Dealing with Loop-Based Map by Line Maze Robot Training Kit

Abstract

A line maze robot training kit, which is able to deal with the loop-based cyclic map, is presented to teach the topics of the hardware circuit, firmware programming for motion control and the algorithm for the cyclic paths detection. The training course is used for the senior high school students. The objectives of this work are to train the practical skills, including the concept of the hardware circuit, the motion control with the corresponding firmware programming and the algorithm for the loop-based map. Students, who attended the training course, can learn the basic programming language, the controlling concept for microcontrollers. Moreover, students learn the rules of the line maze contest, including setting for source and target of the map. How to determine the target position according to the optical sensors in front of the line maze robot and how to control the two DC motors are also illustrated. In the workshop, a Matlab simulator is used to train students how to design a feasible map and perform the algorithm to find the shortest path from the source to target. The feedback from most students is that the training kit makes them be interested in robot game and increases the motivation to actively learn the firmware and the shortest path algorithm.