$100 Open Source Laser Range Finder
prof_braino
Posts: 4,313
Hey all. There might be an open source time of flight laser range finder available soon. It would do all specialized functions, like the precision timing and down conversion, and we would do our own processing on our own microcontroller:
"The idea behind the product (OSLRF-01) is to provide a US$100 TOF LRF that consists of the difficult to design, front-end components only - there is no signal processing. The signals that come out are timebase-expanded so can interface directly to the ADCs on a regular microcontroller. Users can write their own distance measuring algorithms which should be particularly exciting to do on the multitasking Prop with external ADCs. "
I don't know if it will be exactly $100. but in that ball park. It would have the same performance as the ($300) DS00 and SF02 but developers would supply our own processor, and possibly laser, sensor, and lenses. We'd probably end up with the same ~70 gram weight for the unit, but we could built it into our dbot in any configuration we want, instead of bolting on a monolithic unit.
What do you think? Can anybody come up with an application for this?
I'll post when the data sheet is availible.
"The idea behind the product (OSLRF-01) is to provide a US$100 TOF LRF that consists of the difficult to design, front-end components only - there is no signal processing. The signals that come out are timebase-expanded so can interface directly to the ADCs on a regular microcontroller. Users can write their own distance measuring algorithms which should be particularly exciting to do on the multitasking Prop with external ADCs. "
I don't know if it will be exactly $100. but in that ball park. It would have the same performance as the ($300) DS00 and SF02 but developers would supply our own processor, and possibly laser, sensor, and lenses. We'd probably end up with the same ~70 gram weight for the unit, but we could built it into our dbot in any configuration we want, instead of bolting on a monolithic unit.
What do you think? Can anybody come up with an application for this?
I'll post when the data sheet is availible.
Comments
Looking forward to it.
What will be its range?
FWIW...that $100 price point could open up some incredible price sensitive markets.
That would be up to the developer, when selecting the parts. Being open, we get to spec what laser and optics we use. So, a cheap laser and small lens would have short range. A big lens would collect more light, and allow a longer range. A more powerful laser would also increase the range. A full-on telescope would greatly increase the range. But cost more, so you decide the trade offs. Neat!
The critical parts making up the kit would be the same as the DS00 and SF02. The DS00 has a 350 meter range, the SF02 has a 40 meter range, due to laser and optics. It should be able to get a kilometer or more with the proper optics and laser, if I recall correctly. But I don't recall off the top of my head the maximum interval for the timer.
We are interested in this product you are talking about. For now we are keen to get our hands on SF03 but its price tag is making your budget go upset.
I have question how long you think it will for this Open source laser range finder to develop and will you be able to ship it Australia?
Also, We want to hook this device up on a servo/DC motor in order to rotate it to take 360 degree readings. We are just a bunch of hobbist trying to shape some ideas. Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.
You should consider getting is directly from Lightware. In US, law requires a local distributor, it might be cheaper to get it direct. The consideration is shipping costs from south africa, there are additional cost to re-ship from US to Oz.
He's setting up the kits now. I will post when I get some, but we have no definite time frame. Lightware's stuff is pretty much prefect before it gets presented, its usually worth the wait. Hopefully by Spring, but thats just a guess.
[/QUOTE]Also, We want to hook this device up on a servo/DC motor in order to rotate it to take 360 degree readings. We are just a bunch of hobbist trying to shape some ideas. Any thoughts and suggestions are welcome.
I got a guy asking about that too. The unit presents about 2 measurements per second to your terminal display due to the baud rate. I think it can make 16 measurements per second (I don't have the data sheet infront of me) but you have to be fast enough to recieve those at the rate they are presented. If you look at the laser in IR it is flashing like a strobe light, so its sees a zillion pulses and builds those in to a measurement several times a second.
If we swing it around and randomly check the "no target" areas and linger on the areas where a measurement is detected, we should be able to get a pretty good dynamic map of where things are and aren't. At least that's what we want to try for the project in hand.
What are you specificly trying to accomplish? There might be other options to get the job done for cheaper.