ROBOTMAK3RS Blog

10 year old Peter Cembalest built and programmed this awesome NXT Pinball Machine, with 4 scoring sensors, all picking up different ways to score, 6 sensors total, and fun game play, all controlled by one NXT: The design is based on the NXT Pinball Machine from the CD LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 2.0 by Example , but Peter and his dad Michael made some significant enhancements.  The original game had two touch sensors to trigger the flippers, an ultrasonic sensor spotting a rotating spinner target, and a color sensor ball trap.  By using a HiTechnic touch sensor multiplexer , they were able to add two more sensors and get two more ways to score: A touch sensor target lever, and a HiTechnic EOPD sensor that senses when the ball passes through the center tires.  Peter rewrote the entire program to include the new sensors, new sounds and graphics, and other customizations.  Great job!

On the HiTechnic website, Gus Jansson has published an interesting article on how to use the HiTechnic EOPD sensor as an accurate distance measuring sensor. You can read it by following this link . (Thanks to Xander for the link.)

I was just surfing the HiTechnic Website when I found that they have released a new sensor. The Electro Optical Proximity Detector or EOPD is used to ...accurately detect objects and small changes in distance... The sensor has its own internal light source so it won't be disturbed by external light signals. Objects can be detected from distances up to 30 cm. Has anyone got or tested this sensor - if so please comment and share your experience with the rest of us. Anders