THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LASER BASED LOCAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There is no cheap, accurate device available with which the position of a slow moving object , such as a lawnmower cutting lawn, can be determined. If such a positioning system were available it would be possible to develop numerous programmable moving machines that can be taught computer-wise to perform daily chores. In this paper a prototype local positioning system, which could possibly be applied to determine the absolute position in relation to a fixed point for slow moving objects, is discussed. Accuracy, shortcomings and possible improvements of a laser based prototype are discussed. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is geen goedkoop, akkurate wyse beskikbaar om die posisie van 'n stadigbewegende voorwerp soos 'n grassnyer oor 'n grasperk te bepaal nie. Indien so 'n posisioneringstelsel wei beskikbaar sou wees, sou dit moontlik wees om 'n groot verskeidenheid programmeerbare bewegende masjiene te ontwikkel wat rekenaargewys geleer kan word om alledaagse take te verrig. In hierdie artikel word 'n prototipe 10kale posisioneringstelsel bespreek wat moontlik aangewend kan word om die absolute posisie, ten opsigte van 'n vaste punt, van stadigbewegende voorwerpe te bepaal. Akkuraatheid, tekortkomings en moontlike verbeterings van 'n lasergebaseerde prototipestelsel word bespreek.