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originalfoo / SensorArray

Open source sensor array
MIT License
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Device orientation #6

Open originalfoo opened 7 years ago

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

The device needs to know which way (magnetic) North is - is a compass in an IMU sufficient for this task or should installation instructions provide guidance of how to orient the device?

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

Could do it manually by installing a small physical compass on the device. Alternatively, build a motor in to the base unit and have the device auto-orient to North on first use (battery will be full change due to initial power-up while doing config via USB).

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

Motors will affect reading from magnetometer - see #10

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

Magnetism from motors in base unit (ground-facing module) would adversely affect sensors in that part of the array.

Compass component would add cost and be difficult to see. Better approach might be to use the neopixel ring to indicate orientation guidance?

Note: In terms of "North", what we specifically mean is "whatever North means in the software that calculates where the sun is".

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

When mounted on a ship, orientation is somewhat pointless.

originalfoo commented 7 years ago

Depending on which screen is fitted to the sensor, visibility of sensor elements could be obscured.