Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: wmills@netcom.com (William J. Mills)
Subject: Re: Need Electronic Compass!
Message-ID: <wmillsCswG0D.1CB@netcom.com>
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References: <1994Jul12.104746.3728@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk>
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 22:05:00 GMT
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Various marine flux-gate compasses have data feeds that supply the 
current magnetic heading etc on a simple connection of some kind (not up 
on the actual tech)  and it is a standardized language used for 
cummunicating between those and autopilots and such.  They are not 
necessarily cheep, but it is an avenue to follow.  

A significant advantage of these is that some (almost all) will compute
the 'deviation' for you so you get a true magnetic, compensating for local
fields and metal mass.  You have to rotate the comapss 360 degrees while
holding the setting button down to do that. 

Maybe you can talk to a mfr about components. Hope this helps.
-bill

udem148@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk wrote:
: 	Whaaaa?! What's happened to this newsgroup? Everbody gone on holdiay?
: I was about to ask for a favour, but still, no harm in going on with the 
: request. I'm after British company contacts who could supply a cheap electronic
: compass to be used on a RWI B12 mobile robot. Admitedly, it will be for indoor 
: use only, so I know any interference from cables, steel girders in building etc
: MAY cause problems.
: 	Any info will be most welcomed. Thanx!  -Al-
