Tele-Operated Rover Using Wireless Internet

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Tele-Operated Rover Using Wireless Internet
Senior Design Students P. Battles, A. Friday, M.
Harper, B. Hightower, R. Jackson, J. Jansen, B.
Johnson, C. Nuttall, M. Shepherd, P. White, V.
Lisandro, A. White. Supervised by T. Roppel
OBJECTIVE Design and build a rover that can be
driven remotely around a building using a
wireless internet connection.
APPLICATIONS Tour guide, portable video
conference, inspection, retrieval, security, etc.

• RESOURCES
• Designed and built in one semester by a senior
  design class composed of 12 students from the
  Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, and
  Wireless Engineering programs.
• Self-funded approximately 50 per student
  (total of 600).
• Minimizing cost required significant effort -
  salvage parts from defunct projects, build
  instead of buy, etc.

• SPECIFICATIONS
• Capable of being operated either remotely via
  internet connection or by a wireless controller
  in close proximity. Proximity operation
  supersedes internet link.
• Continuous two-way video/audio accessible through
  any internet connected PC. Video quality must be
  sufficient to readily identify room numbers and
  names on hallway nameplates when passing.
• Onboard video camera has 360 degree field of view
  capability, camera can be rotated remotely.
• Vehicle must have user-friendly, adult human-like
  form factor suitable for use as a tour guide.
• Must have fail-safe or backup in case of any
  foreseeable hazard such as loss of internet
  connection, driver error, rapid appearance of an
  obstacle, etc
• Must use zero or low emission rechargeable power
  supply suitable for indoor operation.

• RELATED RESEARCH THEMES
• Effects of variable internet time delay
• Cooperative robotics
• Human-machine interaction
• Autonomous guidance and control

• CONCLUSIONS
• Design was successful, but only due to highly
  self-motivated students.
• Program affiliation (ELEC, CPE, WIRE) quickly
  gave way to collaboration and teamwork.
• Difficult to operate with bandwidth afforded by
  802.11b.

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T.I.G.E.R. 2 (Fall 2004)
T.I.G.E.R. (Spring 2004) Transponding Internet
Guided Electric Rover
H-bridge Motor Driver
Steering Actuator
Proximity Remote
Ultrasonic Sensor
Circuits - Javelin Decision Processor - Laptop
Parallel Interface Circuit - Remote Subsystem -
Chassis Locomotion Subsystem - Sensor Subsystem
ONBOARD USER INTERFACE