Logic controlled linear movement

BullwinkleII

nebbian wrote:

Journeyman wrote:

BullwinkleII wrote:

Is the angle up/down so critical? If you're at (say) 35ºS the apparent North-South movement of the Sun isn't going to be that much so if you point the panel at the equator, (at 35ºN or straight up) you should be near max for most of the year.

This might be true if you mount the pivot for the solar panel at 35 degrees to the vertical (ie the axis pointing directly at the pole star)

However if your pole is vertical, or you plan on pointing your boat in more than one direction during the trip then you will need both vertical and horizontal adjustment...

Think about pointing the panel at the sun during sunrise, and then also at noon. It's higher in the sky at noon than it is at sunrise

When I started Uni I got interested in BEAM robotics, and designed a popular circuit that is used to make a tiny little solar powered critter move around, following the light source. Loads of fun

This is pretty cool.

That's all true. I'll need both. Lucky I'm not a politician. They get in trouble for changing their minds for some reason.

BullwinkleII

ferozaj wrote:

Have you heard of arduno?

I believe its an easy open sourced system that can also be controlled by phones.

There is an excellent kickstarter program currently running that has a system with slide rails/motors/sensors etc and its all bluetooth and can run from your mobile for programming etc. All connects using extruded aluminium rails. Kind of like a smart meccano set.

got any drawings you can get up of your ideas?

Also i have a 3d printer if you needed any brackets or ball socket joints elbows etc.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/139 ... t-platform

Thats the link, you could almost get one of these kits to do anything with enough inputs like a temp sensor (if you know what you are doing, i dont ...)

I know of Arduno, but haven't seen that robotics system. Very cool. Grown up meccano.

Whoever thought to make a long groove down an aluminium bar, then put a thread all the way along so you could screw in a nut at ANY point was total genius. :notworthy:

Some people have really useful brains.

That stuff is a little expensive for what I have in mind. I definitely need to make things like the actuators.

I'll make some drawings.

BullwinkleII

ferozaj wrote:

further your idea about the extrusion is cool.

Not sure if you know but there were dicksmith kits etc that looked like bugs with wheels and motor outputs, they were designed to follow a light source i believe.

You could use something like that and then take the output signal that would normally go to the wheel motors to run a relay or something.

I haven't considered the software yet, but the use of the light dependant resistors should be easy enough to implement. I'd use a PICAXE chip because I already know the language, and also because they are cheaper for projects that only require an 8 pin chip rather than the 28 pin Arduino.

One thing to consider is the return to face the morning sun. I'm not sure how that solar and capacitor based device linked to earlier could manage this. I'll have a 200 amp hour battery on board, so it wont be an issue for me from the power point of view. I'm guessing it will be easy enough to have the thing adjust as soon at it sees dawn.

BullwinkleII

Does anyone know how much torque I'll need to do either of my two methods :?:

Perhaps not exactly, but does anyone know how much a similar thing might need :?:

The solar panel is 230 watt so a fair size, and from memory weighs something like 14kg. I'm guessing I can just mount the lifting end near the edge to gear it a bit in my favour, rather closer to the centre which would give me faster adjustment, but less power.

I found these continuous rotation servos, but I have no idea if they will be enough at $9 each it would be nice if they were enough...

Unbranded S3003 equivalent.
Factory modified for continuous rotation
Set of 2 servos and 2 wheels

Operating Voltage: 4.8-6.0 Volts
Operating Speed : 0.15sec/60 degrees at no load
Stall Torque (4.8V): 3.5kg.cm
Bearing Type: Plastic Bearing
Gear Type: All Nylon Gears
Connector Wire Length: 275mm
Dimensions: 40.6 x 20 x 38mm
Weight: 38g
£11.99

Journeyman

BullwinkleII wrote:

One thing to consider is the return to face the morning sun. I'm not sure how that solar and capacitor based device linked to earlier could manage this. I'll have a 200 amp hour battery on board, so it wont be an issue for me from the power point of view. I'm guessing it will be easy enough to have the thing adjust as soon at it sees dawn.

