radio tracking device based on signal strength

Projects General Guidance
1

I want to build an arduino with a pan and tilt camera that has maybe three receivers and one transmitter ...... the transmitter device would be on the person and then i was thinking of measuring the signal strength of the three receivers to determine the rotation of the camera

problems
-how do i track based on signal strength....I've looked for some other similar projects but can't seem to find any that use radios for location

-i was thinking about putting the receivers in a triangle pattern with maybe 1 foot spacing
-the two on the bottom would track left and right control pan and the top would track height and control tilt

-i want to be able to have multiple cameras tracking different people so maybe something with changeable channels

right now i am just really trying to find an example of tracking a radio based on signal strength

thanks

2

right now i am just really trying to find an example of tracking a radio based on signal strength

You won't find much that actually works, as this is a poor method of tracking/distance measuring. Check the below video showing how signal strength varies.

3

something like this is what i want to make but i dont know what they are using to
achieve this

http://www.swivl.com/features/

4

This doesn't look like a radio tracking but rather a ultrasonic based environment, although they don't give details. Turning a camera based on a stereo sound detection should be possible if you don't have too much echoing in your environment. Or do you want to achieve anything else out of the features of the mentioned device?

5

I'd suggest IR based approach, 3 -4 detectors spaced as clever leafs. Coding shouldn't be a problem, idea the same as in "sun follower" solar panel energy projects. Marker's IR diode doesn't have to illuminate all the time, short pulses once in a while should be o'k to save a battery life.
Ultrasound also looks feasible, but more complex in hardware in software, probably more expensive. Radio I think, could provide location up to 10 cm the same way as cellular radionetworks do, only it would takes a years for a single person develop just an algorithm. Motorola or Ericsson have a thousands programmers working full time on such "tracking" technology.

6

Magician:
I'd suggest IR based approach, 3 -4 detectors spaced as clever leafs. Coding shouldn't be a problem, idea the same as in "sun follower" solar panel energy projects. Marker's IR diode doesn't have to illuminate all the time, short pulses once in a while should be o'k to save a battery life.

I am looking to do this project for a wedding so i would say the IR is not a good option because of the camera picking up on that as well as the regular cameras of the photograph that i can't control

7

I am looking to do this project for a wedding so i would say the IR is not a good option because of the camera picking up on that as well as the regular cameras of the photograph that i can't control

There have been previous people tracking projects proposed, but I don't remember any ever having been completed. You should do a google search of this and the old forum to see the previous postings and projects.

8

I'm trying to build something similar, namely a device that would automatically line up a DCF77 radio clock to catch as much of the signal strength as possible.

I have no tangible sketch or breadboard assembly but I plan to investigate further about devices like these:

http://www.texasardf.org/getstarted/

Maybe more information can be found also in this book:

http://www.homingin.com/THRDFSinfo.html

I am of course aware that is not exactly what you intended to build - but nevertheless, forum threads can always help/inspire somebody else, right..? :slight_smile: