Engineering:Sensorium Project
| Developer | ROBOTmaker |
|---|---|
| Type | Proximity sensor / Motion Sensor / Human interface device |
| Release date | 1 March 2012 [1] |
| Introductory price | €$TBD |
| CPU | Microchip PIC16F88 8 MHz internal oscillator, 200 nanosecond instruction execution, 35 single word instructions, CMOS Flash-based 8-bit microcontroller packs Microchip's powerful PIC® architecture into an 18-pin package, a capture/compare/PWM, an Addressable USART, (I²C™) bus, 10-bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converter and 2 Comparators.[2] |
| Memory | 256 bytes of EEPROM data memory bytes |
| Power | 0.5 W (model A) |
| Website | www |
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The Sensorium Project was initiated by ROBOTmaker to broaden the IRCF360 sensor's audience beyond its typical robot sensor usage.
To demonstrate the BETA functionality, ROBOTmaker uses opensource Java based Integrated Development Environments (IDE) such as Arduino and Processing (programming language) and has released all the prototyping sketches on their website for advanced developers to expand the functionality and write their own Java interface apps. They also provide a low cost self-assembly PCB kit to allow developers to make a sensor and to reprogramme the embedded micro-controller with own firmware if desired.
The sensor is based on ROBOTmaker's Infrared Control Freak 360 (IRCF360) which is a 360 degree proximity sensor and a motion sensing devices, developed by ROBOTmaker. Their goal is to provide low costs configurable sensors & solutions for use within technical projects such as maker and Maker Faire type projects, micro robotic, kinetic art / art, crafts, engineering, science, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset and alternative music type of projects.
360 degree sensor / 3D Motion sensor / HID device
During the development phase, it became apparent that the unique features of the 360 sensor also enabled it to be used as an independent 3D motion sensor for use within many other 3D computer applications. It is connected to a PC via the USB port. The device can be configured as a joystick, keyboard, mouse or midi device, for example in 3D applications, gaming applications and as an alternative Human interface device HID for people with disabilities - enabling a wide range of users to control and interact with the PC/MAC/Tablet/SmartPhone without the need to touch a game controller or screen, using a more natural user interface through finger gestures. It works also well together with Windows7 and the voice recognition or together with other HID devices to reduce non-value added mouse movements.
Examples of use are:
- Single or Multi Touch(-less) control
- e.g. control of device behind window
- 3D HID device for computer gaming
- 3D Multi-touch control
- 3D graphics and CAD viewing
- Gestural Control of Music e.g. ref Interactive Systems and Instrument Design in Music (ISIDM)
- 360 sensor for Kinetic artists Kinetic art
- 360 sensor for moving parts/arms
- 360 degree positioning within medium bore pipes
- Alternative input device for people with disabilities
A project named Sensorium Project was started aimed at broadening the Sensors audience beyond its typical robot sensor usage. To Demonstrate the BETA functionality, ROBOTmaker uses opensource Java based Integrated Development Environments (IDE) such as Arduino and Processing (programming language) and has released all the prototyping sketches on their website for advanced developers to expand the functionality and write their own Java interface apps. They also provide a low cost self-assembly PCB kit to allow developers to make a sensor and to reprogrammed the embedded micro-controller with own firmware if desired.,
See also
Many other forms of 3D mice and motion sensors have been developed where a 'physical' interaction is required. The mice have also been known as bats,[3] flying mice, or wands,[4] these devices generally function through ultrasound and provide at least three degrees of freedom. Probably the best known example would be 3Dconnexion/Logitech's SpaceMouse from the early 1990s.
In the late 1990s Kantek introduced the 3D RingMouse. This wireless mouse was worn on a ring around a finger, which enabled the thumb to access three buttons. The mouse was tracked in three dimensions by a base station.[5] Despite a certain appeal, it was finally discontinued because it did not provide sufficient resolution.
A mouse-related controller called the SpaceBall[6] has a ball placed above the work surface that can easily be gripped. With spring-loaded centering, it sends both translational as well as angular displacements on all six axes, in both directions for each.
In November 2010 a German Company called Axsotic introduced a new concept of 3D mouse called 3D Spheric Mouse. This new concept of a true six degree-of-freedom input device uses a ball to rotate in 3 axes without any limitations.[7]
Other touch-less type of motion sensors are:
- Wii Remote: While primarily a motion-sensing device (that is, it can determine its orientation and direction of movement), Wii Remote can also detect its spatial position by comparing the distance and position of the lights from the IR emitter using its integrated IR camera (since the nunchuk accessory lacks a camera, it can only tell its current heading and orientation). The obvious drawback to this approach is that it can only produce spatial coordinates while its camera can see the sensor bar.
- Kinect : Kinect is a motion sensing input device by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 video game console and Windows PCs.
- USB, USB interfacing and the www.fourwalledcubicle.com
- Arduino, popular open-source Single-board microcontroller for learning to program microcontrollers
- BASIC Stamp, widely used in UK schools for simple robotics projects
- Comparison of single-board computers
References
- ↑ Support Team (11 April 2012). "Twitter". Aachen, Germany. https://twitter.com/robotmakers/status/190100147584245760.
- ↑ "Microchip 16F88". http://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/Devices.aspx?dDocName=en010243.
- ↑ Doug A. Bowman, Ernst Kruijff and Ivan Poupyrev (2005). 3D user interfaces. Addison-Wesley. p. 111. ISBN 9780201758672. https://books.google.com/books?id=It5QAAAAMAAJ&q=bat+3d-mouse&dq=bat+3d-mouse.
- ↑ Stephen F. Krar and Arthur Gill (2003). Exploring advanced manufacturing technologies. Industrial Press Inc. pp. 8–6–4. ISBN 9780831131500. https://books.google.com/books?id=TGkfsC77pdwC&pg=PT247&dq=flying-mouse+3d+wand.
- ↑ "Retrieved 31 December 2006". Byte.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081224094906/http://www.byte.com/art/9602/sec17/art6.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
- ↑ "Space Ball". Vrlogic.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716145206/http://www.vrlogic.com/html/3dconnexion/space_ball.html. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
- ↑ "axsotic". axsotic.de. http://www.axsotic.de. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
External links
- Official Websites
- Dean Camera development of USB interface for Arduino
- Details of the Sensorium and 360 degree sensor development
- Technical Information
- Embedded Controller
- Webpage[yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}], microchip.com
- Processing (programming language) Java Sketches
- Arduino - Arduino is an open-source single-board microcontroller designed to make the process of using electronics in multidisciplinary projects more accessible.
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