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Hello FIRST® Robotics Teams.  Like last year, we will use this page to help support the teams with any questions that arise regarding the use of our ultrasonic sensors.  We will post answers to questions from teams so that everyone has access to the latest information.  In addition to this page, we recommend looking at our newly redesigned Tutorials and Application page at http://maxbotix.com/tutorials.htm.

Here are a few great questions regarding the use of sensors this year.

-- 1.) If more than 1 MaxSonar (XL or any other series) are deployed on 4 robots (each robot can deploy only one or zero sonar) in a 12x12 feet field, will my robot sonar reading be affected by the other sonars? If so, what is your recommendation to minimize this interference? 

-- 2.) We are trying to find a sonar which can detect 18x18x18" object and hanging 1.25" diameter PVC pipes. For the former case, we are trying to avoid collision and the range we are interested in is between 6 inches and 3 feet away. The later case, the interested range is 6" to 70 inches away 

Answer to 1. & 2. We are recommending using the MB1013 or MB1003 in this application, both sensors will be able to detect the prescribed objects and the noted distances. You can read more about how to use our sensors at this application note http://maxbotix.com/articles/006.htm.   Additionally, the sensors have some multi-sensor operation built into the sensor which means the sensors will be able to operate in the presence of other ultrasonic sensors (i.e. 4 as described) with minimal interference. 

-- 3.) How come my camera doesn’t work on FRC Driver station?

This question has been asked several times on the Chief Delphi forums.  To make the solution more findable for FIRST teams, I would like to add the solution to our page.

The Axis camera that is used on your robots needs to have several settings enabled in the camera through your internet browser.   The first thing that you will want to do is log into your camera.  If the camera has not had the IP address configured the log in IP address will be 192.168.0.90.  If the camera has been configured for your team the log in IP address will be 10.##.##.11 .  Your team number will be divided into 2 segments.

 For example if your team number is 22, the IP address for your camera will be 10.00.22.11.  If your team number is 543 the camera IP address will be 10.05.43.11.  If your team number is 9876 the IP address will be 10.98.76.11.

When you log into your camera, log in with your user name and password.  The default username is “root” and the default password is “pass”.   If the password was changed, it typically is “admin”

Upon log in click the “SETUP” link in the upper right corner of your browser.   Under “BASIC CONFIGURATION” click on “USERS”.  Finally check the box that is to the left of “Enable anonymous viewer login (no user name or password required)”.  Finally Click “SAVE”.

Now your FRC driver station should show you the image from the camera on your robot.

It is recommended that your camera have the resolution set to 320x240 under the “Video and Image” page and the compression be set to 30.  The competition this year has implemented a BandWidth limitation and this will keep your bandwidth low.

For a full walk through on using the AXIS 206 camera please view this link http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/3120/m/8559/l/89729