2017_Vehicle

Each year, teams come up with unique vehicle designs to match the objectives of the competition. This 2017 competition event year is not any different, as all teams have prepared a vehicle concept that is anticipated to win the grand prize of the event.

Below are descriptions provided by the teams of their vehicle concept, presenting the unique features and elements of their design that make their concept a winner.

2017 Teams and Their Vehicle Design Approach

Case Western Reserve University (“OTTO X”): A differential drive robot with actuated plow that is controlled by an i3 desktop computer and National Instruments cRIO controller that uses Ultra-wide Band radio beacons, encoders, and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for localization and a LIDAR for obstacle detection and avoidance.

Sponsor: MTD, Inc.

Case Western Reserve University (“The Robot Formerly Known As Snow Joke”): A snowplow vehicle that is a low cost autonomous snowplow robot. The vehicle navigates using optical beacons, and uses ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance. Snow Joke uses a combination of brushes and plow to remove snow cleanly.

Sponsor: MTD, Inc.

Dunwoody College of Technology (“Snow Devils 01112 - Team 1”): The 2017 Snow Devils Team #1 will continue to work using the existing 2014 chassis and platform as a starting point. Their goal this year is to build in robust controls, a better emergency stop system, and dependable navigation. Navigation will most likely center around a machine vision-based software program.

Sponsor: Dunwoody College of Technology

Dunwoody College of Technology (“Snow Devils 01102 - Team 2”): The 2017 Snow Devil Team #2 this year will be building a new chassis and snowplow from scratch. Their goal for this snowplow vehicle is to provide a more robust 4-wheel drive system capable of competing at the highest levels in the future.

Sponsor: Dunwoody College of Technology

Iowa State University (“Iowa State Robotics Club Snowplow”): The snowplow vehicle designed to clear a field of snow utilizing a tank drive with treads for mobility on wet and slippery surfaces. It uses an optical and laser tracking system to observe colored squares around an area and determine where it is and where it needs to go.

Sponsor: Iowa State University

North Dakota State University (“Lil Bison”): A 560 pounds skid steer controlled vehicle small enough to fit through a door way. The robot utilizes GPS, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and encoders for navigation, with LIDAR for object detection.

Sponsors: National Science Foundation, NDSU Mechanical Engineering Department

North Dakota State University (“Thundar 3.0”): A four-wheel differential controlled vehicle weighing about 500 pounds. It is equipped with two quadrature encoders for odometry, one ruggedized three-axis MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), one Real-Time Kinematic Precise Positioning Service GPS unit, and can detect obstacles.

Sponsors: National Science Foundation, NDSU Mechanical Engineering Department

Michigan Technological University (“Longshot”): A simple plow with large, high grip wheels and the cheapest vision system money can buy.

Sponsors: Copper Country Robotics

University of Michigan, Dearborn (“Yeti 7.0”): Based upon last year’s first place vehicle, the robot will implement its LIDAR-based navigation system. There will be minor improvements to the mechanical and electrical system, as well as major improvements to the code, in particular detecting the moving obstacle.

Sponsors: University of Michigan Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science, Toyota Motor Company’s North America Technical Center, MathWorks, SolidWorks

University of Michigan, Dearborn (“Z-3PO - Zenith 3.0”): Z-3PO is the latest iteration in the Zenith series brought by the University of Michigan - Dearborn. It will be designed for multi-purpose use, including the future addition of lawn maintenance capabilities on top of snow removal. The navigation and guidance systems are in the research stage but will likely involve robotic vision, just as previous iterations of Zenith have.

Sponsors: University of Michigan Dearborn College of Engineering and Computer Science, Toyota Motor Company’s North America Technical Center, MathWorks, SolidWorks

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (“Snow Squirrel”): Variable weight snowplow driven by electric motors on rubber tracks. Designed to fit through standard doorways and be modular enough to disassemble and carry.

Sponsors: University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering

University of Saint Thomas (“Snow Byter”): A DC motor based battery operated vehicle aided by Vision and Lidar. Vehicle is being designed as part of Senior Design Clinic. Finalized design from the Senior Design Team is due in October.

Sponsors: University of Saint Thomas

Wayne State University (“Snow Wizard 1.0”): A differential-drive robot with actuated plow that uses stereoscopic cameras and/or Intel Real Sense. The team hopes to experiment with ROS.

Sponsors: Wayne State University