cheap laser imaging
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Posts: 46,084
I'm looking for a laser distance sensor to rig up on a pan-tilt mount to
create a cheap alternative to those extremely expensive 3-D imaging systems,
but haven't found much with decent range(perhaps something equivalent to the
Devantech high performance sonar sensor?). Anyone have any ideas?
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create a cheap alternative to those extremely expensive 3-D imaging systems,
but haven't found much with decent range(perhaps something equivalent to the
Devantech high performance sonar sensor?). Anyone have any ideas?
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Expand your wine savvy — and get some great new recipes — at MSN Wine.
http://wine.msn.com
Comments
have some products you can use.
Ken
In a message dated 1/1/2004 7:42:32 PM Pacific Standard Time,
cwentz86@h... writes:
I'm looking for a laser distance sensor to rig up on a pan-tilt mount to
create a cheap alternative to those extremely expensive 3-D imaging systems,
but haven't found much with decent range(perhaps something equivalent to the
Devantech high performance sonar sensor?). Anyone have any ideas?
[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> I'm looking for a laser distance sensor to rig up on a
> pan-tilt mount [noparse][[/noparse]...] but haven't found much with decent range
I haven't found anything at all that looks right for a Stamp project, but
I'm still looking and the search has only been casual so far. Keyence has
offered to send us a PZ-V71 for a trial, and I'll probably take them up on
it if I can get the time to do it justice. I'll post a report here if they
don't require a non-disclosure basis.
That unit has a range of about a meter, which is all we would need, and good
resolution which is more important. We have area sensors like the CMU Cam
and the Devantech sonar for navigation and the seek mode, but we would like
to use the laser for hand-eye coordination, so to speak. The Keyence PZ-V71
has the fine resolution needed for that -- although honestly, it didn't
sound like the interface would be right for a Stamp. (That's why I'm only
willing to take it on a free trial basis, and may be saddled with a
non-disclosure agreement as a result.) Units I've seen with longer range all
seem to have resolutions in the one or two meter class. And even there I
haven't found a component yet. I'm just talking about the typical laser
rangefinder retail products.
I would also be happy to hear about any component level products that others
have found. Did you find any at all, Christian?
Gary
The sensors i've been finding all seem to fall in the same category as you
have found - max distance at 1000mm. A german industrial sensor company,
Baumer Electric, has a large selection of sensors with RS-232 or RS-485
interfaces. For my purpose, the primary data processor is a pentium M
laptop with a few PIC's running low-level motor and sensor control, so the
interface aspect isn't as critical. I'll keep you updated if i find
anything significant.
Christian
>From: "Gary W. Sims" <simsgw@c...>
>Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] cheap laser imaging
>Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 00:38:12 -0800
>
>From: "Christian Wentz" <cwentz86@h...>
>
> > I'm looking for a laser distance sensor to rig up on a
> > pan-tilt mount [noparse][[/noparse]...] but haven't found much with decent range
>
>I haven't found anything at all that looks right for a Stamp project, but
>I'm still looking and the search has only been casual so far. Keyence has
>offered to send us a PZ-V71 for a trial, and I'll probably take them up on
>it if I can get the time to do it justice. I'll post a report here if they
>don't require a non-disclosure basis.
>
>That unit has a range of about a meter, which is all we would need, and
>good
>resolution which is more important. We have area sensors like the CMU Cam
>and the Devantech sonar for navigation and the seek mode, but we would like
>to use the laser for hand-eye coordination, so to speak. The Keyence PZ-V71
>has the fine resolution needed for that -- although honestly, it didn't
>sound like the interface would be right for a Stamp. (That's why I'm only
>willing to take it on a free trial basis, and may be saddled with a
>non-disclosure agreement as a result.) Units I've seen with longer range
>all
>seem to have resolutions in the one or two meter class. And even there I
>haven't found a component yet. I'm just talking about the typical laser
>rangefinder retail products.
>
>I would also be happy to hear about any component level products that
>others
>have found. Did you find any at all, Christian?
>
>Gary
>
>
>
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http://wine.msn.com
Following up the lead of Baumer Electric led me to Globetron
http://www.globetron.com/ldlasersensor.html and then to Acuity
http://www.acuityresearch.com/products/index.shtml.
Globetron's carries the Wenglor line, and I can't decide whether that
includes any with the capability of handing diffuse reflection from
uncooperative targets. Acuity Research definitely offers that capability and
the performance spec's sound right for your purposes. The only difficulty
would be cost. I didn't request a price quote, but from the flavor of the
site, the techniques used, and the accuracy and repeatability they
achieve... Well, I'd say my objective of ranges inside one meter might be
had for as little as $150, but your ranges are met with a product that
reaches out to 54 feet with tenth-inch accuracy. That sounds like a product
in the four-digit price range. Nevertheless, it's probably worth asking for
a quote. You never know.
