[Robotgroup] Detect the Rink. Re: Drive a Droid proposal

[Vern Graner]

Bruce Waters wrote:
> Vern,
>         I suggest a point-of-view shift from detect-the-ropes
> to detect-the-rink.   If you place two detectors, one outboard
> of each wheel,  you can have the bot naturally turn back into 
> the rink without a rink monitor person.   Just "pause" the wheel 
> *opposite* the sensor which no longer senses the rink.

Cool concept, but the issue would be the "rink" itself. Either we 
"paint" the floor (unlikely), provide plywood floor pieces the right 
color (possibility) or calibrate the sensor to use the existing floor 
color (also possible). In all cases the "rink" would have to end with a 
buffer zone to allow the droid to swing around w/o encroaching on the 
crowd. hmmm...

I do like the simplicity of "shutting down" or "pausing" the wheel motor 
that is not in the "safe zone" of the rink-- thereby leading to the only 
motion naturally bringing the robot in an arc "back " onto the rink. Cool!

Thanks for the idea! :)

Vern

-- 
Vern Graner CNE/CNA/SSE    | "If the network is down, then you're
Senior Systems Engineer    | obviously incompetent so why are we
Texas Information Services | paying you? Of course, if the network
http://www.txis.com        | is up, then we obviously don't need
Austin Office 512 328-8947 | you, so why are we paying you?" ©VLG