The RFID sensor for autonomous robot in traffic?

[defcon102]

Hi,

I am currently working on an autonomous robot who are going to handle normal traffic rules. Pretty much drive around in a test lane, entering an intersection and look if there are cars that it need to yield for.

So currently my biggest problem is detecting other vehicles in the yielding zone. I could use the ultrasonic sensor, but that means I need 2 of them, and I need to "hit" the car exactly which can be difficult since the safety fences will be close to the car. I think it will be hard..

So I can use a camera for detection or (if possible) a sensor to pick up electromagnetic radiation (the other cars will also contain similar DC motors).

So the question is: I am curious about this RFID sensor, what does it exactly do? Can it pick up electro magnetic radiation(contains RF) if pointed toward a NXT motor?

Second question: have anyone had any similar projects? Any ideas on how to detect other cars maybe 20 cm away? (The test lane consist only of safety fences and road stripes)

Best regards

[gloomyandy]

The RFID sensor reads RFID tags. I don't think you will be able to use it for picking up motor noise or anything else...

Andy

[linusa]

Any ideas on how to detect other cars maybe 20 cm away? (The test lane consist only of safety fences and road stripes)

Use "active sources", like LEGO lamps, the light from the NXT 2.0 color sensor, or plain LEDS. Try to pick up their brightness and color with a light/color sensor...

Or use ultrasonic sensors, but in snapshot / single shot / ping mode. They'll remain silent until told otherwise. Use an US sensor to send out pings, and another one to listen for those pings...

[h-g-t]

There is always this :-

http://www.philohome.com/sensors/lasersensor.htm

I read somewhere of a similar device being used to create a 'radar plot' so that the brick could tell which items were closest. Don't know where but of you Google lego and radar you might find it.

[h-g-t]

This device seems to be able to detect objects at a fair distance :- http://www.futurlec.com/Distance_Sensors.shtml

[jojoguy14]

Hi,
Second question: have anyone had any similar projects? Any ideas on how to detect other cars maybe 20 cm away? (The test lane consist only of safety fences and road stripes)

Hey! I'm actually doing something VERY similar! I'm using Bluetooth, and depending on who goes first through the intersection, they either speed up or slow down.

jojoguy10

[defcon102]

Thanks for all the replies! Gonna check into it.