Project #1
the Sonic Sighting Sensor
The Sonic Sighting Sensor is an obstacle detection system designed to provide real-time audio notifications of nearby objects. Using an ultrasonic sensor, this project accurately measures the distance to obstacles and alerts users with specific voice outputs when an object is detected at one meter or two meters away. Although the design is minimalistic, the sensor is fully functional and serves as an efficient tool for obstacle detection.
Key Features
1. Ultrasonic Sensing Technology
The heart of the Sonic Sighting Sensor is its ultrasonic sensor, which accurately measures the distance to nearby objects. Using sound waves, it detects obstacles within its range, ensuring that users are alerted to potential hazards in real time.
2. Dynamic Distance Refresh
The sensor's readings are constantly refreshed whenever the detected obstacle's position changes. This ensures that the system delivers timely and accurate notifications, adjusting to changes in real-world conditions.
3. Voice Notification System
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The system includes a speaker output that provides real-time voice alerts. There are two distinct warnings:
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"Danger One": Triggered when an obstacle is detected within one meter.
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"Danger Two": Activated when an obstacle is detected within two meters.
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This audio system offers an intuitive way to understand proximity without needing visual feedback, making the device useful in low-visibility environments.
Demonstration Video
This video demonstrates the Sonic Sighting Sensor detecting obstacles and delivering real-time voice alerts. I use a backpack as the example obstacle and place it at varying distances from the ultrasonic sensor. The sensor refreshes once it detects a change in the position of the obstruction. You’ll see how the system accurately identifies the object at different distances and outputs the corresponding audio warnings, "Danger One" and "Danger Two."
Demonstrating the Sonic Sighting Sensor’s real-time obstacle detection and voice alert system.
Notes
The Sonic Sighting Sensor was a special project for me, as it was developed during my time in high school, where I served as the project manager for the JETS Club (Junior Engineers, Technicians, and Scientists). This project came together with the invaluable support of Mr. Aboi Mishael, one of our club’s staff coordinators.
We completed the project and filmed the demo on the very last day of school in the physics lab, making it a memorable way to close that chapter of my academic journey. It was also the last time I saw Mr. Aboi, whose guidance had been instrumental to both this project and my overall development in science.
Due to school rules that prohibited the use of devices, we had to rely on Mr. Aboi's laptop to write the code and his phone to record the project in action, which is why I no longer have access to the original code. We initially intended to use one of my classmates to record the voice alerts, but after converting the voice data to binary, the file turned out to be much larger than anticipated. In the end, we opted for a voice library that had the phrases we needed.
The Sonic Sighting Sensor is fully functional, offering accurate real-time distance measurements via ultrasonic sensing and audio alerts. While the design is focused on functionality, there’s plenty of room for future improvements that could extend its usability across different applications, from robotics to safety systems.
A special thanks goes to Mr. Aboi for his dedication and expertise throughout the development of this project. His unwavering support helped make this project a reality.
Check out my other projects here.