I'm not even sure they'd need to pivot. It would be great not to use moving parts for this if possible. Cheap webcams now have a 1280 pixel horizontal resolution. If you separate two of those, facing straight ahead, by a known distance then you could calculate the physical distance based on the pixel separation of an image feature. I guess you could use any angle of camera mounting as long as it was constant.
I ran through this math using the specs from my robot camera. I calculated a maximum range resolution of 360'. Even if my math is way off (which is not unusual) it's still much farther then we need for a paint ball tank. This sounds like a fun project. I have too many of those lined up already. If only I didn't have to WORK for a living I could do so much more tank stuff ! I wish I was a real estate mogul like Steve. - Doug From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of TyngTech Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2013 9:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [TANKS] Re: cheap laser distance range finder with USB output I think active sensor tech is a blind alley (get it, blind in bright sunlight... ;-). Passive is the way to go. Two pivoting cameras with an image overlay (ie, an optical rangefinder) is the correct path for the hobby and worthy of the efforts by Joe, Doug, and other equally skilled computer boffins. ST On Saturday, April 13, 2013 5:28:53 PM UTC-4, Joe Sommer wrote: On Thursday, April 11, 2013 9:32:24 AM UTC-4, Joe Sommer wrote: One of my friends in the construction industry owns a GM100DU laser distance range finder with USB output (about $150). I took the GM100DU outside on a slighty overcast day. I could see the laser spot and get distance measurements up to 15 m on my Hetzer. Beyond that, I could not see the spot to accurately point the laser. I could get very repeatable measurments up to 40m on the side of a light colored house. When the sun came out, I could not get any measurements at any range even on the house. The bright sunlight overpowered the laser spot. I do not recommend this sensor for electronic firing solutions. Another friend has a golf range sensor with an internal spotting scope. I may try mating it with a video camera. We would then need some simple image processing to read the seven-segment range numbers that appear as an ovelay on the scope image. Joe -- -- You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R/C Tank Combat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> . For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. -- -- You are currently subscribed to the "R/C Tank Combat" group. To post a message, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe, send email to [email protected] Visit the group at http://groups.google.com/group/rctankcombat --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "R/C Tank Combat" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
