Subject:
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Re: Newbie has an idea - Nascar style racing?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.robotics
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Date:
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Fri, 22 Nov 2002 19:17:10 GMT
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Viewed:
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891 times
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I have given this a fair amount of thought that is not reflected in the
sample track. For example, the track should have shoulders on both sides of
the gray scale that are opposite to the color on the respective sides of the
gray scale. In other words, going from left to right across the track,
there should be a black shoulder, followed by the gray scale going from
white to black and then on the right side of the track there should be a
white shoulder. The shoulder should be wide enough that half the robot
width will fit within the shoulder, 3" to 4". The gray scale portion should
be wide enough that a robot that is hogging the middle of the track can
still be passed on either side. If the maximum width is 6" then the gray
scale needs to be at least 12", preferably more.
With a single light sensor, robots can either drive down the middle of the
track trying to stay on a single gray scale value or they can go all the way
to the left or the right and ride the edge of the shoulder.
The gray scale tells the robots where they are left to right on the track
but, of course, there is still no easy way to determine what turns are
coming up and how to hit the break-point, turn-in, apex etc. just right.
One idea I had was that at a specified distance before each turn there would
be a bar (or bridge) that goes over the track as a specified height. Robots
could then have an antennae that activates a touch sensor. The robots could
now keep track of what type of turn is coming up by keeping count of the
bars that proceed the turns. For example, the robot may learn that turn 1
is a sharp left, turn 2 is an easy right-hander followed by a sharp left,
etc. Ideally the robots should learn the tracks on their own, perhaps
during a qualifying session.
The biggest challenge I see with this idea is making affordable and good
tracks. I know there are sign companies that can print on large sheets of
vinyl but I have also heard that they are very expensive. Anyone have any
ideas?
Gus Jansson
----- Original Message -----
Subject: Re: Newbie has an idea - Nascar style racing?
From: "Steve Hassenplug" <hassenplug@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2002 18:17:03 GMT
Here's an interesting idea from Gus Jansson for that type of track:
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?i=271669
It allows you to maintain a smooth line around the course, but not all
'cars' have to follow the same line. You have to be carefull not to get to
close to the inside, or (unless you have a complex program) the robot will
get messed up when it hits the white on the inside.
It would be nice to add a start/finish line, somehow.
Steve
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