DPRG mailing list archives: [DPRG] Cool Christmas Presents

Wed Dec 27 20:16:28 CST 2006

Ed,

What search terms did you use?  I have not been able to find any useful
info so far.

Ed

> Ed,
>
> When I got back to Austin today, I stopped by the local Walmart and
> picked up one of those hot wheels radar guns.  Pretty slick!  They
> appear to be on clearance for $20.00 and I saw them at HEB later for
> $12.50.
>
> I found some pictures online, and it seems that its using doppler
> shift, not time of flight.  Makes sense, because thats cheap.   There
> is some discussion on boosting the power, too.
>
> But it seems that the base signal is being measured and displayed by a
> microcontroller of some sort.
>
> So the question to everyone is this:
> Given a sensor that gives you the speed of a moving object, can you
> produce 'interesting' data for navigation?
>
> Perhaps use it while driving to check your odometry by measuring your
> own speed against the ground?
>
> Sweep it 360 degrees and create a sort of optical flow map?
>
> Use two at once and come up with the speed of two points in front of
> you, then compute a line (gradient) that could give you speed and
> direction of travel?
>
> I've not opened mine up yet, but from the pictures, the base-band
> processor would easily be replaced.
>
> Ed P
>
>
> On 12/26/06, Ed Okerson <ed at okerson.com> wrote:
>> So what cool toys did everyone find under the tree?
>>
>> My kids got me the Hot Wheels Radar Gun.  How they manage to make a real
>> Doppler radar gun for $20 is beyond me.  Now to figure out a good
>> robotics
>> use for it.  I wonder how hard it would be to make a sonar replacement?
>>
>> Anyone going to RBNO tonight?
>>
>> Ed
>>
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>