1. ENGR 100 - Robotics Project

2. Presentation Outline I. Background Information II. Design Project
III. Engineering (Robot Basics)
IV. Programming the RCX

3. Presentation Outline I. Background Information II. Design Project
III. Engineering (Robot Basics)
IV. Programming the RCX

4. All engineers listed above work together to design/build robots.
Who Builds Robots?
EE - designs “the brain”, sensors, actuators & wiring.
ME - designs body, gearing, actuators
CSE - writes software
CHEM E - designs (or selects) power supply.
MAT’L SCI - materials
All engineers listed above work together to design/build robots.

5. Robotics made easy? What are some of the challenges? Design Problem -
Design and build a robot to vacuum your house.
What are some of the challenges?

6. Design Challenges for Mobile Robots
Position -
How does robot know where it is (or has been)?
Power supply -
How does it avoid running over cord?
Navigation -
How does it navigate around obstacles?
Object Recognition -
How does it recognize money, toys, even cats?

7. Presentation Outline I. Background Information II. Design Project
III. Engineering (Robot Basics)
IV. Programming the RCX

8. Project Objectives The goals of this project are for students to:
Build a programmable robot.
Learn how robotics involves a multitude of skills and knowledge from many subject areas.
Experience the design process.
Be introduced to basic computer programming.
Get excited about Science and Technology.

9. Problem Definition
The objective of this project is to build a computer controlled robot that can safely deliver an immobile person through an obstacle course in the shortest amount of time.
To simulate real world situations, the robot must be able to climb a small ramp, cross a street without getting hit by a car, turn corners, fight off aggressive animals, climb stairs and free itself from a sandpit.

10. Obstacle Course Layout
8 ft
4 ft
1 ft
1ft
2 ft
68”
8 1/3 ft
Defender Free Zone

11. Programming Tasks The RCX can store 3 different programs:
Program 1 - Robotic Wheelchair (do first!)
Program 2 - Car
Program 3 - Defender (be creative!)

12. Scoring
10 pts 1
1ft ft
10 pts
10 pts
10 pts
10 pts
Additional points each round pts for Crosswalk, 10 pts for Car, and 20 pts for Defender (that stops wheelchair).
Base Pts – At some point before competition day, each team’s robot must complete the entire course (high score recorded)!

13. Rules (see handout for complete listing)
Robotic wheelchairs cannot be touched once competition has started.
Malfunctioning defenders and cars will be removed from course.
Max robot dimensions at start of competition - 1 ft x 1 ft x 1 ft
Wheelchairs and cars sending messages will be disqualified.

14. Design Approaches "Top-down" design "Bottom-up" design
the process of starting with the goal of the project and then developing a solution.
"Bottom-up" design
the process of first learning about the available materials and then determining what can be done with them.

15. Robotics Project Schedule
Nov. 19
Gears/ Programming
Due: Programming
Assignment (HW)  
Nov. 21
Build a Simple Pathfinder
Due: Web Site Research (HW)
Nov. 23
HOLIDAY!
Nov. 26
Program Simple Pathfinder
Nov. 28
Program Pathfinder
Nov. 30
RCX Code/NQC
Due: Simple Pathfinder (HW)
Dec. 3
Robot Construction
Dec. 5
Dec. 7
Robot Testing
Due: Draft Report
Dec. 10
Dec. 12
Robot Competition
Due: Final Robot
Due Mon. Dec. 17: Robot Report (25%)& Reflection Paper (10%)

16. Homework Assignments Go forward. Go backwards. Maneuver a 30 o turn.
Simple Pathfinder Tasks
Go forward.
Go backwards.
Maneuver a 30 o turn.
Avoid obstacles.
Halt for 5 s after crossing dark line.
Stop and go after receiving signal from Master Controller.

17. Presentation Outline I. Background Information II. Design Project
III. Engineering (Robot Basics)
IV. Programming the RCX

18. Robot Basics - Sensors & Motors
Input/Output Ports
Touch sensors
Light sensors
Motors
RCX signals
Tips -
Use view mode to check light sensor. Battery power affects speed of motors. Batteries run out fast! Don’t block infrared sensor.

19. Robot Basics - Gears Speed Torque (climb over obstacles) Turns Tips -
Try different size gear combinations, different types of gears (worm), and different motor placement (rear wheel drive or 4 wheel drive).

20. Example of 4 wheel drive
4 wheel drive

21. Robot Basics - Control Structures
No matter what language you use, there are 3 basic control structures for organizing the programming commands:
Sequential
Repetition (Loops)
Conditional

22. Sequential
Sequential statements are defined as a list of commands that are executed in order.
For example:
Set Forward Direction
Go forward for 3 s
Stop

23. Repetition For example:
Repetition statements allow for a series of commands to be repeated for a set number times.
For example:
Repeat 3 times
Set forward direction
Move forward for 3 s
Stop
End Repeat

24. Conditional
Conditional statements allow for two (or more) different sets of commands to be executed depending on a condition.
For example,
If certain conditions are true - one set of commands will be execute.
Else if any (or all) are false - another set of commands will be executed.

25. Example of Conditional Statements
For example -
If the light is <50%
Set Direction Forward
Move Forward for 3 s
Stop
Else If light is >= 50%
End

26. Quiz What are the 3 types of control structures?
Which would work best for the following situations -
Robotic wheelchair executes a left turn.
Robot wheelchair backs up if it hits the wall.
Car moves back and forth across crosswalk.

27. Presentation Outline I. Background Information II. Design Project
III. Engineering (Programming and Gears)
IV. Programming the RCX

28. How To: Write Programs Click on “Program RCX.” Stack puzzle pieces.
Move unused pieces to the trash.
Download program to the RCX.

29. RCX Programming
Commands: Tell robot what to do (e.g. stop, go, turn, etc.).
Sensor Watchers: Test conditions (e.g. light, touch, count) and determine actions based on conditions.
Stack Controllers: Allows robot to repeat commands or wait until condition is true.
My Commands: Makes several actions a “subroutine” which can be used as a single command.
See handout for more information!

30. Demo Robot Robot backs up for 1 s.
Both motors stop in preparation of power change.
Power increases to overcome wheel friction when turning.
Wheel A changes to forward, so robot turns to the right for .1 s.
Power decreases to protect sensors when robot bumps objects.
Wheel C changes to forward, so robot moves forward.

31. RCX Program Code Commands Sensor Watchers Stack Controllers
“My Commands”
NEW
See “Info on RCX Code” link on web site.

32. How To: Download Firmware
click on “Getting Started” and then “Set Up Options”

33. How To: Download Firmware

34. How To: Download Programs
Select button to download
Select program number (1-5)

35. How To: Save Programs

36. Features of RCX software
Multi-threaded language
Different parts of the program execute at the same time.
Can cause unexpected results!
Loops in main program interfere with subprogram.
Variables limited to 1 or 0
Use counter as variable.
Not Quite C (NQC) language allows for more variables.

37. NQC (Not Quite C) Programming