Retro-reflective Tape and Sensor?

[bigqueue]

We have yet to receive the sample of Retroreflective tape from FIRST, and we are prototyping a system that uses the optical sensors.

We have picked up some tape from one of the local home suply stores, and the sensors only "see" this tape out to about 10 feet.

If we take a standard red bicycle reflector, that distance goes out to about 15 feet.

The sensor datasheet has a graph showing the beam pattern going out something like 22 feet.....and I thought I heard someone at the kickoff say something about detecting the tape out to about 30 feet!

We have seen NOTHING like 30 feet....is the "real" tape really that superior to what we have now?

Does anyone have any experience with these sensors or that tape?

Thanks,
-Quentin

[s_alaniz]

I think you're getting the right results. The tests they generate those data sheets from is done with a 3.3" white (I think) reflector. The reflective tape from Banner has a reflective index of about half the 3.3" reflector. I think the person who said 30' was one of those darned opto-mists. If you can make the think detect reliably at 20' I'll be very impressed.

Best of Luck


Steve Alaniz



"What good is technology if you can't abuse it?" -
Ted Forth