Project

Generalities

During our work placement, we worked on a robot, ButlerBot, which is designed to serve drinks at receptions. ButlerBot is an idea of Peter White interpreted by Guido Bugmann and realised with the help of the Robot Club of the university to promote it during open days.

Above: on the left, ButlerBot prototype and on the right is a finished model of the butlerbot.

Our project

Our work placement consisted of designing an interrupt system, where a person takes a glass from the robot tray when they need a drink. This concept has been used before but the old system was of less success. So, we thought of a better approach to the new system. But, we needed a well knowledge in language C and C++ because most of the robot programm is written in this language.

The project before we came

When we started our training course, the robot prototype was almost finished. But, for the ButlerBot model to operate properly it required adequate information about its environment. This is why there was a need for sensors to be incoporated into the new Butlerbot model. These sensors were as follows:

3 infrared sensors (proximity detection)
1 sonar (proximity detection at robot base level)
2 deformation sensors (potentiometers) to resolve the power wheel gain in case of collision
3 bumpers to detect collisions at robot base level
4 shaft encoders to control the four robot base motors

ButlerBot is also equiped with two cameras on top of it so that it can move in the reception hall and thus to offer people a drink.

For further information on the robot, we propose you to have a look the official website.

Top of the Page