Ping))) VS CMUCam

sobaman14

What is the difference between the Ping))) Ultrasonic sensor and the CMUCam? All I know is that the Ping))) sensor looks like WALL-E (from the movie).

-Is there even a difference?
-Which is less expensive?
-What does each do?
-Which one, in your opinion, is better?

Thanks!

Zoot

You are comparing apples and oranges here.

The Ping))) is a sonar distance sensor -- all it does is measure distance to whatever is more or less in front of it. It measures the distance by sending out a series of ultrasonic sound waves (you can not hear them; the frequency is beyond the range of the human ear). The time it takes the sound to "echo" back from whatever is in front of the sensor is measured -- this time = distance. The basic useful range is about 4cm to 350cm or so (about 10-11 feet). Very easy to use, relatively inexpensive.

The CMUcam is medium-resolution digital camera sensor array and lens (basically a lo-res video camera w/o storage) coupled to an on-board microcontroller that lets the "host", i.e. the computer or controller that runs a robot, or a kinetic art object, or assembly line maniuplator, etc) read a variety of interpolated data that the CMUcam derives from what is being "seen" by the camera. In other words, the host can find out what basic colors are present, what color "blobs" are in the field of view (and which way they are moving), etc. A CMUcam might be used for color "tracking" -- i.e. follow the red ball -- simple pattern/object recognition, navigation (recognizing the "horizon line" between a dark carpet and a wall), etc. It also includes a few servo out pins, that let the camera "track" simple color fields using pan & tilt servos (without an intervening host controller).

The real power of the CMUcam is in the programming -- what can you do with all that neat data. This device is much more expensive and more complex to use. There are however, lots of folks developing software packages and such that can do all kinds of cool stuff with this kind of "machine vision" data (e.g. RoboRealm).

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

1uffakind.com/robots/povBitMapBuilder.php
1uffakind.com/robots/resistorLadder.php

Post Edited (Zoot) : 1/3/2009 2:36:03 AM GMT

sobaman14

So which one is used for solving mazes? (I guess I should have asked that too...)

Thanks!

boe-crazy

The ping sensor is the one you want for mazes, but if you are wanting something, say, a surveillence robot go with the camera.

sobaman14

Thank you, I guess I want the Ping sensor...

boe-crazy

glad to help, and if you arent money tight i'd get the cam too.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
To make something work one must build, test, and verify bfore proceding.· -- myself

GWJax

Everything takes time to learn and to save money to buy. Once you have mastered the Ping))) then move up to some thing different but keeping the Ping))) in use and re-program your routines to be faster and more efficient or just move up to the BS2px24 for the speed and more useful commands that it has.

Jax

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..

Taylor1672

for simple object detection consider the PIR Motion Sensor. Simple 1 pin connection to a microcontroller and its only $9.99! I have one very sensitive! I've tried to get passed it, ... still trying!

boe-crazy

The ping can get confusing.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
To make something work one must build, test, and verify bfore proceding.· -- myself

GWJax

boe-crazy said...
The ping can get confusing.

You just need the correct math routine to make it easier to use that's all. In the demo code it has the cm and Inch math routines that you need.

Jax

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..

boe-crazy

The ping sensor is a mind numbing, anger inflicting device used to torcher the mind. I want to rip my hair out with mine.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
To make something work one must build, test, and verify bfore proceding.· -- myself

GWJax

Hang tight and I'll try to help out by providing you a debug program for you.

Jax

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
If a robot has a screw then it must be romoved and hacked into..

boe-crazy

thanks

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
To make something work one must build, test, and verify bfore proceding.· -- myself

Chris Savage

boe-crazy said...
The ping sensor is a mind numbing, anger inflicting device used to torcher the mind. I want to rip my hair out with mine.

You are the first person I have seen experience this much frustration.· In the end it was a jumper removed from your development board rather than an issue with the PING))).· My advice would be in the future to break the issue down.· With no LED simply testing for power on the PING))) using a multi-meter would have saved you so much frustration.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Chris Savage
Parallax Engineering

boe-crazy

I can get very frustrated at times. I skipped over about four words in the instructions and it caused me so much frustration. It's kinda silly.

▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
To make something work one must build, test, and verify bfore proceding.· -- myself