eeerover : a rugged-terrain rover with custom-made sensors.
Project Overview
The EEERover is a rugged-terrain rover developed as part of a university project. It detects various signals (infrared, RF, acoustic) and relays information via wifi to a mobile phone. The project uses an ESP8266 IoT platform, custom PCBs, and an H-bridge motor controller. The rover can detect radio signals, ultrasound signals, infrared pulses, and magnetic fields. The ESP8266 module is programmed with C++ code through the Arduino interface.
- Radio signals
- Ultrasound signals
- Infrared pulses
- Magnetic fields
Each rock was designed to emit two of these properties, challenging the rover’s sensing capabilities.
Key Design Requirements
- Remote Control: The rover had to be controllable via a WiFi network, allowing for remote operation.
- Size and Weight: Designed to fit through a minimum gap of 300mm, emphasizing compact size and lightweight construction.
- Maneuverability: High maneuverability was crucial for optimal sensor positioning relative to the rocks.
- Cost-Effective: The project had a strict budget limit of £50.
- Reliability: Both the sensing system and physical construction needed to be highly reliable.
- User-Friendly Control: The interface for controlling the rover had to be intuitive and easy to use.
Technical Challenges
The project presented several technical challenges:
- Sensor Integration: Incorporating multiple sensors (RF, ultrasound, infrared, and magnetic) into a compact design.
- Wireless Communication: Implementing stable WiFi communication for remote control and data transmission.
- Power Management: Balancing power consumption with performance requirements within the size and weight constraints.
- Signal Processing: Developing algorithms to accurately interpret and distinguish between different rock properties.
- Mechanical Design: Creating a rugged chassis capable of navigating varied terrain while maintaining sensor alignment.
The EEERover project successfully met these challenges, resulting in a functional prototype that demonstrated the feasibility of using multi-sensor rovers for mineral identification in remote or hazardous environments.