Nimble Intelligent Soccer Robots

Bahria University Islamabad Campus

Nimble Intelligent Soccer Robots

Research Partners:Arslan Ali, Ch Ahsan Ali,

Irtiza Naeem,

Tashfain Yousuf, Fasih-ur-Rehman

Research supervisor: Sir. Arslan

Abstract • Playing football on video games is getting bored day by day.

• To bring some change in gaming, autonomous soccer playing robots (SPR) are now becoming research focus.

• The main part of a robot is i ts sturdiness and quick response, to improve this one thing many components of a robot are considered.

• The main part is a good quality and robust micro-controller (MC) and its proper uti l ization.

• Then there are other peripheries l ike t ires, shape, sensors and circuit design which makes a robot to work properly.

• Focus of this research paper is to establish a unique and robust electrical and structural design to achieve optimum output from a robot.

Index terms :

• Micro-controller, sensors, circuit design, mechanical structure, Computer Aided Design (CAD)

Nimble Intelligent Soccer Robots 2


Introduction

Background : • Science and technology is always working on something that can

contribute in easing and bringing joy in the l i fe of people.

• Purpose of making autonomous soccer robots is to give the people a taste of 3D gaming by optimizing the robot’s response to a scenario by making an effective algorithm and using high performance micro control ler l ike Arduino.

• The other main component is i ts l ight weight structure for easy and fast maneuvering and this can be made by selecting l ight weight and strong material .

• Shape that would be aerodynamic and properly modeled according to the requirement of robot and environment.


Significance :

•It wi l l be helpful in making quick response robots by modifying some of i ts features or adding some more to get a new kind of robot which can help the companies in manufacturing or doing house hold chores in future.

•This research wil l give an insight about robust soccer robots and wil l also give the students about system engineering.

•Main learning points are relating the courses to the project and effective team work.

•Competition wil l give the students motivation to make the robot work at its peak.


Literature Review :•Many research papers and books are written and sti l l work is being done in optimizing the soccer robots to make the RoboCup league more interesting and also making the students famil iar with robotics.

•Humanoid soccer robots are also in focus now a days but optimizing the four wheel robots sti l l needs work.

•The main study that was performed in the late 90’s was the f irst breakthrough which gave an idea and a push start to this new kind of gaming and knowledge.

•At that t ime robots were huge in size then the size minimized and as t ime passed more and more features added to soccer robots from radio controlled to ful ly autonomous.

•The main weakness that should be deleted is the structure of robot and proposing new short parts for different control units of robot with micro control ler and precise algorithm for coding the micro controller.


Statement Problem :

•The Goal of this research is to make the soccer playing robots quick by applying new algorithms, circuit implementation and redesigning the structure of robot for sturdiness.

•The problem which gave rise to this research was the robots that are being used in the competitions are not fast enough to detect the ball and to reach it and then take it to the goal post autonomously.

•Most of the time the robots calculate which path to fol low and securing the ball from another robot takes plenty of time which is not acceptable in soccer game.


Research Questions :

• This study wil l answer that how you can make the robots response to secure the bal l and taking it to the goal post by handling any hurdles in its path quick, safe and sound.

Hypotheses :• This research is designed to test the robot’s abi l i ty to detect

the ball in a very minute t ime frame and then respond it quickly by selecting the appropriate path to reach the ball .

• Then by careful ly securing and proceeding to goal post wil l be measured and results wi l l be brought closer to our needs of achieving sturdiness.


Importance :

•The structural mistake can be minimized by using l ightweight aluminum and perfectly modeling on CAD giving special attention to aerodynamics and weight minimization.

•Maneuvering can be optimized by making an effective algorithm for code of micro controller by using common mathematical ski l ls gained in my engineering courses.

•First we wil l make the structure and then other equipment wil l be instal led on to i t after that it wi l l be programmed.

•Main benefit that wi l l be gained from this research is that we wil l be able to get maximum output from robots and new questions wil l arise for further modification of robots.


• Our goal is to make a robust intel l igent soccer robot by devising a novel control strategy and proper structure for robots.

• First our team wil l start working on CAD of structure.• Collecting relevant data about robot from university l ibrary and

research papers etc.• Electronic equipment of robot that wi l l be used in i ts working.• Algorithm for swift maneuvering of robots. • C++ coding of Arduino.• Testing and modification by repeatedly observing in football arena.


Materials and methods :

The main equipment that wi l l be used is stated here but more addit ion can be expected.

• Aluminum structure including tires.• Arduino Mega• Sensors• H-Bridges• Batteries• DC motors


Equipment :

Limitations :• The main weakness that we wil l be facing is the col lective quick

response of both robots in a specific scenario but it can be minimized by proper communication between them.

• Devising a new algorithm from scratch for robots programming.

References : 2 Renaud JE. A concurrent engineering approach for

multidisciplinary design in a distributed computing environment. In: Alexandrov NM, Hussaini MY, eds. Multidiscipl inary Design Optimization: State of the Art: SIAM, 1997

3 Kodiyalam S, Sobieszczanski-Sobieski J. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization - some formal methods, framework requirements, and application to vehicle design. International Journal of Vehicle Design 2001; 25:3-22

4 Sobieszczanski-Sobieski J. Multidiscipl inary design optimization (MDO) methods: Their synergy with computer technology in the design process. Aeronautical Journal 1999; 103:373-382



Budget :

Multiplying the budget with 2 for two Robots

Total Expence for two robots: Rs. 1,22,000/-

Engineering

Nimble Intelligent Soccer Robots