Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!cat.cis.Brown.EDU!agate!darkstar.UCSC.EDU!news.hal.COM!decwrl!netcomsv!netcom.com!nagle
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Formula One autonomous robotic racer.
Message-ID: <nagleCu75A0.Fs4@netcom.com>
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)
References: <raybuttsCu72rt.5ME@netcom.com>
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 8 Aug 1994 03:20:23 GMT
Lines: 29

raybutts@netcom.com (Orville R. Butts) writes:
>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.

      Very nice!

>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.

      That's a good time.  I've seen other line followers, and they're
usually slow and keep losing the line.  You might write this up for
Circuit Cellar INK, so others can see how you did it.

					John Nagle
