Post by thread:[PIC:]Sensors for Mobile Robots

Hi all, I am an master student in robotics and automation, and I am building a hexapod robot for my dissertation. Could you please give me any information about sensors available for mobile robots especially legged ones. I know that there's a book around but I can't afford it. So is there anyone kind enough to tell me what sensors i could use and brief information on how to interface them (h/w & s/w interface) with 16f877 or at least any web site giving such informations. The ones that I am currently using are simple IR photodiodes (18 to 20 degrees) for object recognition, photoresistors (LDRs), ultrasonic and I am bit confused about the type of contact sensors I could use. A web site would be enough, but could u propose a type of contact sensors and especially a good Tilt or INCLINATION sensor. i am currently using a tilt switch which is off at 90 degrees. Imagine the robot to get an inclination of 90 degrees until the switch goes off!!!! I guess there's no coming back from that state. Anyway any help would be great. Thank you guys. yours, Elias Nakos -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> Hi all, > I am an master student in robotics and automation, and I am building a hexapod robot for my dissertation. Could you please give me any information about sensors available for mobile robots especially legged ones. The book _The Robot Builder's Bonanza_ is *extremely* useful and affordable. He has a store at http://www.budgetrobotics.com/ For MEMS Accelerameters and Gyroscopes: Analog Systems http://www.analog.com/ -- D. Jay Newman ! spam_OUTjayTakeThisOuTsprucegrove.com ! Xander: Giles, don't make cave-slayer unhappy. http://enerd.ws/robots/ ! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

Hi Elias, GameBoy used to come with a low resolution(16x16 I think) chip which they called "Artificial Retina". It was (may be it still is!) popular among robot enthusiasts. These chips used to come for auction at ebay and some of my friends bought dozens at a time, because they were inexpensive. Try searching for Artificial Retina on the web. As for tilt sensor, electrolytic tilt sensors are fairly cheap(5 to 8$). Buy the tilt sensor alone and supply pure ac signal(no dc!) using a function generator chip like the XR2206(+/-5V). Electronics is straight forward for simple applications. Best of luck! Vetri {Original Message removed}

> Hi Elias, > GameBoy used to come with a low resolution(16x16 I think) chip which > they called "Artificial Retina". It was (may be it still is!) popular > among robot enthusiasts. These chips used to come for auction at ebay > and some of my friends bought dozens at a time, because they were > inexpensive. Try searching for Artificial Retina on the web. The GameBoy camera had much more resolution than that. However, an optical mouse imager has 16x16 resolution (or in some cases 18x18). I'm about to start working on a project to connect a bunch of these to a JStamp. -- D. Jay Newman ! .....jayKILLspam@spam@sprucegrove.com ! Xander: Giles, don't make cave-slayer unhappy. http://enerd.ws/robots/ ! -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.

> I am an master student in robotics and automation, and I am building a hexapod robot for my dissertation. Could you please give me any information about sensors available for mobile robots especially legged ones. I know that there's a book around but I can't afford it. > Google search engine is your GREAT friend. There is a vast range of sensors out there. Google will find more than you can imagine. To get you going look at Brooke's unbelievably superb sensor page at http://www.pacificsites.com/~brooke/Sensors.shtml Russell McMahon -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listservKILLspammitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

At 11:01 PM 12/5/2003 +0000, you wrote: >Hi all, > > I am an master student in robotics and automation, and I am building a > hexapod robot for my dissertation. You might also try the good folks at comp.robotics.misc DOC http://www.robot-one.com -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email .....listservKILLspam.....mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body

For a tilt sensor you can use the Analog Devices ADXL202 very easily with a PIC. It outputs a PWM signal roughly proportional to the degree of accelleration it senses in its sensitive planes. Normally the only acceleration it will sense is gravity, but it's useful for +- 2g's. The main problem with it is the tiny size compared to discreet components. I had to buy a breakout board to make it useable for prototyping. I guess if you're making a PCB then it shouldn't be a problem at all. I got the breakout board from sparkfun.com for a few bucks. They also have a decent article about using it I believe. D {Original Message removed}