Christopher H.

## BIO I am studying for a BSc in Robotics at the University of Reading. Currently in my third year. Degree has strong cybernetics, electrical engineering and computer science elements, along with elements of mechanical design. My second year project was as part of a team developing a teleoperated tank for navigating a maze without direct observation of the tank or maze. My area was hardware and sensor implementation, and some work on the comunication protocol on the embeded side. The tank navigated the maze with some sucess, our sensors worked acurately and comunication failures did not occur. The only failing was the dead reckoning and traction, which suffered on brick paving. We were unable to find a solution in testing to this problem, having to accept the loss of traction, as opposed to throwing a track. My third year project is a clockwork powered mobile robot. The robot has only one drive wheel which is in a castor arrangement. This has been prototyped using a 3D printer and CNC milling machine for acurate surface finishes. The robot uses a mecano clockwork motor for power, and an electric motor to turn the driven castor wheel. Reed switches and magnets are used as an encoder for the castor position, and IR emitter detector pairs for object detection. I am currently working on the object avoiding behaviour. 1st year modules; Cybernetics and its Application, Engineering Mathematics, Computer and Internet Technologies, Programming (C/C++), Software Engineering, and Computer Science Roadmap. 2nd year modules; Embedded Microprocessors and Interfacing, Digital Systems Design, Space Robotics, Control Systems, Electronics for Intelligent Systems, Control and Measurement, Neural Nets, Robotics and Measurement, Mechanical Design, Signals and Transforms, and Engineering Applications. On track for a 2:1. ## Area of Expertise C/C++, Matlab, and some java programing. C30 and embeded programming on PIC microcontrolers. Some experience of Linux. Designing circuits and implementing them on veroboard and breadboard, soldering, both through hole and SMD, and fault finding/ debugging. Use of several CAD packages for PCB design, Eagle, and OrCAD. Google sketch up and Solidworks for mechanical design. Design using 3D rapid prototyping.