Virtual joystick control of finch robot

Junior-level students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology program complete a 3-credit Measurements & Instrumentation course. There are three main sections of the course: (1) Programming applications using LabVIEW, (2) Data acquisition, sensors, and signal conditioning, and (3) Design of measurement systems. Weekly laboratory activities mirror the lecture materials. Part of the requirements in the course includes an end-of-semester team design project where one possible option is to design and implement software application for the Finch Robot. Students are provided LabVIEW SubVIs for all of the robot's low-level functions (audio buzzer, tri-color LED, left/right motor control, light sensors, obstacle detectors, temperature sensor, and tri- Axis accelerometer values) as well as the corresponding DLL files to run the SubVIs. The objectives for the project are to utilize their LabVIEW programming skills to design a joystick control for the speed and direction of the robot, display the pitch and roll of the robot, and audibly alert the user of the presence of an obstacle in front of the robot. This paper provides a detailed listing of the engineering requirements for the project. An example of student work is provided, along with a project assessment. Recommendations are included to help ensure student success on the project.