Handy Board Research Articles

A low‐cost autonomous mobile robotics experiment: Control, vision, sonar, and Handy Board

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to demonstrate a design of a low‐cost mobile robotics experiment using LEGO Mindstorms Robotic Invention System kit, Handy Board microcontroller board, CMU camera, and SRF04 sonar sensor. The experiment is designed to be used as a laboratory session of a course on Fundamentals of Autonomous Robots. This hands‐on course aims to foster students' interests from different fields to autonomous mobile robotics and improve the education in this area. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 20: 203–213, 2012

Solar-Based Fuzzy Intelligent Water Sprinkle System

A solar-based intelligent water sprinkler system project that has been developed to ensure the effectiveness in watering the plant is improved by making the system automated. The control system consists of an electrical capacitance soil moisture sensor installed into the ground which is interfaced to a controller unit of Motorola 68HC11 Handy board microcontroller. The microcontroller was programmed based on the decision rules made using fuzzy logic approach on when to water the lawn. The whole system is powered up by the solar energy which is then interfaced to a particular type of irrigation timer for plant fertilizing schedule and rain detector through a simple design of rain dual-collector tipping bucket. The controller unit automatically disrupted voltage signals sent to the control valves whenever irrigation was not needed. Using this system we combined the logic implementation in the area of irrigation and weather sensing equipment, and more efficient water delivery can be made possible.

Bluetooth Transceivers for Full Duplex Communications in Mobile Robots

Projek ini mengeksplotasi penggunaan Teknologi Bluetooth dalam robot mudah alih. Robot mudah alih mempunyai kebolehan untuk bergerak secara automasi menggunakan algoritma yang rumit dan canggih. Algoritma disimpan dalam sebuah komputer sebagai tuan dan juga “server”. Segala bacaan penderia daripada robot mudah alih akan dihantar kepada tuan dan diproses. Kemudian, arahan untuk langkah seterusnya akan dihantar dari “server” kepada robot mudah alih dalam mode komunikasi dua hala dan dupleks penuh. Maka, “otak” utama berada di "server" dan bukannya pada robot mudah alih. Kertas ini akan memfokus pada perantaraan muka antara Bluetooth transceiver dan Handy Board MC68HC11 mikro pengawal pada robot mudah alih. Untuk kes biasa, satu penerima dan penghantar diperlukan untuk setiap alat (server dan client) masing-masing, tetapi dengan Teknologi Bluetooth, hanya dua Bluetooth transceiver diperlukan untuk mencapai perhubungan dupleks penuh. Projek ini telah menghasilkan robot mudah alih dengan kebolehan Bluetooth. Robot tersebut boleh dikawal secara “wirelessly” melalui Bluetooth transceiver. Kata kunci: Teknologi Bluetooth; dua hala; duplex penuh; automasi; Handy Board This work explores the implementation of Bluetooth technology in mobile robots. The mobile robot has the capability to move around autonomously using complicated and powerful algorithm. The algorithms are stored in the master as the server. All sensor readings from the mobile robot will be transmitted to the master and processed. Then, command or instruction for further action is transmitted from the server to the mobile robot in a bi-directional full duplex communication mode. Hence, the main “brain” is in the server instead of the mobile robot. This paper will focus on the interfacing between Bluetooth tranceiver and Handy Board MC68HC11 micro-controller of mobile robot. For common case, a receiver and transmitter are needed for each device (robot and control unit), but with Bluetooth technology, only two Bluetooth transceivers are needed to achieve full duplex connection. This project has provided a Bluetooth enabled mobile robot. The mobile robot can be controled wirelessly via Bluetooth transceiver. Key words: Bluetooth Technology; bi-directional; full duplex; autonomously; Handy Board

An intelligent agent approach for teaching neural networks using LEGO® handy board robots

In this article we describe a project for an undergraduate artificial intelligence class. The project teaches neural networks using LEGO® handy board robots. Students construct robots with two motors and two photosensors. Photosensors provide readings that act as inputs for the neural network. Output values power the motors and maintain the robot along the designated path. In doing this project, students come to realize the difference between training a neural network and the trained neural network. The fun factor associated with this project has encouraged students to elect artificial intelligence as part of their course of study.

Teaching neural networks using LEGO handy board robots in an artificial intelligence course

In this paper we propose a novel method for teaching neural networks with back propagation in an undergraduate Artificial Intelligence course. We use an agent based approach in the course, as outlined in the textbook Artificial Intelligence A Modern Approach by Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig [7]. The students build a robot agent whose task is to learn path-following behavior with a neural network. Robot agents are constructed from standard LEGO pieces and use the MIT Handy Board as a controller.

Interdisciplinary capstone group project

We, the authors, have each managed group projects for our respective senior majors for some time. Three years ago we combined the senior courses and each project team is now composed of both computer science and engineering majors. We were motivated by the desire to broaden the senior experience in both disciplines as well as to use the projects to attract prospective majors. The most recent project was to build autonomous line-tracking vehicles for racing. Since the computer scientists do not necessarily have any exposure to analog circuits and the engineers have only limited knowledge, it was necessary to provide an environment that required little analog design. The Handy Board [7] proved to be a useful part of that environment. This paper discusses our experience teaching an interdisciplinary group project-oriented course, discusses strengths and weaknesses of using the Handy Board in this context, and draws some conclusions based on our experience.