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Subject: 
Re: Camera IR and the RCX
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics
Date: 
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 18:11:32 GMT
Viewed: 
493 times
  
I understand that even when it isn't programmed to do so, the IR subsystem
in the RCX is operational.  Otherwise, the remote wouldn't work.  So we know
it is "listening", even though the kids programs in these robots aren't
programmed to listen for messages at all.

But my question is much more specific: has anyone actually seen a commerical
IR focus system that actually affected a robot running which was not
programmed to listen to the IR at all?  You say "confuse the data", but is
that the same thing as "alter the behavior of a program"?

--Jack Gregory

Ralph Hempel <rhempel@bmts.com> wrote in message
news:CAEBIOGHPFFJALBLJBEDOEAMDAAA.rhempel@bmts.com...
I am a coach of a bunch of FLL kids, and have heard tournament • organizers
say "Auto-focus cameras may not be used".

How real is this?  Seems to me, the only thing that could affect an RCX • that
was not programmed to listen for IR messages is something matching the
download sequence.  That would seem to me to be something that requires • a
specific set of codes, in a specific format (I am not up on the • details).

So, does anyone have any experience that says that cameras are • definitely a
threat?

Yes, I can confirm that almost any IR source will confise the data
coming to the IR receiver of the RCX. That includes stuff like PalmPilots,
Win PDAs, TV remote controls, IR link watches, video-cameras, and
hand-held autofocus cameras.

Think about it this way, from the RCX's point of view :-)

You are listening to an informative radio program on NPR. The interview
has interesting points. These are messages to your brain, the same as the
RCX listens for messages.

Now, imaging you are driving to an FLL tournament with kids jabbering • about
their robots - this is the IR noise from the camera.

You can't get the NPR messages because of the background noise that
is talking too.

Anywyas, the point is that IR comms don;t work well with other IR sources
in the room.

Hope this helps,

Ralph

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out pbFORTH for LEGO Mindstorms at:
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--------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to:      rhempel at bmts dot com
--------------------------------------------------------------------




Message is in Reply To:
  RE: Camera IR and the RCX
 
(...) Yes, I can confirm that almost any IR source will confise the data coming to the IR receiver of the RCX. That includes stuff like PalmPilots, Win PDAs, TV remote controls, IR link watches, video-cameras, and hand-held autofocus cameras. Think (...) (23 years ago, 20-Nov-01, to lugnet.robotics)

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