# ๐ค Team Inovatic
### World Robot Olympiad 2026
Future Engineers
Passionate about robotics, innovation, engineering, and STEM education.
Proudly representing **Inovatic Split**
---
## ๐Table of Contents
* [๐ฅ Team Members](#-team-members)
* [๐ฏ Coach](#-coach)
* [๐๏ธ Honorable Mention](#๏ธ-honorable-mention)
* [๐ About Inovatic & Mission](#-about-inovatic)
* [๐ง Initial Concept โ Open Challenge](#-initial-concept--open-challenge)
* [๐ค Robot Technical Documentation](#-robot-technical-documentation)
* [๐ธ Project Gallery](#-project-gallery)
* [๐งฑ Building Instructions](#-building-instructions)
* [๐ง Software Architecture โ Open Challenge](#-software-architecture--open-challenge)
## ๐ธ Team Photo
---
# ๐ฅ Team Members
## ๐งโ๐ป Josip Stepinac
| Information | Details |
|------------|---------|
| ๐ Age | 22 |
| ๐ College | PMF โ Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Split |
### About Me
Hi! I am **Josip Stepinac**, and robotics has been a central part of my life and personal development for many years. I have participated in numerous WRO competitions and have spent the past five years actively teaching robotics and sharing my knowledge with others.
Through robotics, I have developed strong problem-solving skills, a structured engineering mindset, and a deep understanding of how theory connects with real-world applications. It has shaped not only my technical abilities, but also the way I approach learning, teamwork, and challenges.
This is my first year competing in this WRO category, and I see it as an important opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, explore new technologies, and continue growing both technically and personally.
---
## ๐งโ๐ป Ivan Stepinac
| Information | Details |
|------------|---------|
| ๐ Age | 20 |
| ๐ College | FESB โ Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split |
### About Me
Hi! I am **Ivan Stepinac**, a software developer with a strong passion for technology, innovation, and problem-solving.
A significant part of my development comes from many years of involvement in robotics and participation in WRO competitions. Robotics has played a major role in shaping my mindset, technical skills, and approach to complex challenges.
Beyond software development, I enjoy creating innovative and useful projects that can make a positive impact. One of my recent projects, **ShowMe**, is a video call application that translates sign language into text, helping improve communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
Whether I am developing software, working on robotics, or building new applications, I am always driven by learning and creating real-world impact.
---
## ๐งโ๐ป Vito Drnjeviฤ
| Information | Details |
|------------|---------|
| ๐ Age | 19 |
| ๐ College | FESB โ Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Split |
### About Me
Hi! I am **Vito Drnjeviฤ**, and this is my fourth season participating in the World Robot Olympiad.
After completing my final Robomission season, I decided to take on a new challenge and further expand my skills in robotics and programming. In addition to technology, I enjoy football, travelling, and exploring new experiences.
I am excited to work alongside my teammates and continue growing through engineering and innovation.
---
# ๐ฏ Coach
## ๐จโ๐ซ Jozo Pivac
### About Him
He is a dedicated and goal-oriented coach, university professor, and founder of the Inovatic association, with a strong focus on education, innovation, and long-term student development.
With a background in academia and hands-on experience in leading robotics and engineering teams, he combines theoretical knowledge with practical mentorship. His approach focuses on guiding students through real challenges, helping them develop technical skills, critical thinking, responsibility, and independence.
Over the years, he has played a key role in building and supporting teams within the Inovatic community, creating an environment where students can grow, experiment, and turn ideas into real engineering projects.
More than a coach, he is a mentor who connects education, research, and real-world application, shaping future engineers and innovators.
---
## ๐จโ๐ซ Gratitude to Our Coach
As a team, we are deeply grateful to our coach for his continuous support, guidance, and dedication throughout our entire robotics journey.
He has been with us since our earliest days in primary school, and has played a fundamental role in shaping who we are today. Over the years, he has helped us develop not only technical skills in robotics, engineering, and programming, but also discipline, teamwork, and a strong mindset for growth.
We are sincerely thankful for the opportunity he has given all three of us to experience robotics in a meaningful way and to contribute to the **Inovatic Split** community through knowledge and passion for technology.
---
# ๐๏ธ Honorable Mention
## ๐จโ๐ Vito Tonลกiฤ
### About Him
Vito Tonลกiฤ has shown exceptional enthusiasm for robotics and a strong interest in the WRO competition. As an active participant in our workshops, he consistently demonstrates curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to take on new challenges.
