Edmunds, fascinating project. I have a very crazy idea based on magnetism. Adhere cassette tape to the board and have a cassette tape head on the bottom of the vehicle reading information from the tape. You would have to record data on the tape beforehand. The idea is not unlike credit card readers that read the credit card magnetic stripe. Of course, the vehicle would need to move at a steady speed but that should not be too difficult.
Line/magnet follower
- Thread starter edmunds
- Start date
techElder
Well-known member
... and there would have to be direct contact between the head and the tape
... and the tape would eventually be demagnetized in the fields from the vehicle
... and the head would probably be a substantial part of the vehicle volume
However, speaking of "crazy idea", Edmund could possibly use a stack of small magnets with soft iron spacers to create his "message". Each message would change the sequence of the materials in the stack.
Controlling the field from the magnets would compress the message and detection area needed, and would make a system that can read the message quicker.
Sort of a mechanical strip of magnetic tape.
Thanks for all the ideas, guys!
I have been battling mechanical problems with steering to exhaustion, but it seems to be sorted now.
Here is the first attempt - no real PID tuning, nothing. Looks promising to me.
Now one has to build a test layout.
Cheers,
Edmunds
I have been battling mechanical problems with steering to exhaustion, but it seems to be sorted now.
Here is the first attempt - no real PID tuning, nothing. Looks promising to me
.Now one has to build a test layout.
Cheers,
Edmunds
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I was aware of the sensors, but did not know how they work. Now, knowing how they work (if I understand it correctly) they need uniform and moving past the sensor 'tooth' of some kind to generate the sinusoidal signal used for detection. I cannot imagine, how could I generate that for lateral position of the car on the road. Anyhow, idea can be useful for some other things in the future. Thanks for sharing.
Edmunds
Dear all,
The code below [did not fit in the post] works with both magnet polarities. I have not implemented the 'message' yet, but it is a mere technicality of counting the magnet transitions after an S magnet 'start condition'. In the meanwhile, I need to build the track and improve the code to use fewer variables and to be more efficient/readable. Any ideas on how to macro-nize or subroutin-ize this are welcome.
Thank you for your time,
Edmunds
The code below [did not fit in the post] works with both magnet polarities. I have not implemented the 'message' yet, but it is a mere technicality of counting the magnet transitions after an S magnet 'start condition'. In the meanwhile, I need to build the track and improve the code to use fewer variables and to be more efficient/readable. Any ideas on how to macro-nize or subroutin-ize this are welcome.
Thank you for your time,
Edmunds
radiosparks
Active member
Looks very much like the Miniatur Wunderland (Hamburg, Germany) Car System. They use magnet to steer the car by following a steel wire embedded in the road surface. The cars are sophisticated, having working head and brake lights, turn signals. See the link how this system works.
Miniatur Wunderland (Hamburg, Germany) Car System
How does the Faller Car System work?
Faller - Big in Small Things
Miniatur Wunderland (Hamburg, Germany) Car System
How does the Faller Car System work?
Faller - Big in Small Things
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erco
Senior Member
Just seeing this post for the first time, plenty of great ideas floated here.
I have exhibited robots, electronics and Picaxe at several maker faires. No matter what I have on display, the little $5 optical line follower kits ALWAYS steal the show. I have some running around the table at all times and all day I explain how they work to fascinated onlookers. There are always several grown men who argue with me at length that the black electrical tape line is magnetic and I am trying to fool everyone. They refuse to hear any other possibility. Human nature.
I have exhibited robots, electronics and Picaxe at several maker faires. No matter what I have on display, the little $5 optical line follower kits ALWAYS steal the show. I have some running around the table at all times and all day I explain how they work to fascinated onlookers. There are always several grown men who argue with me at length that the black electrical tape line is magnetic and I am trying to fool everyone. They refuse to hear any other possibility. Human nature.