Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Sonar — Parallax Forums

Sonar

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-09-04 13:54 in General Discussion
Can anyone tell me how to take the 'distance' reading that the Polariod 6500
generates to the stamp, and tell the stamp to move that 'distance'. I can
quite easily programme each individually but I can't figure out from the
Stamp manual how to use the reading I get from my sonar board, and tell the
motors to either move that distance or stop, depending how close it is to an
object.
Many, many thanks in advance to anyone who is able to solve this problem,
which I've been trying to solve for months.
John
-

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-01-29 15:49
    Another option is to continuously monitor the output from the 6500
    and tell the stamp to sstop the motors if the distance measurement is
    below a certain number. ('m working on my own robot with the same
    setup but I don't have a 6500. I'm building my own sonar based on
    the diagram in the stamp manual).
    Doug


    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > From: "john & lisa" <johnlisa@c...>
    > Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 14:25:04 -0000
    > Reply-to: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Sonar

    > Can anyone tell me how to take the 'distance' reading that the Polariod 6500
    > generates to the stamp, and tell the stamp to move that 'distance'. I can
    > quite easily programme each individually but I can't figure out from the
    > Stamp manual how to use the reading I get from my sonar board, and tell the
    > motors to either move that distance or stop, depending how close it is to an
    > object.
    > Many, many thanks in advance to anyone who is able to solve this problem,
    > which I've been trying to solve for months.
    >
    John
    > -
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-01-29 15:49
    John,
    Do you have shaft encoders for exact readings on the wheels to
    measure distance? If not, you will have to use time/distance type
    data.

    Find out how far it moves in a second, then find out how far away
    something is and do some math.

    Say the distance measuring system says it's 5 feet to the object.
    Your bot can move 6 inches per second. it will take 10 seconds to
    reach the object. The rangefinder returns a number of some sort, that
    will be a close proportion to the distance it is from an object.
    We'll use 5ms for each inch of distance. 5 feet is 60 inches. 60
    inches times 5 ms =300 ms for a 5 foot distance. Lets say your
    polaroid returns a number of 300 (to make it ieasy to do the math)
    for this distance. the stamp reads 300 from the polaroid, and tells
    the motors to run for 6 seconds. (300ms/5ms) if it were half that
    distance it would be 150ms (150/5ms)and the stamp would
    do the math to get a time/distance of 5 seconds or 30 inches.

    Hope this helps, and keep in mind that these numbers are purely
    theoretical.

    Doug


    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > From: "john & lisa" <johnlisa@c...>
    > Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 14:25:04 -0000
    > Reply-to: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Sonar

    > Can anyone tell me how to take the 'distance' reading that the Polariod 6500
    > generates to the stamp, and tell the stamp to move that 'distance'. I can
    > quite easily programme each individually but I can't figure out from the
    > Stamp manual how to use the reading I get from my sonar board, and tell the
    > motors to either move that distance or stop, depending how close it is to an
    > object.
    > Many, many thanks in advance to anyone who is able to solve this problem,
    > which I've been trying to solve for months.
    >
    John
    > -
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-19 19:36
    Hello,

    I know this is a little OT, but I would like to build my own ultrasonic
    distance sensor controlled by a BS2SX, but I'm having trouble finding
    transducers. Does anyone know good transducers and where to get them?

    Thanks in advance,

    Rik
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-19 19:42
    Rik: I got a couple from Alltronics for $4 something per send/rec pair...
    haven't done anything with them yet so can't report on their functioning!

    Bree

    >===== Original Message From "Rik Vlaming" <rik.vlaming@s...> =====
    >Hello,
    >
    >I know this is a little OT, but I would like to build my own ultrasonic
    >distance sensor controlled by a BS2SX, but I'm having trouble finding
    >transducers. Does anyone know good transducers and where to get them?
    >
    >Thanks in advance,
    >
    >Rik
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-19 19:48
    Rik,

    Jameco sells a nice set of matched Transmitter/Receiver 40 kHz
    transducers. Part number 136653 for $5.95. Scott Edwards uses them
    for the Short-Range sonar project in the book "Programming and
    Customizing the Basic Stamp Computer."

