Project Zero: Autonomous Vehicle Challenge

Programming a Robot for Motion Control

ENGINEER 1P13 P-0 Project Worksheets

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome, Health & Safety Session..............................................................................................3
Intro to Q-Labs Session: Drone Control (in-person).....................................................................7
WELCOME, HEALTH & SAFETY SESSION
WELCOME, HEALTH & SAFETY – SET-UP CHECKLIST
Team Number:

Please complete the checklist individually as you complete each step of the set-up process.

☐ Download from Avenue (Content > 0-Getting Started > Installation Guides > QLabs)
 QUARC installation and license files (QUARC.zip)
 Zip folder of remote access files (Software for Remote Access.zip)
 Zip folder of Python libraries (Q-Labs Python Files.zip)

☐ Unzip all Zip folders to a folder on your computer

☐ Install VNC Viewer

 This will only be needed to connect to the Quanser equipment in Design Studio

☐ Register as a new user at the Quanser Academic Portal (use McMaster email)

☐ Install QUARC which you have downloaded from Avenue

☐ Open Quanser Interactive Labs on your laptop

☐ Connect to the environment,

 Open Quanser Interactive Labs. You should see an empty warehouse.

☐ Use IDLE to code in Python3

 Navigate to the Project 0 Files folder inside the Q-Labs Python Files folder you
unzipped earlier
 Open p0_Template_Simulation.py
 At the top of the Python window, click Run and then Run Module
 In the Python Shell that opens up, type the following:
o bot.forward_time(2)
 You should see the Q-bot move forward for 2 seconds
WELCOME, HEALTH & SAFETY – COVER PAGE
Team Number:

Please list full names and MacID’s of all present Team Members
Full Name: MacID:

Insert your team portrait or selfie* in the space below

* For you Ted Lasso fans, it’s best to call it an “usie”

WELCOME, HEALTH & SAFETY – TEAM FORMATION
Team Number:

Please fill out the table below. Be sure to write each of your names next to your answer.

List each Team Member’s hometown

Each Team Member’s strangest/funniest/awkward experience learning in a group

For each Team Member: “Something about me you might find interesting…”
INTRO TO Q-LABS SESSION: DRONE CONTROL (IN-PERSON)
INTRO TO Q-BOT – COVER PAGE

Please list full names and MacID’s of all present Team Members
Full Name: MacID:
INTRO TO Q-BOT – PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION

1. Discuss what you think will happen when you execute your code for each scenario
 Do you expect there to be any differences in performance between
scenarios? Why or why not?
 Do you expect one scenario to result in a faster navigation of the track?
 Do you expect one scenario to fail (i.e., not successfully navigate the track)?
Time-Controlled Environment:

Distance-Controlled Environment:
INTRO TO Q-BOT – TIME-CONTROLLED TEST RUN
(PLANNING)

Plan your computer program for the time-controlled scenario in the table below. The track
dimensions can be found in Figure 2 of the P0 Project Module.
 List one discrete motion per row. Examples are shown in the table (you should
delete them before planning your own program.
 This is similar to writing pseudocode, which will be discussed later in the course.

Move forward for 15 seconds

rotate 10 degrees CCW
…
INTRO TO Q-BOT – TIME-CONTROLLED TEST RUN
(EXECUTION)

Complete this worksheet after having written and executed your code for the first scenario
(time-controlled simulation).

1. Copy-and-paste your Python code in the space below ( only your code)

2. Does the Q-bot successfully navigate the track (Yes or No)?

3. If you answered No to Question 2, describe approximately when and where the Q-

bot got stuck and/or hit something

4. If you answered Yes to Question 2, enter the number of attempts required to

successfully navigate the track

5. If you answered Yes to Question 2, enter the elapsed time (in seconds)
INTRO TO Q-BOT – DISTANCE-CONTROLLED TEST RUN
(PLANNING)

Plan your computer program for the distance-controlled scenario in the table below.
 List one discrete motion per row. Examples are shown in the table (you should
delete them before planning your own program.

Move forward until 0.1 metres from an object

rotate 10 degrees CCW
…
INTRO TO Q-BOT – DISTANCE-CONTROLLED TEST RUN
(EXECUTION)

Complete this worksheet after having written and executed your code for the second
scenario (distance-controlled simulation).

1. Copy-and-paste your Python code in the space below (and the code you typed in)

2. Does the Q-bot successfully navigate the track (Yes or No)?

3. If you answered No to Question 2, describe approximately when and where the Q-

bot got stuck and/or hit something

4. If you answered Yes to Question 2, enter the number of attempts required to

successfully navigate the track

5. If you answered Yes to Question 2, enter the elapsed time (in seconds)
INTRO TO Q-BOT – GROUP DISCUSSION

Discuss your findings in the spaces below

6. Discuss how the Q-bot performed in each scenario

Time-Controlled Environment:

Distance-Controlled Environment:

7. Explain the reasons for any differences in Q-bot performance between each scenario