Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
5 ANT-WEIGHT BATTLEBOT
 wenhao Zhang
XiangYi Kong
Yuxin Zhang
 Zhuoer Zhang
# ANT-WEIGHT BATTLEBOT

Team Members:
- Xiangyi Kong (xkong13)
- Yuxin Zhang (yuxinz11)
- Wenhao Zhang (wenhaoz5)

# Problem

Antweight (≤2 lb) combat robots must operate under strict weight, power, and control constraints while enduring repeated impacts, motor stalls, and wireless failures. It’s extremely important for the stable and fast interconnection among power delivery, wireless control, and integration between mechanical and electronic subsystems.

# Solution

We propose a 2-lb antweight battlebot with a four-wheel-drive chassis and an active front roller-and-fork weapon. All electronics are integrated on a custom PCB centered on an ESP32 microcontroller. The system is divided into four subsystems—Power, Drive, Weapon, and Control—allowing modular development and testing. Wireless PC-based control is implemented via WiFi or Bluetooth, with firmware failsafes ensuring automatic shutdown on RF link loss.

# Solution Components

## Subsystem 1 - power

Supplies stable power to motors and electronics while preventing brownouts, overcurrent damage, and unsafe operation.

Components:
- 3S LIPO Battery (11.1v battery)
- LM2596S-3.3( regulator to output 3.3v)

## Subsystem 2 - Drive

Provides reliable locomotion, turning, and pushing power during combat.

Components:
- Four DC gear motors
- L298N (motor driver)
- Four wheels mounted to a 3D-printed chassis

## Subsystem3 - Weapon

Implements the robot’s primary mechanism for engaging and controlling opponents.

Components:
- Front roller driven by a DC motor
- PWM-based motor control circuitry
- Other 3D-printed weapon structure (forks, and wedge guides)

## Subsystem4 - Control

Handles wireless communication, motion control, weapon control, and safety logic.

Components:
- ESP32 microcontroller on custom PCB
- Integrated Bluetooth radio
- Current sensor for safety monitoring
- PC-based control interface

# Criterion For Success

- Weight Compliance: Total robot mass is less than 2.0 lb.


- Wireless Control: Robot is reliably controlled from a PC via Bluetooth with Failsafe Operation.


- Mobility: Robot operates continuously for 3 minutes without power resets.


- Weapon Reliability: Weapon can be repeatedly actuated without electrical or mechanical failure.

Interactive Proximity Donor Wall Illumination

Sungmin Jang, Anita Jung, Zheng Liu

Interactive Proximity Donor Wall Illumination

Featured Project

Team Members:

Anita Jung (anitaj2)

Sungmin Jang (sjang27)

Zheng Liu (zliu93)

Link to the idea: https://courses.engr.illinois.edu/ece445/pace/view-topic.asp?id=27710

Problem:

The Donor Wall on the southwest side of first floor in ECEB is to celebrate and appreciate everyone who helped and donated for ECEB.

However, because of poor lighting and color contrast between the copper and the wall behind, donor names are not noticed as much as they should, especially after sunset.

Solution Overview:

Here is the image of the Donor Wall:

http://buildingcampaign.ece.illinois.edu/files/2014/10/touched-up-Donor-wall-by-kurt-bielema.jpg

We are going to design and implement a dynamic and interactive illuminating system for the Donor Wall by installing LEDs on the background. LEDs can be placed behind the names to softly illuminate each name. LEDs can also fill in the transparent gaps in the “circuit board” to allow for interaction and dynamic animation.

And our project’s system would contain 2 basic modes:

Default mode: When there is nobody near the Donor Wall, the names are softly illuminated from the back of each name block.

Moving mode: When sensors detect any stimulation such as a person walking nearby, the LEDs are controlled to animate “current” or “pulses” flowing through the “circuit board” into name boards.

Depending on the progress of our project, we have some additional modes:

Pressing mode: When someone is physically pressing on a name block, detected by pressure sensors, the LEDs are controlled to

animate scattering of outgoing light, just as if a wave or light is emitted from that name block.

Solution Components:

Sensor Subsystem:

IR sensors (PIR modules or IR LEDs with phototransistor) or ultrasonic sensors to detect presence and proximity of people in front of the Donor Wall.

Pressure sensors to detect if someone is pressing on a block.

Lighting Subsystem:

A lot of LEDs is needed to be installed on the PCBs to be our lighting subsystem. These are hidden as much as possible so that people focus on the names instead of the LEDs.

Controlling Subsystem:

The main part of the system is the controlling unit. We plan to use a microprocessor to process the signal from those sensors and send signal to LEDs. And because the system has different modes, switching between them correctly is also important for the project.

Power Subsystem:

AC (Wall outlet; 120V, 60Hz) to DC (acceptable DC voltage and current applicable for our circuit design) power adapter or possible AC-DC converter circuit

Criterion for success:

Whole system should work correctly in each mode and switch between different modes correctly. The names should be highlighted in a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing way. Our project is acceptable for senior design because it contains both hardware and software parts dealing with signal processing, power, control, and circuit design with sensors.

Project Videos