Robogaia rangefinder

[NWChen]

Here's an interesting implementation of an obstacle detector/rangefinder for robotics:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1154457775/robogaia-2d-robotic-obstacle-detector

[lynca]

I backed this project.

The Robotics community needs to support lower cost mapping sensors.

Kinect is the closest thing available at this time but Micro$oft has other plans for the kinect than robotics.
Navigating obstacles is very difficult without a >$500 LIDAR.

DIYDrones has a good discussion (http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/a-new-cheap-obstacle-detector-for-robotics) about this sensor.

[faust1706]

A kinect alternative is the asus xtion, but it's still kind of pricy.

For those interested in a program that maps what is in front of a depth camera, such as the kinect:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7rxj19ym287kt38/AACHQqET51hzzB9VXIFV_1bra?dl=0