The IRCF module can both transmit and receive the Sony SIRC standard infrared signals. This standard is normally available on most multi function TV/Video/DVD type remote controllers
	By using of the programmable  TV / Video / DVD remote controller you can take full control of your robot and control it like any remote control model.  IR-Control Freak™ decodes Infrared commands and converts them into serial data for easy remote control of your robots.
	Robot Swarms and Robot gaming can be achieved by transmitting encoded SIRC Sony IR signals to two or more IRCF devices by enabling inter-robot communication and identification. For example  you can determine whether your opponent is a friend or foe by asking "who are you"? Why not also configure a unique ID for each robot and robot team, allowing your robot to communicate between team robots or swarms  and send a 'tag' codes to the other teams. This feature can be used for robot gaming e.g. robot tag, strategic war games or for simulation such as Biomimetic approaches & insect navigation behaviors,  insect colony simulation, etc. Some further gaming ideas are on the research and development page.

 

Three Infra-red proximity sensors provide approximately 180 degrees of detection. The module acts like a range finder,  providing non-contact proximity data from about 2cm (1")  to about 30cms (1ft). The range can be extended by adding additional IR LED's. The IR-CF module enables accurate robot control through narrow passages, which is important for obstacle avoidance or maze running games

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A robot controller just need to sends a one-byte control command to the IRCF-L (see user manual for details of commands) via a serial connection (see above). The IRCF module then instantly interpreted and returns back detailed information on either 180 degree Infrared proximity detection (IRPD), Infrared remote control, Infrared SIRC transmission, Infrared Beacon sensing.

The module even has it's own 5v power regular,  which can also be used as a limited power source within your robot project.

This module is designed to get you up-and-running with your robot projects quickly - within hours rather than weeks! Allowing you to focus your time developing the logic rather than fixing  electronic or mechanical problems.

	The IRCF-L v 2.0 has directional light-sensing functionality added onto the PCB,  provided by two  cadmium sulphide photo-resistors  light sensors.
	Your robot will be able to detect which direction light is coming from, enabling your robot to head towards light (photovore) or 'hide' in the shadows (photophobe). This offers many new  'artificial life' experiments and other exciting robot gaming dimensions.

(click to zoom)

You can also program your robot to follow a light source (such as a torch) or get your robots to race through a maze with a light source as a direction finder.

 

	A unique compass-style LED display 'points' in the approximate direction of the nearest obstacle. A green centre LED illuminates when an object is about 100mm (4") away from the robot.
	The circular display is also used to display the command state of if the IRCF and to give visual indication of the commands being executed. This helps with rapid debugging your robot applications
	The circular display also offers easy debugging and instant feedback.

The on-board microprocessor has pre-programmed Fuzzy Logic proximity detection algorithms for instant object avoidance decision making; freeing up your main robot processor to do other tasks..

	The pre-programmed Fuzzy Logic proximity detection algorithms, enable instant object avoidance decision, This frees-up a lot of processing your main robot controller would normally need to do.
	If you don't want to use the pre-programmed logic,  can build your own  Fuzzy Logic rule structure and rule matrix (error/error.dot) from the 6 bytes of  'raw' proximity detection data (command 032). Using clever algorithms you can also determine whether your opponent is moving towards you or away from you.

The module even has it's own 5v power regular,  which can also be used as a limited power source within your robot project.

The IR Beacon command mode allows the robot to determine approximately in which direction an IR signal is coming from. This can be used as a guidance system for homing into an IR  beacon or used for locating an approx position on another robot in robot games.

 

The compact sensor module is only 4,7cm x 5,0cm (1.85"x2"), making it suitable for robot competitions as small as the Micro Sumo class competitions.

Our Infrared Control Freak programmable sensor modules are 'plug & play' ... meaning you just need a 3 wire serial interface between your robot controller and Infrared control freak.  Most robot controllers (please check with your robot controller documentation) already have a built-in command set to receive and transmit serial data, enabling you to be up and running very quickly.

