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Topic starter
2019-11-20 6:39 pm
I'm in the planning stages of building a laser beam break device. I work with a company that makes ramps for crazy folks like me to jump their bikes off of (HAHAHAHA). Something I thought that would be fun would be a "Who jumped the furthest contest". With that in mind, I need something that single when a rider did not clear a specific distance. I don't need to be able to measure how far the rider went, just single if they did not go the distance set. Sure I could do something simple with PVC pipe or something like that but come on!!!! Let's put some tech into this and a nerd it up! HAHAHAHA! So my first question for you folks is, would a laser beam break idea even be a good one? The device will need to be moved very often since we are always going to want to test a new distance and it will have to work outside in the sun. Can I get some ideas from my friends here please?
Thank you!
Gene
2019-11-20 8:20 pm
The device will need to be moved very often since we are always going to want to test a new distance and it will have to work outside in the sun.
If you are going to move the device a lot then you'll need to realign the laser and the sensor each time you move it, which could get a bit tedious. And, of course, if the laser or receiver gets moved it will false-trigger as a break in the beam.
The Sun shouldn't be an issue if you pulse the laser beam and have your receiver look for a break in the pulses. You can also shield the receiver by placing it in a tube.
I've been playing with a few lasers lately for an upcoming episode for the workshop, and I was going to create a beam-break system using an Arduino, among other things. So I'd be interested in hearing how your project goes.
Bill
"Never trust a computer you can’t throw out a window." — Steve Wozniak
Topic starter
2019-11-20 8:27 pm
Thanks Bill!
Yes, that is my concern regard moving the lasers each time and having to realign them. Maybe a strip of some type that has two connections that get connected when the rider rides over the strip? I was kicking that idea around but was not sure how to make something like that. Or how about the idea of that thing folks put across the street to count cars? How is that made?
Topic starter
2019-11-20 8:28 pm
OK, it's amazing what some more Google work can do! This might be the way I go! HAHAHA
Topic starter
2019-11-20 9:13 pm
HAHAHA! Just found this in my inbox. I guess it would be more of an extreme version of what I want to build!