A Robot that Follows a Line
Line-following robots are popular among robotics hobbyists because these types of robots can be relatively simple to build, and yet are very entertaining as they follow whatever size path you lay out for them. Unlike room-exploration robots that often get stuck against chairs and carpet edges, you don't have to chase after a well-designed line-following robot.
Most line-following robots have two motors, two front sensors, and a basic electronic circuit for autonomous control. But, a great thing about this type of robot is that it easy to make small changes for added complexity. An simple improvement is to install the robot in a decorative container, along with colorful LEDs. More advanced designs add sensors and a programmable microcontroler for faster speed, smoother turning, or maze-solving.
Sandwich, the Line-Following RobotThis is a simple, yet sleek, line-following robot that you can reproduce in your home laboratory. A racetrack movie appears at the end of the page.
Printed Circuit Board for SandwichStuffing instructions for a professional, double-sided, printed circuit board for Sandwich. The board has silkscreened part numbers and a solder mask, making it a fast, easy, and reliable way to build.
Jet, the Ultra-Fast Line-Following RobotLearn the technical extravagance that competition leads to, as a line-following robot breaks the 100 cm/s barrier. Includes plenty of techno-babble and names of people you don't know.
Sweet! The Line-Following RobotAn m&m's candy container provides a fun body for a smart line-following robot. Videos show the auto-contrast, dark-or-light detection capabilities. Sharp turns and crossovers don't slow this car down, but it can automatically stop at the end of the line.
Line-Maze Solving RobotA multi-deck robot with seven PCBs, nine floor sensors, one LCD, four buttons, and two quadrature encoders. The robot solves mazes made of white lines on black tiles. The article includes two movies.
Chicago Solar-Powered Line-Following RobotThis robot combines two circuits from other robots to charge/discharge 2 farads of capacitance into a pair of miniature motors controlled by a low-voltage comparator. Four photosensors track the line, which can be either dark or light based on a switch setting.
Monkey-Mints Micro Line-Following RobotA robot that fits in the palm of your hand, built into an Accoutrements candy container. Features ultra-small gearmotors with surface-mount motor driver transistors. Includes a video with interesting patterns that appear as the robot sweeps aside candies.