What sensors do your teams use
 

So our team is looking at investing in more sensors and we were just wondering what other teams out there use.
Edit: We mostly use encoders, Gyros, Limit switch and distance sensors. but we are more wondering where other are getting senors for the past couple years we have been using Vex sensors because thats all we had.

Thank you for your time

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

Can you give a little more detail as to what type of sensors/what purpose you would want them for?
EDIT: (I probably can't help you, but rather I myself want to learn the different uses of common FRC sensors)

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

We use/have used:
- encoders
- gyro
- break beam sensors
- limit switches
- Vision camera
- distance sensors

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

we are mostly interested in what ASD20 stated. Well we want to use Encoders and Gyros for our Autonomous so we can drive in a strait line and have better control on how we can code our Autonomous. The Distance Sensors and Limit Switches are mostly was stopping something, for example this year we did have a distance sensor to stop our in-take motor that would collect the bolder so it wouldn't burn the motor out.

i hope that helped

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

What type of distance sensor?

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

I dont know the type off the top of my head right now but ill see in any of my team members know. i do know it came from FTC

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

Ultrasonic/Sonar? LIDAR/Laser/IR?

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

Teams use more sensors not just because sensors are awesome, but because there is useful info to gather. This info can be used to make a more effective and robust robot.

If I were caught on a desert island and could only bring a few types of sensors with me, here's a few things I'd consider:

#1 - Encoders. Accurate measurement of wheel velocity and distance traveled on a drivetrain is crucial for a consistent autonomous routine. Also for consistency in wheeled shooters... Anywhere you would like something to be going a certain speed or distance, encoders are a better solution than hardcoding a motor control value.
One option: http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2899.htm

#2 - Gyroscope. Generally, the more expensive the better. Gyro gives you rotational velocity of your robot. By integrating (accumulating) it over time, you can deduce the angle of your robot relative to the angle you started the match at. This is very useful for autonomous navigation.
http://www.analog.com/en/products/me...-evaluationkit

#3 - Lidar Lite. This nice little sensor measures distance with a laser. By pointing it out the front of a bot, you can figure out how far you are from a wall, tote, or anything else solid. Useful for autonomous, or for helping the drivers position the robot.
http://www.robotshop.com/en/lidar-li...FQgzaQodcHAIUQ

#4 - Pneumatic pressure analog sensor. Allows the drivers to see how much air they have in reserve. Not used all the time during competition, but helpful for diagnosing issues when you can't walk out to the robot to check on it.
http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3219.htm

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

We used this SPI port gyro that was designed to plug directly into the roboRio. Worked great. It's based on the Analog Devices ADXRS450 digital gyroscope chip. You can buy that chip in different board configurations. I'm not sure where to buy this specific packaging.

http://firstchoicebyandymark.com/fc16-000

I've heard good reviews from the NAV-X gryo / accelerometer board although we've haven't used it yet. It's definitely available for purchase.

http://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-3060a.htm

We use a Grayhill 63R optical encoder for measuring drive train distance traveled by coupling the encoder to a live axle on a wheel or the main gearbox. This technique works good for autonomous if you limit acceleration to prevent wheel slip.

http://www.digikey.com/catalog/en/partgroup/63r/11554

Good luck with your research and testing.

David

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

We use a navx and I think it works well, even though I'm pretty sure our programmers have broken like 3. But then again, programmers break everything.

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

1678 likes to use Banner laser photo eye sensors for detecting balls, other objects, and sometimes field elements.

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

Thank you everyone thing is really helpful for us.

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

We used the CTRE magnetic encoders on our shooter to measure velocity, andymark's string potentiometer to measure position on our arms, these grayhill encoders on our drivetrain to measure velocity for (theoretical) automatic shifting, and a navx on our drivetrain for straight driving. I'm sure there are one or two sensors I am forgetting, but all of these are in closed loop P, PD, or PID control schemes. If you have any questions about how any of this works, let me know. :)

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

I gotta give a shout out to the humble potentiometer. We picked up a handful last year, and they proved super usefull this year too. They wire directly to an analog in Port, and can essentially give you abaolute position of a mechanism. Getting some with more than 300deg of rotation help protect it in case of over rotation.

Here's two versions I recommend keeping around:
Continuous rotation: http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...-103-ND/274005
10turn: http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...03L-ND/2058386

Re: What sensors do your teams use
 

One other question for you guys/gals as you discuss your sensor needs:

Are there any broad areas of sensing technology, how to do sensor integration (mechanical, electrical, programming), etc that you feel your teams could use help with?

AKA, in addition to WHAT to use, do you feel there are adequate resources on HOW/WHY to use sensors, that could be addressed by linking existing content or creating new content specific to FRC?