Hardware

Hardware is the newest department to FT Autonomouts (as of Septermber 2025) and serves to build the autonomous test rig "Rigby" and to improve the sensor mount.

Goals

General

• Create and maintain a working test rig 'Rigby'.
• Simulate a DDT car using Rigby.
• Design interchangeable sensor mount for DDT car and Rigby.
• Support rest of FT Autonomous with Hardware assistance.

Current year (2025/2026)

Electronics

• Implement potentiometer based control loop for steering system.
• Finalise and implement communication protocols for Jetson to Jetson, and Jetson to Arduino communtications.
• Integrate independant power supply for drive and steering motors onto rigby.

Mechanical

• mount poteentiometer to Rigby for control of steering.
• Add a more permanant weatherproofing solution to the sensor mount.
• Add mounting plate to Rigby, to give more space for onboard electronics and morot power supply.

Previous Implementations

2022/2023

Rigby was made summer 2023, so no Hardware work was done in this time period

2023/2024

• First pass at a steering improvement on rigby, changed motor
• First pass at electronics systems, steering angle feedback

2024/2025

• Improve steering solution to remove toe out geometry
• Redo electronics wiring
• Implement feedback sensors and PID control, and modular control systems (Arduinos and Jetson)

Resources

… (list of links here)