Hello this is Thomas from MaxBotix. If you view our FIRST Support notes on
Facebook have a comment on looking for the backboard with the sensor. If you read the text below you will see it may be better to use geometry to find distance of the sensor from the baskets. If you know the height of the baskets and you take the data from the sensor you can use those to find the exact distance from sensor to basket. If you have any questions you want to ask us please post them on our Facebook wall. This will help us to best support you with the competition
6. "How can we make sure we are sensing the back board and not another object, like another robot?"
First, the sensor will have to be perpendicular to the backboard and on the same plain as the backboard in order for the sensor to detect the backboard. If the sensor is off axis to the board, it will cause the ultrasonic sound to be reflected away from the sensor. A good example of this is to think of it as if you were to shine a flashlight in a mirror, does the light reflect back to you and cause you to illuminate? Or does it illuminate an area off to the side of you? This is the same concept for the ultrasonic sensor. If you put the sensor on an arm, this would likely help to align the sensor with the backboard. Without an arm the sensor will not see the higher backboards as the sound will reflect above the sensor.
If you have any questions you want to ask us please post them on our
Facebook wall. This will help us to best support you with the competition.