Infrared Sensor

[Shearer]

I hope someone can help...

We have made an autonomous Skeletrix race car, which was programmed with a microprocessor so it slows down with Infrared sensors before corners. It is a figure of 8 circuit so we have 4 sensors for corners to slow it down and speed it up and another sensor at the start line to count the lap.

We need to display information which was happening and thought LabVIEW would be the best to show what is happening. 

We have a Low-cost USB DAQ.

Was wondering if it is possible to link up the 5 infrared sensors with the DAQ, and then if its possible to show the Laps, time per lap, and split times in each sections. This obviously done by using the infrared sensors.

Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[F._Schubert]

Sounds like a fun project. I'd start by checking the sensor signals with MAX, then switch over to aquire the data with LV.

You could use a counter to monitor the laps and AI for the corner sensors.

Felix

[Shearer]

Thanks for the reply Felix, but could you expand your answer a bit, I forgot to add that I am a beginner with LabVIEW and just starting to learn the basics of it. So as much info as possible would be greatly appreciated and also explained in a way even a beginner would understand? 

Thanks

[F._Schubert]

There isn't much wrong you can do. But I outline the route I'd take as much as possible.

Proper installation:

First install LV. Reboot. Install DAQmx drivers. Reboot.

Check your signal:

So get the sensors and connect them to USB.DAQ device. Read them using MAX (Measurement and automation explorer).

Learn LabVIEW:

There is a lot of LV-tutorials on ni.com, depending on your background. Also check the examples that install with LV and DAQmx. Search for tutorials and app-notes for the specific data acquisition you need to take. Most of them will show you good code to start with (the DAQmx examples have a really good coding standard -> a good way to learn LV).

Program some data acquisition on your own:

As a start, you probably will use the DAQassistant. It's somewhere inbetween MAX an LV. With the examples, you also can go directly to LV/DAQmx programming. Get you sensor signal displayed in some way (some graph).

Well, you just do it. You always can post code in this forum for review. If you have problems, plenty of us will have the experience of that specific situation. But also if everything is going fine, plenty of us are able to criticize your code and push you to be a better LV programmer.

Felix

[Shearer]

Hi again,

I have been working through exersises where it involves an RTD circuit and it goes into the DAQ and measures Temperature and shows it on a wave form chart, thermomemter, digital display.

I was wondering if this would be similar way of doing things but with a infra red circuit going straight into the DAQ?

Attached below is Print Screens of my labview attempts

Thanks

Greg Shearer

[Shearer]

Attaching the document would be helpful!