Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!raybutts
From: raybutts@netcom.com (Orville R. Butts)
Subject: Formula One autonomous robotic racer.
Message-ID: <raybuttsCu72rt.5ME@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 1994 02:26:16 GMT
Lines: 40

This is my first attempt at communication on the net, so please
let me apologize in advance for my mistakes.

I've been looking at all the postings and I could find no mention
of robotic racing. Maybe I'm the first to try it? Any info in this
direction would be informative.

Anyway, I have developed a 1:18 scale formula one autonomous robotic
racer. In order to race the car, I had to build a line following race
track. Of course, a race course isn't worth much without a lap counter
and a lap/race timer. So, I built that too.

What I have developed is a fast, line following robotic racing system. 
The race car is an autonomous robot contained in a 1:18 scale model
formula one race car. The car is approximately 10 inches long,
5 inches wide (the body is actually 3 inches wide) and 3 inches high.
I'm using a 78HC11 from New Micros with 32K of external ram,
programed in their Max Forth. My line sensor consists of seven small
IR diode/transistor units mounted on a 'wing' on the underside of
the car. The race course is 5 1/2 feet wide by 13 feet long, with 
the track 12 inches wide with a 1/2 inch wide black line down the
center. The track consists of 8 interlocking masonite sections.
(Easy to build.) The lap counter/timer is electronic (68HC11) with
an optical car sensor. My best times so far for a fifty (50) lap
race is 7:04.7 with best lap time of 8.3 seconds. That is an
average lap speed of 42 inches per second. Not bad for a line
follower.

Would anyone out there be interested in 1:18 scale robotic
racing? It makes quite an exciting competition!! I'm presently
working on my second car (about 80% complete) and would like
to see this type of competition become national.

I would be most happy to pass on what I have learned to anyone
interested.

Ray Butts
Lake Oswego, OR
raybutts@netcom.com

