Solar Powered Java-Based Wireless Robot

Team: 81

School: Manzano High

Area of Science: Electrical engineering

Interim: The purpose of our project is to design, assemble and program a small solar- powered, Java-based, wireless robot that is capable of maneuvers and motion tasks, as well as detecting and monitoring light, motion, heat (via infrared sensors), etc.

A real-world robot executes essential tasks in hard to reach or dangerous environments. Robots look for life in burning buildings, they detect dangerous gases and chemicals in hazardous environments or spills, they monitor radiation, they study far away planets and moons (Examples: Mars Explorer Rovers) and, in general, they can access and provide sensory input for a variety of physical parameters in various remote environments. Once the robots are assembled and functional, scientists and technicians can communicate programs of instructions to the robots and retrieve data via wireless technology. Furthermore to reduce the high costs and time demands of rechargeable batteries, solar panels can be added to provide electrical power to the robot.

During fall 2009, in our Manzano High School class, Pre-Engineering Electronics, we learned and solved problems for the basic physics topics of velocity, force, work, power, electric charge, electric fields, DC voltage, DC current, resistance, Ohms Law, DC series and parallel circuits, and the power formula (P = I V). Then we spent the past two months assembling and programming a mini-robot with Basic computer programs to make the robot do a variety of maneuvers on a flat surface and to detect motion and light. In doing so, we learned some Basic programming techniques with variables, counters, “for” loops, “if-then” statements, etc.

During January-April, we will assemble and program a similar Java-based robot to maneuver, plus to detect motion, light and heat. With our information of BASIC programming which we previously acquired in our MHS Pre-Engineering Electronics class, we plan to extend our knowledge to learn basic Java programs that we will apply to our robot. We will write Java programs that will be communicated to the Java-stamp on the robot circuit board wirelessly. Also the program will allow the robot to wirelessly communicate back to the computer the sensory output/data acquired by the various sensors placed on the robot, while being powered by an aftermarket solar panel. To accomplish this, we will add small solar panels with sufficient area to power the robot, hopefully during both natural sunlight and interior lighting conditions.

Our greatest hope is to become well versed with Java, and able to send our robot programs, wirelessly, while it is running. When we are able to successfully communicate with our robot wirelessly, we will attempt to complete complex tasks that can be easily applied to “real life. We are very excited to take on this computer challenge and are working very diligently to complete these complex computer programming tasks.

References:

Zitzewitz, et al, (2005), Physics: Principles and Problems, Glencoe, Chap 1-11; 20-24

Lindsay, Andy, (2003-2004), “Robotics with the Boe-Bot”, Parallax, Inc.

Lindsay, Andy, (2002-2006) , “Javelin Stamp User’s Manual, Parallax, Inc.

Lindsay, Andy, (1999-2008), “Basic Analog and Digital”, Parallax, INC.

http://marsrover.nasa.gov/home/ NASA Mars Explorer Rover Home Page



Team Members: Philip Atencio, Dustin Chavez, Nathan Hassler, Nicholas Ratzer, David Young

Sponsoring Teacher: Steve Schum

Team Members:

  Nathan Hassler
  Phillip Atencio
  Nicholas Ratzer
  David Young
  Dustin Chavez

Sponsoring Teacher: Stephen Schum

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