An Autonomous Line-Following Robot Project as a Training Tool for Project Work

Abstract

Project work forms a major part of final year BEng and MEng degree courses, with most of the assessment marks allocated for the final report. Traditional classroom teaching does not promote the independent learning required in running a project, or writing a research report. An autonomous line-following robot challenge has been introduced as a second-year group project, as a training tool in project management, planning and technical writing, in order to prepare students for their third- and fourth-year projects. The line-following robot requires students to develop technical skills in circuit design, fabrication, microcontroller programming and control, in the context of a competition that engages their enthusiasm. It provides a platform for the second-year pastoral system, motivating students to meet weekly with tutors in a small-group context. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the project in meeting learning objectives, and identifies challenges relating to resources and assessment.