Asked — Edited

Question About The L298n H-Bridge Motor Driver.

Hello. Currently as of a recent project I'm working on, I will need to obtain the L298N H-Bridge Motor Driver Shield. One question that I am concerned with; is it possible so that when an ultrasonic sensor on the EZ-Board detects an obstacle in the way, will the H-Bridge allow pager vibrating motors to vibrate and stop when there is no objects detected through the ultrasonic sensor? Thanks.~RoboticsMaster


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Synthiam
#1  

I don't really understand what you're asking - but the answer is pretty much Yes. There is a full featured programming language included in ARC. And, there are dozens of controls for ultrasonic sensor, etc..

So technically, you can do anything! :)

#2  

Sorry about the misunderstanding. I do understand that the program has multiple controls since I have been a user of ARC for a long time. But my main question is: can an ultrasonic sensor make vibrating dc motors move when an object is detected in the Radar Scan Panel on ARC? In further explanation, I want to make it so that any time an ultrasonic sensor detects an object in front of it, some small vibrating motors will turn on. And when the ultrasonic sensor has nothing in its way, the motors remain off until the sensor detects something once again. It's alright to still not understand the concept, but if there is a way for this method, I would appreciate it much. Thanks. :)

#3  

I really should have changed the title, but it does involve the L298N H-Bridge.:) Sorry about that.

#4  

The answer is certainly yes. It may need to be done in scripting, but you might even be able to just use the sensor panel. The panel just triggers digital ports which can be servos or an h-bridge. Since pager motors are very low voltage/low amperage you might be able to just use a switching transistor instead of an h-bridge. @rich just posted a tutorial on building a switching circuit.

I am fascinated by the concept. Are you working on something for personal navigation in the dark or some kind of assistive tech for the blind?

United Kingdom
#5  

If a TIP Switching Transistor Circuit isn't good enough you can replace the VCC with an external source rather than the Digital Port's VCC. With motors I think the TIP circuit needs the diode too, which isn't covered in my tutorial (it's to be added shortly as there is space for it).

Then it's a case of using EZ-Script to GetPing, check it and Set the digital port to on for however long required, or pulse it or whatever. Should be very simple to do.

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Synthiam
#6  

Thanks TheTechGuru and Rich, you two beat me to it as usual :)

I would also recommend using a simple TIP Switching Transistor, see Rich's informative post: https://synthiam.com/Community/Questions/3050

And the EZ-Script would be something like this...

Ping Trigger and Echo connected to d0, and d1. TIP/Pager Motor connected to d2



:Start

IF (GetPing(d0, d1) < 50)
  Set(d2, on)
  SayWait("Warning, object detected")

  Sleep(2000)
  
  Set(d2, off)
ENDIF

Sleep(500)

Goto(Start)


#7  

Thetechguru you are some sort of genie!:D I am currently working on a device that can replace the white cane for the blind. My approach is concealing the device near the shoulders of a blind user. What it's overall purpose is if either one of the ultrasonic sensors of the blind device pick up an object in the way, either one of these shoulder pads on the left or right shoulder I designed will vibrate based on what direction the object is in. This way, the device will be perfectly concealed for the blind user, and no attention will be built up rather than someone tapping a cane around simultaneously. I really want to see a new revolution for blind technology, so I'm approaching this goal slowly.Thanks everyone for the great advice. :)

#8  

Please do not imitate my concept though, I really want this as my own creation.

United Kingdom
#9  

A great concept. I wouldn't have thought anyone here would imitate it (but if they do remember imitation is the greatest form of flattery :)).

#10  

I would recommend a combination of ultrasonic and ir sensors. Each has strengths and weaknesses based on the surface material and shape of the obstacle.

You also need to consider edge detection, and other than Lidar or really good video interpretation I don't have a good recommendation for that. The cane is used to detect the edge of stairs, sidewalks and train platforms as much as obstacles.

In the television program Covert Affairs, there is a blind character who uses a (purely fictional) handheld laser device instead of a cane. I could easily see something like that being used with sonar or ir sensors for better situational awareness. Have the vibration patterns change based on distance to the object pointed at rather than just on/off. if you build and patent this, I just want name credit. You can make all the money ;)

ALan

#11  

Perhaps this is useful. I built a combination IR and ultrasonic radar turret that can also adjust the angle that it detects. Pretty simple https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbuQ-012bG4&feature=youtube_gdata_player