Introduction
The Automated Coin Sorting Robot project leverages light sensors, LEGO motors, and NXT technology to automate the process of differentiating and sorting coins based on their color.
The primary goal of this project is to design and implement an automated system that distinguishes between black and white coins using a light sensor. The robot is built using LEGO Mindstorms & TETRIX components and employs a conveyor belt mechanism to efficiently sort coins into designated containers.
Working Mechanism
Detection:
A light sensor emits a beam onto the coin as it moves along a conveyor belt.
Based on the amount of reflected light, the robot determines if the coin is black (low reflection) or white (high reflection).
Sorting Process:
The conveyor belt is controlled by a LEGO motor, which moves the coins towards the sorting mechanism.
Two additional LEGO motors direct the coins into their respective containers.
User Interface & Control:
A touch sensor is used to start and stop the robot.
The total count of black and white coins sorted is displayed on the NXT screen.
Conclusion
The Automated Coin Sorting Robot demonstrates the effective use of robotic automation and sensor technology for object classification. This mechanism can be adapted for industrial applications such as baggage sorting in airports or product segregation in factories. The project showcases the potential of LEGO robotics in solving real-world automation challenges.
Hardware Components
LEGO Mindstorms NXT Brick (Main Controller)
Light Sensor (For coin detection)
Three LEGO Motors (Conveyor belt & sorting mechanism)
Touch Sensor (For user control)
Sorting Mechanism with Separate Containers
Software & Algorithm
The system is programmed using ROBOT-C. The algorithm follows these steps:
Detect coin color using the light sensor.
Move the conveyor belt to transport the coin.
Move the motor in the appropriate direction to place the coin in the corresponding bin.
Update and display the sorted coin count on the NXT screen
Results
Successfully differentiated and sorted black and white coins with high accuracy.
Real-time coin count display on the NXT interface.
Smooth automation using LEGO motors and sensors.
Future Enhancements
Incorporate a color sensor to recognize a wider range of colors, enabling sorting of multiple coin types.
Enhance automation by enabling the robot to pick coins from a container instead of manual placement.