Build an Autonomous FPGA Search and Rescue Vehicle

Hello again FPGA lovers! Today’s project is a challenging one where you build an autonomous search and rescue vehicle with FPGA! The projects involves the use of 2 vehicles, where one searches for the target with the aid of an FPGA, while the other uses minimal sensory aids to follow the search beacon and rescue.

The whole project has been divided into two steps, where the first step contains the hardware requirements. Apart from your FPGA, some of the other materials needed are an LCD screen, infrared thermometer, ultrasonic sensor, Dual DC motor drivers, logic converters, Rotary encoders and even a magnetometer. A detailed list of all used materials, their significance and connections are given in step 1 by the author.

The author has used VHDL (.vhd) for coding, and the code is available here. The zip file has been divided into the binary code and source code. You will find everything you need with detailed modules regarding each hardware part in the source code folder. The code can simply be uploaded onto the board and run for the search vehicle. The rescue vehicle directly follows the search vehicle and needs very little sensory aids.

The project’s documentation, presentation and source code is available here, and you can refer it for a detailed modus operandi of the project. This FPGA work is a combination of a number of interfacing techniques such as LCD with FPGA, DC motor drivers with FPGA and more. It is an apt project to test your mettle in the field of FPGA, and the result is truly worth the effort!

Enjoy!

By pcmihnea