Building an Ultrasonic Distance Sensor Using TinkerCAD

Introduction

Ultrasonic distance sensors are widely used in various applications such as robotics, obstacle detection, and distance measurement. These sensors work by emitting ultrasonic waves and measuring the time it takes for the waves to bounce back from an object. In this tutorial, we will guide you through building a simple ultrasonic distance sensor using TinkerCAD and Arduino. This project will help you understand the basics of working with sensors and measuring distances with precision.

Materials Needed

To build this project in TinkerCAD, you will need the following components:

• Arduino Uno

• Breadboard

• Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04)

• LED

• Resistor (220Ω for LED)

• Jumper Wires

Step 1: Setting Up the Components

1. Arduino and Breadboard: Start by opening TinkerCAD and creating a new circuit project. Drag and drop an Arduino Uno and a breadboard onto the workspace.

2. Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04): The HC-SR04 sensor is the core component of this project. It has four pins:

   • VCC: Connect to the 5V pin on the Arduino.

   • GND: Connect to GND on the Arduino.

   • Trig: Connect to digital pin 9 on the Arduino.

   • Echo: Connect to digital pin 10 on the Arduino.

3. LED: The LED will indicate when an object is detected within a certain distance.

   • Connect the anode (longer leg) of the LED to digital pin 13 on the Arduino through a 220Ω resistor.

   • Connect the cathode (shorter leg) to GND on the breadboard.

Step 2: Wiring Diagram

Ensure your wiring looks like this:

• Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04):

  • VCC → 5V on Arduino

  • GND → GND on Arduino

  • Trig → Digital Pin 9 on Arduino

  • Echo → Digital Pin 10 on Arduino

• LED:

  • Anode (long leg) → Digital Pin 13 on Arduino (through 220Ω resistor)

  • Cathode (short leg) → GND on breadboard

Step 3: Writing the Code

With the circuit set up, let’s write the Arduino code to control the ultrasonic distance sensor and the LED.

const int trigPin = 9;

const int echoPin = 10;

const int ledPin = 13;

long duration;

int distance;

void setup() {

  pinMode(trigPin, OUTPUT); // Trig pin as output

  pinMode(echoPin, INPUT);  // Echo pin as input

  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);  // LED pin as output

  Serial.begin(9600);       // Initialize serial communication

}

void loop() {

  // Clear the trigPin

  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

  delayMicroseconds(2);

  // Set the trigPin HIGH for 10 microseconds

  digitalWrite(trigPin, HIGH);

  delayMicroseconds(10);

  digitalWrite(trigPin, LOW);

  // Read the echoPin, return the sound wave travel time in microseconds

  duration = pulseIn(echoPin, HIGH);

  // Calculate the distance in cm

  distance = duration * 0.034 / 2;

  // Print the distance to the Serial Monitor

  Serial.print("Distance: ");

  Serial.print(distance);

  Serial.println(" cm");

  // If the distance is less than 10 cm, turn on the LED

  if (distance < 10) {

    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

  } else {

    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

  }

  delay(500); // Delay for half a second before the next reading

}

Step 4: Simulating the Circuit

1. After entering the code, click the "Start Simulation" button in TinkerCAD.

2. The ultrasonic sensor will emit sound waves and measure the time it takes for them to bounce back from an object. The Arduino will calculate the distance based on this time.

3. When an object is detected within 10 cm of the sensor, the LED will turn on. If the object moves further away, the LED will turn off.

4. You can monitor the distance readings in the Serial Monitor to see how the sensor responds to different object positions.

Step 5: Understanding the Code

• Trig Pin: The trig pin is used to send out a short ultrasonic pulse. This pulse is set HIGH for 10 microseconds and then set LOW.

• Echo Pin: The echo pin listens for the pulse to bounce back. The time it takes for this to happen is recorded as duration.

• Distance Calculation: The distance is calculated using the formula: distance = duration * 0.034 / 2, where 0.034 cm/µs is the speed of sound in air.

• LED Indicator: If the measured distance is less than 10 cm, the LED turns on as an indicator that an object is close to the sensor.

Step 6: Enhancing the System

This basic distance sensor can be expanded with additional features:

• Buzzer: Add a buzzer to alert you when an object is too close.

• LCD Display: Integrate an LCD screen to display the measured distance in real-time.

• Motor Control: Use the distance sensor to control a motor, creating a simple obstacle-avoidance system for a robot.

Conclusion

You have successfully created an Ultrasonic Distance Sensor using TinkerCAD and Arduino. This project demonstrates the principles of ultrasonic distance measurement and how to use sensors with Arduino for practical applications.

By following this guide, you’ve gained valuable experience in working with sensors and Arduino programming. This system can be expanded and modified for various applications, making it a versatile project for learning and experimentation.

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