Robots

Students Build Linux-based Sentry Robot

Posted 22 Jun 2006 at 20:39 UTC by steve Share This

While some religious schools are perceived as having issues with science these days, Greater Houlton Christian Academy in Houlton, Maine embraces it. The school boasts a Linux-based computer lab that has been profiled in an education technology magazine and Linux journal, demonstrating the flexibility and cost-savings of Free Software in education. Students in the school's Computer Technology program recently constructed a sentry robot to patrol the halls of their school after hours. Described by computer (and Bible) teacher Michael Surran as a "DIY special", the robot was constructed from components that included an old computer, law mower wheels, and a garden tracker battery. The robot, named Sentry Bot, uses a tricycle wheel arrangement with a combination drive/steering wheel. The software was developed in C and Python running on Linux. Students designed and built the electronics needed to interface the sensors and motors with the computer. The robot uses ultrasonic range finders at present but the the class hopes to add additional sensors in the future. Sentry Bot, even made the local TV news, appearing on a WAGM spot known as Sci Tech Flash (AVI MPEG4 video, 4 mins).

Robot of the Day

Harold

Built by
Tony Mercer

Recent blogs

2 Feb 2012 AI4U (Observer)
31 Jan 2012 Flanneltron (Journeyer)
29 Jan 2012 robotsrawsome (Observer)
27 Jan 2012 mwaibel (Master)
20 Jan 2012 Mubot (Master)
9 Jan 2012 The Swirling Brain (Master)
9 Jan 2012 steve (Master)
4 Jan 2012 evilrobots (Observer)
21 Dec 2011 spirit (Journeyer)
22 Nov 2011 robotvibes (Master)
16 Nov 2011 JLaplace (Observer)
8 Nov 2011 wesley.zilva (Observer)
31 Oct 2011 jmhenry (Journeyer)
16 Oct 2011 milk3dfx (Observer)
14 Oct 2011 Christophe Menant (Master)
20 Sep 2011 jcoat (Observer)
17 Sep 2011 githinkgp (Observer)
8 Aug 2011 Pi Robot (Master)

Newest Robots

7 Aug 2009 Titan EOD
13 May 2009 Spacechair
6 Feb 2009 K-bot
9 Jan 2009 3 in 1 Bot
15 Dec 2008 UMEEBOT
10 Nov 2008 Robot
10 Nov 2008 SAMM
24 Oct 2008 Romulus
30 Sep 2008 CD-Bot
26 Sep 2008 Little Johnny

User Cert Key

Observer
Apprentice
Journeyer
Master
X
Share this page