there are 2 names with RICH i meant the other guy RICHMR,kinda hard to post to both people with the name RICH, when some of post are for him sometimes ,you see like you might be a new commer to this forum,first WELCOME and hope to see some of your designs RICH unless you want to be called by other name i am FRED

Now on you problem you said about lights using EZB most lights have socket that plugs in to outlet ,you put a simple homemade adapter box .like the way X10 HAS and 2 low voltage wires go to the digital port on EZB and with a simple script you turn on the led inside the optocoupler box has a male plug on one side and female on the other side.better to use metal box they are fairly cheap about $5 for a s mall box with lid,i can put up the part # and picture on how easy it is to make it so you dont need a registered electrician

just like X10 SYSTEM witch i have over 100 modules controlling everyhing in my place

yes i love eventghost it is a very good software

i know my posts are long and sometimes are to read,main reason i write it fast

on IR BEACON idea you have 3 IR transmitter (IR EMITTERS ) and setting 2 at a angle and then one in the center and using EZB witch this forum is about and not about any other processor or software like DJ said

THEN you have a receiver on the robot,should have a omnicone for 360 pan,i dont know if you know what it is,since i dont know your backgound of what you can do

Then using scripts when the robot is out of the coe area.by that i meen the 2 ir transmitter ,like if if on the left side in script to tell it to go right a little and same with the right IR transmitter until the robot is in the center then he moves forward to the charging base not good at drawing ,schematics yes on software is mostly scripts arduino and basic stamp

RICHMR is great at software so he might help with the scripts or i might ,since so far they are super easy ,while back there was a post done that some added that they are good at and what they lack in,sowe can help each other build a better robot

also i put a little more time to make it readable ,i do hate writing ,only love electronics and been working at a company for 21 years design very high in-house test equipment and testing high precision sensors ,plus i tested and bought almost every sensor made.

RICH can you tell what you are good at,would be nice and helpful to others to know what each other can do,and at the same time we can help what you lack in

Also you can call me robotmaker ,but FRED is better to have a good friendly forum that each person has a good talent,it great to be called by the his name but it is hard sometimes

i did look over my last post where you said it was un-readable and only saw a few words missed spelled from righting it fast

i did seperate the sentences so easy to read,so if you can point out whats are to read i can fix it,kinda hard to right about a circuit with out a drawing (sorry just not good at it and mostly dont like art too)

But schematics are super easy for me ,but takes time,also i have a very good electronic photographic memory,,i wold make a good spy recruit because i can look at a schematic and latter remake the circuit on paper or in a schematic program and chips are the same for me too

What about using a laser pointer like this....

Summary of previously discussed issues that must be solved:

• Robot needs to recognize when it is time to head to the charger.
• Robot should turn off all non-essential items to conserve power if possible.
• Robot needs to know what room it is in.
• Robot must know how to navigate back to the room where its charger is located.
• Robot needs to recognize when its batteries are fully charged and must execute a maneuver that will
  back it away clear of the base station.
• Detection of an object blocking the robots path to the base station will override the hunger function.
  The robot must deal with (go around) the obstacle and then resume searching for the base station.
• Battery charger contacts must not be "live" until the robot docks with the charger due to safety concerns. Several methods would work for this.

New issues involving using a laser that would need to be solved:

• The sensor head assembly on the robot and the laser pointer at the charger must be exactly the same height from the floor. Not hard to accomplish.
• When in hunger mode the robot should send out a signal that activates the laser pointer so it is not on all the time. May be able to use a key fob like the ones used with car door locks. I know several sites that sell them.
• Must find the appropriate type of sensor to use. Are there any that are made to detect lasers? Does there have to be anything special about it?
• How many sensors are needed on the sensor head assembly?
• Robot should be able to make minor course adjustments to keep the beam focused on the middle front sensor.
• If contact with the beam is lost, the robot should go back into hunger search mode.

PROS

• Not affected by room lighting conditions.
• More directional than IR source, sound source, or L.E.D. source.
• Good range.
• The way it senses the beam causes the robot to be directly lined up with the charger.

CONS

• Laser may not be good for some because of pets or children.

  Please let me know your opinions and ideas on using this method. Thank you.

