Robot Simulator
Current Version: 1.0.0
Revision History:
12/19/2002: Added first revision of the control 1.0.0
12/19/2002: Added Delphi 7 Sample application with source.
12/20/2002: Added Visual Basic 6 Sample application with source.
Installation instructions:
As this is an ActiveX control you must register it with windows.
1) Download and copy to a permanent directory.
2) Use the Start/Run or a DOS prompt to do the following:
C:\regsvr32 RS_Sim.ocx
Note: it may be necessary to provide the path location to the RS_Sim.ocx
file.
3) If you have successfully registered the simulation with your Windows
environment you should be able to add it to the tool palette in your
compiler.
Downloads:
RS_Sim Version 1.0.0 - Includes ActiveX control
and examples in Visual Basic 6 and Delphi 7
If you get the chance, please send me your robot programs
with source and I will post them here.
Overview:
Several members of the Robot Society of Southern California (www.rssc.org)
where discussing robot AI methodology and various means of implementation.
As you probably know, there's a lot of work involved in the construction
of a robot, so one would not normally have the time to build a robot
for the sole purpose of experimenting with specific forms of AI. With
this in mind I have create a simple robot simulator in the form of an
ActiveX control that may be placed on a dialog in your favorite compiler,
i.e. Visual C, Visual Basic, Delphi, Cbuilder, JAVA and just about any
other Windows development tool that supports the use of ActiveX controls.
Concept:
This robot simulation represents a small-enclosed universe containing
one deferential steering robot, obstacles and 3 charging stations. The
object is survival, you must develop software that will enable the robot
to locate and dock with one of the active charging stations before your
battery reaches a critical level.
The Robot:
The robot is modeled after a standard deferential steering robot with
several sensors, IR Range finder, Light level, Bump Skirts and Battery
level. You communicate with the simulated robot via a simulated serial
port.
Charging stations:
There are a total of 3 charging stations; only one of the charging stations
will provide your robot with charging current at a time. This active charging
station emits light that your robot may sense with its light level sensor.
At random intervals and random sequence, the charging stations will switch
on and off. When this happens, your robot will have to begin its search
for another active charging station.
The Challenge:
In the examples provided below are robot program utilizing standard programming
practices to achieve the task of locating an active robot charging station
and docking. The real challenge is in attempting to achieve the same or
better results utilizing some form of AI principals.
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