Sensor Resources

Unfortunately, sensors tend to be a bit more expensive in England than other places, but they are at least quite easy to get.
One very comprehensive website is: Active Robots
It is the easiest to utilize when you are trying out new sensors as you can get them quite quickly.

The website doesn't link to specific products, but i can give you the page/model numbers.


Here are a few to get you started, but if you are looking for something in particular, just post it.

Distance Sensors: gives the distance to an object within a set range.

LINK


Sharp GP2D12 - measures between 10 - 80 cm £9.99
Sharp GP2D120 - measures between 4 -30 cm £9.99



Touch / Bending / Force
LINK

These sensors either measure the amount of bending or the position of your finger (or an object) along a strip or the amount of force being applied to it.

bending



Flex Sensor 4.5" £8.81
measure the amount of bend on the sensor.




Force Sensor: measures the amount of pressure applied to the end
£11.39





linear potentiometer - returns the position along its length
£8.87 - £17.63 depending on length



rotary potentiometer - measures position around the circle (basically an IPOD touch wheel) £10.05

LINE TRACKER - reads the darkness/lightness of the colour below it to tell you which side of a line you are on. Can be used to input drawings as control mechnisms. LINK



Single Line Detector - £11.00


Triple Line Detector - £18.50

Session 3

As I mentioned last time, during tomorrow's session we will begin to work with sensors to control splines. The goal is that you develop an interface that can effectively control the splines and the resulting surfaces/forms.

This will serve as the first formal assignment for the course and it is important that you bring materials with you to work in class.

As a general rule each team should have the following so you don't waste too much time:

-sensors (there are a HUGE range of possibilities and I'll post a list of links), can be anything to start with, but just have something.

If you don't have a clear idea what to use yet, I would suggest either starting with a few:

10K Lin miniature potentiometers £0.76: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2203
Code:JM71N


or



10K Lin Standard Potentiometers £1.32: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2205
Code: FW02C






Or you could use an LDR (light sensor)

LDR £1.39: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=35963
you will also need a 100k resistor per ldr: £0.15: M100k



or
10K slide potentiometer £ 0.69: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2215
Code: JM85G



Whatever you choose, please be sure to get at least 3-4 because you will need the multiple inputs.


-Basic Materials

1. Solid Core Wire: Available at Maplin, labelled "Bell Wire". don't get stranded/braided wire because its a huge pain to use with the arduino/breadboard.

2. Wire cutters

3. Automatic Wire strippers. Not absolutely necessary, but they make your life much easier.
also from Maplin: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=45237