View source for Electromagnetic kicker for middle-size RoboCup soccer robots

{{ProjectProposal
|title=Electromagnetic kicker for middle-size RoboCup soccer robots
|image=kicker.jpg
|description=The Milan RoboCup Team, a team of soccer robots that play in the Middle Size league of RoboCup (1) employs as kicker an electromagnetic device entirely designed within the AIRLab with external collaborations such as the Energetic department at Politecnico di Milano and the Electronics section at DEI. Basically, the device consists of a solenoid, a capacitor and a PIC-based board that controls (through an external integrated circuit) the charge of the capacitor at 400V (using the 24V batteries of the robot) and the generation of the magnetic field in the solenoid. The magnetic field accelerates a metallic cylinder that hits the soccer ball.

The aim of the project is to design, implement, test, and evaluate a new version of the device. While the charge phase, implemented by an ad-hoc IC controlled by the PIC, is quite efficient, some work has to be done in order to design a new solenoid and improve the way the PIC implements a sort of modulation of strength of the shoot, in order to implement small passages between robots. The final purpose is to improve the efficiency of the system, with the aim of minimize the energy consumed and maximize the energy transmitted to the ball, in order to obtain more powerful shots.

The first part of the project is focused on some theoretical aspects in order to understand the current design and evaluate how to improve it, while the second phase will be focused on the implementation and test of a new prototype of the kicking device. Experience with PIC-based systems is a plus, but not required, while some experience with electronics circuits is highly recommended. Students are supposed to work in the lab following a set of safety guidelines and rules with circuits at 400V, with 10A pick current during charge phase, and even more during shots. Student from electronics engineering are really welcomed to choose this project.

# http://www.er.ams.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp/robocup-mid/index.cgi
|tutor=LuigiMalago; MarcelloRestelli; MartinoMigliavacca
|start=2009/10/01
|studmin=1
|studmax=2
|cfumin=5
|cfumax=5
|resarea=Robotics
|restopic=Milan Robocup Team
|level=Ms
|type=Course
|status=Closed
}}