Fusion USB I/O Board - What type of sensors would you like to see?

[2k1Toaster]

Alright people, we have a mission for you! What type of sensors would you like?

Please voice your opinion on both the current sensors, and what people will mention here, so we can guage how many people want what.

Here is what we have on the table so far definately:

Photoelectric Sensor (Light)
3-axis High resolution Accelerometer
Temperature Sensor
50 Amp Current Sensor

Here are some possibilites that have been brought up:

Ultrasonic Distance Sensor (Backup Sensor or Object Detection)
Tilt Sensor
Magnetic Sensor




So list what you think of these sensors, or ones you have thought of and as always, we will take your comments into consideration as we have done before and will continue to do.

Let the flow of ideas commence!!

[Ryann]

air pressure sensors upto 200psi.

ideally id love to be able to get these to work with the fusion

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd124.htm

[Nerd2]

Just a couple of small points. I'd like current sensitivity down to quite small values, say at least 0.1A, which i guess you wouldn't get on a 200A sensor.

Also, usonic distance sensor is great, just make sure it's waterproof somehow :-P

[turbocad6]

, an acurate inline current sensor would be awsome, for the guys who want to read 200amps a clamp on might be fine, but there not very acurate in the low range, I still don't know what a 200amp sensor would be useful for??

you could add an ir emitter & reciever to be used as a beam to break type setup maybe

Quote: Originally Posted by Ryann

air pressure sensors upto 200psi.

ideally id love to be able to get these to work with the fusion

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.c...rod/prd124.htm

that should already be usable with the fusion really, what I think would really be friggin awsome would be wireless tire preasure monitoring, but I'm sure that's no easy task...

[red_parchel]

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

I still don't know what a 200amp sensor would be useful for??

power your amp is drawing? which if that's the best way, id like to see that sensor as an option

also how about a compass? i know they're fairly cheap and easy to integrate, i've used one on a robotics project

[DaveDog]

air flow
water flow
fuel flow http://www.eiindustrial.com/Fuel%20F...ransducers.htm

[Arrow]

I second the compass idea. Definitely a good one.

[greenman100]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaveDog

air flow
water flow
fuel flow http://www.eiindustrial.com/Fuel%20F...ransducers.htm

$295

are you for real?

[turbocad6]

Quote: Originally Posted by turbocad6

I still don't know what a 200amp sensor would be useful for??

Quote: Originally Posted by red_parchel

power your amp is drawing? which if that's the best way, id like to see that sensor as an option

the problem with that is an amp doesn't have a continuous steady draw, & will draw relative to what it puts out at the time, the meter will jump all over & the readings will be pretty useless for the most part unless theres some sort of smoothing algorithym made that averages, really I think a voltage reading for the heavy draw of a system is more useful data, althogh I guess peak readings may be at least somewhat useful...

[2k1Toaster]

Actually I was incorrect when posting about the 200A, it is actually 50A. Whoops...

[P3D4T0R]

what about a laser/IR distance sensor I cant remember if it was discussed but I think it would be a lot better than an ultra sonic one.

[2k1Toaster]

Laser is more accurate, but it is focused. So it depends what you want.

For a backup sensor, a laser system just wont work because if it is angled incorrectly, you wont be reading the other car, you will be reading the ground under it, or even just miss the car alltogether.

Ultrasonic is a sound wave like sonar. So it is not focused like light, but it will hit anything in its path and give you a general idea of the stuff behind you.

So really it comes down to what you want to do with the sensors.

We will also be carrying a laser distance ranger, and it will have a maximum distance of 1.5m. So not really for backing up, but can be if you are careful!

What is it that you are wanting to do with the distance sensors?

[P3D4T0R]

Quote: Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

What is it that you are wanting to do with the distance sensors?

I'm not sure yet, I'm not even sure if I have a use for one but I like to keep all options open plus I was thinking someone else might have a use for one. Just putting in my $0.02

[2k1Toaster]

Well I figured a lower resolution distance sensor is more important to most than a high resolution one. Of course you could mount the IR one to a stepper motor and create a 3d image of its surroundings. That could be cool!

[P3D4T0R]

Yes I could do that I could also rewrite the definition to overkill If I go for a back up sensor Ill use the ultrasonic version and/or if I go for a tailgate sensor (or whatever you want to call it) ill go for the laser/IR version.