Robot Finds and "Kicks" IR Soccer Ball

In this video, a Mouse robot equipped with a turret mount and IR phototransistor locates the infrared signal emitted from a special soccer ball (used in RoboCup Junior and similar competitions). Once the IR detector (which is mounted on the turret) locates the ball, the robot computes the angle to the ball and turns to face it. It then runs forward to "kick" the ball. In the video, the ball is placed in a number of positions. The robot, the turret mount, and the IR detector are all manufactured by Robodyssey Systems.

The soccer ball is loaded with IR LEDs, which we, of course, humans can't see. My students and I make our own simple sensor to "see" the ball with an IR Transducer (Digi-Key P/N 160-1031-ND) in series with a 39 k-ohm resistor. Robodyssey sells the whole kit that comes complete with 2 IR LEDs for line following. (They have a nice jumper on board that you can use to turn off the LEDs for a passive detection.) Do a Google search for "Robodyssey IR Proximity Sensor".

The robot's brain is the BX-24 microcontroller (by NetMedia) and is programmed using the BasicX language. The brain is powered by Robodyssey System's RAMB II motherboard. I am the author of the world's only BasicX textbook; if you are interested in learning how to program your own robot, see my website at www.basicxandrobotics.com.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• robot
• soccer
• ball
• infrared
• computer
• programming
• autonomous
• BX-24
• BasicX
• George
• School

[starwars2078]

Very cool! What did you use on the robot to find the ball? Ir LEDS and IR Phototransistors? I need something like that when I make my first robotics project.

[odomc]

@starwars2078

Yes. The soccer ball is loaded with IR LEDs, which we, of course, humans can't see. My students and I make our own simple sensor to "see" the ball with an IR Transducer (Digi-Key P/N 160-1031-ND) in series with a 39 k-ohm resistor. Robodyssey sells the whole kit that comes complete with 2 IR LEDs for line following. (They have a nice jumper on board that you can use to turn off the LEDs for a passive detection.) Do a Google search for "Robodyssey IR Proximity Sensor".

[sonamta]

noob.

[sonamta]

coool

[michiganboy10]

Looks more like an r/c car was taken apart. Is that what that is?

[RobotsAreHereNow]

nice