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Automated restrictor plates and Randy T's to do list.

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Ginsu Victim:
With the LEDwiz, I could see it being something as simple as a small motor rotating a restrictor plate from 4-way to 8-way, using three inputs (clockwise, ground, counter-clockwise) running off the wiz. It's just a question of how to mount it and keep the size down.

Aceldamor:
I have an Idea, but involves me drawing..and i'm at work. Let me putz around with this, if possible, I would like to perhaps get some input from RandyT on it as well.

Long story short, make a "Cage" that resembles the framework of a table. 4 legs, braced with crossbeams. Make the legs long enough, with a thin top mount that allows you to use the joystick mounting screws to mount the cage, and using the body of the stick for support. L shaped legs.  At the bottom of the legs would be small gears that house a master gear that has the diamond cut from it's center.  A small motor mount can be made to attach to the frame, then use another  small shaft with a gear at the bottom that will drive the gear clockwise/counter clockwise. A small motor like in slot cars.

I know this sounds rather silly, but i'm hoping I can clarify with a drawing later.

SavannahLion:

--- Quote from: Ginsu Victim on March 13, 2009, 04:19:17 pm ---With the LEDwiz, I could see it being something as simple as a small motor rotating a restrictor plate from 4-way to 8-way, using three inputs (clockwise, ground, counter-clockwise) running off the wiz. It's just a question of how to mount it and keep the size down.
--- End quote ---

You can cut it down to two by reversing the polarity on the two inputs. On a "dumb" motor system, this gives you three distinct states (clockwise, OFF, counterclockwise). On something more intelligent this easily gives you four states or more if pulsing is involved. Using the LEDWiz, you're probably going to have an intermediary circuit anyways to protect the LEDWiz from a stalled motor.

I think that feedback is probably necessary for whatever automated system is devised. Whether internalized feedback to detect a stalled or stuck motor (visualize a soda spill right into the guts of this) or some type of state feedback so the system can detect aperture shape on startup.

What about using camera lenses as a model for something like this? Can a set of four "rotating" aperture leafs be made to create a square then diamond pattern?

RandyT:

--- Quote from: Ginsu Victim on March 13, 2009, 04:19:17 pm ---With the LEDwiz, I could see it being something as simple as a small motor rotating a restrictor plate from 4-way to 8-way, using three inputs (clockwise, ground, counter-clockwise) running off the wiz. It's just a question of how to mount it and keep the size down.

--- End quote ---

A rotating restrictor would be the simplest, but also somewhat less effective.  One of the admittedly minor drawbacks of rotating restricted sticks is that the 8-way restriction tends to feel a little truncated and the square restriction makes diagonals a bit easy to hit.  Great for a game like Q-bert, but regular 8-way games sometimes need a little adjustment period.

Ideally, the 4-way restriction should completely "disappear" from the equation when not needed.  So any would be inventors should, IMHO, think in those terms.

RandyT

Ummon:
Well, right off the bat to me is whether it should be 'square' or 'circular'. If circular, and I've mentioned this in past discuissions on this, then a swirling type of restrictor might work, and would have a range relative to the mapping of a stick like the U360.

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