Simple robotic vehicle – Follower

Building a Simple Line-Following Robot with a Micro:bit

A line-following robot is a classic robotics project that involves building a robot that can autonomously follow a black line on a white surface. Here’s a basic approach to building a line-following robot using a micro:bit:

Hardware Components:

• Micro:bit
• Two DC motors
• Motor driver board
• Line sensor module
• Battery pack
• Chassis and wheels

Programming the Micro:bit:

You can use the MakeCode block-based programming environment or Python to program the micro:bit. Here’s a simplified explanation of the programming logic:

1. Read Sensor Values:
   • Use the line sensor module to read the light intensity on both sides of the line.
2. Control Motor Speeds:
   • If the robot is on the line, both motors should run at the same speed.
   • If the robot deviates from the line, adjust the motor speeds to steer it back onto the line.
   • For example, if the robot is to the left of the line, increase the speed of the right motor and decrease the speed of the left motor.

Here’s a simplified MakeCode code example:

let leftMotorPin = Pin.P1
let rightMotorPin = Pin.P2

basic.forever(() => {
    let leftSensorValue = pins.analogReadPin(AnalogPin.P0)
    let rightSensorValue = pins.analogReadPin(AnalogPin.P1)

    if (leftSensorValue > rightSensorValue) {
        // Turn right
        pins.digitalWritePin(leftMotorPin, 0)
        pins.digitalWritePin(rightMotorPin, 1)
    } else if (rightSensorValue > leftSensorValue) {
        // Turn left
        pins.digitalWritePin(leftMotorPin, 1)
        pins.digitalWritePin(rightMotorPin, 0)
    } else {
        // Move forward
        pins.digitalWritePin(leftMotorPin, 1)
        pins.digitalWritePin(rightMotorPin, 1)
    }
})

Additional Tips:

• Calibration: Calibrate the line sensor to ensure accurate readings.
• Power Supply: Use a reliable power source to avoid fluctuations that might affect the robot’s performance.
• Motor Control: Experiment with different motor speeds and timing to fine-tune the robot’s movement.
• Sensor Placement: The placement of the line sensor on the robot is crucial for accurate line following.
• Obstacle Avoidance: Consider adding additional sensors, such as ultrasonic sensors, to enable the robot to avoid obstacles.

By following these steps and experimenting with different approaches, you can create a variety of line-following robots with varying levels of complexity.

Would you like to explore more advanced line-following techniques or discuss other robot projects?