DIY Autonomous Tank
A prototype autonomous tank (1/16’th scale) that can be built with off the shelf parts for <$500.
The tank uses infrared sensors to locate a target in the vicinity of the vehicle. It then approaches the target using a color tracking algorithm and a digital video camera. Once the target is within range, the turret is aimed and a projectile is fired.
An eBox 2300 low power embedded computer running Windows Embedded CE acts as the brain of the tank. It reads all of the sensor data and operates the motors via a Phidgets 8/8/8 board with an LCD text display. There are 5 IR motion sensors, an ultrasonic range finder, and a USB webcamera mounted on the tank. A NiCad battery wth a custom voltage regulator powers the eBox and a second internal battery powers the tank motors.
Test results show that the tank is capable of acquiring a marked target, tracking it, and then firing a projectile at a range of aproximately 1.5 meters without any operater interaction.
-Shlok
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