[ubergeek5075]

Our team, for this year's game, is planning on doing obstacle avoidance using distance sensors. The one's we're using are the ultrasonic Maxbotix ones. However, we found problems with using ultrasonics, they have a wide FOV that you cannot tell where exactly an object is in this FOV. (our FOV is about 2 feet wide at worst with a Maxbotix EZ1 unshielded). It just returns the closest distance it finds. Also, the maximum sample rate is 20Hz meaning scanning was ruled out of the question, especially if we're moving.

We did toy with the idea of putting a couple on one servo, offset so reading would be faster, and more fine.

After a little creative coding, and a sensor mounted on last year's robot's camera, I got it turn to a clear path when an object came within range, and in its view. Just a little teaser for anyone paying attention to one of my other posts.