{"product_id":"pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-pair","title":"Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver (pair)","description":"\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eProvide your robots with a simple way to detect each other\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes two round PCBs, each one with six wide-angle emitters and four IR detectors\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eFour red LEDs provide visual feedback for the direction of the other \u003cstrong\u003ebeacon\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eFour digital outputs, each representing a cardinal direction\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ePololu IR Beacon Transceivers\u003c\/strong\u003e are devices meant to be used in pairs to give robots a simple mean for detecting each other. You can use the \u003cstrong\u003ebeacons\u003c\/strong\u003e 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 \u003cstrong\u003eIR beacon\u003c\/strong\u003e, where the cat chases the mouse and the mouse runs away from the cat. These \u003cstrong\u003ebeacons\u003c\/strong\u003e are ideal for autonomous robot contests in which robots compete in pairs.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver (pair)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.robotshop.com\/media\/files\/Images\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-mouse.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe new \u003cstrong\u003eIR beacons\u003c\/strong\u003e feature round PCBs with six wide-angle emitters to provide uniform broadcasting in all directions. The on-board voltage monitoring enables more consistent output brightness over the voltage range. Most components are pre-assembled, so all you need to solder is the capacitor, connectors, and IR sensors (make sure you solder them in from the bottom of the PCB!). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote:\u003c\/strong\u003e The \u003cstrong\u003ePololu IR beacon\u003c\/strong\u003e is a kit; before using it, you need to assemble the beacon by soldering its components onto its circuit board. To use the kit in robotics projects, you need to connect it to your own robot controller. Please note that the \u003cstrong\u003eIR beacons\u003c\/strong\u003e only work in pairs and that certain kinds of artificial lighting (e.g. some fluorescent lights) can interfere with the sensors. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow the \u003cstrong\u003eIR Beacons\u003c\/strong\u003e Work?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e(The following animations show the old IR beacon, but the operating principle is the same in the new, round units).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003ebeacons\u003c\/strong\u003e work by transmitting and detecting infrared light, much like a television remote control. Each \u003cstrong\u003ebeacon\u003c\/strong\u003e has six IR emitters and four IR detectors. The \u003cstrong\u003ebeacons\u003c\/strong\u003e alternate between transmitting and receiving so that they never get confused by reflections of their own transmissions.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cimg align=\"middle\" alt=\"Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver (pair)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.robotshop.com\/media\/files\/Images\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-detail1.gif\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe transmission and detection cycle is carried out more than one thousand times per second, and a small microcontroller monitors all four detectors to decide the direction to the other \u003cstrong\u003ebeacon\u003c\/strong\u003e. The beacons have four red LEDs that indicate the direction to the other beacon; if you take two \u003cstrong\u003ebeacons\u003c\/strong\u003e and rotate them, the LEDs will always keep lighting up in the direction of the other \u003cstrong\u003ebeacon\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver (pair)\" src=\"https:\/\/www.robotshop.com\/media\/files\/Images\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-detail2.gif\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eInterfacing to the \u003cstrong\u003ePololu IR Beacon\u003c\/strong\u003e is simple - it has four digital outputs that indicate which of its four sides detects the other \u003cstrong\u003ebeacon\u003c\/strong\u003e the strongest. An enable input lets you select between active mode and a low-power mode. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIR Beacon Development Kit (Transmit-Only Beacon)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDue to customer requests, the IR beacon is also available as just an assembled PCB with no IR sensors or firmware. This item is intended for advanced users who want to customize their \u003cstrong\u003eIR beacon\u003c\/strong\u003e functionality by writing their own firmware. The main processor is a Microchip PIC16F630, and the PCB includes a footprint for a 5-pin header compatible with the PIC kit 2 programmer. Also available as a single \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/robotshopshop-dev.myshopify.com\/products\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-pair\"\u003ePololu IR Beacon Transceiver (pair)\u003c\/a\u003e (RB-Pol-29)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Pololu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41720729075864,"sku":"RB-Pol-28","price":60.56,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0487\/4158\/0952\/products\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-pair.png?v=1652453984","url":"https:\/\/robotshopshop-dev.myshopify.com\/products\/pololu-ir-beacon-transceiver-pair","provider":"RobotShop Dev","version":"1.0","type":"link"}