Kriya '09 and RoboSoftsystems Jointly Presents "Robotics Workshop "

Registrations Are Closed

For Any Queries Feel Free To Contact:

A robot is a mechanical or virtual , artificial agent . It is usually a system , which, by its appearance or movements, conveys a sense that it has intent or agency of its own. The word robot can refer to both physical robots and virtual software agents , but the latter are usually referred to as bots to differentiate.

PHILOSOPHY OF SOLAR & BEAM ROBOTS:

BEAM ROBOTICS:

BEAM robotics is a new field of robotics. It uses minimalist electronics to create elegant mechanical creatures that parallel their natural counterparts in many ways. The simplicity of BEAM construction allows people from all walks of life and levels of education to create very capable autonomous robots without learning to program or a government research grant. If you have the mechanical skill to straighten out a paperclip until it can roll down an incline plane you can build a beambot. The potential for progressive learning makes BEAM an excellent hobby for young children who can learn basic construction techniques and mechanics, with parental aid of course, and move up to the electronics portion when they are ready.

SOLAR ROBOTICS:

Solar Robotics is a robotics system which is fully solar powered. A Solar cells or Photovoltaic cells are used as an energy source for these robots. Solar cells convert solar energy into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. Photovoltaic is best known as a method for generating solar power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules, often electrically connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays to convert energy from the sun into electricity.

1) INTRODUCTION TO BASIC ELECTRONICS:

Explanation of basic components in electronics related to solar robotics

Example, Transistors, Capacitors, Resistors, Integrated Circuits, Photosensors etc.

• SOLAR ROBOTICS:

Working of the solar cell,

Connecting solar cell in various combination to generate various current & voltages

>>TYPES OF SOLAR ROBOTS

1) BEAM ROBOT

2) PHOTOPOPPER

3) SOLAR MOUSEBOT

4) SOLAR ROLLER 

2)SOLAR ENGINE & TYPES (WITH HANDS ON SESSION)

SOLAR ENGINES:

• FLED BASED SOLAR ENGINE:

The original FLED-based SOLAR ENGINE uses a flashing LED to drive a solar engine (you'll note that it's just like the Zener-based SE, but with a FLED in the starring role). The good news is that all the parts in this solar engine are relatively easy to find; the bad news is that this solar engine design isn't particularly efficient unless you work at it.

• MILLER SOLAR ENGINE(1381):

The MSE1 Miller Solar Engine Module is a simple, reliable, and very configurable solar energy power source for practically any solar BEAM application. It drives both inductive (i.e.: motors, coils) and non-inductive (i.e.: LEDs, other circuitry) equally well.

• ZENER BASED SOLAR ENGINE:

The Zener based solar engine uses a single diode as a voltage sensor. This in combination with a solar cell and a cap can be used to generate a solar engine

Strategies:

This section will discuss various winning strategies that can be used to design robots for competitions.

Strategies includes but not limited to design high speed robot, keeping low center of gravity to avoid toppling by opponent, light weight shield around robot etc.

Case studies famous solar robots across the world & demonstration of solar robots made by Robosoft Systems.

3) COMPONENT DESCRIPTION:

KIT CONTAINS :

One Photo-popper Robot & solar engine development kit

A) Specification of robot:

The specification of the solar bot will be at par to the international bots available all over the world.

Locomotion : 2 rubber wheel approximately 1mm diameter for achieving maximum torque from pager motor, the capacitors will be used as castor wheel to save weight (as used in international solar bots).

Solar engine: MILLER SOLAR ENGINE (1381) .

Dimensions: The overall dimension of the robot will not be exciding 80mm x 80mm

Total Weight of solar robot: 20 Grams

B) Specificationof solar engine development kit:

• Solar panel - 6.7V @ 15mA (33mm X 37 mm) ref picture
• 1381Q 3.8V voltage trigger
• DC pager motor
• Motor mounts (fuse clips)
• Voltage comparator
• Flash led (FLEDs)
• Zener Diodes
• Photodiodes
• Capacitors and super caps.
• Resistors
• Transistors
• Potentiometer
• General purpose Bread board
• Two touch sensors
• Solid copper Wires and heat shrink tubing for beautification n personalizing the bots by the participants
• Components shown in picture which we might have not mentioned.
• CD with various solar engine circuits, useful tutorial videos and links . 

From the components provided by Robosoft, the participants can prepare all the engines discussed in the workshop.

4) Schedule:

Day 1:

Theory session: 2Hrs

Hands on session: 4 Hrs

Testing of various solar engine: 1Hrs

(Excluding lunch & other breaks)

Hands on session

Familiarization with the kit & bot (approx 1 Hrs)

Participants will check out all the components provided by us & try to identify each one of them.

Exploring electronic components (30 min)

This session is very unique as it is both theory & lab session will be conducted together for effective understanding as the participants will be going through the electronics component provide the functioning of the component will be explain to the participant while they can concur with the tutor by use of bread board & testing them

Motor (approx 30 mins)

Participants will attach wheels to the motor on the kit with the solar panel. Here they will be thought about the pager motor and why it is used. As the pager motors are core less motor, enough emphasis will be given to explain on the parameters to be taken into consideration while selecting a motor for solar robotics.

Solar cell (approx 30 mins)

Participants will be thought about the functioning of the solar cell brief history on solar technology. They will be thought about various types of solar panel available in market and basic comparison of each. How to extract maximum energy from solar cell by various methods.

Building and testing of 4 Solar Engine on the robot main board (approx 2.5 Hrs)

Now participants start building solar engine. Here the tutor will help and explain the participants on building and understanding various types of engine by help of circuit diagram displayed on projector.

After they have made the engine they will get to test each engine before they start to make other one.

(Motors and solar panel will be common components in the solar robot and the engine development kit)

End of day one

Participants will perform experiments as home work at home 

Day 2

Building a Photovore (approx 2 Hrs)

Here we will discuss the working of a Photovore, a solar-powered, light-seeking, obstacle-avoiding robot. This Photovore is a capable little robot that is powered entirely by solar energy, has light-sensing directional optics (eyes), and a pair of obstacle avoidance sensors. The pair of infrared detectors on the robot give it a very directed phototropic or light-seeking behavior, making it trace outlines around shadows, and be attracted to the brightest sources of light.

After this basic discussion the participants will be shown how to use one of the solar engines discussed above with the light sensing and obstacle avoiding circuitry

Open group discussion (approx 2 Hrs)

Participant will be cleared with all their doubts regarding the experiments which they had performed at home or in class and clear their quires about the kit & the CD content provided to them.

If some of the participants who could not complete rigging up their entire solar engine we will be covered in this session.

Running the robot photo-popper (approx 1 Hrs)

The participant will attach the motors and solar cell on the solar robot and try to run it in the sun (depends on weather) also in 500 watts halogen light

Organizing of small competition if time permits

Distribution of certificates to participation

Registrations Are Closed