Pololu IR Beacon
Quick-Start Sheet
© 2007 Pololu Corporation
http://www.pololu.com/
Pololu
IRB02A
power and
enable
inputs
outputs
Overview
Contacting Pololu
The Pololu IR beacons (infrared beacons) are small devices that allow pairs of autonomous robots to detect each other. You can use the
beacons to build pairs of robots that interact or chase one another, or to make a robot that can identify and return to a home base. For
example, you could build a "cat robot" and "mouse robot" that each have an IR beacon, where the cat chases the mouse and the mouse runs
away from the cat.
You can check the Pololu web site at for additional information about the , including color pictures,
application examples, and troubleshooting tips.
We would be delighted to hear from you about your project and about your experience with our product. You can contact us through our
online feedback form or by email at . Tell us what we did well, what we could improve, what you would like to see
in the future, or anything else you would like to say!
http://www.pololu.com/
support@pololu.com
IR beacon
Assembling the IR Beacon
Most of the IR beacon components are pre-assembled on the IR beacon using surface-
mount components. All you need to do is solder in the large capacitor, the sensors, and
the connections to your main robot controller. , so make
sure to solder it in with the positive lead in the hole marked with a ‘+’.
You can install
the IR detectors directly into the PCB, or you can solder them onto wires that you
solder into the PCB (this would give you more flexibility in positioning the
detectors on your system).
There are two sets of electrical
connections to the IR beacon. Three
pins on the “west” side are for power and
an optional enable input. Apply 6-16 V
across the + and - pins; making the enable pin
high (5 V) will enable the beacon (both
transmission and reception). The four directional
outputs are located on the “south” side of the PCB. Each pin is normally high (5 V), and it will
go low (0 V) if the other beacon is detected in the corresponding direction.
The IR beacon should be mounted at the highest point on your robot so that it is not obstructed in
any direction. Close-range performance can be improved by installing optical shielding
between sensors; note that some materials that seem opaque are transparent to IR.
PCB Size: 1.35”-diameter circle
IR Modulation Frequency: 56 kHz
Output Refresh Rate: 20 Hz
Detection Range: Approximately 6 inches to 20 feet
Supply Voltage: 6-16 V
Data Voltage: 0-5V
Mounting Considerations
Specifications
The capacitor is polarized
All other
components must be installed from the bottom of the PCB.
