Line Following Competition

From our experience there are a lot of people who, firstly, would like an opportunity to learn how to program and it is a lot of fun to do so by building hobby automated projects. See below for some examples. Secondly, it is motivational and fun to be able to focus your efforts on a final goal, and this why we are hosting a competition in December, so that people can get motivated and come out and play. We at the O’Town are very much focused on diversity and to give everyone the chance to be part of this competition we will be hosting some full day workshops in November. These workshops will be free, but you will be required to buy your own hardware. We will provide links on where you can buy the hardware and we are also willing to buy it for you, but we will require cost to be paid up front before a certain date. Again see below for information. Prizes will be give out for the competition and these will represent diversity. What these will be is not set in stone yet, but some examples could be: prize for the youngest person; prize for the fastest female team; funniest looking robot and of course the fastest of the overall competition.

Registration is required for this competition, so please fill out the google forum. By filling out the form you give the O’Town the right to keep your email and send you information related to the compeition.

What is a Line Following Robot I hear you asking?

A line following robot is an autonomous robot which follows either a black line on a white background or vice versa. The robot must be able to detect particular line and keep following it. Depending which sensor is detecting which background (white/black) the robot needs to move in different ways, as is depicted in the image on the left.

Rules for the Competition

Teams can be from 1 – 4 people
Line Followers must be self contained, and not externally operated by wire or by remote radio control during the race.
Except for the battery pack, the handler shall not make any addition, removal, replacement or change to the hardware of a Line Follower during a contest. It is however permissible to make minor repairs
A Line Follower shall not exceed 22 cm in overall length, 16 cm in overall width and 13 cm in overall height
Before commencement of normal racing, each racing team can test the racing environment on site
Line Followers shall start anywhere within the defined start-finish area, and shall go in the specified direction.
Within the given performance time, the handler is allowed to replace batteries and/or upload new program parameters to the Line Follower.
The Line Follower shall have a specified maximum number of attempts to run the track within a stipulated time limit (typically 3 to 5 minutes and from 2 to 3 attempts to be decided by the Organiser on the day of the race). If the performance time limit is reached and the Line Follower is in the midst of a run, the Line Follower will be allowed to complete the run and the lap time will be valid if the run is successful.
If a Line Follower leaves the line, and has not crossed the finishing line, it will be considered to have gone off the track, and that run shall be invalid.

Upcoming Workshops

To participate in the competition or the workshops you must fill out the form located at the top of the page.

Workshops Dates

Hardware Requirements

Buying Options

November 10th – Juniors [Under 18s]

November 16th – Random

November 23rd – Women

Motors x 2
Drive wheels x 2
Passive wheel x 1
Motor driver x 1
Mobile robot chassis x 1
Light sensor x 2
Arduino basic kit x 1
Breadboard x 1
Jumper wires x 20
AA battery pack x 1

Option 1: The O’Town buys it for you. Cost is 450 dkk. Teams can be up to 4 people, so cost can be split between team members? Payment needs to be made before 31st of October.

Option 2: You can try the following websites to fine the compenents from the list to the left.