you do, Apple has just released a massive security update. Ashley explains where you can go to download it. - Video Content.... Sun Microsystems, Fujitsu Offering New SPARC-Based Server Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:43:06 -0400
Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu are rolling out a new midrange server system dubbed the SPARC Enterprise T5440, which will be based on the UltraSPARC T2 Plus processor. While Sun and Fujitsu have been offering low-end systems that use the UltraSPARC T2 chip, this server is geared toward midmarket and enterprise companies that want to run database and CRM applications within their data center infrastructure. The T5440, which Sun and Fujitsu will both sell, is expected to compete against other Unix systems such as IBM Power Systems and HP's Integrity line. - Sun
Microsystems and Fujitsu
are rolling out a jointly developed midrange system, the SPARC
Enterprise T5440 server, which is based on Sun's UltraSPARC T2 plus processor
and is designed to run database and CRM
applications.
With the new T5440 system, Sun and Fujitsu are looking to bring a midr... The Risks In Wildcard Certificates Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:43:20 -0400
They may not be real-world problems, but wildcard certificates have some definite theoretical problems. But they can be so much cheaper that users will buy them anyway. - The imperative to use SSL, for web authentication and encryption or VPNs, is reasonably universal. Competition has driven prices of certificates down over the years to the point where you can get conventional SSL certificates from reputable vendors for well under $100 per year.
Another product gain... FCC Likely to Recommend Unlicensed Spectrum Use Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:09:07 -0400
The Federal Communications Commission will soon release a report on the feasibility of opening up unused spectrum, or white spaces, for use with wireless broadband. The FCC engineering report will share results of several years of data collection, including field tests on Broadway in New York City and at FedEx Field in Maryland. - WASHINGTON (Reuters) A battle between tech companies like Google Inc and
broadcasters over use of soon-to-be vacant airwaves will heat up soon as U.S.
regulators release an anticipated report on the issue.
The Federal Communications Commission's report will weigh in as early as
Friday on the fea...
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology
Boeing engineers union weighs strike plan Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:17:00 -0700 As Boeing and striking Machinists return to the bargaining table, the company's engineers represented by SPEEA weigh their options. Efforts to calm markets face test this week Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:24:59 -0700 After a whirl of weekend emergency meetings, government leaders on both sides of the Atlantic produced bold promises to rescue the global financial system, but still raced to work out the details to calm battered stock markets before they opened this morning. Alliance may one day aid paralyzed, amputees Building on tech-robotic link Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:50:51 -0700 The Northwest's economic future seemed promising Friday, if you were inside a certain conference room at Microsoft's advanced research center in Redmond.
NYT > Technology
Revived Fervor for Smart Monitors Linked to a Server Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:38:35 -0000 Instead of having a big, loud and complex computer on your desk, what if you could have a quiet, thin machine that rarely needed an upgrade or a fix?
Korean Star’s Suicide Reignites Debate on Web Regulation Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:32:19 -0000 When movie star Choi Jin-sil was found dead, South Korean police, the media and members of Parliament immediately pointed fingers at the Internet.
Advertising: Newspapers’ Web Revenue Is Stalling Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:14:14 -0000 Newspapers, already facing a grim economic forecast, are digesting another piece of bad news.
CNN.com - Technology
City hopes to shuttle people in 'podcars' Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:47:49 -0400 Read full story for latest details.
Saudi prince to erect world's tallest building Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:00:44 -0400 Saudi Prince and billionaire Al-Waleed bin Talal says he will build the world's tallest building, planned to be over a kilometer (3,281 feet) high. The tower will be built in the Saudi town of Jeddah and will be part of a larger project that will cost $26.7 billion, (100 billion Saudi riyals) said the Prince's firm, Kingdom Holding Company.
Texts from elephant warn rangers of trouble Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:00:36 -0400 Read full story for latest details.
NPR Topics: Technology
Fast, Citywide WiFi Launches In Baltimore Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:19:00 -0400 The nation's first rollout of WiMax has launched in Baltimore. Host Steve Inskeep talks to tech commentator Mario Armstrong about the fourth generation Internet service. It's a wireless connection that is fast and allows a subscriber to roam across the city. New Solar Cell Easy As Pizza To Make Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:16:00 -0400 The iJET is a new type of solar cell that's cheap and easy to make, requiring not much more than a pizza oven, some nail polish remover, and a common inkjet printer. Australian scientist Nicole Kuepper describes her invention. SpaceX Celebrates First Successful Rocket Launch Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:53:00 -0400 SpaceX's flagship Falcon1 rocket has successfully launched from an island in the central Pacific, becoming the first privately-developed rocket to orbit the planet. NASA has already contracted SpaceX to begin private space flight missions to the International Space Station beginning in 2010.
BBC News | Technology | UK Edition
US tourist set for space station Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:19:17 -0000 US space tourist Richard Garriott follows in the footsteps of his astronaut father as he blasts off into space. Music fans back legal downloads Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:08:00 -0000 Nearly three quarters of online music pirates would be be put off by warnings from their internet provider, suggests a survey. Test explores if robots can think Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:09:34 -0000 An experiment takes place at Berkshire's University of Reading to see if robots are capable of intelligent thought.
