Duration

Jan - May 2024

Built for

University Year 1 CMP4285 Innovation Project

Type of Project

Group (of 5): TakeFive

Role in Project

Team leader

Level of Completion

Almost complete

Links

GitHub

https://github.com/mars-rei/BookBot

Award Given

3rd Place for Most Innovative Project

Project Aim

To create a project using both hardware and software, to meet multiple UN sustainability goals.

BookBot is an AI aided wheeled robot that helps librarians and users of libraries to increase their efficiencies and make the experience in libraries flawless. Our product’s focus is to transport returned books to their designated areas. This reduces the time librarians and library staff spend on physical tasks that would preferably be used on promoting a love of learning in such an enriched environment for students and visitors. Based off our own Curzon library, some libraries have unstaffed hours where library users self-serve themselves. BookBot will be most helpful during unstaffed hours, ensuring library resources are back in place for when librarians return to work.

Our project was made to promote the UN goals of: good health and well-being; quality education; affordable and clean energy.

Technologies Used

Python
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
Arduino Uno

Technologies Learnt

Python with OpenCV (on Raspberry Pi)
C++ (for Arduino)
Raspberry Pi
3D Modelling

Skills Demonstrated

Project Coordination
Communication
Project Management
Drawing
Teamwork
Leadership
Project Planning
Coding
Working with Microcontrollers

Project Description

Features:

Line-tracking - adjusting the Elegoo Smart Robot Car Kit’s ready made code for line tracking, we managed to get BookBot to follow a path across the presentation table
Obstacle avoidance - with the Elegoo Smart Robot Car, we used the ready made code and merged it with the line-tracking code, to allow BookBot to follow a path and stop if an obstacle were to block its path
Noise regulation - we used a sound module and wired it to an Arduino Uno, allowing it to connect to the LCD and display a warning message if the environment was too loud
Object recognition (shape recognition) - we used a Raspberry Pi, a PiCamera module, and OpenCV to help BookBot recognise certain symbols, simulating certain areas of a library map, outputting the genre of books that area would apply to onto the LCD
Electromagnetic arms - used electromagnets to simulate robotic arms to pick up and drop off the “books” to their respective places in the library (was not able to show this during presentation due to faulty components)
Communication between 2 Arduino Unos and a Raspberry Pi - this helped the whole system of BookBot come together as one
A website allowing the users to:
- Import a map for BookBot to follow paths within
- Connect with their specific purchase of BookBot
- View stats retrieved by BookBot
- Read the BookBot guide