Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen), Hernández, Albert
Other Authors: David R. Wallace.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45329
_version_ 1811084628400799744
author Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen)
Hernández, Albert
author2 David R. Wallace.
author_facet David R. Wallace.
Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen)
Hernández, Albert
author_sort Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen)
collection MIT
description Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008.
first_indexed 2024-09-23T12:54:34Z
format Thesis
id mit-1721.1/45329
institution Massachusetts Institute of Technology
language eng
last_indexed 2024-09-23T12:54:34Z
publishDate 2009
publisher Massachusetts Institute of Technology
record_format dspace
spelling mit-1721.1/453292019-04-10T15:21:28Z Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen) Hernández, Albert David R. Wallace. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Mechanical Engineering. Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2008. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 42). Given the health and weight gain concerns plaguing the country, there is currently a great need for products that encourage athletic activity. A robotic pacing device that facilitates running along a track was developed to help fulfill this requirement. The need for this device, determined from interviews and a survey of experienced running athletes and coaches, was found to be substantial for a number of age groups and experience levels of runners. An experimental robot prototype was designed and manufactured to aid in pacing runners around a track. The robot was designed to accurately follow the lines of the track using IR sensors that detect reflectivity of the track's surface. The prototype was tested and optimized to determine a successful control logic that reduced error and the amount of overshoot the robot experiences as it adjusts to follow the lines at high speeds. Large overshoots lead to robot malfunction and breakdown in the logic as the robot reaches curves in the track. The optimized prototype currently has the capability of running full lengths around various shaped tracks that incorporate white lines dividing dark colored lanes at speeds of up to eight miles per hour. In this form, the robot might be useful for beginner runners, runners that are doing distance training, and physical education classes that have access to running tracks. Future versions of the robot pacing device will need to incorporate additional features in order to be useful for the full range of people that want to use this product, including a flexible user interface that allows users to program the robot to their needs, a more sophisticated robot control system that allows for accurate control based on the dynamics of the robot, and a more durable cover that is easily spotted by runners looking straight ahead. by Qinyuan (Chen) Liu and Albert Hernandez. S.B. 2009-04-29T17:26:32Z 2009-04-29T17:26:32Z 2008 2008 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45329 314429666 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 42 leaves application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Mechanical Engineering.
Liu, Qinyuan (Qingyuan Chen)
Hernández, Albert
Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title_full Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title_fullStr Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title_full_unstemmed Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title_short Design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
title_sort design of autonomous robot device for accurate pacing of track athletes
topic Mechanical Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/45329
work_keys_str_mv AT liuqinyuanqingyuanchen designofautonomousrobotdeviceforaccuratepacingoftrackathletes
AT hernandezalbert designofautonomousrobotdeviceforaccuratepacingoftrackathletes