MECHATRONICS

For the final project of a Mechatronics course at the University of Pennsylvania, my teammates and I created a group of three autonomous hockey playing robots designed to compete in an annual Robockey Cup.

I was a key part of all aspects of the project including mechanical, electrical, and embedded software design. The group of robots was controlled with an Atmel microcontroller and wireless initiation commands. They were capable of localization and navigation within a miniature hockey rink through the use of the IR camera sensor from a Nintendo Wii remote. The camera sensor was pointed upwards at a constellation of IR LEDs and the image was processed in real time to determine the robot’s orientation and position.  Additionally, each robot had an array of IR sensors to track a puck that was emitting IR light. Once the puck was captured, the robot would then drive to the opposing goal and shoot with the use of an electrical solenoid. As part of my team’s strategy, our robots also wirelessly communicated with one another to coordinate offensive and defensive formations.