Arduino Radar Sensor: Working Principle, Advantages, DIsadvantages

Shambaditya Mukherjee
5 min readDec 12, 2018

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Introduction of Radar System

Rader is an object detection system. It uses Microwaves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. The radar can transmit radio waves or microwaves which bounce off any object in their path. So, we can easily determine any object in the radar range. Adruino is a single-board microcontroller to make electronics more discipline. The radar system has different performance specifications and also it comes in a verity of size.

Arduino Radar Sensor

During World War II, many countries were made radar secretly. In 1940 US Navy acronym Radar word from Radio Detection and Ranging. The modern radar system is more advanced and the uses of radar are highly diverse. Such as Air traffic control, Air-defence system, Radar Astronomy, Antimissile system, Ocean Surveillance system, outer space surveillance and many more.

Arduino Radar Sensor Overview:-

The Arduino is an electronics platform which based on easy to use hardware and software. The Open source Arduino Software (IDE) makes easy to write code and upload into the board. It can run in Windows, Mac, and Linux. The programme is written in Java and based on processing software. This software can be used in any Arduino board. The programmes write on IDE is known as sketches.

An Arduino radar project is more than a visual project because of its circuit implementation. There are different hardware use to accomplish the Arduino Radar Sensor. Like as, Arduino UNO. HC-SRo4 Ultrasonic Sensor including a Servo Motor. The main appearance is the visual narration in the Processing Application.

Block Diagram

You may ask how the processing application works here. It is very simple, the Ultrasonic Sensor collects the object information with the help of Arduino and passes it to Processing Application. In the processing application, there is a simple Graphics application implemented which mimic a radar screen.

Components Required:-

We divided the required components into two parts.

Hardware

· Arduino UNO

· HC-SRo4 Ultrasonic Sensor

· TowerPro SGgo Servo Motor

· Mounting Bracket for Ultrasonic Sensor (it is optional)

· Connecting Wires

· Jumper Cables

· 5V Power Supply

· USB Cable for Arduino

Software

· Arduino IDE

· Processing Application

Circuit Design:-

The circuit diagram of the Arduino radar sensor system is quite simple. The control pin of the servo is connected to the Arduino pin 11, and the TRIG and ECHO pins of the Ultrasonic sensor are connected respectively to pin 9 and 10 of the Arduino. Power supply with common GND is connected to the Servo Motor and Ultrasonic Sensor.

Circuit Diagram
Pin Diagram

Working Procedure:-

To start the Arduino Radar Sensor, you should know the programming code. There are two programming codes need to start the radar. One is the Arduino UNO and another one is the processing.

After uploading the code to Arduino, the servo sweeping from 00 to 1800 and back again to 00. Since the Ultrasonic Sensor is riding the Servo. Now open the processing application and run the code. If there is no error then another processing window open up. This is a Graphical representation of the data. The Ultrasonic Sensor represented in a radar type display. When the Ultrasonic Sensor detects any object within its range, the object will be shown on screen as a graphically.

Graphic Image

Advantages of the Arduino Radar Sensor:-

1. It is not affected by color or transparency. Basically, the Ultrasonic Sensors transmit the sound off of the object, hence the color and transparency have no effect on the radar reading.

2. Any dark environments have no effect on this Arduino radar sensor’s detection procedure. So, it can also use at night.

3. Easy to design and low price. The ultrasonic sensors are available at the market with very cheap price.

4. It has high frequency, high sensitivity, therefore, it can easily detect the external or deep objects.

5. This radar sensor is not affected by dust, rain, snow, and many more.

6. It has a self-cleaning system to continue running and less downtime.

7. The Arduino Radar Sensor is easy to use. Also, it is completely safe during the operation to nearby objects, human or equipment.

8. The Ultrasonic sensor can easily interface with any types of the microcontroller.

Disadvantages and Limitations:-

1. The Arduino Radar Sensor conduct sound to continue the work. So, it is not working in a vacuum as there is no air for the sound to travel through.

2. A very soft fabric can absorb more sound waves. Therefore, it is hard to detect objects which are covered with soft fabric.

3. If temperature changes of 5 to 10 degree or more then it is the effect on the sensing accuracy. Although this is true that there have many more temperature compensated sensors available.

4. Another limitation is the detection range. This depends on which Ultrasonic sensor have used to make the Arduino Radar Sensor.

5. While the radar using for inspection purpose, make sure it should be water resistive. Otherwise highly chances of damage.

The Arduino Radar Sensor reveals the existence of a phenomenon of objects. Today in modern science use it for a different purpose. This technology can make the world better.

Source Link:- https://howtomechatronics.com/projects/arduino-radar-project/

Image URL Links:-

Arduino Radar Sensor:- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RSAj_ydbg48/maxresdefault.jpg

Circuit Diagram:- https://hackster.imgix.net/uploads/attachments/208605/radar.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&w=900&h=675&fit=min

Pin Diagram:- https://www.engineersgarage.com/sites/default/files/styles/normalimages/public/circuitdiagram/UDM-and-arduino-Radar.jpg?itok=lqbDNALF

Block Diagram:- https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSE-LwyE7unmD9AK4i8MAw514mOpZnrEv0BUwWXFaEfpd0XpCHi

Graphic Image:- https://cdn.instructables.com/FDA/0YYL/IU3WFUXR/FDA0YYLIU3WFUXR.SMALL.jpg?auto=webp&crop=3:2

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