Sumovore Manual

The Solarbotics Sumovore
Rear Sensor Option
Sumovore Rear Sensor Option: You may have noticed the spots at the rear center of the mainboard labled ‘Opt IR DET3’ and
‘Opt C8’. These are the mounting points for another PNA4602 IR sensor and 0.1µF filter capacitor. The idea is to install a rear-
looking sensor, so it’s less likely that you will be approached from behind and “escorted” out to the edge of the sumo ring.
Installation is straightforward, simply mount these parts in the locations mentioned, but you’ll most likely have to cut the lead
lengths down as there will most likely be stuff in the way below. You’re now half-way there!
So what do you have to do to finish getting all the way there? Well, it’s one thing to detect an opponent behind you, but what are
you going to do about it? We’re going to use a positive detection trigger the same behaviour as if the opponent was detected by
the left or right sensor. We’ll run the output signal from the rear sensor to one of the front sensor outputs, so a rear-detection
triggers the same response as a left or right detection.
Solder a wire from the pad just above the DET3 sensor position, and thread it
through the one of the holes on the mainboard to up near where you wired up
the 4AA battery holder. If you look closely, you’ll see two pads labled ‘Right’
and ‘Left’. Pick a direction you want your Sumovore to turn when it detects a
rear opponent, and solder your wire to that pad.
What you’ve finished now is a passive sensor, which is that it doesn’t send out
a signal to detect the opponent. It’s depending on the opponent to broadcast
a 38kHz IR signal (very common) for you to detect. Like a submarine just
listening for its adversary.
If you want to be proactive and send out active “pings” to locate your
opponent, you can install an IR emitter in parallel with the red indicator LED at
the back. If you look at the bottom just below this LED, you’ll see a second set
of solder points where you can solder on an IR emitter. You can use another
focused emitter like the front of your Sumovore, or use a wide-angle emitter
like the OP140A shown in the picture - practically any IR emitter will do the
job. Be aware that installing the extra emitter will most likely pull enough
power away from the red LED that it won’t light up anymore. If you wish, you
can yank the red LED right out and install your IR emitter there instead - just
make sure it doesn’t poke out far enough to violate the 10 x 10cm maximum
size rule. Be warned: - if your opponent is looking for a 38kHz signal,
you’ve just put a big ‘ol beacon for him to lock on to!
Step 1: Install Sensor, capacitor and one end of wire
Wire
connection
Sensor
Wire
Right / Left
sensor connection
pads
Step 3: Connect other end of wire to
‘Right’ or ‘Left’
Step 2: Thread wire through to front right side
Step 4 (Opt.): Install IR Emitter
below LED3