Amplify Remote control IR signal

[PookAir]

Is there any way to amplify the IR signal that we get from our remote.?

We use a standard remote control

thanks alot Team #1577 SteamPunk Meet you all in atlanta

[seanl]

what we did was add like 5 more IR LED's to our remote and add IR recievers around our robot. so we have more range and 360 degrees of range. i didnt do this my self so i cant really tell you more details about it. but im sure another person can chime in and tell you how to do this.

[PookAir]

Originally Posted by seanl

add IR recievers around our robot. so we have more range and 360 degrees of range.

Do you meen you have more than 1 IR board or you connected more recievers to that board? thank's alot

[seanl]

Originally Posted by PookAir

Do you meen you have more than 1 IR board or you connected more recievers to that board? thank's alot

you could have 2 recievers OR you you hard wire in more if those black things on the IR boards that recieve the lights. thats what we did.

[bigbeezy]

How did using the IR board work for you at your regionals? We planned on using it but never got the code and everything worked out. Did you have problems with interferience? or just not recieving the signal?

We are wanting to use it more in Atlanta, but dont really have time to rewire the thing or get another one so we have more coverage. So any suggestions on a simple way to increase the recievability of it? Or should just one IR board be fine if we aim the remote right at the thing?

[Alan Anderson]

We use our IR receiver to tell the robot which position our alliance color's trackball is occupying on the overpass. It only needs to get a signal at the very start of the match, so we aren't worried about range.

But we discovered that the remote controls we are using have a relatively narrow beam width. If you're too close to the receiver, correct aim is incredibly important. We also discovered that the IR beam from the remote isn't necessarily pointing straight forward. One of our two remotes is skewed enough to the left to affect the aim significantly.

We determined this by using a camera phone to watch the IR LED on the front of the remote while waving the remote around. You can easily tell where the beam intensity is greatest.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

We use regular TV remote, a couple of transistors, and a 12 volt battery to drive a big array of IR LED's.

We cut out the LED on the remote and used that signal to source the step up.

[Greg Marra]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

We use regular TV remote, a couple of transistors, and a 12 volt battery to drive a big array of IR LED's.

We cut out the LED on the remote and used that signal to source the step up.

You guys should post a picture. It's a total beast.

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Greg Marra

You guys should post a picture. It's a total beast.

Ok. I'll take a photo of the practice rig this weekend.

[Lavapicker]

Our students built a 60 LED array with a magnifier all jammed into a 5-inch PVC pipe so that it looks like a bazooka. Sorry I don't have a picture handy but you can look for it at Nationals! They mounted the remote on top so it could be triggered like a bazooka too. BTW, it worked like a charm when we used it. We had to turn it off a few times because it was jamming our alliance partners too????

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Lavapicker

Our students built a 60 LED array with a magnifier all jammed into a 5-inch PVC pipe so that it looks like a bazooka. Sorry I don't have a picture handy but you can look for it at Nationals! They mounted the remote on top so it could be triggered like a bazooka too. BTW, it worked like a charm when we used it. We had to turn it off a few times because it was jamming our alliance partners too????

I've seen a couple of setups like this before, and I've noticed that sometimes they can cause interference and other adverse effects. Do you know what circuit your team used?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by Lavapicker

Our students built a 60 LED array with a magnifier all jammed into a 5-inch PVC pipe so that it looks like a bazooka.

I saw one of these at Boilermaker and the team thought it worked pretty well. However, I have heard some students say that want to take a lens out of a slide projector to narrow the beam. Some of the lenses are designed to absorb IR. Be sure to check the output with the lens out and then again with the lens in place. However, with 60 LEDs, I bet it will heat your hand if you put in front of the output side.

[Curt_Bagne]

Originally Posted by seanl

you could have 2 recievers OR you you hard wire in more if those black things on the IR boards that recieve the lights. thats what we did.

My team was thinking about doing this exact same thing since when we make a left turn, the ir board no longer faces the robocoach and we loose communication. Is it as simple as soldering on more of those black receivers in parallel? Or did you have to design a circuit to amplify or isolate the sensors to prevent the signal that is supposed to go into the ir board from bleeding out of the additional sensors?
We would like to order parts and do this once we get to Atlanta so any pictures or details would be appreciated.
Thanks

[mrbob1000]

do like ti tv be gone kit and have 2 wide angle high power ir led's and 2 narrow angle high power led's

also, you can reduce interference by placing a roof over your ir sensor(s) this decreases interference.