Many Engineering students want to get hands-on with their coursework as quickly as possible-so when Victoria University's first-year Engineering students discover they'll be building an autonomous vehicle during their first trimester, most can't believe their luck.
"Engineering 101 gives students a general introduction to engineering practice and covers the basicsof software, hardware and network systems," says Dr Stuart Marshall, head of the School of Engineering and Computer Science. "Halfway through the first trimester we form them into teams and they apply their knowledge to complete a project-the Autonomous Vehicle Challenge."
Students build a vehicle-complete with processing board, motor driver and a network link to communicate its progress back to a central computer-which can navigate its way through four quadrants of a maze, each more difficult than the last. Students fit sensors to their hand-sized vehicles to keep them on the right path and away from obstacles.
"We change the maze every year," says Dr Marshall. "This year, we've added an archway with an automated door that opens and closes. Students now have the added challenge of having to get the timing right in order to get their vehicles through the archway."
"The project gives them a tangible way to engage with the course content, and learn how to problem solve. They really enjoy it," says Dr Marshall.
For those who do well, there is the opportunity to enter the National Instruments Autonomous Robotics Competition-a competition for students, designed to encourage development and innovation. Each year, student teams from Australasia's top universities compete, and Victoria's team took out first prize in 2013, third prize in 2015 and won the Best Design Award in 2014 and 2015.
