Designing an electromechanical strandbeest to
serve as a showcase robot for the mechanical
engineering department

This project is focused on developing robots capable of balancing like an inverted pendulum and BB-8. We will be exploring various control systems for a 2 wheel inverted pendulum and designing a ball-balancing robot. The goal of this project is to explore the capabilities of various architectures of balancing robots.

This project’s current focus is to design and build a 30-pound combat robot to compete in Robobrawl Illinois against other colleges. We are currently working on designing the drivetrain system and the electrical circuit, while also assembling the chassis and weapon system.

A fleet of autonomous UAVs for disaster response equipped with thermal and LiDar sensors to map a rapidly changing disaster scene then effectively relay information back to first responders.

The purpose of this project is to design an aeroponic system that can grow a plant from seed to maturity with no human involvement through the use of continuously monitoring sensors.

The hatchling project is a semester long beginner friendly robotics project. At the end of the semester, students compete with their robots for a prize at the semi-annual TURTLE meetings!

LARM, or Laboratory Assisting Robotic Manipulator, strives to create a 6 degree of freedom robotic manipulator from scratch that can assist other TURTLE members in tasks around the lab (being an extra hand in soldering, etc.). This is a challenging project, so don't feel afraid to ask help from senior project leads and TURTLE leadership. Try your best, break things, and make progress!

This project is focused on building and programming a small robot that will be capable of autonomously navigating an unknown maze and returning a 3D map of the correct path through the maze.

This project was created for Kaeden Olson, a local child, and strives to create a prosthetic hand for him.

The Quadruped Project is focused on building a robot capable of walking on four legs, much like a dog. This type of robot must balance and adapt to its surroundings. The goal of this project is to explore the capabilities of walking robots.

VIRT is a project focused on building a mobile turret that uses a color detection computer vision algorithm on an FPGA to track and follow a target.

This project focuses on designing and developing a buoyant positive submersible capable of underwater navigation and depth control. The submersible will utilize motor-driven propulsion to maneuver underwater and maintain its position at various depths; returning to the surface if power to the vessel is cut to ensure data preservation and environmental protection.