The ping-pong ball collector car (Fig 1.) design consists of 5 major parts. The main frame is constructed with PVC and wooden board. The collecting unit involving intelligent ball recognition system (Fig 2.) and a flipping baffle for ball picking is placed in the front. The space for ball storage is at the center. The lifted obstacle avoiding unit consists of sensors that detect walls or other obstructions in its way. The control unit–– Arduino Uno serves to connect units together and directs movements of the car by data analysis.

The robotic car system utilizes Pixy2, Arduino Mega, a roller and container, 3 motors (for wheels and the roller), ultrasonic sensors and infrared sensors. The robot learns the size and color of the ping-pong ball for recognition through the Pixy2 module in advance. When in operation, the system recognizes the ping-pong ball (Fig 3. & Fig 4.) and alters its direction to aim at the ball, and then moves forward. Once in position, the car will adjust itself and stop, the roller will roll automatically to let the ball be collected in the container, and then users can open the lid to get the balls. During its path of ball picking, a system which consists of ultrasonic sensors and infrared sensors helps it avoid possible obstacles.