Multiple Ranging Sensors (mBuild / mBot Neo)

#1

Hello,

can I use more than one ranging sensor module on the mBuild interface (mbot2/ neo)? What is the maximum number of modules allowed, and how can I address each module?

Thank you

#2

@germersdorfm
Yes, you can connect multiple ranging sensors, theoretically up to 8:
image

#3

Ok good. I have another question. How fast can I read the Sensor? I know that all Sensors are in a Chain with UART Interfaces. So I worry about the Speed of the Interface. I want to use Up to 4 Sensors.

#4

How fast do you need it to be? I have a Ranging Sensor (I only have one though), and when I use it with a few other sensors the read time is very fast.
I can try to measure it more exactly if you’d like, but it is definitely in milliseconds and not seconds.

#5

Around 10ms per Sensor would be ideal. I plan to use 4 Sensors + US Sensor + some LEDs and also need to Control the motors (pid). Final Task ist to make the mbot to learn a map of the environment. So quite a bit of Processing. The other Option would be to build my own Sensor Board with preprocessing of some lidar Chips. But then i have to write a custom Extension for the mbuild Interface and i have never done this before. Should be possible but it needs a lot of time.

#6

@germersdorfm Not sure about 10ms, but I will try to test today. I only have two sensors.

#7

Ok, thanks. I’m looking forward to it.

#8

@germersdorfm
According to my benchmarks, it takes an average of 0.037 seconds to read the ranging sensor value in live mode and 0.0005 seconds in upload mode. This is with one ranging sensor connected directly to the mBot.

#9

Sounds good enough. Thank you.

#10

No problem. I also tested with a few sensors before the ranging sensor and the time didn’t change too much.