    --Jeff
    High-TechGarage

    --- In basicstamps@y..., "Rik Vlaming" <rik.vlaming@s...> wrote:
    > Hello,
    >
    > I know this is a little OT, but I would like to build my own
    ultrasonic
    > distance sensor controlled by a BS2SX, but I'm having trouble
    finding
    > transducers. Does anyone know good transducers and where to get
    them?
    >
    > Thanks in advance,
    >
    > Rik
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-03-21 22:05
    I use the sonar units from Polaroid 660 cameras. You can get them
    from eBay for $5.00 and up, and with a tad of modification they work
    GREAT! Mine measure and return (with the right software)
    measurements in inches from 20 up to 130 ot 140 or so inches. I have
    the Lynxmotion IRPD kit and two sonar modules being debugged and
    getting ready to install on my 'bot. The sonar will detect objects
    beyond the reach of the infrared, and will detect glass doors
    (infrared passes through them and the bot tries to do the same. . .)

    I have the software so that either the sonar or infrared will cause
    obstacle avoidance and if the 'bot squares up on a wall, the infrared
    will stop it, back-up-a-tad-rotate-a-tad-to-the-right and then
    coninue on. Detection on one side or the other will cause the motor
    on the opposite side to stop, making the 'bor "veer" away from the
    obstacle.

    Been FUN trying to make the sonar and infrared work together! Timing
    is *KEY*

    Doug


    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > From: bs2web@y...
    > Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:48:48 -0000
    > Reply-to: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Sonar

    > Rik,
    >
    > Jameco sells a nice set of matched Transmitter/Receiver 40 kHz
    > transducers. Part number 136653 for $5.95. Scott Edwards uses them
    > for the Short-Range sonar project in the book "Programming and
    > Customizing the Basic Stamp Computer."
    >
    > --Jeff
    > High-TechGarage
    >
    > --- In basicstamps@y..., "Rik Vlaming" <rik.vlaming@s...> wrote:
    > > Hello,
    > >
    > > I know this is a little OT, but I would like to build my own
    > ultrasonic
    > > distance sensor controlled by a BS2SX, but I'm having trouble
    > finding
    > > transducers. Does anyone know good transducers and where to get
    > them?
    > >
    > > Thanks in advance,
    > >
    > > Rik
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-29 14:49
    Has anyone ever tried the Sonar project in Scott Edwards book?

    My friend and I got the circuit to work - but we want it to have a longer
    range ( about 10 inches right now). Does anyone have any ideas as to how we
    can make the circuit have a longer range ? We would like to get a range of
    2 to 3 feet. Nothing against the Polaroid sensor, we just want to use the
    parts we have ( i.e. the Jameco 136653 40kHz ultrasonic recv/xmit ).
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-01 18:31
    The sensor set you mention in the Jameco catalog is $6.25. I have
    purchased three polaroid sonar 660 sonar cameras and the most I
    have paid for ny of them is $7.00. These units work very well for
    measuring from about 21 inches to well over 10 feet!. And with a
    bit of math, you can measure to 1 inch resolution, full range.

    Doug


    On 29 Aug 2001, at 8:49, Bryan Smith wrote:

    > Has anyone ever tried the Sonar project in Scott Edwards book?
    >
    > My friend and I got the circuit to work - but we want it to have a
    > longer range ( about 10 inches right now). Does anyone have any ideas
    > as to how we can make the circuit have a longer range ? We would like
    > to get a range of 2 to 3 feet. Nothing against the Polaroid sensor,
    > we just want to use the parts we have ( i.e. the Jameco 136653 40kHz
    > ultrasonic recv/xmit ).
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-03 16:22
    Doug,
    Do you have a good source for the polaroid sensors? Thanks in advance.
    John
    --- In basicstamps@y..., veewee77@a... wrote:
    > The sensor set you mention in the Jameco catalog is $6.25. I have
    > purchased three polaroid sonar 660 sonar cameras and the most I
    > have paid for ny of them is $7.00. These units work very well for
    > measuring from about 21 inches to well over 10 feet!. And with a
    > bit of math, you can measure to 1 inch resolution, full range.
    >
    > Doug
    >
    >
    > On 29 Aug 2001, at 8:49, Bryan Smith wrote:
    >
    > > Has anyone ever tried the Sonar project in Scott Edwards book?
    > >
    > > My friend and I got the circuit to work - but we want it to have a
    > > longer range ( about 10 inches right now). Does anyone have any
    ideas
    > > as to how we can make the circuit have a longer range ? We would
    like
    > > to get a range of 2 to 3 feet. Nothing against the Polaroid
    sensor,
    > > we just want to use the parts we have ( i.e. the Jameco 136653
    40kHz
    > > ultrasonic recv/xmit ).
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    Subject
    > > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-04 02:26
    I get them from eBay. Just do a search for

    polaroid 660
    or
    polaroid sonar
    or
    polaroid autofocus

    Don't give more than $10 or $15 shipping included.