Reuters Video: Technology
Japan's latest robots Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:19:22 -0400 Oct 13 - Japan puts its human-like robots on display.
Facebook eyes growth over profits Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:39:44 -0400 Oct. 12 - On a visit to London as part of a multi-city European trip, Facebook founder Mark Zuckeberg explains his strategy for navigating a tough economic climate.
Reuters Technology Week Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:38:38 -0400 Oct. 10 - Palin dukes it out digitally, super strong scents, and prize-winning protein.
AP Top Technology News At 11:10 a.m. EDT
UK university holds artificial intelligence test By RAPHAEL G. SATTER Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:11:01 -0000 READING, England (AP) -- Computers argued, cracked jokes and parried trick questions, all part of an annual test of artificial intelligence carried out at the University of Reading.... MySpace taps small businesses in ad money quest By RACHEL METZ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:06:27 -0000 NEW YORK (AP) -- Just because your band doesn't have the bucks for a six-figure advertising campaign doesn't mean you wouldn't be interested in promoting it on MySpace.... Kenya's elephants send text messages to rangers By KATHARINE HOURELD Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:43:58 -0000 OL PEJETA, Kenya (AP) -- The text message from the elephant flashed across Richard Lesowapir's screen: Kimani was heading for neighboring farms....
CNET News.com
Gartner and UBS provide a mixed view on IT spending 2008 and 2009 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:31:00 -0700 Gartner releases a research report that forecasts a 2.3 percent growth in IT spending this year, while UBS Securities predicts a more dire outcome of a 5 to 15 percent decline. '60 Minutes' video: Drone warfare in Iraq Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:29:57 -0700 UAVs like the Predator are a highly valued asset for the U.S. military as it pursues "fleeting and perishable" targets. Lesley Stahl reports. Green news harvest: 'black silicon' solar cells Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:17:42 -0700 SiOnyx unveils enhanced silicon, Bloom Energy steps ahead with fuel cell, tough days for public clean energy companies, the nuclear fall-out from falling stock market, the price of oil's impact on clean energy, Chevron and DHL invest in clean tech.
500MicroMouse Information Centre - Detailed information on building a competitive mouse robot with subsystems breakdowns including motor, chassis, sensors, batteries, and a list of robot navigation tips.
Meta Description: [ The micromouse design and building resources pages aim to provide
information for builders of maze solving robots ]
MicroMouseInfo.com - Pictures, videos, technical details for each subsystem, an events list, and tips on hardware and software design.
Meta Description: [ FW MX 2004 DW MX 2004 HTML, FW MX 2004 DW MX 2004 HTML, FW MX 2004 DW MX 2004 HTML ]
DIM - Pictures and information on a simple wall-follower MicroMouse powered by a single motor.
Lifeng's Home Page - Descriptions and schematics for several MicroMouse robots and a Li-Ion battery charger.
micromouse online - Loughborough University MicroMouse project with technical drawings, subsystems and sensor strategy information, and a downloadable Visual Basic 6.0 diagnostics toolkit.
MicroMouse UK - Official web site for the United Kingdom MicroMouse competition. Includes a list of competition events, rules, maze files and a maze file editor, event calendar, a list of past competitions, and a mailing list.
Meta Description: [ Official Website for UK Micromouse ]
MicroMouse@TIC - United Kingdom 2004 competition with rules, building information for motors, sensors and processing units, an extensive photograph gallery and an entry form.
Meta Description: [ the tic's micromouse robotics website, home of the National micromouse competition ]
Millenium Bug - Pictures and information on a mouse robot using a tricycle configuration.
ONU IEEE Micro Mouse - Pictures and information on hardware and software design including a maze solving algorithm, a parts list, photographs from a recent competition, and an extensive links page to related resources.
OPUS the MicroMouse - Technical drawings, photographs, subsystems breakdowns, and pictures from a recent competition.
Robin Bradbeer's MicroMouse Page - Descpription of the history of the MicroMouse contest with mouse robot component guidelines and an extensive bibliography.
Team.MicroMouse - California State University of Long Beach's MicroMouse project.
404UCR MicroMouse Program - University of California, Riverside's mouse robot web site. Includes papers, schematics, mouse building tips, and an events list.
UCSB MicroMouse - University of California, Santa Barbara's mouse robot project. Includes contest rules, links, and a description of their robot.
University of Hawaii MicroMouse Team - Picture gallery, building tips, competition rules, and information on the mouse robots this team has built.
VINEE Systems - Electronics and programming resources for microcontroller based designs. Circuit schematics, code, algorithms and theory for building a maze solving micromouse with infrared sensors.
Meta Description: [ Official VINEE Systems Website - Electronics and programming resources for microcontroller based designs. ]
Micromouse
This is the micromouse we participated with in Techfest 2007 at IIT Bombay. This video was taken in the 6x6 practice maze a day before the event.