I'm thinking of building some sort of robotic arm and hand (two separate servos) that gives out a piece of candy when a button is pushed. That's not an issue, I can do it, but I want to think of a way to only give out one candy per kid. For example I don't want them to just keep pushing buttons.
I was thinking a photosensor that triggers when someone comes near and allows one press of the button. I have an infrared sensor from an old RC system. If I can learn to use this will the IR rays emitted by a human be able to trigger it? I don't think I can use any sort of light sensor since it will be at night.
Bump, any ideas?
"Infrared sensor"? You've trained your dog to bark when he sees something you can't see?
Har har.
I'm assuming this means it won't pickup anything human. It's from some remote control system that uses infra red LED's in the transmitter, I assumed there had to be some way of collecting the signals for processing.
packocrayons:
I'm assuming this means it won't pickup anything human. It's from some remote control system that uses infra red LED's in the transmitter, I assumed there had to be some way of collecting the signals for processing.
That kind of "infrared sensor" will not detect the presence of a human.
This kind of "infrared sensor" will not directly sense a human but it can be used to sense when an object (like a human) is in front of the dispenser...
https://www.google.com/search?q=infrared+distance+sensor
Other possibilities...
https://www.google.com/search?q=ultrasonic+distance+sensor
https://www.google.com/search?q=passive+infrared+sensor
Were I in your shoes, I'd give the first option a try.
I'd rather not buy anything for this project, it was kinda just an idea that dawned on me that I could work on in my spare time.
I thought about using a photodiode but it will be at night so that won't really work, unless I have a beam that can be broken.
If you have an emitter to go with your sensor (receiver) then a broken lightbeam may work.
Do I need a specific emitter or will any normal LED trigger any normal photodiode?
In your original post you mentioned an "RC infrared sensor". They come in pairs. An emitter and a receiver. If you have the pair, they may work to do what you want. (with the added bonus that the light beam will be invisible)
A normal photodiode is sensitive to a broader range of wavelengths so you will probably have to spend more time fiddling to get it working the way you want.
There's the ticket, yes I have the emitter still.
I'll look at the datasheet to see what I'm working with.