Distance Measurement Input Device

[Larry] put a different spin on a television remote control. He used an Arduino and an IR receiver to learn the codes from the factory remote. Now that he can use an IR LED to playback these signals he worked on an alternative to pressing buttons as the input. The ultrasonic range finder seen above allows him to wave his hand in front of the device to change channels and alter the volume levels. Check it out after the break.

There are many other ways that gestures could be used with this system, including a laser based input method. We’d like to see [Larry’s] system incorporated into a coffee table of some kind, as long as there was an opening for the range finder to work.

[flickr video=http://www.flickr.com/photos/peplop/4697311112/]

8 thoughts on “Distance Measurement Input Device

  1. For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive – you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope.

    It saved a lot of muscular expenditure of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same programme.

  2. D-beam – cool, never knew about that, though this uses sound, I was going to use an IR distance sensor.

    Next stage is to build it out from more than one sensor, probably LDRs or something but keep it small enough and then fit it in the arm of my chair.

  3. The comment by zerth may be tongue in cheek, I don’t know, in a way I hope it is, but it may actually have some believe receivers where actually designed to operate in that manner, when it was a highly undesirable inherant trait to put up with regenerative receivers. People out up with regeneration receivers because they could here stations the older radios weren’t sensitive enough to receive.

    @sevendeuce nope he didn’t make a D-Beam, Larry’s remote uses sound.

    A far out project Larry. Strapped to the arm of an easy chair is the logical location. But imagine an animated speaker sitting in the chair waving a hand in range of the device, and changes the channel in a crucial point in a ball game? Then trying to get his hand to the right spot as to not miss the reply while his buddies are issuing death threats. :) The TV remote has already changed the tranquility in the TV room, your remote could change it for the worse yet. Of course the standard remote could be kept at hand for use in times of crisis.

  4. @ D_

    You fail Sci-fi forever :D

    That was a quote (or perhaps a paraphrase) from one of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy books. Zaphod at some point throws a pencil through the ‘control space’ to turn off the radio.

  5. Hey D_

    I have to say it was a it annoying to get it working correctly but after a while I got used to it :)

    And yes people have accidently changed the channel, so I think a better set of sensors will help so that you have to make much more significant motions.

    Also I want to try getting an emotive headset so I could hook up my brainwaves to change channel… now that would be awesome.

  6. This goes out to Mike Szczys- Mike i need a set of blueprints or schematics, parts list and parts sources for building your Distance Measurement Input Device. You can send me the information to me email address of stephenrost52@yahoo.com or if there is a charge for this please email me with the cost and your address and i will send you your fee.
    Thank You
    Stephen Rost

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