AIDriver

A low-cost, easy-to-assemble differential drive robot, specifically designed for students. This platform provides hands-on experience with fundamental mechatronic components, robot construction, and introductory programming for mechatronics applications.

🔗 Quick Links:

• 🎮 Web Simulator - Test your code without hardware
• 💻 MicroPython Lab - Online MicroPython IDE

Build The Robot

Components

All components can be purchased from AliExpress and the chassis manufactured using a 3D Printer and Laser cutter.

1. Laser cut chassis using (3mm Ply)
2. 3D Printed components
3. Ultrasonic Sensor
4. RP2040 Uno Development Board
5. Omni Wheel
6. L298NH Motor Shield
7. 4x Dupoint Cables
8. 2x TT Tyre
9. 2x TT DC plastic geared motor
10. 5x2.1 Barrel Jack
11. 6x AA Battery Holder with Switch
12. 6x AA Batteries

Preparation

Note

TempeHS Senior Software Engineering students have already completed these steps.

1	2	3
Using a precision knife, cut the VIN jumpers on underside of the motor shield and test with multimeter.	Cut 9v snap and solder cables to battery pack cables (red to red & black to black) then secure with small cable tie.	Fit motor shield to the headers, then build custom MicroPython firmware with integrated AIDriver libraries using the automated build process.

Assembly & Testing

Detailed assembly instructions including hardware testing can be found in the Assembly_Instructions.md

Building Custom Firmware

Build MicroPython firmware with your custom AIDriver libraries integrated. The build system creates firmware with libraries frozen for fast loading and main.py on the filesystem for IDE editing.

🚀 Quick Build (Recommended):

cd /workspaces/AIDriver_MicroPython_Challanges/.devcontainer
./build_firmware.sh

�️ Recovery Mode: If main.py becomes corrupted, connect GPIO pin 4 to ground during boot to restore the original code.

📖 Complete Documentation: Build_Custom_MicroPython_Firmware.md - Comprehensive build guide with recovery features

Debugging & Event Logging

• Turn on richer console output by setting aidriver.DEBUG_AIDRIVER = True in your main.py. The library prints sensor sanity checks, motor actions, and student-friendly error hints without changing behaviour.
• Every boot creates a run-once event_log.txt next to main.py. It records high-level actions (drive/rotate/brake) with human-readable speed bands and notes when speeds are too low to move or will arc left/right. Clear or delete the file to capture the next run.
• In recovery mode (GPIO4 held low during boot), both main.py and event_log.txt are restored to their defaults so students start from a clean slate.

Challenges

Once students have assembled their robot they are to complete the programming challenges to build their skills in programming mechatronics before designing a vehicle automation project.

🎮 Web Simulator: Test your code before uploading to the robot using the AIDriver Simulator - no hardware required!

1. Challenge 1 - Drive in a straight line
2. Challenge 2 - Drive in a large circle
3. Challenge 3 - Autonomous collision prevention
4. Challenge 4 - Drive in a square
5. Challenge 5 - Autonomous obstacle avoidance
6. Challenge 6 - Autonomous maze navigation
7. Challenge 7 - Remote control

Authors

@benpaddlejones

License

AIDriver_MicroPython_Challanges by Ben Jones is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International