Choosing Input Sensing Method

As the objective of the project is for the buggy to follow the line, we will be using 1 of 2 inputs to send a signal to the motors when the is a change in light intensity. The choice we have is between using LDRs to send a signal when light intensity changes or Magnetic Reed Switches to send a signal when the magnetic strip is detected.

To help us make the best choice we set up a simple circuit outputting the LDR/Reed Switch to a simple LED to represent our motor.

Having carried out this test it was easy to make the decision that LDRs would be used as our input. We decided to use 2 LDRs which will be used in series with LEDs to send an input into the chip when the magnetic strip is sensed.