Hello,
I am at a loss. My students are participating in a STEAM Tank competition, and they have made it to the finals where they now have to make a working prototype of a robot that follows an injured student and carries their school supplies. The robot must be large enough to carry books, pencils, etc. and must be able to follow some kind of sensor.
I am not sure what type of sensor to use nor how to program it. I do not have a background in robotics or coding. I would like to order materials from the robot shop but am not sure where to begin. Does anyone have suggestions about what type of robot kits would be large and strong enough for this purpose and what kind of sensor(s) and coding system would be best for beginners?
I so appreciate your help. Thank you for your time and attention.
C. Grant
Hello!
The basic steps to consider are as follows:
]Identify the target/:m]
]Identify target location relative to robot/:m]
]Pass relevant information to robot control code (i.e.: make it follow)/:m]
Of course, there are many ways to identify a target and its relative location. Here is a list of ideas that may get you started:
]Straight up stereo vision sensor. Mark the target with something unique (color pattern, object, etc. that can be identified easily). The stereo part will be needed to obtain relative distance./:m]
]Color code your target and use something like the Pixy / Pixy 2 with the pan & tilt kit (see full product list here)./:m]
]Use a single camera to detect object and place one or more QR codes on the target. QR codes by their design can tell your how far they are distance if the physical size of code is known (could be embedded in the code itself as data!) when compared to the on-camera size. Also, it is hard to mistake something else for the target! 
/:m]
]You can also have 2 or more LEDs on the target (maybe use IR range so it does not annoy anyone else) blinking at set frequencies (each should be different). You then use an IR sensitive camera to detect them and use clever math to determine relative location./:m]
]Plenty of beacon technologies using sonars, wireless signals, etc./:m]
Since you are working with beginners, following a color coded target might be the easiest choice using something like the Pixy/Pixy 2, since they already have code examples that pretty much does that!
As for a platform, there are many options. This all depends on the total payload and how long the robot should run for. Most likely, you’ll want to go for a wheeled platform (probably 4 wheels). You can have a look here for options.
Feel free to define more your requirements based on the comments above and do not hesitate to reply here if you need more details about something.
Sincerely,
/:m]