    Once you get a 660 (or 600 may work) I can give you the scoop on
    connecting it and give you software to drive it.

    I can also show you how to hack the sonar to make it work.

    On 3 Sep 2001, at 15:22, coondog45@h... wrote:

    > Doug,
    > Do you have a good source for the polaroid sensors? Thanks in advance.
    > John --- In basicstamps@y..., veewee77@a... wrote: > The sensor set
    > you mention in the Jameco catalog is $6.25. I have > purchased three
    > polaroid sonar 660 sonar cameras and the most I > have paid for ny of
    > them is $7.00. These units work very well for > measuring from about
    > 21 inches to well over 10 feet!. And with a > bit of math, you can
    > measure to 1 inch resolution, full range. > > Doug > > > On 29 Aug
    > 2001, at 8:49, Bryan Smith wrote: > > > Has anyone ever tried the
    > Sonar project in Scott Edwards book? > > > > My friend and I got the
    > circuit to work - but we want it to have a > > longer range ( about 10
    > inches right now). Does anyone have any ideas > > as to how we can
    > make the circuit have a longer range ? We would like > > to get a
    > range of 2 to 3 feet. Nothing against the Polaroid sensor, > > we
    > just want to use the parts we have ( i.e. the Jameco 136653 40kHz > >
    > ultrasonic recv/xmit ). > > > > > > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail
    > to: > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y... > > from the same email address
    > that you subscribed. Text in the Subject > > and Body of the message
    > will be ignored. > > > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to >
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-04 13:07
    I've seen a lot of e-mails that reference the polaroid unit. But as I
    stated in my e-mail, I want to use what I have. Have you ever tried the
    Sonar project in the Scott Edwards book ? If so, were you able to make that
    circuit extend its range ?

    I appreciate your reply, and eventually I probably will experiment with the
    polaroid unit - but not yet.

    >
    Original Message
    > From: veewee77@a... [noparse]/noparse]SMTP:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=_ba0e323hF_qjnfrROng_zK4fnuTel4ZCMQlB_nwNDgBICNOdjhiSRdp28NBZoJxG2y7eF8bGvNXISz5cA]veewee77@a...[/url
    > Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2001 12:31 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] SONAR
    >
    > The sensor set you mention in the Jameco catalog is $6.25. I have
    > purchased three polaroid sonar 660 sonar cameras and the most I
    > have paid for ny of them is $7.00. These units work very well for
    > measuring from about 21 inches to well over 10 feet!. And with a
    > bit of math, you can measure to 1 inch resolution, full range.
    >
    > Doug
    >
    >
    > On 29 Aug 2001, at 8:49, Bryan Smith wrote:
    >
    > > Has anyone ever tried the Sonar project in Scott Edwards book?
    > >
    > > My friend and I got the circuit to work - but we want it to have a
    > > longer range ( about 10 inches right now). Does anyone have any ideas
    > > as to how we can make the circuit have a longer range ? We would like
    > > to get a range of 2 to 3 feet. Nothing against the Polaroid sensor,
    > > we just want to use the parts we have ( i.e. the Jameco 136653 40kHz
    > > ultrasonic recv/xmit ).
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > > and Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-09-04 13:54
    If you have the little round, silver cans similar to the ones used in the
    Devantech unit, there are schematics available on the 'net to use them.
    Unfortunately I don't have any links on this computer, but if I remember
    right, it was easy to search for with Yahoo.

    Original Message


    > I've seen a lot of e-mails that reference the polaroid unit. But as I
    > stated in my e-mail, I want to use what I have. Have you ever tried the
    > Sonar project in the Scott Edwards book ? If so, were you able to make
    that
    > circuit extend its range ?
Sign In or Register to comment.