Phase One

Create a low-cost, small, and autonomous robot by the October 23rd, 2025 deadline. The robot must demonstrate stochastic movement and prove the viability of vibration-driven motion. Split into two groups, our team focused on the hardware/software implementation as well as the body design. The body of the prototype was created with easy deconstruction and assembly in mind. The main body is skeletonized to limit weight. The base of the model utilizes thin legs to maximize vibration. The motors are positioned orthoganally to each other. The hardware sits vertically within a fuselage to limit any snagging on the holes while inserting components. The microcontroller was programmed to read garbage from the ADC to ensure randomized, non-linear motion.

Robot body 1 Skeletonized Body
Robot body 2 Body Insert
Base Base
Microcontroller SAMD21 Microcontroller
Prototype Video

Phase Two

Build five robots using the upgraded microcontroller and attachable sticking technology. The five robots will be adopting a new design that will optimize space usage and create more surfaces for sticking. These robots will use ICU feedback to implement autononomous walking.
Once testing for optimal body design and adhesive technology is complete, these robots will be released into varying sized arenas. With each arena, the robots will be observed to gather data on their complex dynamics.

Roach Prototype Roach Prototype
Body Model Body Model
XIAO Seeed Microcontroller XIAO Seeed Microcontroller

Phase Three

Develop a printed circuit board (PCB) and integrate recursive Q-learning (AI) to create a tabular system to track robot performance. With the development of the PCB, the body design will face fewer limitations which allow for a more optimized design from the observations made in phase two. Paired with a better design, integrating Q-learning will allow the robots to walk independantly. This independence will create optimal pathing to other robots creating a faster approach to emergent behaviors.