Roadside Assistant
Roadside Assistant
A robot that acts as a more powerful tool than a running watch to help keep track of splits, encourage running, and take breaks.
Kate
The roadside assistant sits on the side of your trail or track and helps keeps the best data about your runs. Using a distance sensor it determines whether a runner has passed or not. Using a variety of conditionals and loops the program determines if this is the first time the sensor has seen the runner, and starts a timer, when the runner is seen again the timer is stopped, your split is given, and the robot encourages you. The timer is then restarted. However, if at any point you need a break the robot has a built in break system. If the button is pressed the program is over-rided, timing will stop and you can take a breath. This is a smarter system with more information about the individual parts of your run!
As a trail runner I really like this idea – but I’m wondering if it would be more useful as a safety system rather than to function as a stopwatch/timer? I love the idea of a robot that sits at the trailhead and waits for me to come back, and if I fall or am taking too long it sends out an alert or calls an emergency contact. Cool idea about the robotic encouragement though, I like that a lot!
Interesting! It seems really useful for runners. It could also be great for track meets to easily measure runners times and who crosses first without human error.
This is a really smart way to time yourself on a run without having to manually do it. I wonder what the range for the distance sensor to trigger the split is?
Your project has so many cool elements that work together so well!
I love how versatile this little bot is! It can be used for way more than running! Like biking, kayaking, skiing, anything that needs to be timed! Well done!!