Projects 1: Project Kickoff Meeting Project: Design an Interface between a Robot and a LTU Laptop Group members: Colin Black Steve Holcomb

Objective Design and implement an interface between a robot and a LTU laptop

Target Goals: Robot should be able to traverse forwards and backwards with the capability to turn Robot should be able to travel at two to three speeds Interface should be easily available for use in third-party programs –i.e. writing maze-traversal programs

Design Sub-Systems Laptop Interface Sensor System Steering System Drive System Power System

Power Sub-System Capable of powering interface and robot –Laptop runs on batteries Power sources under consideration: –Batteries Heavy Limited functional time –110V connection to maze exterior Limits size of maze Requires addition of transformer on robot

Drive Sub-System A single drive wheel located at the rear of the robot Variable speed bi-directional motor Controlled through interface board Tachometer connected to drive wheel for distance/speed reporting to interface

Steering Sub-System Based on standard Rack and Pinion design Single servo/motor to control steering angle Angle controlled through interface board

Sensor systems Initial sensor type: touch Sensor contact causes immediate event/interrupt; drive halted Expansion of system possible to include other sensor types

Laptop Interface Use of Handyboard to relay commands to drive/steering sub-systems and contact data from sensor sub-system Laptop interfaces to Handyboard through Parallel/Serial port Interface to third-party programs through binary API or compile-time headers –Knowledge of Windows 2k/XP Device Drivers required

Timeline Parts ordered by11/30 Drive system/chassis built02/01 Steering system built02/15 Sensor/Interface built03/01 Device Drivers/Headers written03/08 Final testing03/29 (Competition date - RoboFest)04/27