360 Degree Infrared Sensor Question

[daviamp]

We are having a problem with the infrared board. We got the board working at 163.2 degrees in front of the sensor, but the question we have is are we aloud to modify the sensor to have more than one infrared input so that we can get 360 degrees of signal, or are we limited to using a conical mirror?

Thank you in advance for your help,
David Lamp
Senior Mentor
Team 1254

[jgannon]

You are allowed to modify the board, so long as you satisfy all of the rules regarding custom circuitry in section 8 of the manual.

[Shivang1923]

If you want, you can mount the board on a rotating servo/motor, and have it turn left/right as the robot turns left/right. Just make sure its not in a place itt'd die if it gets hit by a track ball.

[Boydean]

What is the possibly of pointing the IR board up and then putting some kind of reflector that points in from all angles.

Then again you can mount it on a motor and do it with software. ;)

[daviamp]

What is the possibly of pointing the IR board up and then putting some kind of reflector that points in from all angles.

Then again you can mount it on a motor and do it with software. ;)

We have tried using a conical reflector, as found on a Roomba VirtualWall Unit, but distance was limited. We are thinking about using a sim motor and a radar like sweep to locate.

Thank You for your reply,
David Lamp
Senior Mentor
Team 1254

[Shivang1923]

reflection wouldn't work right. you'd have a harder time aiming your remote to get around the non reflexive surface of your reflexive material (wow, mouthfull)
the sweeping idea is better because now it wont matter weather or not you are at one end of the field or the other.

[daviamp]

The sweeping idea is beginning to frustrate us, it seems that IR Remote Controls only send the device code once, when you orignally push the button, so as long as you push and hold the button and the remote control is in line of sight of the receiver, the robot gets signal, but as soon as the receiver loses signal from the IR Remote Control, by going out of line of sight, if you do not push the button again, the receiver does not know that you are sending the signal to it.

[Miner]

We were going to try and see if we could use the gyro sensors to create a turret for the IR board. It is still being figured out but if you could get the board to point in the same direction for the 15 seconds that it is needed in the hybrid period, you should be able to keep in contact with the board.

[The Lucas]

we have is are we aloud to modify the sensor to have more than one infrared input so that we can get 360 degrees of signal,

I have modified both the FIRST IR Board and TinyIR2 board to have 2 IR receivers in parallel. The FIRST IR board is actually fairly simple to modify once you know the 3 correct though holes (the solder filled holes that transition from a trace from side of the board to the other) to connect the second sensor. I will try to get pictures and start an instructional thread.

A far as extra hardware, you need an additional Vishay IR Receiver, 100ohm resistor and 4.7 uF electrolytic cap. Tauntek (http://tauntek.com/tinyir2-learning-ir-remote-control-receiver.htm) (the company that created the IR board) can sell you all these parts as well as a small PCB (to mount the IR and cap) and some wire in what I think Bob Grieb (owner of Tauntek) called a "Remote Sensor Kit". Give Bob Grieb an email (http://tauntek.com/contact-information.htm) and tell him what you want to do. He is very helpful. Meanwhile, I will try to get picture of my board and write some good instructions.

[GrammarNazi]

Dont know if this will help at all, ive only done it once before, but if you have access to a stationary barcode scanner, they have motor units with insane rotating mirrors that shoot a 180 degree grid pattern. with two of those and a little work you could make a 360 scatter grid. if you just put a lexan box over it it should be fine. just an idea, not real practical but it would work and it would look awesome.