Laser Range Finder?

[Mk.32]

In looking for a method to be able to accurately find our distance from the hoop. We were thinking about a laser range finder.
Seeing that a Class 1 laser would be legal, anyone know of any solutions that would work?
Or is there some other rule that bans this? or is one even feasible...?

[EricH]

I would think very carefully about implementations of even a Class 1 laser. Remember that farther up the same blue box, items that interfere with the driver's ability to control their robot safely are pronounced illegal. I don't know about you, but if I've got a laser pointed near my eyes, I'm going to be pretty distracted even if it is eye-safe/Class 1!

[dudeman2009]

As for where to buy one, I cannot help you there. However, a laser range finder may very well work. It depends on other objects using lasers of a similar type. For the accuracy of the finder, it could be very accurate, seeing the field, pointing the laser at the plastic backboard of the hoop would provide a nice reflective surface for the laser to bounce off. So would any semi reflective surface, they are quite reliable and don’t require a lot of understanding to figure out. The only thing to watch out for would be other robots in the way when it goes to refresh the distance.

(I do not know very much about interference between lasers of different K values but 2 identical lasers could cause interference in theory, I haven’t had time to try it out)

As for what others have said, Always be careful around lasers, even a little penlaser is capable blind you at 50ft

[Mk.32]

Safety is probably the biggest concern at the moment.
As well as getting one cheap enough to see if we can even get it hooked up to the cRIO.
Any ideas there anyone?

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Please be advised that if you choose to use a Class I exposed laser on your robot you will need to prove it to an inspector prior to using it on your robot and every event you attend. Please keep all docs handy.

[F22Rapture]

http://sites.google.com/site/todddan...m_laser_ranger

Here is a link which explains how to do it in a good bit of detail. Good luck OP!

[andreboos]

I would like to implement this, but cannot find a visible Class I laser or laser diode anywhere. Has anyone managed to find one? I have a Class I visible red laser as part of another item, but I'd prefer not to disassemble it.

[Kevin Sevcik]

They exist, but I'm not certain you can have one under the $500 price limit. For instance, this time of flight sensor has a class 1 measurement laser, and a class 2 sighting laser you can disable: Micro-Epsilon ILR 1020
And there's this Banner sensor, which lists for about $1000.

[andreboos]

Neither of those have Class I visible lasers from what I can see. The lasers in my cheap Khet knockoff game are labeled Class I, and have a visible red beam, so I know they exist, but I can't find any others.

[FrankJ]

I have one sitting in my spares closet. But at $3500, it blows the budget. There are less expensive ones out there. Any industrial laser is going to have its class rating on it.

If you want a class one laser to try the DIY approach. Any laser pointer will do. Mount it high & angle it up a bit & it should not interfere with the drivers.

[andreboos]

Why are Class I visible lasers so rare and expensive? It seems that it would be much easier to manufacture a weaker laser, and there would be demand for safer lasers for laser pointers and such...

If anyone is interested, this is the game I mentioned:

http://www.amazon.com/MGA-335801-Las.../dp/B000EULYWO

It has two visible Class I red lasers inside some game pieces with a decent range and brightness.

All the laser pointers I've seen are either Class II or up, and I haven't seen any Class I visible laser pointers. I'd appreciate a link to one; it'd be much easier than using Class I game pieces .

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by andreboos

Neither of those have Class I visible lasers from what I can see. The lasers in my cheap Khet knockoff game are labeled Class I, and have a visible red beam, so I know they exist, but I can't find any others.

??? The spec sheet on both of those lists that they use a Class I infrared laser for ranging. The Banner DOES use a Class II for sighting, but it's turned on/off manually, so I'm pretty sure it'd be legal as well.

Class I visible lasers are rare because what on earth is the point? They're barely naked eye visible under normal lighting conditions, so there's not much use for them. If a person can't see the laser anyways, may as well make it infrared so it's cheaper and the interfacing optics are more standardized.