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Preston_5564C04.fm Page 114 Wednesday, October 5, 2005 7:22 AM

114 CHAPTER 4 ■ SENSORS

Figure 4-6. The Preston Research Sonar Distribution Board

Using either solder breadboards or PCBs will make your robotic enclosures and sensor
connects easier to maintain and more reliable.

4.1 Orientation Sensors (Compass)

The first group of sensors I’ll talk about will provide orientation to your robot: the digital
compass. The compass gives your robot absolute orientation, which is critical for navigation.
In this section, I’ll discuss the three types of compasses:

• Dinsmore 1490: A cheap, durable compass with an accuracy of 45 degrees.
• Devantech CMPS03: A single IO compass with two degrees of accuracy.

• PNI Corporation Vector 2X: A four IO compass with two degrees of accuracy.
These three compasses are shown in Figures 4-7, 4-8, and 4-9.