Project
High-Speed Autonomous Line Follower
Three design iterations over three years. Final iteration: PID controller at 600MHz on ARM Cortex-M7, custom ambient-light-immune IR sensor array, 4WD with differential encoder feedback for slip correction.
Problem Statement
Compete and win at national-level robotics competitions requiring reliable, high-speed path tracking — with each iteration learning from specific failure modes.
System Design
Iteration 1: threshold-based control. Iteration 2: custom IR array geometry eliminating ambient light interference (winning design at IIT Bombay). Iteration 3: encoder feedback added for slip correction at high speed.
Key Challenges
Ambient light rejection at competition venues, wheel slip accumulation at high speed, and PID tuning across different track surface conditions and layouts.
Results
1st — IIT Bombay Techfest. 1st — MAMS Raiwala. 3rd — IIIT Delhi. Top 10 — IIT Madras Shaastra. 2× Finalist — Technoxian World Robotics Championship.