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The Learning Circuit
Documents How Do Ultrasonic Distance Sensors Work? -- The Learning Circuit 85
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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: 26 Jan 2021 4:29 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 21 Oct 2020 7:24 AM
  • Views 4755 views
  • Likes 6 likes
  • Comments 12 comments
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How Do Ultrasonic Distance Sensors Work? -- The Learning Circuit 85

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How Do Ultrasonic Distance Sensors Work?

The Learning Circuit | element14 presents |  Project Videos

 

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In this video, Karen talks about ultrasonic distance sensors. These sensors use high frequency sound, above human hearing, to detect objects within their range. Unlike other no-touch sensors, they can not only detect if there is an object within range, but also how far away that object is. Check out the video to watch Karen explain more about how these sensors work.

 

Supplemental Content

 

  • The Learning Circuit 46: Introducing Microphones and Speakers
  • The Learning Circuit 79: How Accelerometers Work
  • Arduino Nano bot - using ultrasonic sensor by  carmelito
  • SoundFi - Transmitting Data Using Sound (Ultrasonic Sound) by  vimarsh_
  • PSoC ultrasonic range meter by koudelad
  • The specified item was not found. by  Sean_Miller
  • 1DUltraBot #3 : Finished (and working!) by dubbie
  • sensors
  • e14presents_makerkaren
  • ultrasonic
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Top Comments

  • colporteur
    colporteur over 4 years ago +3
    Awesome Karen! You were not even born, when I begged a ultrasonic pizoelectric transducers off of a manufacture to write a thesis project paper some 40 years ago. I begged because the cost of the device…
  • jc2048
    jc2048 over 4 years ago in reply to DAB +2
    The speed of sound in mathematical notation is conventionally represented by c, from the Latin celeritas meaning "velocity". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_of_sound
  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 4 years ago in reply to DAB +2
    "...So I do not know where wikipedia came up with that notation..." Oxford Dictionary of Physics perhaps ? https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198821472.001.0001/acref-9780198821472…
  • makerkaren
    makerkaren over 3 years ago in reply to alsultany

    Most of my practical experience with the sensors was just making these videos, so I may not be the best person to find the right model sensor for your project. However, if you post more details about what your project is and the parameters it entails, someone may be able to help you.

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  • alsultany
    alsultany over 3 years ago

    Hi Karen,

     

    Thank you very much for that intresting video. Could you help me with your exprience, I have a project involve ultasonic divice .. but i cant find the right sensor..

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  • neuromodulator
    neuromodulator over 4 years ago in reply to DAB

    There aren't that many latin + greek letters to have a single letter for each constant or variable, so of course you have to "recycle" them. The lowercase c is also commonly used for specific heat for instance.

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  • miles90
    miles90 over 4 years ago

    Hi Karen,

     

    Very interesting topic as always, thank you very much. I won’t miss the next project.

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  • DAB
    DAB over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    I checked my physics books and c is always speed of light.

    When I looked up speed of sound they used v or Vs.

     

    So my US text book did not follow the Oxford definition, probably like me, they found it too confusing with the speed of light.

     

    FYI, when I did a project with the Noise and Sonic Boom Information Technology office in the US Air Force, I never saw the speed of sound referred to as c.

     

    DAB

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  • neilk
    neilk over 4 years ago

    Goodt stuff, Karen.

     

    I worked with piezo electric transducers and 8048/49 chips in the 70s and 80s to produce marine echo sounders. Great fun!

     

    At the time, I never thought about how they worked! It was somebody else's job to make the transducers!

     

    Neil

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  • airbornesurfer
    airbornesurfer over 4 years ago in reply to beacon_dave

    I'm just going to jump in on this as well: In my experience, c is pretty common in aeronautical engineering and pilot-level aerodynamics as notation for the speed of sound at a given altitude. Even Mach numbers are defined as M = u/c where u is airspeed and c is the speed of sound at that density altitude.

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  • beacon_dave
    beacon_dave over 4 years ago in reply to DAB

    "...So I do not know where wikipedia came up with that notation..."

     

    Oxford Dictionary of Physics perhaps ?

     

    https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198821472.001.0001/acref-9780198821472-e-2875

     

    "Symbol c or cs. The speed at which sound waves are propagated through a material medium."

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  • DAB
    DAB over 4 years ago in reply to jc2048

    It is not a universally known notation as I never encountered it during my work career.

    The speed of sound was usually given as a mach number with altitude.

    c was always the speed of light.

     

    So I do not know where wikipedia came up with that notation, but it was not part of my physics or engineering use.

     

    DAB

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  • colporteur
    colporteur over 4 years ago

    Awesome Karen!

     

    You were not even born, when I begged a ultrasonic pizoelectric transducers off of a manufacture to write a thesis project paper some 40 years ago. I begged because the cost of the device at that time was in the thousands of dollars. I was sent two for free, wrote my thesis, passed and got my shiny diploma.

     

    Your video explains much of what wasn't common knowledge at that time. Again great material.

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