An autonomous mobile robot development platform for teaching a graduate level mechatronics course

Abstract

Mechatronics is integration of mechanical systems, electronics and intelligent computer control. With advances in computing power, size. and cost, university mechatronics courses can ofer more flexible, powerful and up-to-date development environments than traditionally available with pre-packaged robotics kits such as the widely used Handy Board plalform. Goals and constraints of teaching graduate-level mechatronics courses to an educationally diverse class ofstudents are discussed. Goals include identijying the purpose of a mechatronics course. educational background of the students, efects of recent technologies on course subject matter, and ideal development environment io create autonomous robots. Constraints arise because of conflicts between two major aspects ofmechatronics, mechanical systems and computer systems, and t h e need to balance these areas in complexity and ease o/ use for students o/ diverse backgrounds. Brigham Young University's prototype solution o/a PC/104 plalform with digital I/O and analog inputs running Linw and communicating via 802.11b Wi-Fi is discussed.

Hardware Independent Architecture for Autonomous Colaborative Agents

“…This paper describes the global architecture of the platform and its basic hardware structure. Similar systems are described in (Golovinski, 2004), (Hoopes, 2003) and (Navarro 2002). The system described in this paper, using client-server paradigm, XML/RPC and machine/language independent way to introduce hardware/software modules in assumed to be easier to program and reconfigure.…”

Embedded Smart Camera Performance Analysis

“…The selection of SBC as the hardware platform for the system is mainly because of its efficiency of size, weight, cost, interchangeability and consistency [5]. The SBC standard, the commonly-used robotic development platform [6] [7], specifies a main board that houses a processor, memory and the basic chipset needed to function as a standalone embedded computer capable of functioning with only a separate power supply and whatever outside input or output devices the application calls for [8].…”