Overview TechFEST'26 is North India's premier technical festival, organised by Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Longowal, Punjab. This is a paid opportunity with the early-bird packages mentioned below. Registration for the techFEST’26 package is compulsory for accommodation and other perks, while participation in individual events is free*. www.techfest26.com We cordially invite you to Margdarshak, organised as part of techFEST'26 — Annual Technical Festival of SLIET. Showcase your talent, compete with the sharpest minds, and earn your moment of glory. About the Event Micromouse is a robotics competition that challenges participants to design, build, and program a small autonomous robot — the “Micromouse” — capable of navigating a maze on its own. The goal is for the robot to find its way from a predefined starting position to the centre of the maze in the shortest possible time. The maze contains interconnected pathways with dead ends, turns, and multiple possible routes, demanding efficient real-time decision-making and navigation. Problem Statement Participants must design and build a fully autonomous Micromouse robot that can navigate an unknown maze efficiently. The robot must operate within defined size constraints and use onboard sensors and algorithms to make real-time decisions. The Micromouse should explore, map, and solve the maze autonomously, with the goal of achieving the minimum possible completion time. Robot Design Specifications
Core Components: Drive motors for movement Sensors for detecting maze walls Control logic and onboard computation for maze-solving An onboard power supply, such as batteries
Size Limitations: Must not exceed 16 cm in length and 12 cm in width (recommended compact size). If the Micromouse changes shape during a run, its dimensions must remain within 16 cm × 16 cm. No restriction on height; preferably keep it within the maze size.
Self-Containment & Energy Source: Must be completely self-contained and must not use any form of remote control. Combustion-based energy sources are strictly prohibited.
Building Restrictions: Use of LEGO kits or any other pre-made construction kits is prohibited. Integrity &
Interaction with the Maze: Must not leave any part of itself inside the maze. Must not jump over, fly over, climb, scratch, cut, burn, mark, damage, or destroy the maze walls. Maze Specification The maze consists of square cells (16 cm × 16 cm) with uniform construction. Maze walls have a thickness of 13 mm and a height of 8 cm. The entire maze is enclosed by an outer boundary wall. The starting point is located at one of the four corners; the starting cell has walls on three sides, with the open side facing north and outer walls on the west and south sides. Event Structure & Match Format Main Run (100
Points): Each team is allowed a maximum of two runs, with a 2-minute gap between them. The best time out of the two runs is considered the team's official score. A limited technical time will be provided in each run.
Venue
Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal 148106, Sangrur, Punjab
Sangrur, India
Valid Adjustments: Centring the bot if it gets stuck (limited). Restarting the bot from the previous cell.
Invalid Adjustments: Manually placing the bot on an adjacent or any other cell. Any manual intervention beyond the allowed adjustments may result in penalties or disqualification. If the maze is not completed, performance is evaluated on distance covered, purposefulness of movement versus random behaviour, and quality/stability of control during navigation. Contest Rules All machines will be collected before the maze is revealed; after disclosure, handlers get 3 minutes for preparation. No additional information may be fed to the Micromouse after the maze is revealed.
Allowed Between Runs: Change switch settings to select algorithms. Replace batteries. Adjust and calibrate sensors. Change speed settings. Make minor repairs. Each team gets a total of 3 minutes of maze access per run, including adjustment time. The timer runs continuously, starting when the Micromouse crosses the start line and stopping at the finish line. Teams may use Flood Fill or any other suitable maze-solving algorithm. Team Specifications & Eligibility Only undergraduate and graduate students from any field are eligible. Each team may consist of a maximum of four members. Participants must carry valid student ID cards from their institutions. Teams must bring their own batteries and supplies. Rules and Regulations — General Rules All participants must carry a valid college ID card and their techFEST'26 registration receipt. Reporting time will be communicated to registered teams; late reporting may lead to walkover. The decision of the judges and organisers will be final and binding in all matters. Any form of misconduct, plagiarism, or use of unfair means leads to immediate disqualification. Participants are responsible for their own equipment and personal belongings. Organisers reserve the right to modify any rule/PS at any time; updates are announc