PING! Ultrasonic sensor?

**Superduck** · 10-07-2009, 10:24 PM

Hi peoples.

I just stumbled across this while randomly looking at Arduino projects for ideas.

Parallax PING)))

Is there any reason why people aren't using these for backup sensors instead of the Automotive-specific ones? They look to be a lot cheaper, then you can interface them any way you want.
I suppose the only possibly issue is weatherproofing. I don't think the Ping has any sort of weatherproofing, and I'm not sure if you can cover up the sensor without messing with the reading.

Anyway, just thought I'd share with everyone. The link I found, the guy had installed one in his garage, so his wife could park without dropping the garage door on the car. Cooler than the old tennis ball on a string trick.

Cheers,

Kris

**soundman98** · 10-08-2009, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by Superduck

Hi peoples.

I just stumbled across this while randomly looking at Arduino projects for ideas.

Parallax PING)))

Is there any reason why people aren't using these for backup sensors instead of the Automotive-specific ones? They look to be a lot cheaper, then you can interface them any way you want.
I suppose the only possibly issue is weatherproofing. I don't think the Ping has any sort of weatherproofing, and I'm not sure if you can cover up the sensor without messing with the reading.

it would really need to weather proofed from the factory-- being that it is a high freqency speaker and mic, it might be possible to find a material that allows them to still read distance, but it would take some advanced science to figure out wich materials would work.

Originally Posted by Superduck

Anyway, just thought I'd share with everyone. The link I found, the guy had installed one in his garage, so his wife could park without dropping the garage door on the car. Cooler than the old tennis ball on a string trick.

Cheers,

Kris

i use wooden 4x4's that were discarded at truckyards and jobsites to stop the wheels-- its free, and doesn't create spots on the windshield.

**Sonicxtacy02** · 10-08-2009, 08:20 AM

the fusion brain guys have been selling ultrasonic sensors for years. I've always wanted to buy one but i wasnt sure how i could implement it reliably

**mrdeep2001** · 10-08-2009, 08:53 AM

I had some experience with the ping sensors for a school project on making a remote control car autonomous. besides the whole weatherproofing issue, the Ping sensors worked quite well.