HKUST Smart Car Team Performs Well in Intelligent Car Competition
The Smart Car Team of the HKUST Robotics Team attained good results in the 11th NXP Cup Intelligent Car Racing Competition (South China Region) held in Central South University in Changsha from July 16-19. The team was awarded three Second Class Awards, in Balance Group, Beacon Group and Camera Group respectively, and also a Certificate of Merit in Chasing Group. Over 300 teams participated in the competition.
NXP Semiconductors is the new organizer of the race this year, as a result of the company acquiring Freescale Semiconductor last year, yet traditions from the past competitions have been maintained. Now in its 11th year, this Intelligent Car Race has built up a good reputation in Mainland China among undergraduates and especially robotics related disciplines. The competition is divided into six categories, namely Beacon Group, Balance Group, Camera Group, Chasing Group, Electro-Magnetic Group and Linear CCD Group. Cars in each category require different sensors and components, but all are based on NXP Kinetis K-60 MCU. The HKUST Smart Car Team named FreeRiders attempted in all six categories, with three members participating in each category.
The main rule for the optical-related groups (Camera and Linear CCD Groups) is to identify and follow the track in the field with the processed data from the camera sensors or linear CCD camera sensors installed on the cars. For the Chasing Group, communication protocols have to be implemented besides image processing to enable two cars to run on the track without crashing each other. For the Electro-Magnetic and Balance Groups, magnetic sensors are installed in order to follow the track through a signal wire located underneath the whole track. Teams from the Beacon Group are required to track down infrared light emitting beacons on the ground while this group is an exception that the routes are freestyle but not designated like other groups.
This contest requires knowledge of circuit designs, mechanical designs, and algorithms in embedded software systems in order to build the cars to run on tracks with intersections, ramps, obstacles and S-curves at the highest speed attainable.
To prepare for the contest, members of FreeRiders stayed at lab after lectures starting from the Spring Semester to design their own PCB boards, implement suitable algorithms, design and print the 3D mechanical parts, test and tune the cars with numerous trials for around six months. They were beginners in robotics and it was glad that their hard work paid off.
The HKUST Smart Car Team is formed by 13 new members and 6 returned members ranging from Year 1 to Year 3. They come from different departments of the School of Engineering (SENG), with two each from Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering Program, and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and the rest are Year 1 students from the School. The students are supervised by Prof Tim Woo, Director of the Center for Global & Community Engagement (GCE).
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