Floor Cleaning Robot with Vex Robotics System

This instructable will tell how to make a floor cleaning robot that uses Vex Robotics System as a base platform.
The robot uses a paint roller to pick up crumbs and dirt and moves them into a dustpan. Also, a water tank continuously drips water onto a mop that rotates back and forth. Dragging behind the bot is a towel that dries the floor and picks up any leftover dirt.
The robot also navigates it way around by following a line of tape, so you don't have to watch over it or control it.

This is an entry for the 13-18 age category in the robot contest. 

Step 1 Parts Needed

For this robot you will need:
-Vex Micro-controller with battery pack
-Vex Line Sensor Kit
-4 Vex Motors
-1 Vex Servomotor
-2 short square axles
-2 12inch square axles
-2 black grommets
-2 rubber wheels
-Assortment of hardware
-several different vex beams

-tie-wraps
-bailing wire
-scraps of wood
-9 inch paint roller
-Dustpan with rubber edge
-12inch plastic plumbing pipe with 2 plugs that fit into either end (the pipe should be about 1.5 inches wide)
-towel


*Any of these parts can be replaced with others, but if any technical part is changed you may need to change the code.
 

Comments

[adeq89]

this system use arduino uno microcontroller ? can i make this robot using arduino uno?

[TechnoInnovator]

This project uses a vex pic microcontroller, but you could change the code and the sensors you use to make it work with arduino. I used vex parts since I already had them, but you can replace any of the parts with others to fit your needs.

[panwooikee]

can i ask for the advantages and disadvantages?

[TechnoInnovator]

First, this was a great way for a young person like me to learn how to design, program, and test out a robot. The advantages are that it can clean the floor very effectively, and without anyone having to control it. It can not just collect crumbs and dirt but actually scrub the floor by moving a mop back and forth.
The only disadvantages of this design are that you have to put a line on the floor, but I am working on a system to navigate using an ultrasonic sensor to measure the distance away from the walls. The other thing is that you have to manually control the water flow, but I hope to update this instructable by adding how to control the water with the microcontroller.

[panwooikee]

k thanks =)

[circuitdaddy]

Very creative with the use of every day items. There is a lot more going on that meets the eye. The bot is following a line, moving the mop head back and forth, driving the sweep roller in the front and diving the wheels in the back to keep the bot on course. WOW! well done!

[r2d2bot]

very creative!

[divecoach]

I like it - looks useful!

[panwooikee]

is it 3 vex line sensor kit?

[TechnoInnovator]

Yes, the kit has three sensors in it. Here is a link to the kit