Mount a little mirror close to the left hand sensor angled so it reflects light from behind the panel onto the sensor - during the day it will not affect things (or it it does you might change the sensitivity of that reading) but at dawn the left sensor will be brighter and the panel will pivot to greet the Sun.

werdna

If you are using a light sensor you can set the chip to reset to the home position when light is below a certain value.
Home position facing the morning sun.

None of these things are an issue when considering MAGLEV

nebbian

Did you check out the link I posted?

2 axis solar tracking, with a very simple circuit...

BullwinkleII

Out with friends to dinner, and Mrs Bullwinkle asks, "Can you maglev the entire project out of my house?".

werdna

Sounds like permission to start the maglev project to me...

BullwinkleII

werdna wrote:

Sounds like permission to start the maglev project to me...

Cool.

At least Mrs Bullwinkle is smiling now

BullwinkleII

nebbian wrote:

Did you check out the link I posted?

2 axis solar tracking, with a very simple circuit...

Yeah.

Sorry.

You got lost in the number of replies I had to make

This subject seems to be a very popular one. I wonder if everyone else has been thinking about going solar for a while as I have, or if it appeals for some other reason. It's something I've always wanted to to do.

There was something about your first compass that had the same appeal I think.

You turn it, but it still points inthe same direction.

Pre-iPad cool.

Do you think that video is in real time :?:

BullwinkleII

If you tie two pins of the chip together, where each pin can sink or source 20mA, does that give you 40mA to power something :?:

I just got this little toy out and put it on the multimeter, and it would start spinning at 20mA if I gave it a push to get it going. Does this mean I could power it directly from the chip if I tied two pins together, or is that a risk to the chip in some way :?:

The solar motor and solar panel is from a Chameleon 6-in-1 Solar Toy.

Attachment:

120 Things in 20 years - Heliostat - Tiny solar motor.jpg [ 189.47 KiB | Viewed 3332 times ]

The specs say...

Solar Panel Output 75mA

Motor 12000 rpm / DC 1.2V

I don't really want to do this or anything, but it just occurred to me that I didn't know the answer.

nebbian

Officially no...

But practically yes :-)

I've done this using a 74hc14 and it works fine. I'd be hesitant to do this with a PIC though, I'd use a buffer of some kind.

BullwinkleII

Cool. Just something to file away in the grey matter for later use.

I'm currently looking at honda window winders on ebay, electric motors on alibarber, wind turbines on both ebay and alibarber to see if I can flog the extra units that I have to buy to make a wholesale order on alibarber. and everything on wikipedia to see if I can make my brain full.

From what I've seen on alibarber, it seems my little motor's original design was to be used in adult toys before someone bought them to make solar toys.

The world is very interesting.

I have too many projects going on in my life.

BullwinkleII

ferozaj wrote:

Have you heard of arduno?

I believe its an easy open sourced system that can also be controlled by phones.

There is an excellent kickstarter program currently running that has a system with slide rails/motors/sensors etc and its all bluetooth and can run from your mobile for programming etc. All connects using extruded aluminium rails. Kind of like a smart meccano set.

got any drawings you can get up of your ideas?

Also i have a 3d printer if you needed any brackets or ball socket joints elbows etc.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/139 ... t-platform

Thats the link, you could almost get one of these kits to do anything with enough inputs like a temp sensor (if you know what you are doing, i dont ...)

Cool!

Which 3D printer do you have?

Can you tell me how long it would take to print a tennis ball shaped and sized thing? (hollow)

Presumably you can print more than one at a time, so can you please take that into account within your answer.

I just re-read that and I sound like a robot

:shakes head violently to get out the cobwebs:

I've been text chatting to wholesalers in china and it seems I speak funny when I do.

#$$^& #$% *&%#% @#% %^&$%^$!!!!!

There, I've got my oz accent back

It's going to be an interesting manufacturing world soon with a 3D printer either in your home or in a shopping centre near by.

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Logic controlled linear movement

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