PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS

Electrical Systems
Rick Moser
The electical systems are comprised of five major components: GPS navigation, steering/driving motor controller, laser range finder, video camera, and digital compass. The GPS navigation system from the previous year will be used in this year's design, along with the video camera imaging system and steering/driving controller. This year, Rick is overseeing the design of a new 3 dimensional imaging system, using the current laser range finder. Rick is also responsible for all hardware-software related interfacing.

Software
Graham Apgar
Graham is tasked with the improvement of the software navigation system. This will require research and developement in the areas of object recognition using line detection and range finder data, path generation, and steering control. Improvements will be made to the steering control system, allowing for more precise turning. In addition, Graham is currently researching solutions for obtaining and processing 3-dimensional data from teh range finder to better detect obstacles above and below the robot's current flat field of view.

For information about the vehicle's current systems, see this year's Starting Point.