Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #05797



To: "'beam@sgiblab.sgi.com'" beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: "Van Zoelen, Bram AA SSI-TSEA-352" Bram.A.A.vanZoelen@is.shell.com
Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 10:11:23 +0200
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: Edge detectors and Foot sensors


On the same subject.

Michael B. Binnard wrote a very nice thesis about "Leg design for a small
walking robot".[June 1992]
Its a document that i love to read and read and read again. In it there is
also some thoughts about sensors in the leg and what to watch out for. It's
in chapter 13

Bram


> ----------
> From:
> arno.jansen@superconsult.nl[SMTP:arno.jansen@superconsult.nl]
> Reply To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> Sent: Thursday, August 19, 1999 9:10 AM
> To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> Subject: RE: Edge detectors
>
> Okay, now the reply Bram gave makes perfectly sense. On the
> discoverychannel
> I saw a 2 second fragment of a walker of M.W.T., quite a bumpy ride. But a
> 12 motor/6 legged walker, (using Basic Stamp ?? or has that nothing to do
> with BEAM anymore?) should be able to determine wether his foot is up or
> down.
>
> If the bot is somehow able to combine the input it gets from all feet, it
> could detect wether it's moving upward or downward, but then again, where
> are mercury tilt switches for then :-)
>
> I got so many ideas after reading the Conrad Catalogue. It has all kinds
> of
> sensors, gas, rain/moist, light, heat, sonar, radar, presure, light, etc.
> Must be a great thing to combine in a bot, but it will probably loose much
> of it's BEAM-appearance I think.
>
> I was just typing what was thinking, maybe it helps someone ;) who knows.
>
> Best,
> Arno
>
>
> So, as I understand this, the pressure sensor tells you when the leg is
> touching a surface. You predict when the leg OUGHT to be touching a
> surface (perhaps by timing, or by a leg-position sensor), and if the
> pressure sensors says the leg is NOT touching, you know you're about to
> step in a hole, or off a cliff.
>
> Not a bad idea at all. The pressure sensor can be a foot, instead of an
> extra contact that can get caught on stuff. I don't recall seeing quite
> that method on the net (but there is a lot out there I haven't found
> yet).
>
> > P.S. Or was I stupid to think I was the only
> > one thinking of this problem???
>
> Nope.
>
> Regards,
> Bruce
>



5798 Thu, 19 Aug 1999 11:30:36 -0500 [alt-beam] IC Announcement - Keypad Encoder beam@sgiblab.sgi.com Todd Peterson --New Semiconductor Announcement--

We're pleased to announce an addition to our EDExx Family of integrated
circuits. The EDE1144 4x4 Keypad Encoder IC is designed to interface a 4x4
(or smaller) multiplexed keypad to a host microcontroller. Outputs are
serial (2400/9600 Baud) or parallel.

The EDE1144 features key debouncing and key auto-repeat when held. It is
electrically (EMI) quiet, scanning the keypad only once when a keypress is
detected, rather than a continual scan. A beeper drive signal provides
tactile feedback to the operator upon keypress.

Available in 18 pin DIP or SOIC packages, the EDE1144 sells for $7 US
Dollars quantity 1, and $3.25 1K pricing. A datasheet and full pricing
information is available at http://www.elabinc.com/chips.htm

Thank you,

Todd Peterson, President
E-Lab Digital Engineering, Inc.
(816) 257-9954
FAX: (816) 257-9945

http://www.elabinc.com

Note: Serious Distributor Inquiries for the EDExx Family of IC's are welcomed.

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