lego mindstorm ev3
A Minds and Machines Project
About the Project
Students are tasked with creating and programming a thinking robot from the Lego Mindstorm EV3 kit. This robot, named Daedalus, will be programmed to autonomously traverse a digital "dungeon" set up by the instructor that is to be uploaded to the cortex of Daedalus. So, what's in this so-called dungeon?
The Dungeon
The physical dungeon is a large 4x4 grid sectioned off by white lines. Beyond this, everything else resides in the digital world. The digital aspect will contain the following: the gold, the Wampus, an unknown number of bottomless pits leading to the magma-filled center of the Earth, and squares with nothing in it (safe squares). Daedalus' trial is as follows: traverse the dungeon, avoid the pits and the Wampus, retrieve the gold, and return to its starting position where glory and fame awaits.
The Conditions
Daedalus will only be able to move one block at a time starting from one corner of the dungeon. As it moves, it will survey each surrounding square for either the updraft of the pit, the stench of the Wampus, or the glitter of the gold which will all be sent via signals over the WiFi. Ideally, Daedalus will have sensors and a program that will avoid the pits and the Wampus. Also, if Daedalus detects the Wampus, it will be able to shoot it and eliminate it from the dungeon.
So...
Will Daedalus be able to overcome this challenge it is faced with? As it gears up and trains rigorously in isolation on Mount Enihcam with Master Samm Katcher, Master Yunshi (Randy) Wen, and Master Marlon Lam, this site will be keeping tabs on its progress all the way through the process.