Unmanned Ground Vehicle

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Projects help engineers use the concepts they have learned in real-life. Hence, they go a long way in assisting students in growing and improving. This time around, we will be exploring projects related to Mechatronics.

Project Description

This project aims to devise and construct a low-cost Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle (AUGV), which is basically a vehicle that can be controlled wirelessly from a distance. An Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) operates on the ground but without an onboard human presence. It is controlled remotely and is, therefore, capable of sensing the environment and navigating without any human intervention. Such AUGVs move autonomously and detect obstacles. The vehicle is also capable of reading directions off QR codes, calculating the shortest distance to any direction and can automatically move thereby avoiding obstacles.  They allow disabled persons to move around without relying on others. Such devices also find use in military surveillance operations and use Raspberry Pi or Arduino architecture to move. Mechanical components used are DC or servo motors, sensors, power supplies, and a mobile application to control the vehicle's motion.

Project Implementation

• First and foremost, the body of the AUGV must be built. You can use an old toy car base if needed, or construct a new model as per your design specifications.
• Draft up a design using a modeling tool, and then test it for strength and stress resistance before deciding on the final design. Once the design is finalized, create the parts required from a suitable material-steel/aluminum/wood or cork, etc.
• Next, you need to have the code ready for autonomous navigation. Well, the machine works on two modes: Remote controlled, wherein it takes specific instructions from you and the Autonomous mode, wherein it travels between two points automatically without any instructions.

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• Python codes are required for both operations. For autonomous navigation, you need Python scripts to calculate path distance, find the shortest path and also a script to follow the line or read QR code to find the best route.
• Additional code is required to enable the AUGV to scan the QR code and change its direction to evade obstacles.
• The line following algorithm will take the inputs from the IR sensors. Hence, they must be mounted on both the legs of the vehicle for maximum visibility.
• If the left IR detects a black line, the code will make the vehicle rotate left.
• If the right IR detects the black line, the vehicle will rotate right. If both the sensors detect nothing, the vehicle will move forward.
• While in motion, the ultrasonic sensor enables the AUGV to calculate distances. If an object is detected in front, the code will ask the vehicle to change its direction. A new path is then calculated from the new starting position.
• When both sensors detect a black line, the vehicle will stop to read the QR code at the intersection and then change its motion code accordingly.
• Once the code is ready and the sensors are mounted, all the wheels or wheel belts of the machines must be attached to the servo motors, and it will be good to go.

Programming tools and languages needed to implement this system:

1. Android Studio
2. Python 3
3. Bash Shell
4. PHP5
5. MJPG-Streamer
6. Wiring Pi

Test scenarios

Once you have built a model, here are a few test situations you can try out before finalizing the design.

• Manually or remotely controlling the AUGV
• Autonomously follow a route using IR sensors
• Independently track a route and detect obstacles
• Read directions from QR code
• Reading instructions from QR code and detect obstacles
• AUGV Lost

Concepts Used

• Electrical Engineering
• Circuit-making and soldering
• Raspberry Pi programming
• Machine Designing Fundamentals
• Basic Java or Python coding
• Sensor Technology

• DC motor
• Steel caster round ball
• Motor driver
• power bank
• GPIO Extender
• Raspberry Pi
• USB
• IR Sensor
• Ultrasonic sensor
• Servo motor
• Jumper cable
• Battery

• Electric
• Raspberry Pi
• JAVA
• Python
• Sensor

Unmanned Ground Vehicle