IR Rangefinder + a little other quiestions

[claesson92]

I have an quite old computor with an blown-up PSU. Is there any parts in that computor i can use?

And can i program the IR Rangefinder so the robot avoid the obstacles instead of chasing them?
And an i switch between chasing & avoiding without having to connect it to my PC?

[Hal9000]

PSU's are ?5 right? I suggest maybe getting another and just use the pc for other things. They aren't really worth taking apart for parts!

[claesson92]

And a little addon question. Is IR-Rangefinders functional in darkness?
And another one: Is there any usable parts at scrapyards?

[hazzer123]

IR range finders have their own IR emitter. They work by measuring the intensity of the reflected light. The more intense the light, the closer the reflecting surface. So yes they will be functional in darkness.

At a scrap yard, i imagine there are tonnes of different components to make use of. Windscreen wiper servos, LEDs, thermostats, fuses... the list goes on.

[Admin]

can i program the IR Rangefinder so the robot avoid the obstacles instead of chasing them?

The IR rangefinder returns the distance away from an object. Your robot can do anything you want with that data: build a map, avoid objects, calibrate a catapult aiming angle, edge detection . . . the list goes on.

My most recent project involves a camera finding an object, then using a rangefinder to find the distance away so that my robot arm can grab it.