HELP - Science Fair Project

[techie823]

Hi,

I am a high school sophmore interested in robots. I want to do a science fair project that uses a robot and demonstrates a collision avoidance system. Can anyone recommend a robot kit with a sensor that I can use to demonstrate collision avoidance??

Thanks, Techie

[airman00]

build the 50 dollar robot and put on Sharp IR rangefinder or sonar .

http://www.societyofrobots.com/step_by_step_robot.shtml

 

[techie823]

Airman -
Thanks for the suggestion.......where can I buy one?
techie

[Penth]

If you read the tutorial, it will show you step by step how to make one.

[ArcMan]

Just a word of advice from an old science fair guy...

Keep in mind that what the judges are looking for is "science" - not just building and demonstrating a robot kit.  You should put forth a hypothesis, experiment to prove or disprove it, and reach a conclusion.  Your presentation should show your hypothesis, the results of your experimentation and your conclusion(s).

You could, for example, propose different floor covering algorithms for your robot, experiment to find the best one, and demonstrate that one.  It doesn't matter that iRobot already has a good one.  What matters is that you went through the scientific process yourself.

[techie823]

Arcman,

Thanks for the advice. I was going to use the robot to demonstrate two different sensor technologies that can be used in a car for collision avoidance. Once some object is detected, applying the brakes or manuevering around the object. I also plan to look at how accurate the detection can be made (using different sized objects) and at what distances.

Does this sound OK to you?

Techie.

[ArcMan]

That sounds like a good project to me.  Just make sure you show all your data and demonstrate how it lead to your conclusions.

[pomprocker]

Hope you have a lot of time for this.

I've been working on my $50 robot for 8 months, and i'm barely at that point.

[Admin]

I entirely agree with ArcMan. Cool robots aren't always good science.

I do science on my robot fish, and my current paper goes something like this:

Hypothesis: "The WGC fish control algorithm is much more effective than a case-based control algorithm"
Experiment: tried both algorithms, took measurements, graphed data
Conclusion: Proven by the data, the WGC algorithm is better
Discussion: The data makes sense because . . . etc.


Now if anyone makes a robot fish in the future, they don't need to waste their time with the case-based algorithm and instead just go with the better one. That's the joy of science!

[mackmelby]

I did a robot project this year and one of the questions that I got very often was "Is this a kit or did you build it yourself?" Generally speaking, your project is alot more interesting if it's a new idea and is not some kit that anyone can buy. (so avoid the kits) Also, be sure to plan your expirimental part of your project well. A good robot project should have a realistic problem and an effective solution and accurate data/results. Anyway just make sure it fits into the scientific method and I'm sure you'll have a top project. 

[ankitk]

Yeah,
NEVER USE A KIT, BE ORIGINAL.
The 50$ robot THE thing for you. My advice to you is give yourself a lot of time to make it if you don't have any exp. from before.
You could look up the following link on You Tube-
[youtube]http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FG0WEu-5k[/youtube]
Its admin's sharp IR robot. Your robot will be more expensive then the 50$ one for sure....you'll need 3 servos, 2 for the differential drive and
1 for the sensor.
Ankit

[ankitk]

Sorry,
here's the link-
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FG0WEu-5k

[jamort]

I would make a suggestion this needs to be a test were it is a science fair... You could test the reliability of sensors under certain conditions and the ware on batteries under different circum stances....
and i probably should have saved that for my self but i figured I'd be nice.