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#1
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Keeping a sub level
Hi,
Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. Anyone any ideas? Thanks Michael |
#2
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Keeping a sub level
On 2005-10-22, Michael wrote:
Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. mercury tilt switches are the traditional tool for detecting tilts. but would it be possible to lower the centre of gravity enough that it could be self-leveling? Bye. Jasen |
#3
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Keeping a sub level
"Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2005-10-22, Michael wrote: Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. mercury tilt switches are the traditional tool for detecting tilts. but would it be possible to lower the centre of gravity enough that it could be self-leveling? Bye. Jasen The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. Michael |
#4
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Keeping a sub level
"Michael" schreef in bericht . uk... "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2005-10-22, Michael wrote: Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. mercury tilt switches are the traditional tool for detecting tilts. but would it be possible to lower the centre of gravity enough that it could be self-leveling? Bye. Jasen The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. Michael Have you tried gyros??? |
#5
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Keeping a sub level
On Sat, 22 Oct 2005 21:00:25 GMT, "Michael"
wrote: Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. Anyone any ideas? --- What you're looking for is called a 'clinometer' Google for 'miniature electronic clinometer' and you'll get a lot of hits. Digi-Key has some at: http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea...S&Cat=33490035 -- John Fields Professional Circuit Designer |
#6
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Keeping a sub level
On 2005-10-23, Michael wrote:
"Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2005-10-22, Michael wrote: Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. mercury tilt switches are the traditional tool for detecting tilts. but would it be possible to lower the centre of gravity enough that it could be self-leveling? Bye. Jasen The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. I thought subs dived by emptying thier float tanks... So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. that's not a big problem just have fins at the bow or a movable weight that can point the front up or down. -- Bye. Jasen |
#7
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Keeping a sub level
"Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2005-10-23, Michael wrote: "Jasen Betts" wrote in message ... On 2005-10-22, Michael wrote: Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. mercury tilt switches are the traditional tool for detecting tilts. but would it be possible to lower the centre of gravity enough that it could be self-leveling? Bye. Jasen The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. I thought subs dived by emptying thier float tanks... So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. that's not a big problem just have fins at the bow or a movable weight that can point the front up or down. -- Bye. Jasen In a real sub, you first fill the ballast tanks and that gets them under, then you use the 'fins' at the front and back to change depth. However some of ours just use the planes to go under. Thanks for the answers, however I have one question: I have a play controller from many years ago now, that when you turn it, it turned the car, character whatever on screen. There is a little window on it, and through that window you could see a chip. Couldn't I use a chip like that? Michael |
#8
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Keeping a sub level
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:02:27 +1300, Jasen Betts
wrote: On 2005-10-23, Michael wrote: The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. I thought subs dived by emptying thier float tanks... So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. that's not a big problem just have fins at the bow or a movable weight that can point the front up or down. --- Why don't you just give him what he wants instead of trying to force him to do it your way? -- John Fields Professional Circuit Designer |
#9
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Keeping a sub level
On 2005-10-24, Michael wrote:
In a real sub, you first fill the ballast tanks and that gets them under, then you use the 'fins' at the front and back to change depth. However some of ours just use the planes to go under. Thanks for the answers, however I have one question: I have a play controller from many years ago now, that when you turn it, it turned the car, character whatever on screen. There is a little window on it, and through that window you could see a chip. Couldn't I use a chip like that? Michael it really depends on how that controller works... the earth turns at 15 degrees per hour so if that device is detecting rotation after half an hour your sub will be 7.5 degrees off level... If it's detecting gravity (acceleration) it'll give incorrect readings while the sub is accerleating (speeding up, slowing down, or cornering) If it's detecting torque it'll probably drift over time... -- Bye. Jasen |
#10
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Keeping a sub level
On 2005-10-24, John Fields wrote:
On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:02:27 +1300, Jasen Betts wrote: On 2005-10-23, Michael wrote: The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. I thought subs dived by emptying thier float tanks... So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. that's not a big problem just have fins at the bow or a movable weight that can point the front up or down. --- Why don't you just give him what he wants instead of trying to force him to do it your way? I don't know how. no solution is perfect. measuring (or comparing) the water pressure (ie depth) at each end of the sub might be another option... Bye. Jasen |
#11
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Keeping a sub level
On Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:21:52 +1300, Jasen Betts
wrote: On 2005-10-24, John Fields wrote: On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:02:27 +1300, Jasen Betts wrote: On 2005-10-23, Michael wrote: The problem is that you have to alter the angle to dive. I thought subs dived by emptying thier float tanks... So if it was self-levelling then it would never get under. that's not a big problem just have fins at the bow or a movable weight that can point the front up or down. --- Why don't you just give him what he wants instead of trying to force him to do it your way? I don't know how. no solution is perfect. --- _Many_ solutions are perfect, and if you don't know how to give him what he wants, then it stands to reason that the way _you_ want him to solve his problem probably isn't relevant to him. I don't recall reading where he said that he wanted advice on building a sub, all he asked for, initially, was a sensor he could use to level the boat. You suggested a mercury switch. Fair enough, but you left out the part where it would have to be a SPDT type of affair in order to detect bow-up or bow-down, and your comment about adding weight seems to indicate that you were thinking about roll instead of pitch. Am I wrong? --- measuring (or comparing) the water pressure (ie depth) at each end of the sub might be another option... --- I don't think so. Dynamic pressure variations due to hull geometry while maneuvering at different velocities will surely swamp out the static about-a-half-a-PSI-per-foot contribution of the head of water above the bow and the stern of the boat while it's under way. -- John Fields Professional Circuit Designer |
#12
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Keeping a sub level
I am not really sure what you are after - do you mean level while moving
forward? Or level while stationary? Or level out after a dive/surface? If you just want to keep level while moving forward then I presume you would use servo controlled 'fins' (whatever they are called) to set the sub level. Feed the fins servo with a signal derived from a sensor that detects level - you could make one easily - say use a circular 'wheel' of material (perspex?) that has been coated with a paint of variable graded transluctance (eg ranging from almost black to clear) use a LED one side and a LDR the other - both mounted to the subs hull - and arange a small weight hanging down from the wheels axle. What you will get from this arrangement is a resistance that varies according to the angle of the hull in respect to the earths centre. Use that resistance to drive a PWM PICAXE and bobs your aunty - a self leveling sub David J |
#13
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Keeping a sub level
"Michael" wrote in message . uk... Hi, Ok I have a r/c submarine and i need some form of electronic sensor to keep it level. Onboard power is 7.2V. You can use a "static" accelerometer to measure tilt. www.sparkfun.com has allot of really neat stuff for reasonable prices. You can get a two-axis accelerometer pre-mounted for as low as $25. Using one that has a voltage output, you can use relatively simple circuitry to detect level. They also have gyroscopes, magnetometers and electronic compass modules. For the really obsessed, they have a complete IMU module w/bluetooth. |
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