Robots on four wheels are fun on their own merits, but one thing that most lack is the ability to see through walls. With it’s onboard radar system, this bot is equipped to see objects that a person couldn’t normally detect on the other side of the wall.
Although some of the more “nuts and bolts” details of this build are missing, the robot uses an Ultra-Wideband Radar system called the [D1] Radar System. This system can, according to their documentation, “Avoid false positives caused by vapor, dust, smoke, rain or other small particles.” Apparently this means drywall as well if programmed correctly.
In the video after the break, the robot’s sensor package is programmed to ignore anything within 1.5 meters. This allows the robot to mirror the movement of the apparent shelving unit on the other side. This sensor could certainly have some interesting robotics applications besides imitating a rolling shelf, so we’re excited to see what it will be used for!
Death Machine (1994), anyone? :-)
Since the detection range of the radar module is limited to 4m and close-by objects are ignored, the module will be really tricky to use when more than distance sensing is required. Interesting video, though.
It does not normally ignore close-by objects. But it can be programmed to ignore them as the case was in this video.
I’m more interested in the radar, I’ed like to see it in a wearable display, Super(man) Geeky!
I’m thinking heartbeat sensor (well not really, but close enough)
I think this uses something similar to the parallax motion detector. Here’s the specs on it.
The X-Band Motion Detector operates in the X-band frequency, at 10.525 GHz and indicates detected movements with oscillations in its high/low output.
The X-Band Motion Detector’s sensor is a common ingredient in security systems and automatic door openers, and can detect movements in a room, yard, or even on the other side of a wall. Sensitivity is manually adjustable with a potentiometer, offering direct line of sight detection from roughly 8 to slightly over 30 ft (~2.4 to 9+ m).
Features:
Operation frequency of 10.525 GHz
Able to detect motion through walls and windows
More immune to false triggers than passive infrared motion sensors
Active-high enable pin with internal pull-up resistor
Trim potentiometer for manually adjustable sensitivity
4-Pin SIP header for breadboard or through-hole prototyping
Built-in series resistor for compatibility with the Propeller microcontroller and other 3.3 V devices
Plated test point hole for monitoring pre-comparator signal
Application Ideas:
Security systems
Automatic door openers
Automatic lighting
Nuisance animal deterrence
Key Specifications:
Power supply requirements: regulated 5 VDC, 8 mA
Communication: High (3.9 V) / low (0 V) signal oscillates with motion
Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.75 x 0.75 in (46 x 45 x 19 mm)
Operating temp range: +32 to +131 °F (0 to +55 °C)
UWB radar is nothing at all like X-band doppler; which can only tell you if something is moving, and not the range.
So how about we make the X-Band radar move instead?
A simple little side-to-side should do it, right?
How about the single quantity, end-user price?
Or is it a “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” kind of thing?
I saw elsewhere it’s US$4000 each in “low volumes”. Ouch.
Obviously a project to promote their radar sensor. Fair enough.. anyone know what they cost?
Honestly I’m more interested in the control behind the bot than the radar… if you wouldn’t mind divulging that information. Microprocessor? FPGA? Assembly? C++? Bueller?
i think it’s visual bueller# .NET
but to be serious, it is pretty sparse…wish they had more information
@DeadEagle, A SAM9260 microcontroller from Atmel is used for controlling the Bot. (http://www.olimex.com/dev/sam9-L9260.html) This is overkill and you could just as well control it with a LaunchPad or similar. Language is C++.