 

Standard Version BAUD Rate = 9600 bps  PICAXE version  BAUD Rate = 2400 bps  8 data bits,  No parity bit, No Stop bit .   The IRCF delivers asynchronous serial data with an 'RS-232' format, except voltages are at 0-5 volts!  Although the voltage is outside the RS-232 standard, it is suitable for interfacing to most robot controllers. Depending on the configuration of your robot controller's serial connection,  the signal may need to be inverted. For true RS232 interface a MAX232 may be required.    Note that these are inverted signals i.e. the standard for direct connection with a PC RS232 port. Please use 1K ohm voltage limiting resistors of you intend to connect directly to a PC serial port. This is necessary  unless a MAX232 is used, which has on-board voltage boosters to create the required voltage. Ensure external circuits are configured to provide inverted signals rather than a true signal (which is standard for Basic Stamp, PICAXE controllers.)

A 2400 Baud version is also available for PICAXE or other microcontrollers that require slower communication protocol

 

Simple connection, using just a simple 3 wire serial interface (RX, TX ,GDN),  your robot controller (e.g. Basic Stamp, Picaxe) can start communicating with the Infrared control freak. You have instant access to Infrared proximity sensing, Ambient  light sensing, Infrared remote control (TX and RX), and beacon functionality.

 

A special Infrared Control Freak - Light  sensor module has been developed for the PICAXE range of microcontrollers. The version is configured with a compatible 2400 baud serial interface,  offering many new exciting PICAXE project opportunities for one of the most easiest microcontroller ranges.  Read more

 

The Infrared Control Freak Light module interfaces easily to the Parallax Basic Stamp and other common Microcontrollers;  such as the PICAXE**, Baisc24, BasicX, or robot kits such as the Growbot*,  Boebot* &  Bipeds from Parallax* .

The data can be transmitted as ASCII to the Debug screen on the Basic Stamp or other terminal program or as decimal (selected by programmable code).  The data can also be visualised in real time using a 3 -D graph such as the ones available in MS Excel.

 

A software UART has been development by BittyBot  to enable the IRCF to interface to the  MegaBitty. This SW UART offers an added advantage as it has the advantage of freeing up the Hardware UART for communications with a computer for programming.  Some example code on using them. Look for ircf_cv.zip in the MegaBitty Sample Code section in the MegaBitty Yahoo group files section: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/MegaBitty/files/MegaBitty%20sample%20 code/ or download directly from here: ircf_cv.zip SW UART routines for the Infrared Control Freak. Written in C for the CodeVision compiler. (Download files at own risk. Virus check all files downloaded from this site. ROBOTmaker takes no responsibility for these files.)

 

Examples of  projects using Infrared Control Freak Light V2.0  connected to a MEGAbitty controller board :

MegaBitty and IRCF attached to a modified  toy tank chassis

 

 

 

 

IRCF and MegaBitty in a micro robot where spaced is required for other electronics.

 

Prices & Ordering 

IRCF Prices and Ordering details

 

User and Technical Manuals

	Detailed Benefits & Features
	User Manuals of IRCF-L  (IRCF v2.0)
	Overview of control commands
	Example project and experiments with the IR-Control Freak  LIGHT™
	IRCF Videos
	IRCF Calibration Notes

Assembly Instructions

The infrared control Freak - Light is also available as a self assembly kit.

	IRCF Construction Kit
	Detailed Benefits & Features
	IRCF 1.0 Kit Assembly instructions (,pdf)

Technical References

	PICAXE Version - 2400 baud Interfacing
	Principals of Infrared Communication

 

 

Do you need even more information? Then contact: support@ROBOTmaker.co.uk 

 

 

Custom Designs 

If you need special functionality or special control characters for your robot project, we may be able to add this functionality for you too. Just send an email to sales@robotmaker.co.uk.

 

Example Student Project - Custom designed IRCF with an addressable bus