[SOLVED] Selecting an ultrasonic sensor and interface
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 11:12 am
Hello dear CF addicts,
I would like to improve the altitude-hold mode by implementing an ultrasonic sensor from MaxBotix. Those sensors are mentioned in several tutorials on the CF, for example:
MaxBotix offers an article about sensor usage in multi-copters. They instead recommend sensors with rather narrow beam characteristics (EZ4) for improved robustness against acoustic and mechanic irritations, also depending on the desired communication interface.
What sensors do you recommend? What are the pros and cons of narrow or wide beam characteristics if I use the sensor to measure the CF's distance to the ground?
In addition I prefer communicating over I²C, but the I2CXL-MaxSonar-EZ4 operates from 3.0-5.5 V which is over the voltage of 2.8 V the CF can supply, correct?
Can I bypass that by using an step-up voltage regulator like this one? Are there any disadvantages from that?
I would be glad if my questions start a discussion about the pros and cons of the above points and thus give me some hints for implementing a more stable hover mode using an ultrasonic sensor supported by the barometric sensor, eventually.
Thanks for reading!
-alex
I would like to improve the altitude-hold mode by implementing an ultrasonic sensor from MaxBotix. Those sensors are mentioned in several tutorials on the CF, for example:
- http://cfusting.wordpress.com/2013/07/2 ... tric-data/
- http://cfusting.wordpress.com/2013/07/2 ... ty-sensor/
MaxBotix offers an article about sensor usage in multi-copters. They instead recommend sensors with rather narrow beam characteristics (EZ4) for improved robustness against acoustic and mechanic irritations, also depending on the desired communication interface.
What sensors do you recommend? What are the pros and cons of narrow or wide beam characteristics if I use the sensor to measure the CF's distance to the ground?
In addition I prefer communicating over I²C, but the I2CXL-MaxSonar-EZ4 operates from 3.0-5.5 V which is over the voltage of 2.8 V the CF can supply, correct?
Can I bypass that by using an step-up voltage regulator like this one? Are there any disadvantages from that?
I would be glad if my questions start a discussion about the pros and cons of the above points and thus give me some hints for implementing a more stable hover mode using an ultrasonic sensor supported by the barometric sensor, eventually.
Thanks for reading!
-alex