wide angle obstecle detector

[aruna1]

hello guys
I know that sonar sensor has wide detecton angle so basically it can cover front side of small robot entrely without rotating the sensor,due to sonar signals cone shape.
I was wondering if this is possible with IR obstecle detectors (TSOP based simple circuit) ,how to cover front side of small robot with one IR detector.
any ideas?
thanks

 

[Mr RB]

Sure, just flash an IR LED and a receive with an IR photodiode. This is how a lot of cheap toy robot kits do it. The problem is the range is very dependent on the size and colour of the object, so a large white object will be detected 2 feet away while a small dark object might still get missed at 1" away.

 

[aruna1]

Sure, just flash an IR LED and a receive with an IR photodiode. This is how a lot of cheap toy robot kits do it. The problem is the range is very dependent on the size and colour of the object, so a large white object will be detected 2 feet away while a small dark object might still get missed at 1" away.

true
but by range i mean the detection angle,you know the area of detection,not the distonce

 

[Mr RB]

The system I mentioned will cover a wide angle, that's why they use it on cheap toys etc. You know, the ones that turn around before they hit the wall.