The CiberUFP team, composed by two computer science researchers/lecturers from University Fernando Pessoa, members of the Intelligent Sensing and Ubiquitous Systems group (http://isus.ufp.pt), José Manuel Torres and Christophe Soares, won for the second consecutive year the 17th edition of the robotic simulation competition – CyberMouse, held at the University of Aveiro on 17th of May 2012.
CyberMouse is a robotic competition, which takes place in a simulation environment running in a computer network. The simulation system creates a virtual arena, populated by obstacles, where a starting grid, a target area (signaled by a beacon) and a home area are integrated. It also creates the virtual bodies of the robots. Participants must provide the software agents, which control the movement of the virtual robots, in order to accomplish the competition goal, a search and rescue mission.
A team of 5 robots, playing simultaneously, is given a twofold challenge. First, they must locate and position themselves inside the target area placed somewhere in the maze. Next, all the robots must return to the home area. Robotic agents have some typical sensors available such as GPS, compass, bumpers or obstacle sensors. Robots are equipped with a broadcast communication system. A robot can broadcast a message to all of its teammates within certain constraints.
CyberMouse is the younger brother of another robotic competition, MicroMouse, which used real autonomous and mobile robots and takes place in the same day. Both competitions are organized by University of Aveiro.
The CyberMouse competition is intended for students and/or professors of higher education and secondary schools and is held annually since 2001.