Mini Project: Detect any object that comes in the range of this
radar with ultrasonic sensor and Arduino
Introduction: This project combines an
Arduino-controlled ultrasonic sensor with a servo
motor to scan for and measure the distance to
nearby objects. The collected data is then
visualized on your computer as a live, graphical
radar screen using the Processing environment.
Components: Arduino uno(rev 3) , Ultrasonic
Sensor HC-SR04 , Servo motor SG90, jumper
wires, breadboard kit
Project Description:This project details the construction of a simple yet effective 2D
ultrasonic radar system. It serves as a classic introductory project that seamlessly
bridges the gap between physical hardware and software-based data visualization.
The system uses an Arduino microcontroller to control a sweeping ultrasonic sensor,
which detects the presence and distance of objects in a 180-degree field of view.
This spatial data is then transmitted to a computer and rendered in real-time as an
intuitive, graphical radar display using the Processing development environment.
Construction: To construct a physical scanning
mechanism using a micro servo motor and an
HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor.
To program an Arduino board to control the servo
motor's sweep and trigger the ultrasonic sensor for
distance measurements.
To establish reliable serial communication between
the Arduino and a host computer to transmit
sensor data (angle and distance).
To develop a Graphical User Interface (GUI) in the
Processing environment to visualize the incoming
data as a radar screen.
To integrate the hardware and software
components into a fully functional object detection
and visualization system.
Hardware: Arduino UNO (or compatible board):
The central microcontroller that executes the
control logic.
HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Distance Sensor: The "eyes"
of the project, used to measure distances via
sonar.
SG90 Micro Servo Motor: An actuator that
physically rotates the ultrasonic sensor.
Breadboard and Jumper Wires: For creating and
managing electrical connections without soldering.
USB A-to-B Cable: To power the Arduino and
establish serial communication with the computer.
Software:Arduino IDE: Used to write, compile, and
upload the control code to the Arduino board.
Processing Development Environment: A flexible
software sketchbook used to write the code for the
radar visualization on the computer.
Applications: The operation of the radar is a
coordinated effort between the physical
components and the two software environments.
Scanning Motion: The Arduino board sends a
precise signal to the servo motor, commanding it to
rotate in small, incremental steps from 0 to 180
degrees and then back again. Distance
Measurement: At each angular step, the Arduino
triggers the HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor. The
sensor emits a high-frequency sound pulse and
measures the time it takes for the echo to bounce
back from an object.
Data Calculation: The distance to the object is
calculated within the Arduino sketch using the
formula:
Distance=(Speed of Sound×Time)/2
The result is a pair of data points: the current angle
of the servo and the calculated distance.
Serial Communication: The Arduino formats this
angle and distance data into a string and transmits
it to the computer via the USB serial port.
Data Visualization: On the computer, a sketch
running in the Processing environment
continuously listens to the serial port. When it
receives the data string from the Arduino, it parses
the angle and distance values. Using trigonometry,
it converts these polar coordinates into Cartesian
(x, y) points to plot on the screen, creating a visual
map of any detected objects relative to the
sensor's position.
