This paper describes how a team of final year mechatronic engineering students developed an autonomous robotic system intended to act as a tour guide during events such as University open days and explores the opportunities this project presented to extend their knowledge and skills. The specifications of the project required the system to localise and navigate autonomously within a known environment while avoiding collisions with any people or obstacles not included in the prior area map. In addition to these requirements, the system needed to locate humans as potential clients, approach and greet them, offer directions and if required take the guest on a guided tour of the university. While taking the subject Advanced Robotics the students were able to develop a functional first prototype of the system and carry out initial tests. Following the completion of the subject a small number of the students opted to continue working on the project developing a second prototype using the knowledge gained and further enhancing their learning experiences. While this project mainly involved integrating existing well known algorithms, software and hardware, it provided an excellent opportunity to enhance the mechatronic engineering skills of the students involved.
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