What is Line Following & Why
Line following methods
Number of Sensors
Building a Line Follower
Programming
Examples (links to pictures)
Line Following events
Other Sites
One simple, useful task for a robot is to follow a line. Sometimes, it's not that simple.
"Line following" is a rather general term, and can include a wide varitey of topics. The method used would depend on the equiptment available (number of sensors) and the type of line/course to be followed.
Line following methods -
Edge following - Stay on the edge of the line
Line Search method - Stay on the line
Line Trap - Keep the line between sensors
Cross-over - Move back and forth over the line
Number of Sensors -
1-4 sensors
The number of sensors will have a huge effect on the method of line following used.
1) With only 1 light sensor, the robot will have to know where the line is, or spend time searching to find it.
2) With 2 light sensors, it's possible to remember which direction the line went.
Building a Line Follower -
How to build a robot
Programming -
How to program
Examples (links to pictures) -
Here are some good examples of Line Following robots
Line Following events -
Where to find the line followers:
Workshop3D - http://www.workshop3d.com/rcx/
LRGoAA - http://www.24tooth.com/
Chibots - http://www.chibots.org/
DPGR - http://www.dprg.org/
Botlanta - http://www.botlanta.org/
Robotics Society of America - http://www.robotics-society.org/
Portland Area Robotics Society - http://www.portlandrobotics.org/
Connecticut Robotics Society -http://www.ctrobots.org/
Other Sites -
Other places to look for ideas
CCSoh's Line following - http://www.geocities.com/laosoh/robots/linefollow.htm
http://www.geocities.com/stevehassenplug/