Line Following Robot Construction

What is a Line Follower Robot and Why is it Important?

A Line Follower Robot is a type of autonomous robot that can detect and follow a high-contrast line on a surface. This line is typically a dark strip on a light background (e.g., a black line on a white surface) or vice versa (a white line on a black surface). The robot is equipped with sensors that allow it to recognize and track the designated path. However, the line must be clearly defined and of an appropriate width for accurate detection.

In this article, we will talk about these simple yet fascinating robots. Line follower robots come in a variety of designs, ranging from basic educational models to advanced industrial versions. They are widely used in home automation, industrial applications, medical fields, and even robotics competitions. 🚀

Getting to Know the Main Sensors and Basic Components in Building a Line Follower Robot:

1. Motor : The motors are the moving parts of the robot that enable it to move, turn, and perform various maneuvers.

2. Line or Path Detection Sensors : These sensors help the robot detect and follow a specific path or line by identifying contrasts between different surfaces, such as a black line on a white background or vice versa.

    

3. Obstacle Detection Sensor : This sensor helps the robot detect obstacles in its path and avoid collisions by measuring distance or detecting objects using infrared, ultrasonic, or other sensing technologies.

4. Motor Driver Controller : The motor driver acts as a bridge between the microcontroller and the motors, allowing the robot to control motor speed and direction efficiently. It ensures proper power distribution and protects the circuit from overcurrent or voltage spikes.

5. Main Control Board : The main control board, often based on a microcontroller like Arduino or similar, is the brain of the line-following robot. It processes the sensor inputs and sends commands to the motor driver to control the movement of the robot. This board handles all the logic, including decision-making based on sensor data, and ensures smooth operation by coordinating the motors and sensors effectively.

In the table below, you can see an example of the sensors used in this project:

Also, by clicking on any of the images, you will be redirected to the store where you can purchase the desired component

Let’s build a relatively simple line-following robot together, and the best part is, we won’t need to write any code!

The operational brain of this robot is the L293D IC, which is a DC motor driver IC. The L293D is a bipolar IC with two independent channels to control motors. The operating voltage for the IC itself is between 4.5V to 7V, with the best input voltage being 5V. Therefore, it is recommended to use 5V for the logical section of the IC.

Additionally, the operating voltage for the motors is separate from the 5V working voltage of the IC. You can use a voltage range of 5V to 36V for the motors, depending on the voltage rating of your motors.

In the image below, you can see the schematic and diagram of the L293D IC.

Below, you can see the schematic of the connections for this robot. You can follow this diagram to make the connections for your robot, and then proceed to test it.

The designed PCB file will soon be available for manufacturing…