GYRO CHIP

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Posted by Andy Chemistruck at 2/1/2001 10:32 PM EST


Student on team #394, Road Runners, from Windsor High and ALSTOM Power.



Does anyone know of how to program the gyro chip and what it can be used for? Thanks,

Andy
Team 394

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Posted by Khalid at 2/2/2001 12:13 AM EST


Student on team #486, The Positronic Panthers, from Strath Haven High School.


In Reply to: GYRO CHIP
Posted by Andy Chemistruck on 2/1/2001 10:32 PM EST:



There is an article about the GYRO chip in the FIRST Manual. It is full of information.

Basically, what the Gyro chip measures is the angular speed or the rate of change in rotation. I am not sure ,exactly, the unit that this sensor is measuring. This can be used in many creative ways. We are using it to help us balance the robot on the bridge. Many teams use it to steer the robots.

Programming it. There are a few things that you should know about programming it. The center ( the output when there is not change in rotation) is some where around 120 and 130 or may be more. It varies from Gyro to Gyro. It can read the rate of rotation fwd about 60 degrees and backwards 60 degrees. Full fwd is read as 255 and full backward is read as 0. and it can measure angles inbetween full fwd and full backwards. It gets very complicated when programming it but it can be very useful.

I hope that helped.

[archiver]

Posted by control guy at 2/2/2001 7:55 AM EST


Student on team #250 from HVCC.


In Reply to: Re: GYRO CHIP
Posted by Khalid on 2/2/2001 12:13 AM EST:



A very good idea someone had for using the gyro last year was to have a driver mounted head sensor. As the driver fell asleep at the controls, the gyro would detect the falling of his head and could then activate say an led which could then be read by an optical sensor to trip a relay to shock the driver awake. Or, if you didn't care about being perfectly legal, just have the gryo turn on the shock circuit directly. Just another interesting use.

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Posted by Josh Vetter at 2/2/2001 4:47 PM EST


Student on team #548, Robostangs, from Northville High School and BOSCH.


In Reply to: another use
Posted by control guy on 2/2/2001 7:55 AM EST:



Did you use this feature often??

: A very good idea someone had for using the gyro last year was to have a driver mounted head sensor. As the driver fell asleep at the controls, the gyro would detect the falling of his head and could then activate say an led which could then be read by an optical sensor to trip a relay to shock the driver awake. Or, if you didn't care about being perfectly legal, just have the gryo turn on the shock circuit directly. Just another interesting use.

[archiver]

Posted by control guy at 2/2/2001 9:54 PM EST


Student on team #250 from HVCC.


In Reply to: Re: another use
Posted by Josh Vetter on 2/2/2001 4:47 PM EST:



It was used as often as possible. Besides, it was fun to watch the drivers have no idea what was going on.