Build an ultrasonic distance meter

We’ll measure how far away an object is, then watch the readings change on a graph. Leave U S B disconnected while wiring. You can drag the three D view to inspect each connection. Connect five volts on the Uno to the upper positive rail using a red jumper. The metal strip beneath this rail distributes power to the sensor without extra wires between every hole. Connect ground on the Uno to the upper negative rail with a black jumper. Ground is our shared reference and return path. Keep this rail separate from the positive rail. The ultrasonic sensor sends out a burst of sound and listens for its echo. Keep both silver transducers clear, facing your target. Female jumper sockets will fit over its four exposed header pins. Connect the sensor’s power pin to the upper positive rail with a red jumper. The female end slides onto the sensor header; the male end plugs into the breadboard. Connect the sensor’s ground pin to the upper negative rail using a black jumper. The sensor now shares the Uno’s ground, so its signal levels have the same reference. Connect digital pin seven to the sensor’s trigger input. The program sends a brief pulse here to start each measurement. Keep this blue signal wire clear of the transducers. Connect digital pin six to the sensor’s echo output. The Uno measures how long this signal stays high, then converts that time into distance. A longer echo pulse means a more distant object. Check that power and ground are separate and that trigger and echo match the program. Connect the square U S B plug to the Uno, then the other end to your computer. You’re ready to upload.

We’ll measure how far away an object is, then watch the readings change on a graph. Leave U S B disconnected while wiring. You can drag the three D view to inspect each connection.

Connect five volts on the Uno to the upper positive rail using a red jumper. The metal strip beneath this rail distributes power to the sensor without extra wires between every hole.

Connect ground on the Uno to the upper negative rail with a black jumper. Ground is our shared reference and return path. Keep this rail separate from the positive rail.

The ultrasonic sensor sends out a burst of sound and listens for its echo. Keep both silver transducers clear, facing your target. Female jumper sockets will fit over its four exposed header pins.

Connect the sensor’s power pin to the upper positive rail with a red jumper. The female end slides onto the sensor header; the male end plugs into the breadboard.

Connect the sensor’s ground pin to the upper negative rail using a black jumper. The sensor now shares the Uno’s ground, so its signal levels have the same reference.

Connect digital pin seven to the sensor’s trigger input. The program sends a brief pulse here to start each measurement. Keep this blue signal wire clear of the transducers.

Connect digital pin six to the sensor’s echo output. The Uno measures how long this signal stays high, then converts that time into distance. A longer echo pulse means a more distant object.

Check that power and ground are separate and that trigger and echo match the program. Connect the square U S B plug to the Uno, then the other end to your computer. You’re ready to upload.