Lego sensors, like the Color Sensor, primarily work by emitting light and then detecting the reflected light from objects, which allows them to determine color and proximity.
Here's a breakdown of how a Lego Color Sensor operates, specifically focusing on reflected light intensity:
- Light Emission: The Color Sensor has a red LED light at the front. When set to Reflected Light Intensity mode, this LED turns on.
- Light Reflection: When the sensor is positioned near an object or surface, the red light emitted from the LED reflects off of the object.
- Light Detection: The reflected red light then enters back into the sensor, where it's detected. The intensity of the reflected light is measured.
- Data Interpretation: The sensor interprets the intensity of the reflected light. A higher intensity means the object is closer and/or highly reflective of red light. A lower intensity indicates the object is further away or less reflective.
- Data Transmission: The sensor then transmits this interpreted data (typically a numerical value representing light intensity) to the Lego brick (e.g., the EV3 brick), which can then be used in a program for robot control or data logging.
It is important to note that different Lego sensors might use different technologies, but this is one example of how a Lego color sensor works.
