Twin Low-cost Infrared Range Finders for Detecting Obstacles Using in Mobile Platforms

The new approach to eliminate blind zone of an infrared range finder is introduced. Infrared sensors have normally limitations of each individual sensor type in terms of detection range and a wider range measurement of this sensor type costs certainly intensive. The idea to use multiple infrared sensors simultaneously, a short range and a long range one, is proposed to overcome this problem. This has been inspired by eyeglasses solutions to presbyopia, which have two lenses, one for near sight and one for seeing distant objects. Multiple sensors concept is used to span wider measuring range, even the cost remains low-budget, so that it can be used in educational research properly. The combination of a short range and a long range measurement can detect obstacles and measure distance continuously from distant (500 cm) to near field (20 cm) around it. Mobile platform in educational institutes can take these advantages for navigations and localization in indoor environments and also for obstacle avoidances.