Apprentice Level: Line Follower
Changes for 2008 are in italics
Description:
Follow the line! Can you follow the line around the course using a light sensor? You have five minutes to complete the course. The hill is not perfectly consistent (the dimensions given are approximate and the surface is slightly rougher than the remainder of the course).
Scoring is based on how far you make it through the course. Your robot must begin its run while the back of your unit is lined up with ‘A’ (Note: The sensor must be positioned along the centerline tape with the unit as far back towards the ‘A’ as possible.). You achieve additional points when your robot completely passes another checkpoint (B, C, D, etc.) If you leave the course, we will allow a 1 inch tolerance on each side of the course track. If it is more than one inch, in the judge’s opinion, you will lose the points for that section. You may not re-position your unit should it get off course. Additional points will be given based on your time of completing the entire course.
The purpose of this Apprentice Level is to utilize the light sensor capability of the RCX/NXT unit. You must therefore show satisfactory evidence to the course Judge that the unit is utilizing a light sensor to guide its path when following the course centerline. If, in the judges considered opinion, sensors are not being used, the run will be scored a ‘zero.’
Bill of Materials:
Any 4X8 ft material would be
acceptable for the base. Sketch
dimensions are accurate. Track is
flat black in color with ¾” wide Yellow and White electrical tape identifying
the course centerline. The remaining track aesthetics and color
scheme are not important for the course build as they are off the course
track.
Competition course is made
from 2” styrofoam (for light-weight rigidity) with a ¼” lauan panel glued to the
top surface. All surfaces were
given a base coat of Glidden White paint.
Approximately one quart was used from a previous project. (Most aerosol paints will melt
Styrofoam.) Competition course
utilizes ¾” wide electrical tape, identifying the course centerline; White
through the beginning of the course and Yellow from ‘I’ through the end of the
course. Ramp was made from 1”
Styrofoam glued to the lauan panel.
The entire visible surface
was painted with Green spray paint.
The track course was painted with a flat black spray paint after masking
off the non-track surfaces. The
White and Yellow electrical tape was laid out as noted in the sketch
dimensions. The tape segments
(between turns) are cut to fit and do not overlap at the turning
points.
All materials were purchased at Home Depot. Some items were standard household stores (masking tape) and some were from previous projects (white paint). The following is a list of materials used for the competition course if they were to be purchased exactly as built (not required) as well as a recommended list of materials to build the line follower course adequate for programming development.
Material |
Quantity |
Unit Cost |
Total Cost | |
Required Course |
Competition Course | |||
4’x8’x2”
Styrofoam |
1 |
$22.42 |
|
$22.42 |
Glidden
Paint |
1
qt. |
$4.25 |
|
$4.25 |
4’x8’
5.2 Lauan |
1 |
$10.88 |
$10.88 |
$10.88 |
Flat
Black Spray Paint |
2 |
$0.99 |
$1.98 |
$1.98 |
Green
Spray Paint |
2 |
$3.12 |
|
$6.24 |
Electrical
Tape |
2 |
$3.57 |
$7.14 |
$7.14 |
Adhesive |
2 |
$2.97 |
$2.97 |
$5.94 |
Masking
Tape |
1 |
$1.97 |
$1.97 |
$1.97 |
|
|
|
$24.94 |
$60.82 |
Task |
Points |
Cumulative |
B |
25 |
25 |
C |
25 |
50 |
D |
50 |
100 |
E |
50 |
150 |
F |
75 |
225 |
G |
100 |
325 |
H |
100 |
425 |
I |
100 |
525 |
J |
100 |
625 |
K |
125 |
750 |
<3
min |
250 |
1000 |
3-4
min |
150 |
900 |
4-5
min |
50 |
800 |
Drawings: (Double click the thumbnails below to see a larger view)
Photos: (Line Follower08 (This file is in pdf format. ))