A great midpoint update on the Smart Follow Me Suitcase!
Where we left off
The AVEVA ProtoTeam began by exploring how to bring Maya’s Smart Follow Me Suitcase idea to life. As the team is mainly made up of software engineers, much of the early work focused on building confidence with robotics and Arduino development. This has been a valuable learning journey for everyone involved.
Tony, who has the most experience in this area, created a list of parts needed to begin building. Since then, the team has been meeting regularly at the Cambridge Science Park office, often testing ideas and experimenting with components as they learn together.
The prototype so far
The team has started developing an early version of the concept called a follow me bag box. This approach gives them a simple and flexible way to test how the system works without needing to build a full suitcase straight away.
The box design also opened up extra ideas. It could be used to carry a range of items such as a canvas bag or an existing suitcase, and it may even be a more environmentally friendly option. The team also sees potential for this concept to be used in other environments, such as transporting tools around a site while keeping hands free.
Testing has been a key part of progress so far. However, finding the right space has been a challenge. Meeting rooms have limited space and too much furniture, making it difficult to properly trial movement and navigation. The team is now considering better areas where they can carry out more realistic testing.
Challenges encountered
The team is still working through a number of technical challenges. One of the main areas of focus is how the system will connect and communicate using Bluetooth. This will be essential for creating reliable follow me behaviour.
Another important challenge is developing the coding that allows the robot to follow a person while safely avoiding obstacles. This requires careful planning and testing to make sure the system is both accurate and safe in real world conditions.
Next steps
The next phase will focus on improving the functionality of the prototype. The team will continue developing the robotic system so it can follow correctly while navigating around objects.
A key priority is arranging a meeting with Maya. The team is keen to involve her directly in the decision making process and gather her input on how the design should develop. They have several ideas for how she can contribute and are looking forward to making this happen soon.
There is still plenty to refine, but the team is excited about the progress so far and looks forward to taking the next steps in bringing the Smart Follow Me Suitcase closer to a working prototype.