Line Following -- Optical Sensors

[WillyC]

I've been searching on here for info about using the Banner optical sensors for line following, but so far there isn't much info. Does anyone have any information about how to connect these to the RC? The data sheet from Banner shows a "load" connected to the black and white wires, but what kind of load? 50 ohm? Also, which wire is Vs and which is gnd? (Blue or Brown?)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by WillyC

I've been searching on here for info about using the Banner optical sensors for line following, but so far there isn't much info. Does anyone have any information about how to connect these to the RC? The data sheet from Banner shows a "load" connected to the black and white wires, but what kind of load? 50 ohm? Also, which wire is Vs and which is gnd? (Blue or Brown?)

Thanks!

If you're talking about the Full RC, you should read page 17 of section 5 of the FRC Manual.

This is how to connect the sensor. Directly connect the brown cable to +12 Vdc (according to the rules, somewhere ending up at the breaker). Blue must go to ground. Black and white are the switch inputs. Do not connect anything to the +5v connection on the digital in/out pins. Black and white cables are seperate signals (black is always 1 if white is 0, and vice-verca), so each cable should go to a seperate SIG pin.

Hope this helps!

Check out NRG's site for a diagram of connections:

http://nrg.chaosnet.org/resource/hardware/lightsensor

[WillyC]

Awesome! Thanks for the help everyone. I'm a mentor for a rookie team so I'm new to some of the parts and documentation, and this forum sure helps.

Thanks again!

[KenWittlief]

the connection is on page 17 of section 5 of the manual - the robot section.
you dont need a load resistor - all the RC needs to see is the switch inside the sensor go open and closed

and one sense wire closes when it sees the tape, the other closes when it doesnt see the tape

you might also have to adjust the sensitivity screw on the sensor - you can usually detect the tape up to 6" away or so.

edit: he beat me to it! :c)