A lot of new cars may have a whole range of ultrasonic sensors, camera, blind-spot monitors and so on - however may not be enought to warrant the upgrade of your motor vehicle if it's lacking in that department. However with a few hours you can make your own version of a parking sensor that can help guide you into the garage or other tricky parking sport just like the newer cards.
Created by Jin Choi the hardware is very simple - consisiting of an Arduino-compatible circuit, an inexpensive ultrasonic distance sensor and some bright LEDs. The sensor is directed towards the vehicle's approach direction and flashes the LEDs in various ways to indicate how far the bumper is from the wall or other object. Jin's project is simple, neat and works well -f ro example:
Furthermore we like how Jin has used a minimalist circuit and a 3D-printed enclosure for a neat finish. To make your own, including the code and design files - check out Jin's project page. And for more, we're on facebook, Google+, and twitter - so follow us for news and product updates as well.
If you're looking for an Arduino Uno-compatible board to embed into various projects, choose what tens of thousands of others have done and use our Freetronics Eleven - the Arduino-Uno compatible with low-profile USB socket, onboard prototyping space and easy to view LEDs:
