Variable Pressure Probe

[MooseDude2]

I'm looking to have an add-on to a robot I created.

The add-on is a probe that can apply a variable pressure.  That is if I want the probe to apply 2psi then the probe will automatically the 2psi.

Any ideas on how to get started with such a device?

[Admin]

What you actually want is a force sensor:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/sensors_forcetorque.shtml

and you use this equation:
Pressure = Force / Area

the area being the contact area

But I think you meant to say you want to control force, right?

[want2learn]

there is another way, dunno if it'll do though.

you can use qtc pills or pipe as the sensor, essentially these are resistors whose resistance changes as pressure is applied to them. you could use them in a voltage divider, feed the output to an adc in your ucontroller. Its cheaper than admins option but you'll need to design the lot yourself and i dont think it'll  be as accurate as using admins option.

but hey, you get what you pay for