SmartWheels robot

Field Robot Event 2005

In 2005, the event was held in Wageningen. The Finnish team was participating in the competition for the first time that year.

The robot was built together by students from Helsinki University of Technology (automation technology) and University of Helsinki (agrotechnology). The school project started in October 2004 and the goal was to create an autonomous robot capable of passing the tasks in the fieldrobot competition.

Final report

Team members

Matti Honkanen (TKK)
Kosti Kannas (TKK)
Hannu Suna (TKK)
Jere Syvänne (TKK, team captain)
Hannu Gröhn (UoH)
Mikko Hakojärvi (UoH)
Aleksis Kyrö (UoH)
Matti Selinheimo (UoH)
Juho Säteri (UoH)

Team was supervised by researchers

Timo Oksanen (TKK)
Johannes Tiusanen (UoH)

Technology

The robot is built on four wheel RC-platform that uses DC-motors. The platform was selected to save time for the implementation of the navigation system. Motors and sensors are connected to microcontroller that again is connected to a laptop computer that handles the main program cycle. The microcontroller is only used as a bridge between the laptop software and the instruments. The robot uses information from the USB web cam ultrasonic sensors and compass for navigation in the field. The Windows software in the laptop controls the robot according to certain navigation algorithms and tasks.