Ultrasonic Rangefinder
What is the Ultrasonic Rangefinder?
The Ultrasonic Rangefinder, is used to detect objects at a distance, without the need for the robot to actually contact them. The Ultrasonic Rangefinder uses sound pulses to measure distance, in a similar way to how bats or submarines find their way around. By emitting an ultrasonic pulse and timing how long it takes to hear an echo, the Ultrasonic Rangefinder can accurately estimate how far away the object is.
Ultrasonic Rangefinder Overview:
This sensor is most often used in obstacle detection. It can detect objects at a range of up to 255 inches (approximately 647 centimeters), but this range can be limited in certain environments. Since the Ultrasonic Rangefinder relies on sound waves, any surfaces that absorb or deflect sound, such as cushioned surfaces or sharp angles. When wiring the Ultrasonic Rangefinder to the Cortex, both wires are plugged into adjacent digital sensor ports. For the sensor to work properly, the “INPUT” wire must be in the lower numbered slot, and the “OUTPUT” wire in the higher numbered slot. For example, one working configuration is having the “INPUT” wire in digital port 8, and the “OUTPUT” wire in digital port 9.