Lesson 18: Measure Distance with Arduino and Ultrasonic Sensor

In this tutorial we show simple step-by-step lesson on how to measure distance with an arduino microcontroller and an ultrasonic sensor. The measured distance is based on the ping time to the target of an ultrasonic ping. The measured distance is displayed via a servo and hand drawn scale. The sensor used is the virtuabotix ultrasonic sensor, and the servo is from the Sparkfun Inventor kit. Key concept in this lesson is to show students how important it is to apply what they know from Algebra related to lines in order to map inputs (distance measurements) onto outputs (servo angle).

[omaxshendy]

you are one of the rare real teachers out here in youtube, who is teaching just in sake of teaching and make people actually learn.
thankyou!

[mod]

Thank for being a teacher and a great one at that. I am 53 years old and just learning Aurdino as a hobby and you make it so exciting. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

[hughpatterson]

Paul, this was a brilliant exercise! Combining the ultrasonic distance sensor with a servo. I am using this lesson to teach about building a self driving robot car and the idea of how autonomous vehicles avoid collisions. In our robot car, the servo changes the steering when the UDS detects an object close by. Another great lesson. Thank you so much! You need to write a book in conjunction with your video lessons!

[YasserIsmail]

Mr. Paul, You have very amazing talent of making things simpler, we all really appreciate your great efforts

[soumikghosh]

This person deserves great respect.He is making those things look very easy and that too selflessly.

[fvazquez]

I believe that the first thing to do, aside knowing the math, you have to take a moment to understand what your are doing and what you want to achieve, that's why most of the students solve a problem in theory but when they need to apply it to a real life situation they can't. You have to analyze the implications of the problem and with the proper tools how to solve it.... great tutorial!! thank you

[TheArchaeus]

You know what Paul, you're a proper educator in the very essence of the word. Thanks for the vids.

[deraltemannspielt]

This maybe is a late comment, but I'm very happy to find your lessons because you explain things from scratch and understanding is very easy. I looked for Arduino-Lessons because I want to teach my daughter mechanics / physics and computing and think doing this by use of an Arduino is a good way to do it.
Most I had to laugh about your sentences 'do the math!', could be my words ... Of course yes, most people prefer trial and error and thats a terribly behavior :-)
Thanks for all the effort and time you spend at your desk producing all this lessons.

[makincracksent]

Thank you for that presentation Mr. McWhorter. I am working on a personal project and this lesson just helped me with my concept a lot. I plan on watching ALL of your lessons over the next few days. Thanks again sir.

-Kareem-

[McGavel]

Awesome! I love how you made your own output scale with the servo - what a creative way to have an output - thanks for the ideas!

[davidryalls]

Dear Paul - I thank you very much for your tutorials - your style of presentation and explanation is exactly what I like. - Thank You.  I have viewed many C++ YouTube tutorials and for me yours are by the far the best. A BIG Thank you

[MrTiger]

Keep up the good work. love these lesson and you are a great teacher. regards form a 44 year dude from Norway.

[LHommeDeParfum]

I am learning so much and so fast since I discovered this channel. The teaching reveals a well thought methodology that allows easy understanding and follow-along. Thank you so much.
I was wondering how you stuck that arrow to the servo. Glue? CHeers!

[erygion]

Great lesson Mr. Mcwhorter, I have to go back and really take in the steps and formulas used cause the potential applications for this is far and wide. Very handy and powerful stuff thank you sir.

[Furyblaze]

I find it funny that only now I'm starting to use math to create in reality through the way you explained it. Never knew why I had to learn grahps and statistics, I couldn't find the logic in it. But now I do, and even if it isn't in my native language....I still picked up a lot more because of your teaching methods. Thank you kind Sir to rekindle my intrest in math :)

[TheBobbykey]

you say the servo requires a library, but it doesnt library's just make it easier.I know you know this but beginners need to know that its not required just makes it easier .Great tutorials BTW

[ifjkl]

Very elaborate instructional. Thank you very much! I subscribed, too!


I'm planning to do a ultrasonic sensor to control, wether my garage door is opened or closed and wether a car is parked in it (by placing the arduino with the ultrasonic sensor at a special place on the ceiling). Your instructional helped me very much with my project.

[Ancientlaws]

Thank you sir. Rather than just learning how to use the libraries its nice to actually understand the implementation.

[AzureTrainingSeries]

Sir, I am beyond words to thank you. Your effort surpasses all the appreciations that could be given. One small question. You had mentioned that the servo draws a lot of currents, and in case we attach to Arduio for passing the current to the servo, it might harm the Arduino board itself. Then why are you passing the current via the board? I might have missed something. Please advise.

[ChrisBentley]

Sir, you have made my day by getting my sensor to work.