Compass-Hall effect sensor

[PJ33]

Hello,

I want to use a compass sensor for my robot (determine position).
Will the Hall Effect (Magnet) Sensor SS 495A do the work? Will it give me a position relative to Earth's magnetic field?
In the documentation is says that it can be used as a position sensor, but I am slightly confused on how to make the circuit.
Documentation: https://www.farnell.com/datasheets/1676927.pdf
Thank you in advance!

 

[rjenkinsgb]

I doubt that would work well, or at all.

Your best option is one of the 9 or 10 degrees of freedom accelerometer boards, which are readily available on ebay at low prices.
eg.

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Those include a three axis compass, plus three axis accelerometer and gyro functions.

 

[PJ33]

Yes, but cant i use the hall effect sensor to get the position?

 

[rjenkinsgb]

No, not in any practical way.
The Earth's magnetic field strength is a fraction of one gauss; that sensor is designed to measure fields in the range of hundreds of gauss.

It needs a vastly more sensitive type of detector to use as practical compass.

 

[rjenkinsgb]

Hypothetically, If those were the only possible sensor:

You could use a normal magnetic compass then mount several of those around it, probably four (or possibly more, however many needed), so the orientation of the magnetic compass needle could be worked out by comparing the outputs of the hall sensors...

But I don't think those alone would be usable to give a reliable and stable compass reading, even with lot of extra electronics to amplify the outpurs.