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Monday, July 30, 2012

Relay Logic Machine - Mechanical relay logic using a Microcontroller

Mechanical Relay Logic Controller rev. 2!

--- Relay Logic ---

Some time ago I was doing work for a company that was tasked with automating the engagement of a piece of survey equipment from an F-150 truck. The covered bed needed to ₁open from the top, ₂the turret needed to left, and ₃finally the equipment needed to turn into position. All at the flip of a switch. Then, when the switch was flipped back, the operations needed to go in reverse.

The company I was working for ended up using a micro-controller and proximity sensors for the limit switches. However I believe this relay-centric design is still a great thought experiment and is worth taking a closer look at. The link to a video of the "laser truck" the circuit was designed for is located here.

There were only a few rules to follow:

No motor or actuator current may run through any of the control or limit switches
All operations must be controlled by the user with just one switch
When the sensor array (the package) is in the truck and at rest, all equipment must be off (no relays my be active)

Read More and See Diagram...
http://brainlubeonline.com/relaylogic/

MoDaC 2.0 - The "Transformer"

Video Link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFTW8a9e7hg

McAlpine Devices Relay Logic Machine

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Video Link...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BpQH_4jfrHk

Well, most of that info was "Greek" to me!;) I'm not sure what they are doing with all of that Curb and Road Data. Reminds me of how the "Google Self Driving Car" works. And I wonder if they work for Google Maps? But, I really like the Machine that they built for Raising and Lowering the Instruments!:) There are so many different uses for something like that. Just Imagine!:)

Don