Curriculum
Line Following Robot
Introduction to Line Following Robot Project
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Introduction to Raspberry pi pico board
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Software Installation
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Programming a Traffic light System
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Developing a Christmass Light using LED
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Interfacing Infra-Red(IR) Sensor to Raspberry pi pico
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Interfacing Geared DC Motor with Raspberry pi pico
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DC Motor Rotation using Raspberry pi pico
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Program Explanation for Robot Movement
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Coupling of Robotics Car
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Addition of Infra-red(IR) sensor to our Robotics Car
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Completing the Circuit Connection of Robot
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Complete Programming of the Robot
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Infra-Red(IR) Sensor Calibration
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Final Robot Demonstration
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Video lesson
Introduction to Line Following Robot Project
A line-following robot is a type of autonomous robot that is designed to follow a predetermined path, usually marked by a line on the ground. This line can be a strip of tape or a painted line, and the robot uses sensors to detect and follow it. Line-following robots are commonly used in educational settings to teach basic principles of robotics, control systems, and programming. Here’s an overview of how a line-following robot works and its components:
Components of a Line-Following Robot
- Chassis: The physical structure that holds all the components together.
- Motors: Typically DC motors or servo motors that drive the wheels.
- Wheels: Attached to the motors to enable movement.
- Sensors: Usually infrared (IR) sensors or light sensors that detect the line.
- Microcontroller: The brain of the robot (e.g.,Raspberry pi pico, Arduino, VEX Cortex, VEX V5 Brain) that processes sensor inputs and controls the motors.
- Power Supply: Batteries that provide power to the motors and microcontroller.
- Wiring and Connectors: To connect all the components electrically.
How a Line-Following Robot Works
- Sensor Detection: The robot uses sensors positioned underneath it to detect the line. These sensors emit light and measure the reflected light intensity to determine whether they are over a light or dark surface.
- Signal Processing: The microcontroller reads the sensor data. If the sensor detects a high intensity of reflected light, it is likely over a white surface (background). If the intensity is low, it is likely over a black line.
- Control Algorithm: The microcontroller runs a control algorithm (often a simple proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller) to adjust the motors’ speed based on the sensor readings. For example:
- If the sensor on the left detects the line, the robot will adjust to turn left.
- If the sensor on the right detects the line, the robot will turn right.
- If both sensors detect the line or neither detects it, the robot will continue moving straight.
Basic Steps to Build a Line-Following Robot
- Design the Robot: Plan the layout of the components on the chassis.
- Assemble the Hardware: Mount the sensors, motors, and microcontroller on the chassis.
- Wiring: Connect the sensors and motors to the microcontroller according to the pin configuration.
- Programming: Write the code for the microcontroller to process sensor data and control the motors. This involves:
- Initializing sensors and motors.
- Reading sensor values.
- Implementing the control algorithm.
- Adjusting motor speeds based on sensor inputs.
- Testing and Calibration: Test the robot on the line track and calibrate the sensors and control parameters to ensure smooth and accurate line following.
Applications of Line-Following Robots
- Education: Teaching basic robotics and programming concepts.
- Industrial Automation: Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in factories and warehouses.
- Competitions: Robotics competitions where participants build and program robots to follow a line as quickly and accurately as possible.