The line follower robot: a meta-analytic approach.

Abstract

Line-follower robots represent a critical segment in autonomous robotics, with broad applications ranging from industrial automation to educational tools. This meta-analytic review synthesizes research on line-follower robots, addressing a noticeable gap in the literature where comprehensive analyses are scarce. The review leverages the Theory of the Consolidated Meta-analytic Approach (TEMAC) to systematically explore 287 documents spanning from 2001 to 2024, highlighting key contributions, trends, and gaps in the field. Through this analysis, it becomes evident that while significant advancements have been made in control strategies, sensor integration, and noise reduction techniques, the literature still lacks comprehensive studies on the scalability of these technologies, especially in large-scale industrial environments. Recent research trends emphasize integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into line-follower robots, indicating a shift towards more sophisticated, adaptable systems. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in addressing environmental variability, improving real-time adaptability, and exploring novel applications in dynamic environments. This review not only maps the historical evolution and current state of line-follower robots but also identifies future research directions that could drive the next generation of robotic systems. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and educators aiming to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and application scope of line-follower robots.