Andrew's Leap

Robotics Section

1997

From the brochure:

Andrew's Leap is a summer program run by the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science. The program is completely free.

All Allegheny County high school students are eligible to participate. Participants will be given access to resources usually reserved for Ph.D. students and research scientists.

Through special classes and independent projects, students will be exposed to the frontiers of computer science. They will "leap" ahead approximately ten years. Students will have an opportunity to interact with some of the country's leading scientists.

The Robotics section of Andrew's Leap learned how to design and program mobile robots made from Lego Technic and HC11 microcontroller cards. Here are some pictures:

Base platform

HC11 microcontroller, Lego Technic structure, bumpers, light sensors, differential drive chassis, and some buttons and lights.

Better view of chassis

We have removed the microcontroller enclosure for a better look at the chassis.

Exploded view.

This robot autonomously disassembled itself.

Our battery reuse program

Dead 9v alkaline batteries still have a use.

Scott finds our battery reuse program shocking.

See if you can figure out where we hid the 9v batteries.

Racing robot project

Students built a racing chassis, teleoperated by the student using controls they also built themselves.

Closer view of racer.

Another racer.

Lee and Matt preparing, Spring 1997.

Here is some of the course material:

Course notes:
Current draft, with tutorials on operating and programming robots. Other sections on mechanical design, control, planning, are just rough outlines and lists of ideas.
Plan:
Long lists of things to do, purchases, etc.
Lego links:
Links to web sites on Lego or other mobile robotics stuff.

In 1995, one of the projects used robot arms in the production of a claymation style animation.

In 1996, the students built a system that dropped water balloons on innocent passersby in the lobby of Wean Hall, the home of the Computer Science Department. It used a Cognex industrial vision system to spot potential victims, and two Microbots that cocked and fired the water balloon launcher. The launcher itself was built from duct tape, dish basins, baling wire, and PVC pipe. A third Microbot dangled a dollar bill tantalizingly out of reach to attract victims. Sorry, no video online yet.