TurtleBot Pursuit & Evasion Challenge

TurtleBot Pursuit & Evasion Challenge: The TurtleBot Pursuit & Evasion Challenge is an autonomous robotics competition that puts participants' skills in robotics simulation, path planning, autonomous navigation, decision-making, and pursuit-evasion algorithms to the test. Participants will develop two autonomous algorithms: Catcher: Locate, pursue, and capture the Runner as quickly as possible. Runner: Evade the Catcher and survive for the complete duration of the match. The competition will be conducted in a simulated Gazebo environment, with the TurtleBot 4 Lite as the tentative robot platform. Competition Format: The competition consists of two rounds. Round 1 — Catcher Qualification: All participating teams will initially compete using their Catcher algorithm. The Catcher will be tested against a standardized moving target acting as the Runner. The target may be represented by a moving sphere/dot or a TurtleBot controlled by the organizers. The primary qualification metric will be the time taken to successfully capture the target. Faster successful capture = better performance. If more than 8 teams qualify, the 8 teams with the fastest successful capture times will advance to Round 2. If exactly 8 teams qualify, all 8 will proceed to the knockout stage. If fewer than 8 teams qualify, the organizing committee may modify the knockout structure, including directly selecting the top 4 teams for the semifinals or conducting an additional evaluation. The final qualification format will be determined by the organizing committee based on the number and performance of successful qualifiers. Round 2 — 1v1 Knockout Battle: The qualified teams will compete in a 1v1 knockout format. Each matchup consists of two innings of 3 minutes each, with the roles reversed: Inning 1: Team A → Catcher Team B → Runner Inning 2: Team B → Catcher Team A → Runner This ensures that every team is evaluated on both pursuit and evasion. The standard knockout format will be: Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final A separate 3rd-place match will be conducted between the semifinal losers. The exact knockout structure may be modified by the organizing committee depending on the number of qualifying teams. Arena & Match Conditions: The competition will be conducted in a standardized simulated arena with: Arena: 10 m × 10 m Environment: Flat, enclosed 2D arena Obstacles: 4–6 static obstacles Initial distance: 3 m Head start: None Start: Both robots simultaneously Inning duration: 3 minutes Capture & Win Conditions: A Runner is considered captured when it enters within a 0.5 m radius of the Catcher. The Catcher must maintain this distance continuously for 1 second to confirm a successful capture. Catcher Win: The Catcher successfully captures the Runner within the 3-minute inning. Shorter capture time indicates better Catcher performance. Runner Win: If the Catcher fails to capture the Runner within 3 minutes, the Runner successfully wins the inning by evading capture. The final distance between the Catcher and Runner may be used for tie-breaking. Tie-Breaking: If both Catchers successfully capture their respective Runners, the faster capture time receives the advantage. If both Runners successfully evade capture, the Runner with the greater final distance from the Catcher receives the advantage. If one team captures while the other fails to capture, the team achieving the successful capture receives the advantage. If the matchup remains tied, an additional tie-breaker may be conducted under standardized conditions. Simulation Environment: The competition will be conducted in a simulated TurtleBot environment. The TurtleBot 4 Lite is the tentative robot platform for the competition. The exact Gazebo version, TurtleBot configuration, sensor setup, ROS/ROS2 version, software requirements, and submission procedure will be communicated through the official technical rulebook. Prize Pool: ₹25,000 The final prize distribution will be announced by the organizing committee. Important Note: The exact technical specifications, TurtleBot configuration, Gazebo/ROS version, sensor setup, standardized Runner implementation, obstacle placement, submission procedure, and detailed matchup evaluation methodology will be provided through the official technical rulebook. The competition details, rules, format, and technical specifications are subject to change. Any updates will be communicated by the organizing committee. The decisions of the organizing committee regarding qualification, match outcomes, tie-breaking, and competition structure shall be final. Contact & Social Media: WhatsApp Link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KxyipGnKTZaFkSKhBAoSKq