Sentry Robot to Patrol Maine School

Greater Houlton Christian Academy recently celebrated two years of offering Robotics as part of our computer science curriculum. This year students Jordan McGuire, Jeromy Nevers, Barrett Jewell, and instructor Michael Surran designed and constructed, from scratch, a "Sentry Bot" for patrolling and securing our hallways.
Our local news featured our Greater Houlton Christian Academy recently celebrated two years of offering Robotics as part of our computer science curriculum. This year students Jordan McGuire, Jeromy Nevers, Barrett Jewell, and instructor Michael Surran designed and constructed, from scratch, a "Sentry Bot" for patrolling and securing our hallways.
Our local news featured our robot in a recent airing of "Sci Tech Flash". In this video, you will see the robot in action, including some of the unique features such as our optical mouse encoder. There are also interviews with the students and the instructor.
The Sentry Bot is a perfect example of a DIY (do it yourself) robot, using easy to find and inexpensive parts. It even runs Linux! ...

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• robot
• robotics
• Linux
• Gentoo
• sensors
• computer
• science
• electronics
• DIY
• Maine
• GHCA
• optical
• encoder
• security
• sonar

[TheLifePerfect]

OMG how will we ever use our stealth suits to kidnap christians if they have SONAR!? xD

[stopglobalswarming]

That's cool. In a more "diverse" school, they would be rapping about "dead white males" instead of building robots and trying to get jobs.

[ondamedjedi]

I don't choose to consort with those of the robot race

[v01d4d3pt]

exactly the robot uses linux.

[leslieTS]

screw that its wifi based, someone crack the WEP/WPA and make that sucker roam like a wild boar. *attention students rogue robot on the loose, beware*

[crashmidget15]

put a gun on it?

[Plystire]

A computer mouse in general doesn't NEED a mouse pad, but if you've ever TRIED to use an optical mouse on a very reflective surface then you'd know how inaccurate and downright shitty it's going to be. The mousepad was a good idea and is probably necessary fo this application.

The wiring and cameras themselves would probably cost more than this robot would. Not to mention you'd still need someone to monitor the cameras... then you gotta pay someone to sit there.

Power is an issue, though.

[inthefade]

optical mice don't need to use a mouse pad either...

[inthefade]

why not just put up web cams?

[patio87]

Sweet, python.