I've got two sets of phototransistors and infrared emitters put together to make two IR distance sensors. They are both connected in the same way, both powered by my Arduino Uno, both with the same resistor, etc. But when I check the values I'm getting from them, one of them ranges from about 980 - 1010, with the higher value closest to the sensor. The other, however, goes from about 350 - 570, with the higher value the furthest from the sensor.

With a bit of circuitry can this IR phototransistor replace the following sensor? 

IR phototransistor:http://arduino-direct.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=209

Sensor:http://www.robotshop.com/ca/dfrobot-flame-sensor.html

I plan to interface it with an Arduino

For robots that have multiple types of sensors, like adding touch sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, and a mix, which is easier, Picaxe or Ardunio? Or is there a better microcontroller or setup? I know Lego's NXT has these abilties, but I wanted to know what other setups are out there that work really well or are the easiest to work with or put together.

UPDATE BELOW!

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I have an idea for a really fantastic little project (IMO :) I'll show it later, but I have run into a little challenge that I did not see when I woke up in the middle of the night with the overal concept crystal clear in my head.

I need a "probe" - a small thin stick - like a long fat needle - to move forward towards an object, and with none, or only a slight touch, register when it touch the object.

Hi,

I want to take my Bliss Robot to the next level of "object avoidance". Please note that I just want the "next level", not the "ultimate level" (yet) ;-)

I got some advice from ignoblegome but I would like to openly ask which would that "next level" may be. I have seen several things out there:

Hey,

Has anyone successfully implemented object detection using IR for a range greater than 5cm. I am building a robot project from scratch with the personal challenge of making all parts homemade. The brainboard and motor controller were succesfully built but now that i want to do object detection using IR (without getting the sharpe module) I have issues with ambient lighting and range.

hay guys me again!

just wondering what the pros and cons of both of these sensors are and the one i should use in my first project.

Playing around with a small project, of a time-lapse-recording that should track a cloud in the sky, I got to think of Pinhole cameras - and I was thinking if any one had tried to play with the technique

For some time now ive been trying to get m sharp ir sensor to work with my arduino.
its all plugged in and fine but no matter what is infront of it the data will keep bouncing around 1000.

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Honeywell's datasheet on the HMC6343 compass states that tilt compensation is made using data from a built-in three axis accelerometer. I thought that a cheaper three-axis magnetometer- accelerometer combination is much more reasonable for small scale projects, so my question is: What kind of calculations do I need to perform to get a decent degree of accuracy?

As you may have seen in the LMR Live Show, we need a replacement for the Sharp sensor used in the Start HEre kit, as the sensor used till now is no longer being produced.

On http://letsmakerobots.com/node/22657 a lot of really new and interesting sensors came to my attention.

Now, since I am going to do a whole ned version anyway (we cant have instructions with images that doesnt match), I was wondering if there would be other parts that should also come in to the modern times?

4 weeks ago i ordered the dc-ss503 magnetic sensor module with tilt compensation, and i'm now trying to interface it with arduino. so far i have obtained the 4 values from the i2c bus, but i can't understand how to actually get a heading from it. this is the datasheet i found, which i know is the right one: http://gongxue.cn/lixueyuan/UploadFiles_8285/201004/2010042114001679.pdf .

does anyone have any experience with this module and can possibly help me? thanks

So I've decided to build my first robot which not the LMR "start here" one (that one is going to be my second one) and im using this circuit- http://costaricabeam.solarbotics.net/Circuits/Vores/555%20Photovore.png . I've tried about 10 different designs for the body but its just not working. When i cover the left photocell with my hand and the other one is exposed to light the speed of the motors is the same and same with the right photocell. has anyone tried the circuit? did it work?