Computer Science Project 2008


Light Sensor-Based Line Tracing and Counting

Faculty Mentor - Dr. Wei Li

A light sensor can tell the difference between light and dark and also converts a color into its light intensity. In order to test the performance of the light sensor provided by a Lego NXT robot, we designed two projects: line tracing and line counting in a structured environment. For line tracing, the robot uses a light sensor to detect the black line and follow it to a specified target; for line counting, the robot counts a number of black lines during its motion and use the detected line number to come back home.

The poster resulting from this work can be found here.

Sound Sensor-Based Robot Control

Faculty Mentor - Dr. Wei Li

A sound sensor allows a robot to detect the intensity of a sound. This project contains two experiments using the sound sensor. Among other sensors, the Lego NXT sound sensor is extremely important since it allows a programmer to directly interact with his or her robot. Since the robot in these experiments is programmed to do a special task when it hears sounds, this sensor played an integral part in the experiment, because without it, the robot would not move at all. The sensor was overall successful, and led the robot to either move forward while prompted by music or to pick up a ball. With the assistance of an ultrasonic sensor and bumper if the robot was about to run into an object, it would change its course. The success of the sound sensor also shows the possibility of teaching a robot to follow voice commands.

The poster resulting from this work can be found here.

Insect-Inspired Robot Test

Faculty Mentor - Dr. Wei Li

The purpose of the project "Insect-Inspired Robot Test" is to simulate the behaviors and characteristics demonstrated by a scorpion. This robot is programmed with three behaviors: crawling forward when no objects are found to be within range, crawling backward when an object is determined to be within range, and "attacking" with the tail when an object is determined to be within "striking distance." The robot is fitted for this purpose with several different sensors: an ultrasonic sensor, which is used to determine an object is or is not within the robot's range; a touch sensor, which retracts the tail after a successful strike; and a sound sensor, which can be used to make the robot "attack" on command.

The poster resulting from this work can be found here.

Multiple Sensor Integration for Control of AGV

Faculty Mentor - Dr. Wei Li

This project tests multiple sensor integration for retrieving and transporting a ball. The robot uses sensors such as the light sensor to trace the black tape, until a touch sensor detects the ball and tells the when the robot to stop moving. He uses a grabber controlled by a separate motor to retrieve the ball. Then, he traces the line back with the ball to the starting position. This demonstration will show how the NXT-G software actually works.

The poster resulting from this work can be found here.

Disclaimer

These Web pages and any associated Adobe Acrobat Files are designed as supporting material for the respective projects. Please feel free to contact either of the program directors with any questions you might have.