ROObockey: Precision‑Assisted Remote‑Controlled Street Hockey Robot

1. Introduction
   As robotics technology advances, image‑processing has become a cornerstone in applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to commercial service robots. The Robogames Competition in San Mateo, California, invites students to design a robot that can pass and shoot a puck across a full‑scale hockey arena. ROObockey takes this challenge a step further by integrating a highly accurate, AI‑driven shooting mechanism that leverages state‑of‑the‑art vision and control algorithms.

2. Problem Statement
   2.1. Need
   Hockey robotics currently depend on human operators to select targets and execute passes, which introduces unavoidable error. By embedding a sensing system that can pinpoint the exact position of teammates and opponents, we can eliminate manual bias and unlock truly autonomous passing. Such a system also paves the way for future multi‑robot teams that coordinate intelligent play.
   2.2. Objective
   ROObockey’s goal is to construct a hockey robot that can consistently shoot a puck into a stationary target beacon. The robot will be controllable wirelessly for manual play and will also accept user‑issued shooting commands.
   2.3. Background (Research Survey)
   2.3.1. Overview
   The core concept involves a software‑assisted shooting platform that uses image‑processing to detect target shapes and colors. A camera with a wide‑field lens feeds real‑time data to the processor, which then drives an electromechanical launcher to deliver the puck accurately.
   2.3.2. Relevant Technologies
   Current patents focus on humanoid, full‑scale hockey robots or ceiling‑mounted controllers. There is a gap in wireless‑controlled street‑level robots capable of precision shooting, a niche that ROObockey addresses.

2.4.Objective Tree

3. Design Requirements Specification
   The system integrates multiple sensor inputs, battery power, wireless control, image analysis, and motor actuation.
   3.1. Engineering and Marketing Requirements

The following is a simple Level 0 block diagram of the entire system.

4.2. Level 1
4.2.1. Hardware
The robot is battery‑powered for untethered operation, with a higher‑voltage supply regulated to protect sensors, the wireless controller, and the processor. Power management provides the required step‑up and step‑down voltages. Wireless input allows a user to command movement and shooting.
The sensor suite includes a camera for beacon detection and a puck‑presence sensor. All data streams feed into the central processor, which handles image analysis, control logic, and motor commands.
Motor control drives the DC motors, modulating speed and direction via PWM. The shooting mechanism receives a release command from the processor and propels the puck accurately.
The Hardware Level 1 block diagram (Figure 3) illustrates these subsystems and their interconnections.

4.2.2. Software
Software layers implement color and shape recognition to locate the target beacon. Camera input is processed in real time; detected beacons trigger motor directives via PWM. Figure 4 presents the Software Level 1 block diagram, showing the flow from image capture to motor actuation.

Source: ROObockey: Remote Controlled, Aim‑Assisted Street Hockey Robot