Purposes

The sensors on a micromouse serve several purposes. The first purpose, regardless of the exploration algorithm and approach, is to make sure the robot can detect errors. No robot is perfect, no maze is 100% made to specification. Errors are a way of life. Sensitive sensors that can detect slight errors can help the robot correct errors before errors accumulate to a level that can no longer be corrected (and the robot crashes into a wall).

The second purpose of sensors on a micromouse is to map the maze. Of course, this purpose only makes sense for smart mice. Wall huggers do not need to really map and remember the walls. For this second purpose, sensors that can sense further is better. This makes it possible for a robot to find walls that are not immediately around it. Sensors that can sense far walls minimize robot movement during the exploration phase and save time.