How-To Tuesday: Arduino 101 & the PING))) ultrasonic sensor

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By Marc de Vinck
Posted 2009/06/16 @ 7:41 am
Category Arduino, Education, Electronics, General, Robotics

The PING))) ultrasonic sensor is a really easy way to measure distance with a micro-controller. All you have to do is hook up 3 wires and upload some code. These sensors are great for robots, alarm systems, or any other application that requires some type of measurement or obstacle avoidance. Don’t forget to check out our other Arduino 101 videos!

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In the Maker Shed:

More about the PING))) Ultrasonic Sensor

BY Marc de Vinck

I currently teach in Lehigh University’s Master’s of Technical Entrepreneurship program. I'm also an kit maker, author, father, tinkerer, and member of the MAKE Technical Advisory board.

In the Maker Shed

8 Responses to How-To Tuesday: Arduino 101 & the PING))) ultrasonic sensor

John Park on July 7th, 2009 at 9:52 am said:

Excellent video as usual Marc! I’d love to use this in conjunction with an Adafruit WaveShield to make a little grumpy bot that yells at you the closer you get

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Marc de Vinck on July 7th, 2009 at 10:08 am said:

Thanks John!

OK, here is my plan….I have gone over a bunch of the basics like buttons, sensors, etc. Now I am going to apply those principles towards making larger projects. Keep an eye on the blog for more details!

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- ECA on July 7th, 2009 at 4:25 pm said:
  
  now to add a direction indicator and put it on a motor and make a radar system..
  whats the range on the sonic
  
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  Marc de Vinck on July 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm said:
  
  Not a bad idea! I want to add something like that to a robot build in the future.
  
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  Voik on July 7th, 2009 at 10:37 pm said:
  
  Reads up to 3 meters with an accuracy of 2 cm. I remember researching this sensor for a project a couple of years ago. As I recall, I required a faster interface and longer range. Wound up with IR. The ping sensor is a great way to hit the ground running, though: 5 volts, ground, and data. Very easy to implement. Didn’t MAKE have a video of a “tape measure” made with one of these?
  
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  Marc de Vinck on July 8th, 2009 at 6:08 am said:
  
  Out of curiosity, what were the specs on the IR?
  
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CousinJim on July 24th, 2009 at 3:41 pm said:

When I was learning to program robots back in the 80′s, I found that a Doppler sensor must be exactly perpendicular to its target in order to see it.

–Jim

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chazeline on January 10th, 2013 at 11:41 pm said:

how can I make a program using the ultrasonic sensor ping))) in connection with my arduino board? our project is a sensor that will provide the obstruction/object for the blind people? do you know a program.

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