Date:	1/15/2009
Student:	Taylor Lusk
TAs:	Mike Pridgen
	Thomas Vermeer
Instructors:	Dr. A. Antonio Arroyo
	Dr. Eric M. Schwartz

University of Florida

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

EEL 5666

Intelligent Machines Design Laboratory

Weekly Report 2

This week I pretty much committed myself to the joint venture with Justin. We want to make a pair of robots with paintball guns mounted on turrets. They will basically be small tanks. They will be able to move to find cover and track and shoot at each other. We spent more time thinking about how we want to make them behave. We also started thinking about the kinds of sensors we would use. Sonar sensors will probably be the choice for obstacle avoidance since they are more reliable outside than infrared. Bump sensors will also be used for this. Some sort of optical sensor will be used for identifying the target. I wanted to use a laser range finder to determine range and speed but my first inquiry yielded prices upwards of $1000. I may look into building my own, or we may have to go with something else. Also this week I went to lab and picked up my processor board. I will begin testing it this week. I also intend to begin buying servos and some other parts I know I will need so that I can start trying them out with my board. There is a hobby shop out Archer Road that will have many of the parts I will need for my vehicle.