2. Robo-lab Report Engineering 1111; Dr. Even Lemley Team six: Doug Cross, Chadd Fleming, Gaurav Kumar, Abu Rahman, and Jonathan Tucker

3. Robo-lab Competition The goal of the competition was to design and build a robot that would follow a line of tape placed on the floor. The robot was to be built from the official Robo-lab kit, using Lego pieces and the Lego RCX computer. The robot that completed the course with the fastest time would win the competition.

4. Mechanical Design We first built a strong base for the robot using a rectangular pattern of long bricks and plates. To this base we mounted the RCX computer, two motors, two sensors, and two wheels. The robots primary sensory organs were two light sensors which we placed at the front of the robot facing down onto the floor.

5. Mechanical Design, Cont. We learned through experimentation that we needed to use a gear on the wheels to allow us to go slower and to have enough power to pull the RCX. We decided to use two wheels in the front of the robot while allowing the back half to slide across the floor with a skid pad. We found that we had better success when we positioned the light sensors closer longitudinally to the wheels; we then set the sensors apart from each other about as wide as the tape, so that the robot would hopefully follow it very closely.

6. Pictures

7. Program Design Our program contained two main parts. The first part was linked to the right light sensor which would either turn the robot to the right, or continue straight. The second part was much the same as the first but instead linked to the left light sensor. Depending on the light value the robot would turn to the left or continue straight. We created the program with both parts of the program in line with each other and since the entire program looped very quickly the program allowed the robot to follow the line. The program did need to be slowed down with timers to have been more effective.

8. Conclusions We learned that the programs that we created ran incredibly fast, looping many time in one second. We learned that the programs that we created ran incredibly fast, looping many time in one second. We experienced how mechanical design affects performance with such things as the placement of the wheels and the sensors. We experienced how mechanical design affects performance with such things as the placement of the wheels and the sensors. We learned also that battery power levels can affect the robots performance. We learned also that battery power levels can affect the robots performance. the biggest thing that we learned was that in order to win, you have to slow down and give yourself more time to see those sharp turns that happen in real life. the biggest thing that we learned was that in order to win, you have to slow down and give yourself more time to see those sharp turns that happen in real life.

9. The End Have a safe and happy holiday!