Position sensor questions

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello all,
I am doing some preliminary research on a robot I plan to make.

For this robot I will need some sort of 3 dimensional position sensors that can give data to an Arduino controller.

The end goal is to have a bunch of sensors you can wear as a suit that tracks your movement, and then the robot will move based on your movements.

I looked at some GPS modules like the NEO 6M but they didn’t seem practical for my needs.

Thanks for any help you can give!

2

Very challenging project! Some research on "human body motion tracking" will reveal that:

  1. IR LEDs on the suit, with IR cameras to track the body motions is a popular and accurate approach.
  2. For hand motions, gloves with stretch sensors can be used to estimate finger and flex motion.
  3. Joint angles can be estimated using accelerometers as inclinometers.
3

Hi and thanks @jremington ! I need this to be mobile, or else I would already be using cameras.

I don't need too much control over the hands so I am using tilt ball switches on gloves for now.

Thanks for telling me about the accelerometers and inclinometers, I will do more resarch.

4

Ball tilt switches only indicate "a movement has occurred"... it does not sense an angle or a rate of change.

Perhaps "tilt" predates my memory, but to me, the word "tilt" comes from last century's pinball games when "bumping" could enhance rebound action. Over use of "bumping" would cause the "tilt" switch to close, illuminate the "tilt" light, and your turn (and points) were lost.

5

@xfpd The reason I am using tilt ball sensors is because I don't need that articulated movement, I need closed fist and open fist. Thats all.

6

The tilt ball switch will see everything as "movement." Use a flex sensor that increases or decreases resistance with abduction and adduction.

7

Okay, I now see what you mean.

8

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