Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi, i'm posting here for the first time after reading a few threads, seems like i could really use the help offered here, so thanks in advance. I have a project idea that requires a bit of technical know-how that's perhaps a bit out of my current reach, i want to know about feasibility before i leap head first into this.

My idea requires a radio transmitter with an adjustable range (around 30-100m, i imagine this is a power issue) and a reciever with the ability to respond to the transmitter to confirm its existence within the transmitter's range. They should constantly be confirming the location of one another, back and forth. I want to construct this to some degree so i guess my question is, is it possible at a reasonably low cost? I've seen many products out there that do similar things, especially with the function of finding lost objects, but they don't require constant communication and usually also have a locate function (obviously!) which is unnecassery for me.

Does anyone have any information that could help me? It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Desmond

...and a reciever with the ability to respond to the transmitter to confirm its existence within the transmitter's range. They should constantly be confirming the location of one another, back and forth.

You are asking for a receiver that not only receives and decodes a transmitter but also "transmits its location". You are also asking for a transmitter that not only transmits but receives. By definition, these units are transceivers (a combination of a receiver and a transmitter).

You are also asking for some means of these units knowing their position (at least relative to the outher unit) and determining the position of the other unit (at least relative to itself). This isn't simple

It is time to step back and determine if what you really want to be able to do can be done in a much simpler way. In other words, if things are getting complicated and expensive, is there another way to look at the problem and solve it another way that is easier?

So what task are you really trying to accomplish using these devices?

Thanks for the reply craig. Maybe i wasn't entirely clear, they don't have to actually locate each other, they just have to recive each other's signals, so yes, trancievers probably would be more accurate. Simply put, these are two objects that must stay within range of each other or an alarm is switched. Cost is not so much an issue for the prototype, i just need to know if it's technically possible, and if you or anyone has any information that would help me with this,

Thanks again

Desmond,

This is absolutely technically possible and chances are you can wonder around an electronics store and find something that already has this capability or close to the capability you are looking for. Our science fair project guides has a page on radio transmitters https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... o&from=TSW and on radio receivers https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... p014.shtml. These will introduce you to the basics of a radio transmitters and receivers. Depending on how good your transmitters and receivers are you can increase the maximum distance which the signal can reach or you can intentionally reduce the maximum signal distance. You can look up designs to build a circuit that measures the signal strength and basic logic circuits to control an alarm when the signal drops below a particular level. I recommend starting by just learning about transmitters and receivers. What is the goal of this science project?

Heidi