Section outline

  • Challenge – Pick-and-Place Sorting System

    This challenge expands the capabilities of your robotic arm by adding intelligence and logic to perform a sorting task. The aim is to detect objects, determine a sorting category (like color or size), and use the robotic arm to move each item to its corresponding location. This project introduces you to real-world automation scenarios often seen in manufacturing and logistics.

    • Objective

      Design and program a robotic system that performs the following tasks:

      • Detect an object using sensors.
      • Classify the object based on predefined logic (e.g., color, distance, or shape).
      • Move the object to the correct bin using your robotic arm.

      Components Required

      • Arduino Uno or Nano
      • 4DOF Robotic Arm (from the previous section)
      • IR or color sensor (e.g., TCS3200 for color detection)
      • Distance sensor (optional for size-based sorting)
      • Servo motors (integrated with the arm)
      • Power supply for servos
      • Small colored or sized objects for testing

    • Basic Logic Flow

      1. Wait for an object to be placed in the sensing area.
      2. Read sensor data and determine category (e.g., Red or Blue).
      3. Trigger the robotic arm to pick up the object.
      4. Move it to a designated zone based on classification.

      Sample Code Snippet (Color-Based Sorting)

      
if (color == "Red") {
  moveArmTo(redBinPosition);
} else if (color == "Blue") {
  moveArmTo(blueBinPosition);
}

      You can store each bin position as a set of servo angles and call them accordingly. To simplify, you may use predefined angles for pick and drop locations.

      Implementation Tips

      • Use delays strategically to ensure the arm completes movements before the next step.
      • Calibrate servo positions for each sorting location.
      • Run multiple trials with different objects to validate logic.
      • Keep wiring neat to avoid power or signal interference.

      Optional Enhancements

      • Use a display to show the current operation or object classification.
      • Store counts of sorted items using variables or display them in the Serial Monitor.
      • Add an emergency stop button for safety.

      This sorting system is your entry point into building intelligent, responsive robotic automation. It demonstrates how mechanical design, sensor input, and smart programming come together in a practical use case.