ENVIRONMENT :
A flat surface with a line or "track" of uniform color and surroundings which are relatively distinct and at the opposite end of the brightness spectrum from the track (dark-on-light or light-on-dark). The width of the track will be ~ 1 inch. The track will only make "curved" turns (no true right angles to worry about).
GOAL :
Follow the track.
DETAILS :
Many simple robots are designed to navigate their environment by following a path on the floor -- ever seen a mail delivery robot? By keeping a sensor relatively centered over a "track" the robot is able to effectively navigate its environment.
For this program, you will be creating a line following robot. As with the previous program, you may begin by having your robot follow the dark track provided on the test pad. However, your final robot should be able to also handle a white tape track placed on the back table. Once again, you may use either of the three techniques discussed in program 1.
Your robot may assume that it is placed on the track to begin with and that it is placed "relatively parallel" to the direction of the track (that is, it won't be placed so that it immediately moves off the track). It should then proceed around the environment following the track.
Do not hard code assumptions about the shape of the track. For example, your finished robot should be able to navigate the test pad track in either direction.