Robots-For-All (IEEE - HI)

Robots-For-All is a group promoting fun with autonomous robots. Participants interact with other members to share their inovations and solve problems. Our goal is to have fun! Along the way participants will learning communication, problem solving, programming and debugging skills.

Robot

Robots-For-All is recommending the following robot:

The robot, batteries and battery charger are available for about $110. The robot includes the processor, camera, motors, servos, wheels and a simple display. The batteries and charger are extra.

Other robots are allowed, see Rules section for limitations, but they are typically more expensive, may require to buy the processor and require more expensive development systems (Windows or Mac).

Stock Challenges

These challenges are designed to use the sensors provided with the robot kits. While different sensors are allowed, they may be judged in as a different group. These challenges are timed, where the fastest time wins and in the case of a tie, the robot that gets closest to the finish wins. Practice boards are recommended for algorithm development and testing.

  1. Line Following: Follow a line on a board from beginning to end by controlling motors based upon sensor input. Several challenge levels exist.
  2. Line Maze: Follow a line on a board through a maze to the end by controlling motors based upon sensor input. Several attempts are allowed to allow the robot to "learn" the maze.

Custom Challenges

These challenges require additional sensors for the robot. A single attempt is made with the challenge with a longer time limit. Again fastest time wins and in the case of a tie, the robot that gets closest to the finish wins.

  1. Waypoint following: Using a GNSS receiver with NTRIP corrections, traverse an outdoor path specified by an ordered set of waypoints. Robots must get within a specified range of each waypoint before traversing to the next waypoint. This is a timed challenge where the fastest time wins and in the case of a tie, the closest to the finish (by waypoint distance) wins.

Software Development

Developing the software for the robot requires a PC, MAC or Raspberry Pi board. You will need a display, keyboard and mouse (pointing device) along with storage. Participants are using Python and C++ along with the Arduino IDE or CLI and support libraries.