Hello everyone. This is my first post, so although i'm a noob I am an electronics grad w/ 2-year AAS degree so I do understand electronics-speak
I'd like to get some help designing a simple plane-break counter. By plane-break, I mean as an object passes a defined 'plane' this counter will increment by one.
What I'm doing is tracking trail usage on a local mt bike trail. We're trying to work with the DNR to help support land maintenance resources. We need to prove to them the amount of traffic this trail is seeing is more significant than they realize. My solution is a simple counter. When a biker passes a plane (i'm thinking a reflector on one side with light sensor on the other) this counter will increment. After a few months we'll check the counter and log the results.
Here are my needs:
As mentioned, I do know electronics, I just suck at building circuits from scratch so I need a 'push' in the right direction
Thanks all!
I'd like to get some help designing a simple plane-break counter. By plane-break, I mean as an object passes a defined 'plane' this counter will increment by one.
What I'm doing is tracking trail usage on a local mt bike trail. We're trying to work with the DNR to help support land maintenance resources. We need to prove to them the amount of traffic this trail is seeing is more significant than they realize. My solution is a simple counter. When a biker passes a plane (i'm thinking a reflector on one side with light sensor on the other) this counter will increment. After a few months we'll check the counter and log the results.
Here are my needs:
- Low cost
- Simple/reliable
- Low power consumption (needs to run continuous for a couple months if possible, battery operated)
- Compact/weather resistant (I have access to a watertight box/grommets etc. I will bury the box probably to prevent tampering)
- Photoeye/reflector (or whatever the trigger will be) needs to be spaced quite a ways apart, like 10-15'. I want all components to be out of sight so that means the reflector or whatever we use will be off trail quite a bit.
As mentioned, I do know electronics, I just suck at building circuits from scratch so I need a 'push' in the right direction
Thanks all!
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