System design is a huge issue. Have you had any time to actually measure and evaluate any of the things I and others have asked you about?

It is a total waste of time to deal with the software until you have parameterized some of the issues that you will be trying to measure. This parameterization should be done with an oscilloscope so that you can see really what the signals look like and what you will need to be calling for the software to perform.

I have asked you repeatedly if you have made any attempt to do this.....however you have never responded specifically to any one of the issues I raised.

It is rather clear to me that you have not thought one iota about some pretty fundamental things. Take some of these items for example.....

1) You are saying to use a stepper motor for the rotation of the laser pointer. Have you determined at all how the step resolution of the stepper motor will have an effect on the resolution of the angle that you can measure?

2) You are suggesting the concept of measuring the width of a few bars at a variable distance (actually implied because you say the intent of your system is to perform position determination by triangulation). Have you considered that the "width" of the pulses from the tape will change as the distance from the laser to the target changes? Have you considered that the width will change as the incident angle of the laser beam to the reflective surface changes?



3) You repeatedly stated you intend to use two targets. What is going to be your third variable to permit you to do Triangulation? Have you concerened yourself with the fact that time-of-flight of the laser beam to and back from target may need to be measured or possibly incorporate a third target?

It is through system engineering that one determines whether a project is even feasible to begin with. Until that is done any implementation work is an entire waste of time.

Michael Karas