What sensors do your teams use

[cloudroth6]

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

[smitikshah]

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)

[cloudroth6]

Originally Posted by smitikshah

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)

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

[ASD20]

Originally Posted by cloudroth6

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.

What type of distance sensor?

[cloudroth6]

Originally Posted by ASD20

What type of distance sensor?

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

[ASD20]

Originally Posted by cloudroth6

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

Ultrasonic/Sonar? LIDAR/Laser/IR?

[D.Allred]

Originally Posted by cloudroth6

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

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

[ASD20]

Originally Posted by D.Allred

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 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.

[RoboChair]

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

[cloudroth6]

Thank you everyone thing is really helpful for us.

[snekiam]

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.

[ILAMtitan]

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

[Steven Smith]

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?

[DaveL]

I too would like to help my team improve their use of encoders.

I'm most interested in encoders that could be used for flywheel shooters that don't require any machining to install. In 2012, I remember teams used light emitting sensors to count light and dark marks on a spinning disk.

Are these still viable?
If so, which ones work well (high reliability, easy installation, non-contacting) and are reasonably priced?

Dave
Build Mentor 2976

[ttnn58]

gyro&accelometer - for PID and stuff i think...
microswitch - to know if the ball is secured inside the robot
magnetic door sensor - to know if the scaling arm lifts the robots high enough for the scale to count