Smart Campus Navigation Robot with Interactive and AI-Assisted User Support
Navigating a large university campus for the first time can be overwhelming. This project set out to change that by designing and building a smart robotic assistant capable of guiding students and visitors around UWE Bristol’s Frenchay Campus.
The robot combines autonomous movement, obstacle avoidance, and a touchscreen interface to help users find their way, access campus information, and get answers to common questions — all from a single, approachable platform. When connected to the internet, users can scan a QR code on the robot’s screen to access an AI-powered chatbot (built on ChatGPT) for natural language questions. When offline, the robot still delivers full navigation assistance and a pre-programmed Q&A system through its Nextion touchscreen display.
The hardware was built on a commercially available robot kit, extended with custom 3D-printed components designed in SolidWorks — including a vertical extension structure that raises the screen to a comfortable interaction height. An Arduino microcontroller handles all movement and obstacle detection independently from the AI layer, ensuring the robot remains safe and reliable regardless of network conditions.
The system was evaluated by 31 university students, who rated it highly across ease of use (92/100), screen clarity (88/100), and helpfulness (89/100). The majority said they would “definitely” use it again for campus directions. Qualitative feedback focused on enhancements — such as a larger screen and audio interaction — rather than fundamental issues, suggesting the core system was well received.
This project demonstrates how robotics, embedded systems, mechanical engineering, and artificial intelligence can be integrated into a practical tool that genuinely improves the campus experience.
