I'm working on a project where i need to measure the distance a robotic car travels every 10m. Ill be carrying out this project on grass (sports field). This is my first project for arduino and I would like some guidance. I did some research and I determined that the rotary encoders should do this job fine. I was thinking about using optical encoders instead of magnetic encoders since they are available at my local jaycar shop. My question is will there be any disadvantages as to using optical encoders for this project. These are the parts that will be purchasing:
Using a wheel having good contact, good friction, to the grass would make a rotary encoder work. The choice of encoder sender on the wheel is wide open.
Maybe nothing but, you might want to consider all the flora and fauna on a field of grass mucking up an optical slot encoder - unless it's enclosed. Think grass clippings and seeds and spiders and such.
A magnetically operated encoder should be mostly immune to that sort of thing.
I initially thought about the magnetic encoder, however, I'm not too sure how Id fit the magnetic disc onto the shaft of the wheel. The accuracy doesn't have to be exactly 10m even 9.5m would do. I have attached a picture of the motor I'm using. The type of magnetic disc that I could probably use is:
just a couple of other thoughts,
what about a spool of fishing line on the rotary encoder on the back of the car, and you pin the end of the line to the ground, then as the car travels, the line pays out behind the car, and you have a "no slip" distance, just work out the circumference of your spool.
If I attach the magnetic encoder discs to the wheels they become very close to each other. So I was thinking would it matter of I attach the disc to the white shaft?
NoName12221:
If I attach the magnetic encoder discs to the wheels they become very close to each other. So I was thinking would it matter of I attach the disc to the white shaft?
? ? ? Maybe I missed something, but are you aware we have no idea what your robotic car looks like?
So this is what the car looks like so far. Im going to attach the compass on top of the shaft to later do 90 degree turns unless there is another way of doing it using the rotary encoder.
