ArduinoMania

This blog considered to be next stage in the series published earlier, concentrated around the idea tracking object in the space. There are an enormous quantity of similar projects could be developed on this platform. I’ll name a few:

- star / rocket / vehicle tracking;
- follow me / robot / hands / cap etc;
- navigation to charging station / landing pad / around area;
- contact-less measurements rotational speed / angle to surface / shifting.

All of this on a few dollars micro-controller and cheap CMOS camera! Real-time, up to 60 Hz update rate!
Please, check on the first and second version, as I’d skip explanation basic design concept here.

  Most important features in this series of projects:

* 1. LOCALIZATION XY.
* 2. RANGE FINDER Z.
* 3. TRACKING 3-D.
* 4. TRACE TOOL.
* 5. TRACKING 6-D.
* 6. OPTICAL MAGNET.

Feature considered to be independent, so you can star  from  project 1:
http://fftarduino.blogspot.com/2011/12/arduino-laser-3d-tracking-range-finder.html
than move on next stage, and so on depends on a budget, parts availability or your interest!

This version of hardware/software system design capable to track object in

6 – D ++ space:

*   -  Linear motion along X, Y, Z coordinates (3D);
*   -  Rotation around fixed axis (6D);

I put two ++ plus signs, in order to underline capability of the hardware design to track Rotation of the object based not only on distance measurements, but also Reflectivity. As Power Control Loop strictly hold lasers radiation under control, simple calculation in periodicity of the emitted power would provide information about angular speed round / cylindrical object. Phase difference in 4 signals gives rotational center for Z. It’s also apply for linear motion, tracking of the object could be based on reflectivity or distance or BOTH simultaneously ,  which opens enormously great amount of possibilities.

Optical Magnet:
*  – Attract closest surface;
*  – Repel;
*  – Attract or repel surface with specific reflectivity (BLACK, WHITE, OR COLOR)!!!
*    * work in progress, Reflectivity math are not implemented yet       *
*    * algorithm to track rotation is not included, this is version for demonstration purposes  mainly.*

8 January, 2012.
Release notes of the version 3.2 software:

-  Video is De-interlaced, full image size 512 (active 492) lines;
-  digitalWrite, analogWrite functions of the arduino IDE were replaced by direct port manipulation, in order  to improve time performance of critical section of the code – interrupt subroutine and to avoid blocking interruption call (functions have locking mechanism in theirs body);
- minor changes in Power Control Loop algorithm, to prevent oscillation;

Link to download Arduino Uno sketch:  Optical_Magnet_6D_V3

 finished…