Despite being one of the younger students in the community, Vito has often contributed valuable ideas and shared his knowledge with older team members, helping them solve problems and improve their projects. His collaborative spirit, creativity, and eagerness to learn make him a positive influence within the team.
Through his passion for innovation and teamwork, Vito represents the values of the Inovatic community and has earned recognition as a promising young engineer and future competitor.
# ๐ About Inovatic
**Inovatic Split** is a STEM and robotics association dedicated to innovation, engineering, programming, and education.
Through workshops, projects, and competitions, Inovatic helps young people develop technical skills, creativity, and teamwork while preparing them for real-world challenges.
---
# ๐ Our Mission
As Team Inovatic, we are united by a passion for robotics, engineering, and innovation.
Our mission is to develop creative solutions, continuously improve our skills, and inspire others through STEM and robotics. Through WRO, we challenge ourselves to think critically, collaborate, and turn ideas into reality.
---
# ๐ง Initial Concept โ Open Challenge
At the beginning of our development process for the World Robot Olympiad Future Engineers Open Challenge, our team focused on designing a reliable and efficient method for recognizing upcoming turns on the track.
Our main goal was to improve autonomous navigation by enabling the robot to detect and react to turns in advance, ensuring smooth and stable movement throughout the run.
---
## ๐ฏ First Idea: Color-Based Turn Detection
Our initial concept was based on **colored guide lines placed before each turn**:
- ๐ Orange line โ Right turn
- ๐ต Blue line โ Left turn
A dedicated **color sensor** mounted close to the track would detect these markers in real time. Once detected, the robot would immediately prepare and execute the corresponding steering action.
### Advantages of this approach:
- Fast and simple color recognition
- Low computational complexity
- Clear separation of left/right decision logic
- Easy calibration during early testing
---
## ๐ก Supporting Navigation System
At the same time, our robot was equipped with **two side-mounted distance sensors**:
- Left sensor โ measures distance to left wall
- Right sensor โ measures distance to right wall
By comparing these values, the robot maintained proper centering on the track and corrected its position when drifting occurred. This ensured:
- Stable movement
- Reduced collisions
- Improved trajectory accuracy
---
## โ๏ธ Design Limitations & System Evaluation
As the system evolved, we carefully evaluated hardware constraints and system complexity.
We identified several limitations:
- Limited number of available sensor ports on the control hub
- High reliance on the camera system for visual processing
- Increased computational load when combining multiple active sensors
- Additional weight, wiring, and mechanical complexity
These factors could negatively impact system stability and overall performance during competition runs.
---
## ๐ Final Decision
After discussion with our mentor, we decided to **abandon the color-based navigation system** and focus on a more streamlined approach using:
- Camera-based perception
- Distance sensor-based centering and navigation
This decision improved:
- System efficiency
- Hardware simplicity
- Overall reliability
---
## ๐ Conclusion
Although this idea was not implemented in the final robot, it played an important role in our engineering process.
It helped us:
- Explore alternative navigation strategies
- Understand hardware limitations
- Improve system design thinking
- Learn the importance of optimization in robotics
Ultimately, this concept contributed significantly to the development of our final solution and our understanding of autonomous navigation systems.
---
## ๐ Final Idea: Distance-Based Navigation & Turn Detection
Our final approach for the Open Challenge is based on a **proportional centering system** that keeps the robot accurately aligned in the middle of the track.
This is achieved using **two side-mounted distance sensors**, where:
- The left sensor measures the distance to the left wall
- The right sensor measures the distance to the right wall
By continuously comparing and balancing these values, the robot maintains stable and proportional centering within the track.
In addition, **turn detection is also based on these same distance sensors**. Changes in measured distances are used to identify upcoming turns, allowing the robot to react in advance and adjust its trajectory smoothly and efficiently.
This approach provides a simplified, reliable, and tightly integrated navigation system that reduces hardware complexity while maintaining high accuracy and consistency during autonomous driving.
โ๏ธ Innovation โข Creativity โข Teamwork โข Excellence
### Team Inovatic | WRO 2026
---
# ๐ค Robot Technical Documentation
## ๐ Introduction
Our robot is based on a modified zCar-inspired chassis and uses Ackermann steering geometry. Originally, we considered converting a small toy car into an autonomous vehicle, but size limitations made it impossible to fit the required electronics and sensors. After researching existing RC car designs, we developed a simplified chassis optimized for the WRO Future Engineers challenge.
