Final project · Virtual Robotics Engineering
Build it. Test it. Explain it.
Course overview · Final chapter
Your brief
A 4-mission autonomous rover portfolio culminating in the Dynamic Maze Challenge.
Engineer an autonomous virtual rover capable of navigating unknown environments, avoiding physical collisions with bumpers, braking with laser distance sensors, routing by optical colors, and transporting cargo across GPS coordinates, culminating in the Dynamic Maze Challenge.
Before you begin
Open VEXcode VR in any modern web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox) at vr.vex.com before class. Confirm the 3D Playground window opens smoothly. Verify the student can save a local project using "File → Save to your device" and reload it using "File → Load From Your Device". No accounts, logins, or software installations are required.
Acceptance checklist
- A precision surveying routine drawing geometric polygons (square and triangle) with calibrated pen settings.
- A bumper-driven collision recovery loop in Castle Crasher detecting obstacles, reversing, and clearing debris.
- A contactless wall-avoidance algorithm in Wall Maze using distance sensor thresholds to turn before contact.
- An optical routing engine in Disk Maze using Down Eye color detection (green, blue, red) to navigate intersections.
- An automated cargo pick-and-place routine in Disk Mover using the electromagnet and Cartesian GPS coordinates.
- A synthesized autonomous maze solver in Dynamic Wall Maze tested across randomized seeds with a completed Mission Log.
Keep an Engineering Mission Log
For each mission check, record the sensor used, threshold setting, expected behavior, actual result, and any calibration made. Repeat the test across multiple playground reloads.
| Sensor / Actuator | Threshold Setting | Expected Behavior | Calibration & Retest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Distance Sensor | 220 mm buffer | Brakes before wall contact | Increased to 240 mm for 80% speed |
| Tactile Bumper Switches | Digital Pressed (1) | Reverses 150mm & pivots 45° | Added dual bumper left/right bias |
| Down Eye Color Reader | Green, Blue, Red tiles | Routes autonomously at markers | Added 120mm drive step after turn |
Your project tour
- Introduce your autonomous rover and state its exploration mission.
- Demonstrate navigating through the Dynamic Wall Maze across two separate randomized seeds.
- Show the real-time sensor dashboard (distance laser mm, bumper states, and Down Eye color).
- Explain one control decision in your code (such as your braking threshold or recovery state machine).
- Demonstrate one edge case you diagnosed (such as a corner trap or table edge) and how your algorithm resolved it.
Save your final .vrblocks project file to your computer. Public cloud publishing is not required.
Sessions, chapters, and optional projects
The course includes six one-hour sessions covering the core learning outcomes. Chapters are learning units, not a timetable: a chapter may span sessions, and a session may cover parts of several chapters. Optional extension projects may be introduced when students demonstrate the core skills and scheduled time remains. Extension coverage or completion is not included in the course commitment.