Project

# Title Team Members TA Documents Sponsor
38 Dual-Arm Robotic System for Cube Rotation
Keeron Huang
Rong Wang
Yiming Xu
Zhuoyang Shen
proposal1.pdf
Meng Zhang
# Dual-Arm Robotic System for Cube Rotation

Team members (listed A-Z):
- Qixuan Huang
- Rong Wang
- Yiming Xu
- Zhuoyang Shen

## Problem
Traditional Rubik’ cube solvers often rely on highly specialized, single-purpose mechanical structures that lack the versatility of human-like manipulation. Conversely, general-purpose bimanual robots struggle with the precision required for cube rotation and the complex coordination needed to prevent jamming. Furthermore, training robust bimanual policies requires massive amounts of data; collecting this in the real world is time-consuming, expensive, and risks damaging expensive hardware. There is a need for a system that leverages advanced simulation data to perform high-precision, robust bimanual manipulation in the physical world.

## Solution Overview
We propose an integrated bimanual robotic system that uses RoboTwin 2.0 to bridge the gap between simulation and reality (Sim-to-Real).
- Simulation & AI: We will utilize RoboTwin 2.0’s “Strong Domain Randomization” (varying lighting, clutter, and textures) to generate a massive synthetic dataset. This data will be used to train a robust bimanual manipulation policy capable of handling physical uncertainties.
- Hardware Implementation: To meet the course's hardware requirements, we will construct a physical dual-arm workstation. The system will feature a custom-designed PCB for power distribution and motor control, ensuring the mechanical arms can execute the trained policy with high torque and precision.
- User Interface: The system will adhere to the "One-button start" requirement, where a single physical trigger initiates the vision-scan-solve-rotate sequence autonomously.

## Solution Components
- Subsystem I: Mechanical & Actuation (ME Focus)
- Bimanual Arm Assembly: Two 3-to-6 DOF robotic arms equipped with specialized grippers.
- 3D Printed End-Effectors: Custom-designed high-friction fingertips and cube-stabilizing fixtures to ensure secure grasping during high-speed rotations.
- Subsystem II: Electronics & Control (ECE Focus - Core Requirement)
- Custom PCB: A dedicated circuit board integrating a voltage regulation module (12V to 5V/3.3V), high-current motor driver ICs (e.g., PCA9685 for PWM expansion), and signal isolation to protect the MCU.
- Central MCU: An ESP32 or STM32 microcontroller to handle real-time motor commands and “One-button” logic.
- Subsystem III: Vision & Computation
- Sensing: A dual-camera or mirror-based vision system for 6-face color recognition.
- Edge Computing: A Jetson Nano or PC to run the RoboTwin-trained policy and the Kociemba solving algorithm.

## Criteria of Success
- Vision Accuracy: Correct identify the color configuration of all 6 faces of a scrambled cube within 30 seconds under varying ambient light.
- Mechanical Stability: The bimanual arms must successfully rotate the cube faces without dropping the cube or causing mechanical jamming in 95% of test trials.
- Full Autonomy: Upon pressing the physical start button, the system must autonomously solve the cube from any scrambled state within 3 minutes.
- Hardware Integrity: The custom PCB must operate without overheating or voltage drops exceeding 5% during peak motor activity.

## Distribution of Work

- Yiming Xu: Develops the simulation environment using RoboTwin 2.0 and is responsible for generating synthetic expert datasets and training the bimanual manipulation policy via domain randomization.
- Zhuoyang Shen: Designs the computer vision module for Rubik’s cube state recognition and implements the high-level solving algorithm (e.g., Kociemba) for optimal motion path planning.
- Rong Wang: Responsible for the custom PCB design and hardware implementation, including high-current motor drive circuits, power management systems, and low-level MCU firmware for real-time control.
- Qixuan Huang: Focuses on the mechanical structure design and fabrication, including 3D-printed specialized bimanual grippers and performing system-wide sim-to-real integration and stability testing.

Digital Controlled LED Rotating Display System

Guanshujie Fu, Yichi Jin, Keyi Shen, Chentai (Seven) Yuan

Featured Project

# TEAM MEMBERS

Chentai Yuan (chentai2)

Guanshujie Fu (gf9)

Keyi Shen (keyis2)

Yichi Jin (yichij2)

# TITLE OF THE PROJECT

Digital Controlled LED Rotating Display System

# PROBLEM

By visual persistence phenomenon, we can display any images and strings with a rotating LED array. Many devices based on this idea have been developed. However, there are some common issues to be solved. First, the images or strings to be displayed are pre-defined and cannot be changed in a real-time way. Second, the wired connection between some components may limit the rotation behavior, and harm the quality of display. Some economical wireless communication technologies and new ways to connect components can be applied to achieve a better display and real-time image update.

# SOLUTION OVERVIEW

We aim at developing a digital controlled LED rotating display system. A servo motor is controlled to drive the stick with one row of LED to do circular rotation. The connection between LEDs, control circuit, motor and other components should be simple but firm enough to suppose good display and high-speed rotation. Moreover, there is another part to handle users’ input and communicate with the display part via Bluetooth to update images in a real-time and wireless way.

# SOLUTION COMPONENTS

## Subsystem1: Display Subsystem

- LED Array that can display specific patterns.

- Controller and other components that can timely turn the status of LEDs to form aimed patterns.

## Subsystem2: Drive Subsystem

- Servo motor that drive of the LED array to do circular rotation.

- Controller that communicates with the motor to achieve precise rotation and position control.

- An outer shell that has mechanisms to fix the motor and LED array.

## Subsystem3: Logic and Interface Subsystem

- Input peripherals like keyboard to receive users’ input.

- A FPGA board for high-level logics to handle input, give output and communicate with other subsystems.

- Wireless communication protocol like Bluetooth used in communication.

- VGA display hardware offering Graphical User Interface.

# CRITERION OF SUCCESS

- Users can successfully recognize the real-time patterns to be displayed.

- It achieves the precise rotation and position control of motor.

- The motor can drive the LED array and any necessary components to rotate stably and safely.

- The LED array is under real-time control and responds rapidly.

- The communication between components has low latency and enough bandwidth.

# DISTRIBUTION OF WORK

- Chentai Yuan(ME): Mechanisms and servo motor control.

- Guanshujie Fu(CompE): Logic and Interface design and keyboard & VGA display implementation.

- Keyi Shen(EE): Wireless communication and servo motor control.

- Yichi Jin(EE): Circuit design, keyboard & VGA display implementation.