Gear Driven Autonomous Vehicle

Technologies and Libraries: Arduino Uno, Ultrasonic Sensor, IR Receiver and Controller

Project Overview:

This project, completed for a mechatronics design course, involved building a three-wheeled autonomous robot capable of completing four tasks using readily available materials and minimal components from an Arduino kit.

Project Objectives:

• Manually control the robot from point A to B.

• Program the robot to move autonomously from point A to B.

• Implement obstacle avoidance during autonomous navigation.

• Program the robot to autonomously navigate a square path.

Design and Implementation:

• Mechanical Design: The robot utilized a geared DC motor driving the single rear axle for propulsion. Steering was achieved using a servo motor that controlled the front axle's left and right turns.

• Electrical System: An Arduino Uno served as the central processing unit, interfacing with the motors, an ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection, and an IR receiver and controller for manual control.

Results and Learnings:

• Successful Task Completion: The robot successfully achieved all four tasks, demonstrating mastery of the course objectives and strong integration of mechanical and electrical systems.

• Improvement Opportunity: While achieving a perfect score, the three-wheeled design presented challenges with balance. A four-wheeled design could be implemented in future iterations for improved stability.

Skills Demonstrated:

• Mechatronic Design: Integration of mechanical and electronic components to achieve a functional robot.

• Sensor Integration: Utilizing an ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection.

• Microcontroller Programming: Programming the Arduino Uno to control robot movement and sensor data.

• Problem-Solving: Successfully completing all tasks and identifying potential areas for improvement.