PBP projects for R/C models

[Kenjones1935]

I don't think I have changed anything other than remove confusing comments.

Ken

[Kenjones1935]

Part of the reason my car keeps hitting the wall is that it is responding too slowly for the speed it is traveling.

Today I carefully calibrated my HPWM 2,xxx,50 commands.

If xxx = 110 the car does not move.
If xxx = 111 the car moves forward, but only on a non-carpeted floor.
If xxx = 112 the car moves forward forcefully but not too fast

xxx = 115 is too fast for my code.
xxx = 125 is full speed which is very fast.

Ken

[Kenjones1935]

Here's a video of our car running a hall in our house.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7164676/18657928

I moved the front sonic sensors closer to the front of the car and I figured out how to slow down the wheels a bit.

Next thing, I think, is to build a better looking and stronger prototype using a car with more room to attach stuff. What other kinds of sensors should I try and what other kinds of tasks will they help the PIC do?

Again, thank you for all your interest and help.

Ken

[mackrackit]

Looking good Ken!

Other sensors...
IR - Probably not do much better than the sonic, but they can be setup to "see" light and dark colors. Line follower. Maybe see the white wall...

Hall-effect - Have the car find and park or something on a metal plate, magnetic.

Solar cell or photo diode - Light seeking. You mentioned this at the beginning.

RFID - Place RFID tags along a path and have the car follow. (never done that myself)

[Ioannis]

Consider using PID control for your motors. This way your car will be less nervous in is reactions. Look for the routines by Henrik Olson at http://www.picbasic.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5874

Ioannis

[Kenjones1935]

There is a large world wide subculture of robotics. Does it have a common higher level language? Are there some PIC's obviously better suited for certain kinds of sense and control tasks than others? Where can I read about such things? (I get SERVO magazine. I shall look more carefully for leads there. But where on the WEB?)

Ken

[Ioannis]

Maybe C is what you mean?

I think it's all in the software. Meaning the programmer.

Sure a dsPIC may do better in signal processing or faster, but requires that the programmer can code in C or assembly.

But generally speaking all micros can do more or less all sort of things.

Did you look at the link I posted? I think isthe key to your nervou problems. PID does just that.

Ioannis