Programming light sensors for robot

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around programming light sensors for a robot, focusing on movement control and sensor functionality. Participants explore methods for improving turning speed and the potential applications of light sensors in robotic navigation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes their current robot setup, including basic movement functions and challenges with turning speed.
  • Another participant inquires about the wheel arrangement and speed control mechanisms to improve turning performance.
  • There is a suggestion that light sensors can be used in retroflective mode to track lines or locate light sources like candles.
  • A participant proposes an alternative turning method by running one wheel in reverse to potentially double the turn rate.
  • One participant expresses a desire to program the robot to follow a line and later to locate light sources, noting their limited programming experience.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple approaches to improving the robot's turning mechanism and discuss the capabilities of light sensors, but no consensus is reached on the best method for turning or programming the sensors.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific hardware components, such as the PIC16F6690 chip and battery power, but do not provide detailed specifications or assumptions about the programming environment.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in robotics programming, particularly those working with light sensors and movement control in robotic systems.

DrDanger
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Hey guys I'm building a robot and just finished all the circuit work, and am now working on programming it. I got all the basic movement functions down, but am having trouble with a few things. How do you make it turn..fast? i can make it turn but its horrible. Also i have two light sensors put on it given to me by a professor at our robotics club, but he left for India for a month so he cannot help me. I guess my question is how do you program the light sensors? and what are some things they are capable of doing? the chip we are using is a pic16f6690 i think. thanks for all the help!
 
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DrDanger said:
Hey guys I'm building a robot and just finished all the circuit work, and am now working on programming it. I got all the basic movement functions down, but am having trouble with a few things. How do you make it turn..fast? i can make it turn but its horrible. Also i have two light sensors put on it given to me by a professor at our robotics club, but he left for India for a month so he cannot help me. I guess my question is how do you program the light sensors? and what are some things they are capable of doing? the chip we are using is a pic16f6690 i think. thanks for all the help!

Cool. Post some pictures!

As for fast turning, do you have some sort of speed control on it? How does it turn (what are the wheel arrangements)?

The light sensors would normally be used along with a LED light source in retroflective mode, like to track a white line on the ground or something. Or to find a candle in a dark room or something.
 
there are two wheels that have motors on them and then three little rolly type wheels in the front that move in any direction. for turning i simply stop one wheel and make the other go for a short amount of time then start them both going again..but obviously its not a "cool" looking turn and is slow. It is powered by 6 batteries ( 9 volts). I would like to make a program to follow a line then make another one later on to make it find a candle in a room or some other light source, but i know very little about programming. I am reading some c++ but haven't got very far. ill post pictures asap! thanks!
 
Instead of stopping one wheel and running the other to turn, run the first wheel in reverse. Twice the turn rate, right? Have fun!
 

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