Abstract: An unpowered downhill autonomous car kit is provided for a user to build. The kit includes a control circuit board, a servo, and a roadway detection sensor. The control circuit board is programmed by a user to interpret patterns marked on a race course that are detected by the roadway detection sensor, and then the control circuit board instructs the servo to steer the car based on the detected roadway patterns. The challenge is for the user to program the car kit in a manner such that during a race, the car will avoid vertical barriers on the race course by correctly interpreting the patterns viewed by the roadway detection sensor. The roadway patterns are intentionally not consistent as the car moves from one roadway segment to the next, so as to increase the technical challenge.

Abstract: The inventive technology eliminates the need for force sensors on a robotic manipulator while also improving feel by incorporating force sensors on the corresponding robotic input device. Position of the manipulator is used to determine positioning of the input device; therefore, rather than manipulator position lagging the input device position (as in conventional robotic systems), the opposite is true, so that input device position lags manipulator position. Through a combination of input device force control and manipulator position feedback, a sense of feel is achieved through use of an “effort sensor” mounted at a “control point” on the input device and use of a “position feedback force control” scheme.

Abstract: The inventive technology eliminates the need for force sensors on a robotic manipulator while also improving feel by incorporating force sensors on the corresponding robotic input device. Position of the manipulator is used to determine positioning of the input device; therefore, rather than manipulator position lagging the input device position (as in conventional robotic systems), the opposite is true, so that input device position lags manipulator position. Through a combination of input device force control and manipulator position feedback, a sense of feel is achieved through use of an “effort sensor” mounted at a “control point” on the input device and use of a “position feedback force control” scheme.