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Tracker Sensor
Price (USD) [ $19.95 ] Model Number [ TRA-01 ] Ship Weight [ 0.05 lbs. ]	This is the "Tracker" line following sensor. The reflective IR sensor trio makes following lines easy. It's assembled using surface mount technology. Plug and Play with the Bot Board II.

Features The Tracker has been improved! The Tracker is now assembled using surface mount technology. It includes wires and plugs to provide true plug and play use. The IR reflective sensors are now one piece units, so there is no need to focus. There are status LEDs to provide visual feedback to aid in setup.

Images / Videos 640 x 480 image of Tracker 640 x 480 image On CR1 640 x 480 image CR2 following a line MPG Video of Tracker in operation

User Guides User's Guide for Tracker sensor

Projects Robot Project DinoTrax Line Tracker Robot Project 10 Lynxmotion Based Sumo Robots

Specifications Sensor type = Reflective IR IR sensor = Combined IR LED and detector I/O required = Three digital lines (inputs) Minimum range = Almost touching the floor Maximum range = 1/2" from floor Input voltage = 5vdc regulated Current requirements = 50-65mA PC board size = 2.3" x .75"

Information The Tracker is an Infrared reflective sensor trio, that can be attached to the front of mobile wheeled robots. The sensor delivers three digital signals to a microcontroller so the robot can reliably follow a black line on a white background, or vise versa. The circuitry could also be useful as an edge detector to keep your robot from going off the edge of a table, or tumbling down the stairs. This is a time tested rock solid circuit that will perform flawlessly with no tedious set-up or calibration. The three reflective sensors are made from one piece Infrared LED and photo detector pairs that are directed at the surface in front of the robot. Each of the three sensors looks for reflected IR light. When one of the sensors is positioned over a dark or black surface its output will be low. When it is moved to a light or white surface its output will be high. The microcontroller monitors these signals and moves the robot according to the diagram below. The Tracker works great with line thickness from 1/4" to 3/4". Lines made with electrical tape are perfect. The track can be black tape on a white background or white tape on a black background, as long as the dark surface has a matte (not shiny) finish. A track can be made from plastic such as Sintra, cut into 12" x 12" pieces. You then add the lines to each square making some turn and some go straight. The placement of the panels can be changed to make different courses. For more challenging courses some of the panels can have gaps or wiggles in the line.