You can find out about our current line following competition on our new website. Click here to go to our new Line following Robot Competition pages.
2007-2008 Competition Date: April 23, 8 pm in Bcc 116
Robotics is finally coming to Rutgers. To kick start a robotics group within IEEE, IEEE is holding a line following robot competition. Line following robots are the classic introduction to robotics. They use some sort of sensor, to detect a line and then ride on top of the line along the course. These robots teach basic construction and electronics techniques. Plus, they can offer challenges to both experienced and new builders. You need no prior knowledge to make a line following robot. However, if you have built a robot before, we will be offering some prize categories to challenge you.
We will be using a slightly modified version of the rules found here. Robots can be built by both teams and individuals (Get your friends to make one with you.) In our IEEE competition, the robots will be judged on fastest time to complete the course and by its "Coolness."
The robot that can complete our course (as defined by the Robogames rules) in the shortest time will win one prize. This part of the competition is to see who can best complete this basic task the best. You need to design a robot that moves as quickly as possibly without loosing the line. If it looses the line, it then needs to be able to get back to the point at which it left the line or from a prior point on the course. You may need to slow your robot down so that you electronics have enough time to react. If you are programming your robot, try to push the speed limit. If you go off the line, put in a function for finding the line again.
Finally, there is the "Just Plain Cool" prize. Every team gets to vote for one other entry. It does not matter if your robot worked exactly like it should have, all that matters is that it is awesome. Try and push the limit with your design. Do something that no one has ever seen before. A walking robot, a flying robot, a two wheel balancing robot. Use a funny chassis (m&m race car?) . Anything. Make people laugh, envious, cry, or scream. Do something cool. Win this.
Here are some examples of line following robots. If you want more videos, just search youtube for line following robot. There are tons.
Tiny Line follower http://elm-chan.org/works/ltc/report.html
Lego Line Follower and Sweet from http://www.robotroom.com/Sweet.html
Line following robots come in many forms. Just have fun and make the chassis cool and functional. Electronics can go anywhere, give their body some pizzaz.
To Register
for the competition, send an email to Adam Stambler at moc.liamg|atsada#moc.liamg|atsada. Include "IEEE Line Following Competition" in the subject line. In the body of the email please include the names of everyone in your team, your Academic year, and major.
Also, when you are done making your robot, look at Current Competition Participants page and add your own robot.
Still Interested?
Head over to our Construction tips page on to find out how to build a line following robot. Also, if you are interested in being a part of the robotics club look at our goals for the next two years. If you want to be a part of one of a team for our other competitions (Robogames, Battlebots, FIRST, robotic submarine…), build! Show us your skills.
Also checkout our past line following competitions page.
