Ultrasonic Sensor for the GoPiGo & GrovePi System. The ultrasonic sensor can be mounted to the GoPiGo Raspberry Pi robot using the servo package to enable rotation. It detects distances from obstacles and objects, giving your robot the ability to navigate.
Please Note. This package includes the Ultrasonic Sensor & Grove Cable Only. Mounting hardware & Servo Package for use on the GoPiGo is sold separately.
Ultrasonic sensors are small electronic sensors that sends a sound wave out, and when that sound wave hits an object, it “hear” the echo of the sound wave hitting that object. The sensor evaluates the echo received back, and measures the time interval between sending the signal and receiving the echo to determine the distance to an object.
So, imagine a car that is backing up. An ultrasonic wave is sent from the bumper, and when the wave hits the wall behind it, the sensor can hear that echo. If it takes .3 seconds to hear the echo, it knows it is very close, and can determine the distance.
Ultrasonic sensors are great for programming robots that can avoid objects. They do this by measuring the time interval between sending a sound wave and receiving the echo, and based on the time it takes, calculating distance to an object. This comes in handy when you are programming a robot to detect objects and find their way around them. Check out the video where students at Hood College used the ultrasonic sensor to program the GoPiGo Raspberry Pi Robot Car. They had to make the car rotate until it found an object 3m or less away. Then it had to move towards that object and stop within 20cm. Learn more about the GoPiGo here. You can get the ultrasonic sensor, along with a servo to make it rotate and everything else you need to get started in the GoPiGo Starter Kit.
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