The idea
Ardusumo is a universal platform to build robots on wheels that can move around avoiding obstacles using infrared sensors and follow routes marked with dark lines on a white background.
We have created Ardusumo to bring young students to the world of robotics: if suitably programmed, Ardusumo allows robots to perform various autonomous movements, it integrates sensors and actuators of various types with wheels and electric motors.
The platform is Arduino based but consists of a single molded frame that is both mechanical and electronic circuit. It has also various possible assembly, thanks to the modularity and versatility of the connections.
The electronic circuit of the Ardusumo robot is very simple: the core is an Arduino UNO board, interfaced with four sensors – three in front and one on the back- and two Sharp infrared radar. The optical sensors are pointed down and used to follow tracks marked on the ground and recognize when the robot is crossing a delimited border.
Each optical sensor contains a light emitting diode, pointing towards the ground and a detector for reflected light. In this way it can distinguish thanks to light intensity (more light is detected when a more reflective surface is illuminated) the track to follow. The three front sensors are aligned. The middle one follows a track and detect whether the robot it has gone away from it. In that case the microcontroller detects the movement and imparts commands to correct it. The rear sensor is designed to detect when the robot approaches the edge of the ring. In this case, the firmware sends a forward motion command to break the deadlock.
The two infrared radar are pointed forward and slightly tilted sideways. They are the eyes of the robot, used to perceive obstacles and walk around them.
Two LEDs, to illuminate the scene in front of the robot, are interfaced to the Arduino. There’s also a buzzer to give alerts and a dual engines controller used to operate the two geared motors for the traction wheels.
The wheels are placed on the same virtual axis and, by varying the rotation speed, Arduino “steers” the robot.
Read More: Ardusumo: an Open Source Platform for Fighting Robots