The Project
The "Light Controlled - Robotic Car" project for my ELEC 280 Microcontrollers class required individual students to construct and program a robotic car to navigate autonomously using light sensors. Following the circuit and code parameters provided, I built a car that responded to light to steer itself through a designated course.
Putting together the circuitry for the "Light Controlled - Robotic Car" project involved soldering parts onto a board centered around an H-bridge driver (figure 1), the L293D, which was key for directing the car's motors. Writing the Arduino program to process the input from the light sensors, I focused on getting the car to respond quickly and accurately. I worked on the electronics hands-on, making sure the car could navigate around obstacles and race across distances efficiently. Adjusting the sensor input for the fastest reaction times was crucial, especially for the car's performance in the competition.
.jpg)
During the development, fine-tuning the light sensor's sensitivity and ensuring consistent electrical connections were the main hurdles. I spent considerable time testing and adjusting the sensor alignment and the code to perfect the car's navigation capabilities.
Car Competition & Results
The culmination of this project was a competition where our cars were evaluated on their ability to traverse a distance and navigate around an obstacle swiftly. My car performed exceptionally well, earning a perfect score and achieving the third fastest time out of 35 robot cars. This accomplishment highlighted not just the car's mechanical and navigational efficiency, but also my ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical, competitive scenarios. The project was an invaluable learning experience, enhancing my skills in robotics and embedded system programming.
