Purdue Agbot Challenge 2019

In 2019, I had the opportunity to participate in Purdue University’s AgBOT Challenge as a member of Virginia Tech’s team. The competition, which focused on agricultural robotics, provided me with invaluable hands-on experience in the field. The team was divided into four main sub-teams: Mechanical Design, Machine Learning, High-Level Programming, and Low-Level Programming. As a newcomer to robotics, I decided to join the Low-Level Programming sub-team.

Throughout the competition, I learned how to control Arduino and Raspberry Pi devices, and I used ROS (Robot Operating System) for the first time. I worked closely with other motivated team members, which enhanced my learning experience. My contributions to the team included assembling and programming low-level hardware for the agricultural robot and automating a 4 DoF robotic arm to follow a pre-recorded trajectory using Arduino.

This enriching experience not only exposed me to practical aspects of robotics but also allowed me to develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and adapting to a competitive environment. Participating in the AgBOT Challenge has been instrumental in shaping my passion for robotics and my subsequent academic and professional pursuits.