Introduction

Welcome to our project page detailing the development of an mini autonomous vehicle for the XLR8 competition's Mars Rover problem statement. As freshmen at IIT Bombay, we embarked on this challenging project during our very first month at the institute, diving headfirst into the world of robotics and autonomous systems.

Project Overview

Our team set out to build a rover capable of autonomous navigation, with additional features such as motion control and wireless data transmission. This project not only tested our technical skills but also our ability to work under pressure and solve complex problems in a short timeframe.

Hardware Components

Our rover was built using the following components:

1. Raspberry Pi Pico W: The central processing unit of our rover, responsible for running our navigation algorithms and coordinating all other components.
2. L298 Motor Driver: This driver allowed us to control the direction and speed of our DC motors efficiently.
3. SG90 Servo: Used for scanning the environment by rotating the ultrasonic sensor.
4. Ultrasonic Sensor: Acted as the "eyes" of our rover, detecting obstacles and mapping the environment.
5. 3D Printed Mount: Custom-designed and 3D printed to hold the ultrasonic sensor securely.
6. MPU6050 (x2):
   • One for the car's accelerometer and gyroscope data
   • Another for motion detection on the controller
7. ESP01: Facilitated communication between the controller and the Raspberry Pi.
8. 300RPM Motors: Provided the necessary power and speed for our rover's movement.
9. Metal Chassis: Formed the sturdy base of our rover, ensuring stability and durability.

Key Features

1. Autonomous Navigation

Our autonomous navigation system was the core feature of the rover. Here's how it worked:

• The servo motor swept the ultrasonic sensor in 10-degree intervals, creating a map of clear paths in the rover's vicinity.