If nothing else, their site includes a nice tutorial if you're considering a
roll-your-own sensor. (I love those tutorials. They always make it so much
easier to muster arguments for spending a few hundred instead of my time to
replicate somebody else's effort<g>.)
Thanks for the lead. Let me know if you find anything else. Give me an idea
what you consider "cheap" by the way. Are we talking a professional product
where cheap means under $10k? Or a hobby where it means under $10? Or
something in between?
Gary
>
> Acuity Research definitely offers that capability and the performance
> spec's sound right for your purposes. The only difficulty would be
> cost. I didn't request a price quote, but [noparse][[/noparse]...]
Yes, indeedy. I went back to ask for a price quote myself and discovered you
can download the price list after providing the contact information
marketing looks for. The unit that would fit your application I suspect:
Infrared beam Laser Diode Based Rangefinder with 0-54' range, 0.1" accuracy.
RS232 interface, NEMA-4/IP67 case. Includes sensor, 6’ cables, manual. $3495
But they do include the cables AND a manual, so it's economic, even if
"cheap" isn't quite the way I'd describe it for most purposes<g>.
Looking further down, they also have the pan/tilt head option you mentioned:
only $2190. And you can get the programmer's support library for your choice
of Windows or Linux (not both) for only $1495.
The product line for the ranges I need is much better of course. I can
save... why, literally hundreds of dollars compared to those prices.
Gary
Back to my search<sigh>. It may yet be worth designing one of my own. Wait a
minute. I'm retired. Hey Al Williams! Are you listening?
Judging by those price ranges, perhaps i can handle a slightly more
limited range. While I'm certainly willing to spend a few hundred for
decent range, 3500+ is a bit much for a high-school kid. $2000 for a
pan-tilt mount? My high speed linux-based system cost roughly $50!
Christian Wentz
BTW- i couldn't help but notice the e-mail address - how is your CS program
over there?
>From: "Gary W. Sims" <simsgw@c...>
>Reply-To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
>To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] cheap laser imaging
>Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2004 20:14:22 -0800
>
>From: "Gary W. Sims" <simsgw@c...>
>
> >
>
> > Acuity Research definitely offers that capability and the performance
> > spec's sound right for your purposes. The only difficulty would be
> > cost. I didn't request a price quote, but [noparse][[/noparse]...]
>
>Yes, indeedy. I went back to ask for a price quote myself and discovered
>you
>can download the price list after providing the contact information
>marketing looks for. The unit that would fit your application I suspect:
>
>Infrared beam Laser Diode Based Rangefinder with 0-54' range, 0.1"
>accuracy.
>RS232 interface, NEMA-4/IP67 case. Includes sensor, 6’ cables, manual.
>$3495
>
>
>
>But they do include the cables AND a manual, so it's economic, even if
>"cheap" isn't quite the way I'd describe it for most purposes<g>.
>
>
>
>Looking further down, they also have the pan/tilt head option you
>mentioned:
>only $2190. And you can get the programmer's support library for your
>choice
>of Windows or Linux (not both) for only $1495.
>
>
>
>The product line for the ranges I need is much better of course. I can
>save... why, literally hundreds of dollars compared to those prices.
>
>Gary
>
>Back to my search<sigh>. It may yet be worth designing one of my own. Wait
>a
>minute. I'm retired. Hey Al Williams! Are you listening?
>
>
>
>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.
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/basicstamps/
>
>To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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>
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>
>
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> Judging by those price ranges, perhaps i can handle a slightly
> more limited range. While I'm certainly willing to spend a few
> hundred for decent range, 3500+ is a bit much for a high-school
> kid. $2000 for a pan-tilt mount? My high speed linux-based
> system cost roughly $50!
>
And that last amount is half what my first car cost! <g> No, I didn't really
think either one of us would be interested at those prices. Assuming we had
an application that justified that amount (and the cash), I can think of
several alternative solutions for robot use. For example, in that price
range I could implement a very nice camera/processor combination doing scene
analysis that would be more useful than a flood of millimeter coordinates
for every spot within a fifty foot sphere. A verrrry nice camera processor
combo for that price<g>.
> BTW- i couldn't help but notice the e-mail address - how
> is your CS program over there?
Best in the world. In my only mildly biased opinion. I'll send you a note
off-list with more information.
Gary