Can this Cheap LEGO RPM meter be used on FRC Bots??

[Elgin Clock]

Granted it may not be allowed because of the rules and regulations, but does anyone know if this device could be adapted to work on counting the RPM's on a non-lego device?

If so, this is a cheap RPM meter for the bot for testing, or just to answer how fast the bot goes.

http://shop.lego.com/product.asp?p=5206&d=0&t=0

[NoodleKnight]

is it the revolution sensor that comes in mindstorm kits? If so, i'd think the thing would fall apart at high RPM's, lego motors don't spin very fast. I have no clue how to adapt one into counting RPM's for a non-lego device... maybe some epoxy and duct tape.

[tkwetzel]

Originally Posted by NoodleKnight

I have no clue how to adapt one into counting RPM's for a non-lego device... maybe some epoxy and duct tape.

The duct tape would thus make it an illegal device.

[NoodleKnight]

Electrical tape.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

El,
This is not the rotation sensor that comes in Mindstorm kits, but it does look cool and the price is right for an experimental device. I think the picture may be misleading as to size. The description makes it sound like a handheld computer to measure rotation and calculate distance traveled or RPM. Looks cool though.

[Gamer930]

Looking at the link it isn't one of the blue rotation/revolution sensors that comes in the Lego Mindstorm Kit.
I never actually played with this device or had it in my hands but what I think it is a portable device that you can just put over a wheel shaft and it gives a reading just so people can know how fast their personal creation goes :-)
My guess is that it could be used on counting rpm on a shaft that the exact same same size as the + Lego shaft. Also, probably not accurate enough for our type of application.
For us measuring RPM we use something like THIS.

[greencactus3]

that seems to be the one the guy here http://www.nicjasno.com/ uses to measure rpms of his pneumatic engines. it is in a photo on his ideas page. on number 6 the 426 hemi. first and last pic. maybeif you contact him he might tell you a bit how it is. theres a contact me page at the bottom. and while you are looking at his site, his pneumatic engines are insanely awsome!! and non engine parts too. his door, his trannys his suspensionetc. i know i have already introduced his site on another thread but this guy's is just so amazing its worth looking over and over and over.... aaaand back to the topic. this Alex dude's engines seem to be in the 100xrpms.. just a note

*yay 700 post*


oh and if this is the same thing, it is as small as it seems in the picture. the legobumps looking bumps on it seem to be real usable bumps. or w/e youre supposed to call them

[Astronouth7303]

The yellow speedometer/tachometer was made by lego for use with the Lego Racers series. To my knowledge, there is no way to interface this with the RCX (or any other pbrick) legally. The only thing I can think of is hacking (which would obviously be illegal).

I'm pretty sure serious lego fanatics (eg, AFOLs) don't use it. But I could be wrong on that. (Again, I defer you to Lugnet.)