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Gimbal Table

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-05-13 00:09 in General Discussion
Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking sensor
on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my mobile
platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing in
the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but im
wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant use a
compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has anyone
done a similar project before and found anything which could be
helpful?

Thanks,

Ali Topping

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-12 18:11
    You need an external absolute position reference of some kind, because
    relying on outputs of an on-board guidance system (aka "dead reckoning")
    becomes inaccurate over time due to accumulated drift in a double
    integration of acceleration to position. A digital compass is the
    preferred method, so consider shielding an on-board compass from the
    motor EMF with mu metal. Other reference methods are possible (GPS
    systems use 3 satellites), but are complex and may limit your range
    and/or accuracy.

    Dennis

    Original Message
    From: Ali Topping [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=C3pim_-9bUDEPPjb_wdrGC4aI0zmYBgWWPkcfuNBdh6BWIBz3kez3mMDM15BhNMZRItLkvg]ajt1@h...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 3:38 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Gimbal Table


    Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking sensor
    on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my mobile
    platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing in
    the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
    connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but im
    wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant use a
    compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has anyone
    done a similar project before and found anything which could be
    helpful?

    Thanks,

    Ali Topping
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-12 18:15
    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Dennis O'Leary <doleary@e...>
    wrote:
    > You need an external absolute position reference of some kind,
    because
    > relying on outputs of an on-board guidance system (aka "dead
    reckoning")
    > becomes inaccurate over time due to accumulated drift in a double
    > integration of acceleration to position. A digital compass is the
    > preferred method, so consider shielding an on-board compass from the
    > motor EMF with mu metal. Other reference methods are possible (GPS
    > systems use 3 satellites), but are complex and may limit your range
    > and/or accuracy.
    >
    > Dennis

    What about a gyro ? that should offer a base that has no external
    references ?

    Just thinking out loud....


    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Ali Topping [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:ajt1@h...]
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 3:38 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Gimbal Table
    >
    >
    > Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking
    sensor
    > on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my
    mobile
    > platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing in
    > the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
    > connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but im
    > wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant use
    a
    > compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has
    anyone
    > done a similar project before and found anything which could be
    > helpful?
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Ali Topping
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-12 19:02
    How about a gyro on a chip: http://www.microsensors.com/gyro.html


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "Dave Mucha" <davemucha@j...>
    wrote:
    > --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Dennis O'Leary <doleary@e...>
    > wrote:
    > > You need an external absolute position reference of some kind,
    > because
    > > relying on outputs of an on-board guidance system (aka "dead
    > reckoning")
    > > becomes inaccurate over time due to accumulated drift in a double
    > > integration of acceleration to position. A digital compass is the
    > > preferred method, so consider shielding an on-board compass from
    the
    > > motor EMF with mu metal. Other reference methods are possible
    (GPS
    > > systems use 3 satellites), but are complex and may limit your
    range
    > > and/or accuracy.
    > >
    > > Dennis
    >
    > What about a gyro ? that should offer a base that has no external
    > references ?
    >
    > Just thinking out loud....
    >
    >
    > >
    > >
    Original Message
    > > From: Ali Topping [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:ajt1@h...]
    > > Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 3:38 AM
    > > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Gimbal Table
    > >
    > >
    > > Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking
    > sensor
    > > on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my
    > mobile
    > > platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing
    in
    > > the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
    > > connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but
    im
    > > wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant
    use
    > a
    > > compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has
    > anyone
    > > done a similar project before and found anything which could be
    > > helpful?
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Ali Topping
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-12 20:52
    Dave -

    Gyro chips that I'm aware of just produce angular velocity, without any
    external absolute position reference. Integrating their outputs once to
    produce angular position has the same cumulative drift problem as I
    mentioned before for accelerometer use.

    I don't mean to downplay entirely "dead reckoning." Current GPS-based
    car navigation systems use it briefly when the car enters a dead spot
    for GPS reception, and then corrects the cumulative drift to an absolute
    position reference when the GPS reception is resumed. An article in the
    current Scientific American on GPS systems has a good explanation of
    correcting GPS errors with use of 3 satellites, but it doesn't mention
    this dead reckoning problem.

    Dennis

    Original Message
    From: Dave Mucha [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=FtU-FpmiV_imUq3eW82DHL6_R815C2eQzqiQGl_m4KDH3CV0AQpSgZSlet34PRc3vAH-t1L9TsricCE2]davemucha@j...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 10:15 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Gimbal Table


    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Dennis O'Leary <doleary@e...>
    wrote:
    > You need an external absolute position reference of some kind,
    because
    > relying on outputs of an on-board guidance system (aka "dead
    reckoning")
    > becomes inaccurate over time due to accumulated drift in a double
    > integration of acceleration to position. A digital compass is the
    > preferred method, so consider shielding an on-board compass from the
    > motor EMF with mu metal. Other reference methods are possible (GPS
    > systems use 3 satellites), but are complex and may limit your range
    > and/or accuracy.
    >
    > Dennis

    What about a gyro ? that should offer a base that has no external
    references ?

    Just thinking out loud....


    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Ali Topping [noparse][[/noparse]mailto:ajt1@h...]
    > Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 3:38 AM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Gimbal Table
    >
    >
    > Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking
    sensor
    > on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my
    mobile
    > platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing in
    > the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
    > connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but im
    > wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant use
    a
    > compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has
    anyone
    > done a similar project before and found anything which could be
    > helpful?
    >
    > Thanks,
    >
    > Ali Topping



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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-12 23:34
    This is one of several different mfr's examples of "angular rate gyros"
    based on a "coriolis tuning fork principle," producing angular velocity
    only -- no absolute position reference.

    Dennis

    Original Message
    From: johncouture [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=jW7CwylWcAHv7aCoCX01D-eTLMtzQvIz32MaMrSLObE0VnxrGnaVYa-vogeWqb2f58HbVNJt0FrridIoFWblMOo]basicstamp@j...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 11:03 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Re: Gimbal Table


    How about a gyro on a chip: http://www.microsensors.com/gyro.html
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-13 00:09
    > Hi. Iv undertaken a project which aims to imitate the tracking sensor
    > on a tank's turret.(scaled down version)The idea is that as my mobile
    > platform base moves but the sensor table above it stays pointing in
    > the same orientation. Iv considered using a memsic accelerometer
    > connected to the base platform and feeding that to my stamp but im
    > wondering if there's a better way to solve the problem. I cant use a
    > compass because of the E.M. fields produced by my motors. Has anyone
    > done a similar project before and found anything which could be
    > helpful?

    Google "Angular Rate Sensor":

    <http://www.analog.com/Analog_Root/productPage/productHome/0,2121,ADXRS150,0
    0.html>


    --
    Enjoy,
    George Warner,
    Schizophrenic Optimization Scientists
    Apple Developer Technical Support (DTS)
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