A micromouse is a small microprocessor-controlled robot vehicle, which is able to navigate its way through an unknown maze and to negotiate this path in the shortest time. It is a typical product of "mechatronics" embodying an integration of computer and electronic technology and mechanics.

The main challenge for the micromouse handler is to impart to the micromouse an adaptive intelligence to explore different maze configurations and to work out the optimum route for the shortest run time from start to destination; and to design a reliable micromouse which will negotiate the maze at a very high speed without crashing into the walls of the maze.

The basic function of the micromouse is to travel from the start square to the destination square. This is called a run and the time taken is called the run time. Traveling from the destination square back to the start square is NOT considered a run. The total time taken from the first activation of the micromouse until the start of each run is also measured. This is called the maze or search time. If the micromouse requires any manual assistance at any time during the contest, it is considered touched. By using these three parameters, the scoring of the contest is designed to reward speed, intelligence, efficiency of the maze solving, and self-reliance of the micromouse.

A Micromouse Simulation Program for DOS was developed when I was doing my final year project in Ngee Ann Polytechnic (Liew Yew Hin was my project partner). This program is STRICTLY for evaluation purposes and NOT for sale. You may distribute the program freely in its ORIGINAL form but the authors will NOT be responsible for any events or consequences that may result from any inappropriate use of the program. However, please feel free to submit all bugs and comments to the authors.

Download the Micromouse Simulation Program Version 1.00 for DOS (127,940 bytes)

The above program has been tested to run under DOS, Windows 3.1/95/98 and Windows NT/2000/XP.

Copyright© 2007 by Chue Wai Lian

Last updated on Wednesday, 26 December 2007

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