Ball Tracking Robot

Ball Tracking Robot is a project covering robotic, computer vision and image
processing, microcontroller, and data communication. It is programmed in such a
way that web camera will detect both ball and robot in the field, analyzing and
determining the position ofthe ball with reference to the robot, where this
information will be transmitted to the microcontroller. Microcontroller will receive
the data and the robot will move towards the location of the ball.
The objective of this project is to apply knowledge learnt in image processing and
microcontroller courses into practical. By using Matlab software, image captured by
webcam will be analyzed and the ball and robot will be detected. Next, vector
between ball and robot will be processed to determine the position of the ball with
reference to the robot. Finally, output data will be transmitted to the microprocessor
to guide the robot towards the ball.
For image processing part, HSI colour detection is applied to differentiate the
targeted colour object from the surrounding. Since we are dealing with vector and
direction, robot head position is vital for precise robot movement. For wireless data
transmission, parallel data radio frequency (RF) wireless transmission model is used
as medium for data to be transmitted from transmitter toreceiver located on the
robot. Microcontroller is programmed in the way that it will response to the data
received and direct the robot to move towards the ball.