Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!stanford.edu!kronos.arc.nasa.gov!doctor
From: doctor@kronos.arc.nasa.gov (Terry Fong)
Subject: Re: Cheap, light orientation sensor needed
Message-ID: <1992Nov6.171604.29238@kronos.arc.nasa.gov>
Keywords: orientation, cheap
Sender: terry@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov (Terry Fong)
Nntp-Posting-Host: tardis-arclan.arc.nasa.gov
Organization: NASA/ARC Information Sciences Division
References: <1sDsTB1w165w@galsci.uucp> <1992Nov6.165554.16576@PacBell.COM>
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 17:16:04 GMT
Lines: 25

In article <1992Nov6.165554.16576@PacBell.COM> tlhouns@ns.pacbell.com (Lee Hounshell) writes:
>
>I had an idea for constructing one using "bend" sensors with weights attached
>to one end.  As the robot's orientation would change, the sensors would move
>(because of gravity pulling the weights).  If several of these sensors were
>placed strategically inside a robot's chassis, I suspect that one could calculate
>the robot's orientation fairly accurately.  Any comments?

Well, this might give you 2 axes of tilt (roll & pitch angles), but
what about the 3rd axis (yaw/heading)? You'll still need a compass (or
other referenced sensor)...

By the way, there is a company in the Bay Area that sells
vibrating piezoelectric gyroscopic chips (primarily used in missiles,
and other devices) pretty cheaply. I'll post the address as soon as I
find it... The resolution is pretty poor though, but may be good
enough for "cheap" applications...

-Terry
 
-- 
_______________________________________________________________________________
"I may be captain by rank, but I've  | Terry Fong <terry@ptolemy.arc.nasa.gov>
 never wanted to be anything but an  | NASA-AMES M/S 269-3, Moffett Field, CA
 engineer!" -- M. "Scotty" Scott     | (415) 604-6063 office, 604-6081 lab
