CS 295   Special Topics in Computer Science:  INTRODUCTION TO MOBILE ROBOTS

Winter 2002,  Instructor: Jeffrey Horn
 

MINI-PROJECTS   (for first week)

(if for some reason I did not assign you to a group below, most likely because I do not have the latest enrollment data, then please just pick a group and force your way in!)

1. AMIGOBOT
   • Members: Wade Glanek, Hope Schiavo, Dan Wichlacz, John Kempen, Ryan Hallstrom
   • Basic idea:   Become familiar with the capabilities of a commercially available research robot.
   • Go the cabinet in 1207 marked "CS 295" and take out the AmigoBot and its manual.  Read it.
   • Start up the 'bot, run it through its various programs.  Do not try programming it yet! 
   • If I left the CD there, you can go and install the programming software on a Windows machine in there.  
   • Make a list of the sensors and effectors that Amigobot has (see our textbook for definitions of those two terms).
   • Compare it to Trilobot.  Which of them is worth more to you?  Which do you think cost more?  Which is FASTER (at full speed, going straight)?
2. Sensors Lab
   • Members:  Mark Dugas, Mike Dellangelo, Adam Thill, Steve Hoffman
   • Basic idea:   Check out the new Sensors Lab I ordered and see if it can teach us anything about robot sensors.
   • Go to the CS 295 cabinet, find the sensors lab, open it up and make sure all the parts are there.
   • Power it up ( I stuck a 9v batt. in it.  Hope it is good!)
   • Build a few of the simple circuits first.
   • Then build one of the H2O (water/moisture) detectors, test it, and leave it configured for me.
   •  
3. Trilobot
   • Members:  Adam Bingham, Brian Gattra, Julianne Renaud, VIlle T. Suikkanen, Derrick Cearfoss
   • Basic idea:   Become familiar with the capabilities of a commercially available research robot.
   • Go the cabinet in 1207 marked "CS 295" and take out the Trilobot and its manual.  Read it.
   • Start up the 'bot, run it through its various programs.  Do not try programming it yet!
   • Try using it in joystick control mode.  Then try IR controller mode.  Then try to pick up an empty pop can in BOTH modes.  Which is easier?
   • Make a list of the sensors and effectors that Trilobot has (see our textbook for definitions of those two terms).
   • Compare it to Amigobot.  Which of them is worth more to you?  Which do you think cost more?  Which is FASTER (at full speed, going straight)?