Final project ideas

0. Navigate and find the red tower (the chosen)
The Goal

- Robot that detects a red brick tower and display the location on computer

- Avoid objects and walls

- Predefined yellow tower locations help the robot make error correction on the location class

- Wall detection by its color and by sonic sensor

- Belt drive and gearing implementation research and practical usage

The Robot
This project includes 1 robot, an all terrain search vehicle.

The robot uses belt drive and is geared to make it go fast. In front a sensor platform is mounted that can sweep +-90 degrees from center. The ultrasonic sensor makes sure it keeps a certain distance from objects and the RGB detect the different colors, the color of the wall is predefined in the robot. A search algorithm determines the direction of the robot and by using the built in coordinate system en LeJos we know where the robot is and it can make course correction. The robot uses Bluetooth for communication with computer for debug purpose and location uplink.

Evaluation
The project involves a lot of existing lab work and some new test for belt drive and the new RGB sensor. By focusing some off the time on a computer connection we will have a great debugging tool for future development. By making this search robot we will have a great platform for future development of search robots en hazarded areas.

The steps needed

- Coordinate system for belt drive

- Bluetooth debug channel

- RGB color sensor test

- Sonic sensor sweeping system

- Search algorithm

- Uplink and display reed tower location

- Coordinate correction by known yellow tower locations

-

1. The Hunter and the poor NXT

The Goal

- Robot that can detect another robot and “kill” it

- Make some robot interaction like a animal hunting another

- If possible be able to shoot something

The Robot

This project includes 2 robots, a hunter and the prey.

The hunter detects the prey by color diodes, and when the prey is “killed” the diode color are changed so the hunter know the prey is dead and a victory signal are given.

The prey follows a predefined area and uses a coordinate system drive to maneuver around. The hunter does not know the environment and has to use all of its sensors to adapt.

The hunter can be fitted with some kind of shooting mechanism which there is a lot of design of on the net. And by making a shooting mechanism we have to be able to calculate distance to object and be sure it is the right object.

Evaluation

Robot interaction and a lot of the old Lab exercises to build from

By using belt drive instead of regular wheels we also have an opportunity to extend the original motor and coordinate classes to be able to handle the belt drive.

The steps needed

- Coordinate system for belt drive

- Hunter tracker, track different light sources and detect color.

- Bum sensor on both robots to know there is a kill

- Shooting mechanism.

- Prey avoid, detect the hunter and speed up like a real animal

2. Find my coffee

The Goal

- A robot that from a start position drives out to find a heat source

- Bring the coffee cup back to start position or give a sound indicating it has achieved the goal.

- Avoid objects by scanning the area, like a radar

The Robot

The robot consists of a belt driven robot; the belt is for stability to handle the weight.

To achieve the main goal the robot has a temperature sensor mounted on top to seek out the heat source. When the heat source is found, the robot maneuvers around, so to be able to lift the coffee cup, like a fork lift. The area in it should search in is filled with obstacles that it has to manuvre around and detect with a sonic sensor radar.

Evaluation

The robot can be seen as part of some excising robot used in hazarded areas to find exposed pipes underground. This robot should do the same tasks but without remote control and therefore there is a massive amount of robot environment interaction.

By using belt drive instead of regular wheels we also have an opportunity to extend the original motor and coordinate classes to be able to handle the belt drive.

Altogether the robot implements a few of the excising lab exercises and contains new areas that needs to be explored.

The steps needed

- Coordinate system for belt drive

- Find Heat source

- Victory sound

- Avoid objects

- Lifting coffee cup

- Bring back coffee

3. Walk on stairs (up and down)

The Goal

- A robot that have the ability to go nearly anywhere.

- Main goal is to walk upstairs and again downstairs.

- Detect the stairs and measure if the height can be achieved.

The Robot

A search on the need for robots that can climb stairs shows 2 obvious models

The first model gives a robot with legs. A massive amount of motors are needed for the task and some of them seems to be hardcoded and does not know about the surroundings

Another model is a belt driven vehicle that use leavers that lifts and push the vehicle upstairs. The robot uses s tacho counter know how much it has lifted itself and sensor to measure if the obstacle are to high

Evaluation

The project is a sprig of on some problems with people in wheelchairs that cannot get upstairs because there is no ramp. Therefore this project can solve some social problems

The negative aspect of this project is that it is more a mechanical project and not a robot interaction project. Therefore only few of the previous lab exercises can be implemented.