I have to design a model car that can follow a maze constructed from metallic tape stuck to the floor. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about how i could detect the foil tape so that my car won't cross any of the "walls" of the maze. A method to detect the foil tape needs to be selected with the reasons for the choice. The car will be controlled by an eight bit microcontroller.
2007-10-20 09:37:11 · 3 answers · asked by Iain M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
The GRD1114 reflective sensor can be used for that sort of application.
see http://www.solarbotics.com/cad/products/qrd1114/
2007-10-20 17:41:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is entirely theoretical, but two infra-red LED and phototransistor pairs, arranged on either side of the vehicle's centreline (but blind to each other's outputs) should do it. Fit them so that when the car is on course, both are activated by the reflection of the foil. If the car veers to the right so that the right-hand phototransistor output is lost - or vice versa -, the car turns to the left until both signals are re-established. Add a bit of rate damping to the servos and Bob's your mother's brother!
2007-10-20 10:03:41 · answer #2 · answered by Michael B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The easy way is optical. Use an LED and a phototransistor to see whether the light is reflecting or not.
2007-10-20 11:58:36 · answer #3 · answered by StephenWeinstein 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