1. Lighting environment

　Lighting environment

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.
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) The rule of Microclipper contest is a new rule. (Microclipper contest was revised.)
(2) In the Microclipper Contest, a cutting sheet will be affixed to the cylindrical cans as in last year's contest.
(3) 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
2-8-5, Tamagawa, Ota-Ku, Tokyo, 146-8656, Japan
Fax 81-3-3756-0219
Mail mouse2006@robomedia.org

Outline of Micromouse 2006

（The 27th All Japan Micromouse Contest）

Schedule