Tele-Operated Rover Using Wireless Internet Senior Design Students: P. Battles, A. Friday, M. Harper, B. Hightower, R. Jackson, J. Jansen, B. Johnson, C. Nuttall, M. Shepherd, P. White, V. Lisandro, A. White. Supervised by T. Roppel OBJECTIVE: Design and build a rover that can be driven remotely around a building using a wireless internet connection. APPLICATIONS: Tour guide, portable video conference, inspection, retrieval, security, etc. RESOURCES: Designed and built in one semester by a senior design class composed of 12 students from the Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Wireless Engineering programs. Self-funded – approximately $50 per student (total of $600). Minimizing cost required significant effort - salvage parts from defunct projects, build instead of buy, etc. SPECIFICATIONS: Capable of being operated either remotely via internet connection or by a wireless controller in close proximity. Proximity operation supersedes internet link. Continuous two-way video/audio accessible through any internet connected PC. Video quality must be sufficient to readily identify room numbers and names on hallway nameplates when passing. Onboard video camera has 360 degree field of view capability, camera can be rotated remotely. Vehicle must have user-friendly, adult human-like form factor suitable for use as a tour guide. Must have fail-safe or backup in case of any foreseeable hazard such as loss of internet connection, driver error, rapid appearance of an obstacle, etc Must use zero or low emission rechargeable power supply suitable for indoor operation. RELATED RESEARCH THEMES: Effects of variable internet time delay Cooperative robotics Human-machine interaction Autonomous guidance and control CONCLUSIONS: Design was successful, but only due to highly self-motivated students. Program affiliation (ELEC, CPE, WIRE) quickly gave way to collaboration and teamwork. Difficult to operate with bandwidth afforded by 802.11b.

T.I.G.E.R. 2 (Fall 2004) T.I.G.E.R. (Spring 2004) Circuits: Transponding Internet Guided Electric Rover H-bridge Motor Driver Steering Actuator Proximity Remote Ultrasonic Sensor Circuits: - Javelin Decision Processor - Laptop Parallel Interface Circuit - Remote Subsystem - Chassis Locomotion Subsystem - Sensor Subsystem ONBOARD USER INTERFACE