WHAT WE DO
The University of Michigan's Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Team team is a student-run competition team located within the Robotics Department at the College of Engineering. Each year, we design and manufacture a new autonomous vehicle from scratch to compete at the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition. Our members in each sub-team work in the Student Design Space at the Ford Motor Company Robotics Building to assemble the new vehicle.
THE COMPETITION
The Intelligent Ground Vehicles Competition at Oakland University
The IGVC offers a design experience that is the very cutting edge of engineering education. It is multidisciplinary, theory-based, hands-on, team implemented, outcome assessed, and based on product realization. It encompasses the very latest technologies impacting industrial development and taps subjects of high interest to students.
OUR SUBTEAMS
SENSORS
The sensors subteam reads in sensors data from the wheel encoders, IMU, GPS, and LiDAR. The data from these sensors are then sent to Google Cartographer, which performs SLAM on the data. Finally, the resulting data is sent to the controls subteam for path-planning.
COMPUTER VISION
The computer vision subteam formulates an algorithm that maps out 2D obstacles on the ground by using a stereo camera to detect white lines and potholes on the track. The team mainly programs in python using things such as OpenCV and ROS.
EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Embedded Systems focuses on the design and development of all electronic and electrical systems. We deliver power to all the components and transform movement data from other systems into physical movement of the vehicle.
NAVIGATION
The navigation subteam is responsible for the navigation aspects of the robot. That generally includes path planning and trajectory planning. In short, we take costmap and odometry as inputs and produce an optimal path to generate motor velocity commands. Navigation is also responsible for building a simulation model using tools like Gazebo and ROS to test and deploy without the physical robot.
PLATFORM
The platform team is responsible for the chassis of the robotic vehicle. The team uses CAD software to design the chassis in order to meet the competition regulations and store all the necessary electronics of the vehicle. The team uses various machines to manufacture the designed parts and assemble the chassis.
BUSINESS
The business team at UMARV seeks to establish meaningful relationships with corporate sponsors, organize fundraising opportunities and establish a presence in the community. The business team is also responsible for keeping the website up to date with the latest information.
HOW TO JOIN!
We are always looking for motivated individuals who aren't afraid to put in some serious work. We do not require any previous experience as our fine sub-team leads will get you ready to work on our vehicle! If you have an interest in cars, autonomous driving, path planning, navigations, assembling a chassis and seeing the sparks on the embedded team, please feel free to contact us about the next steps!