@Robotmaker, as fun as it is to see you get confused and as much as I'd love to see how long it takes before you realise but, I am not new here. A simple username change in the settings was made to drop the MR2 part of my username. I'll pick apart your posts when I can be bothered.

"Now on you problem you said about lights using EZB most lights have socket that plugs in to outlet ,you put a simple homemade adapter box .like the way X10 HAS and 2 low voltage wires go to the digital port on EZB and with a simple script you turn on the led inside the optocoupler box has a male plug on one side and female on the other side.better to use metal box they are fairly cheap about $5 for a s mall box with lid,i can put up the part # and picture on how easy it is to make it so you dont need a registered electrician"

Most lights are wired in directly and ceiling mounted or wall mounted. The light can be wired one of two ways, either with a switched live, neutral and earth or with a permanent live, switched live, neutral and earth. Method 1 would be impossible to control via the EZB until the wall switch is in the on position as the live at the light wouldn't be energised with the switch off.

Method 2 may be possible as there are both switched live and permanent live at the light. But, to tap into any electrical circuit and make the modifications required, at least in the UK but advised worldwide, it should be carried out by a registered electrician and depending on location may require Part P notification (UK, this may vary in other countries).

To have an EZB control these lights it would mean that changes to the house wiring would need to be made no matter how you look at it, or installing modules that can be remotely controlled and a way to control them from the EZB or PC.

It sounds like you are describing smaller table lamps or desk lamps which plug in to electrical outlets which generally are not found in all rooms, tend to only provide ambient lighting and are not what you implied previously. Either way, these would need extra wires run to the lights from the EZB, you may not want QR codes stuck all over your walls but I'm sure as hell going to bet people don't want extra cables run around their house, running across floors, clipped surface to walls etc.

Also, a second EZB could require a second PC, so even more cost added to it.

That doesn't sound like a very cost effective or feasible plan to me...

@rgordon, I have a script in the cloud and scripts forum that monitors the battery voltage and acts on a pre-set low voltage alert. This will work for switching to low power mode and hunger mode.

Similarly, a similar script could be used to detect a fully charged battery

in usa its very easy,i been to london and UK may times ,but i never seen wow a house is wired BUT IN USA at least in my house i have mostly table lamps. with a few ceiling lamps

At the same time since we make electrical testers for electricians and i do my own out replacing or fans or anything else that goes bad,thats why be have a homedepot in isa that sell the stuff for home repairs and books on homeowners to do repairs like that we out having registered electrician

ONLY thing we can touch is the main wiring comming in to the main box

SO its pretty easy and low cost,i dont now about in UK ,plus you dont need much equipment and not dangerous if you shut off the breaker first

On the laser idea RGORDON has its not a great idea ,one is the laser unless you use a low class laser can hurt a persons eye ,unless it low to the ground ,very high cost,mostly the receiver end but it does work well in low or no lights

Good to see others have ideas on ways for this to work i can put what i know ,since ihave made and tested almost every type of design its good and bad about them.

AND you dont need a second computer it has bluetooth or can use WIFI and EZB can have 5 hook up to the same computer at the same time

you dont have to have wires all over the place also ,it more like making a X10 BOX my friends will say my house will look very bad with QR codes posted all over my painted wall,plus what about the lighting you cant see QR in the dark

And how do you control the lighting also,only 2 ways one is make you own X10 system or buy X10 system

Second item i didnt add you do not need to wire every light in you house,only a table lamp is need most room i know in a house has atleast one or 2 table lamps ,and you only need it where the homebase charger is too,might can even add a dc light might work too.

IN my house i have every outlet ,every light,pool,spa and A/C and heater design (made by me) and alarm and outdoor lighting controlled by X10 and a powerfull antenna made for X10 ,so i dont need to make a box yet.

But others it would cost too much,but i do no another on this forum who has a X1O system and may be more.

And at the same time if i want to use a computer for a second EZB istead of one computer controlling all my EZB ,i have whats called a network house,every room has at least one computer,including my favorate area the kitchen where i need it the most.

But still DJ made it so EZB you can hook 5 to one computer and control more then 5 too i tried it and it works well ,since i have a lot of cages and fish tanks in different area's and making them controlled by EZB there is another guy my buddy JOSH started the idea.

So you dont need a second computer