About the projectIntroducing the newest System for Quick Removal of Litter (SQRL), the Nuttin' Special, a groundbreaking project designed to revolutionize the battlefield of the 2024 HOA Most Beautiful Lawn awards. Conceived amidst the competitive spirit of Ed and Karl's ongoing feud, SQRL represents the pinnacle of mechatronic engineering prowess, where wit and ingenuity converge to redefine the art of "working smart." In this high-stakes rivalry, where victory hinges on the strategic placement of ACORNs (A Cylindrical Object Representing a Nut), Nuttin' Special emerges as the ultimate solution.
A cylindrical problem calls for a cylindrical solution. Leveraging advanced beacon detection technology, Nuttin' Special adeptly determines its position on the field, swiftly navigating to the strategically positioned TREEs (Tubular Repository of Excess Eject-ables) housing the ACORNs. Guided by a combination of precise line-following algorithms and encoder feedback, Nuttin' Special effortlessly hooks onto the tree, utilizing a large central disc with radially cut slots to securely store the precious ACORNs. With its arsenal primed and ready, Nuttin' Special waits for the opportune moment to unleash its payload on the neighboring YARD. |
Task Overview
The goal of this project is to design and construct an autonomous, untethered mobile robot named System for Quick Removal of Litter (SQRL). The SQRL is tasked with autonomously orienting, navigating, and manipulating ACORNs within a predefined game arena, as illustrated in the diagrams below. The primary objective is to transport ACORNs from the robot's starting YARD into the neighbor's YARD by propelling them under the dividing FENCE. To succeed, the robot must remove at least one ACORN from its own YARD and ideally place as many ACORNS as possible into the high-scoring zones of the opponent's YARD within a time limit of 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The full project handout can be accessed here.