Ballsy mice and blind robots

Ugha

I've got a bunch of old computer mice sitting around (the kinds with balls, not lasers) and I was thinking of taking the encoders
out of them and using those on my robot to clock the rotation of arms/head/neck.

I'd score 2 encoders per mice (3 for ones with a scroll wheel) and some switches which I haven't figured a use for yet.

My question is... has anyone done much with old mice? If so how'd it go and were there any problems using the encoders?

Whit

Ugha,

Yes. There are good pieces on how to do this in many Robot builder's books. Here is an online·article from Hack-A-Day -
http://hackaday.com/2008/05/16/how-to-scavenge-a-mouse-for-parts/·This has some ideas for the other switches too.

I believe that the only issue you might have is other light sources. In the mouse the sensors and wheel function in the dark. Some light sources (Flourescent types) can interfer with the senosors.·I think if you just shade the sensors a bit, you will be o.k.

Here is also a funny picture of a very simple approach (though it is a optical mouse). This guy just used the mouse as-is and attached a mouse pad to his wheel!····· http://flickr.com/photos/27315689@N00/686051268/

Have fun!

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Whit+


"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." - Walt Disney

Post Edited (Whit) : 12/31/2008 2:50:07 PM GMT

SRLM

You could use a pulley system to transfer rotation from the axle to the mouse.

morgandeo

Hi Ugha,
Actually i done it during my final year project in college with my two partners. And i also used encoder for robotic arm but i can't found problem after completing the project. Best of luck for your project.

---

Robotic Palletizing[url=http://][/url]
" A winner is someone who is able to hold firm onto the principle of life, even when the darkest moment strikes."