Concerning the “holding of the contest in a bright environment” which was announced at the end of last year’s contest, we hereby inform you of our policy concerning the lighting environment and flash photography.

1. Lighting environment

At present, the following three kinds of lighting units have been installed in the Panasonic Center where the contest is to be held: Mercury arc lamps, small mercury arc lamps, and halogen spotlights. Compared to when the contest held the year before last, we have installed additional small mercury arc lamps and spotlights. Regarding the location of each lighting unit, the mercury arc lamps are installed 6m30cm above the floor, and the small mercury arc lamps and spotlights are installed 5m70cm above the floor. No external light will enter the hall.

Photos of lighting are shown below:
http://www.robomedia.org/directory/en/game/26mmdata/26e-lightphoto.html

(1) Lighting environment for the final round of the Micromouse Contest expert class

We are planning to hold this contest using the mercury arc lamps, small mercury arc lamps and spotlights in the hall to provide an illumination intensity of between 1200 and 1500 lux. However, if it is judged technically difficult to hold the contest during the trial run on Nov. 25 (Fri.) in this lighting environment, the illumination intensity may be reduced by switching off the spotlights, for example.

(2) Lighting environment for rounds other than the final round of the expert class Micromouse contest

Apart from the final round, we will not use the spotlights, but only the mercury arc lamps and small mercury arc lamps. During the Micromouse Contest expert class preliminary heat, the Micromouse Contest freshman class and the Robotrace Contest preliminary heat to be held on Nov. 26, the illumination intensity will be around 400 to 500 lux. In the case of the Microclipper Contest and the Robotrace final round to be held on the Nov. 27, the location of the course will change so an illumination intensity of between about 600 to 800 lux will be used.

* Please note that the illumination intensity values indicated here and the illumination intensity used on the day of the contest will differ slightly depending upon subtle variations of light intensity and also on the actual orientation of the lighting units.

2. Flash photography

Until now it was forbidden to take photographs using a flash during contests, but this year you will be allowed to take photographs during the Micromouse contest expert class final round from your seat. Note, however, that apart from the Micromouse contest expert class final round, the prohibition on flash photography during contests will remain in force.

1. Micromouse Contest(Freshman Class/Expert Class)
Micromouse Freshman Class
This is a micromouse contest for beginners who have recently joined the program. Anyone who considers himself/herself a beginner can participate in this contest. However, contestants who have reached the goal at a previous the all japan micromouse contest and the equivalent contest of an overseas, and mice that have reached the goal at such a contest, are ineligible. And, if during the contest the judges determine that the mouse should be entered in the Expert Class, the mice are ineligible to win.
In the Freshman Class, the contestants will be allowed to change batteries during the contest as long as the batteries are of the same specifications.

Micromouse Expert Class
This is the main event in the micromouse contest. Both preliminary and final contests will be held. Contestants who pass the preliminary stage and participants who have been seeded in each district in accordance with their previous results (nominees from the local contests, in principle) will be eligible to enter the final contest. For the final contest, each mouse builder is allowed to enter only one mouse, while a group is allowed to enter only one mouse as well, unless the individual mouse builder or the group enters mice that are technically dissimilar. In addition, each operator (the person who built the mouse must operate it, in principle) is allowed to operate only one mouse in the final contest.
In the Expert Class, the contestants will be prohibited from changing batteries during all preliminary rounds and the finals of the contest.
We are planning to hold the final contest using the mercury arc lamps, small mercury arc lamps and spotlights in the hall to provide an illumination intensity of between 1200 and 1500 lux. However, if it is judged technically difficult to hold the contest during the trial run on Nov. 25 (Fri.) in this lighting environment, the illumination intensity may be reduced by switching off the spotlights, for example.
Until now it was forbidden to take photographs using a flash during contests, but this year you will be allowed to take photographs during the Micromouse contest expert class final round from your seat. *1. In the expert class preliminary, each contesting micromouse shall be subject to a time limit of 7 minutes. The micromouse can try up to 5 runs within this time limit. In the expert class final round, each contesting micromouse shall be subject to a time limit of 5 minutes, and can try up to 5 runs within this time limit. In freshman class contests, as in the previous years, each contesting micromouse shall be subject to a time limit of 7 minutes and can try up to 5 runs within this time limit. *2. Requirements for participation in the freshman class of the Micromouse Contest The freshman class of the Micromouse Contest is for people who consider themselves to be beginners, and who will participate with mice that they produced by themselves. Therefore, people who have made mice that completed the course at the all japan micromouse contest and the equivalent contest of an overseas in the past are not considered to be "freshman." Also, if a person is given a mouse that was made by a more experienced person, that mouse will not be considered a mouse made by a beginner. *3. The operator is not allowed to place the micromouse for adjustments or for other reasons at any part of the maze other than the starting point area. This stricter application of the contest rules is intended to prevent any micromouse from acquiring information on the maze prior to the race.
*4. Generally only one seed mouse is allocated for the expert class final round at the each local contest in japan, but for districts where more than 30 micromice will participate, two seed mice will be allocated for the final round this year.
2. Microclipper
(1) In the Microclipper Contest, a cutting sheet will be affixed to the cylindrical cans as in last year's contest.
(2) In the Microclipper Contest, the contestants will be allowed to change batteries during the contest as long as the batteries are of the same specifications.
3. Robotrace Contest
(1) Both preliminary and final contests will be held. 40 robots of a higher rank advance to the final with the results of the preliminary
(2) During a contest, to prevent any robotracer from acquiring information on the maze in advance of the race, the operator is not allowed to run the robotracer for adjustments at any part of the course other than the start-goal area. (3) The surface of the course is wooden, painted matte black. White vinyl tape is used to mark the lines. The field will be made as level as possible. Complaints about these will not be accepted. (4) In the Robotrace Contest, The contestants will be prohibited from changing batteries during the contest.

4. Application place
New Technology Foundation
2-9-22, Tamagawa, Ota-Ku, Tokyo, 146-0095, Japan
Fax 81-3-3756-3003
Mail Tadashi_Sato@notes.namco.co.jp

Outline of Micromouse 2005

（The 26th All Japan Micromouse Contest）

Introduction

Schedule