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Aliased from [Ultrasonic]
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This page is a placeholder about __[ultrasonic sensors]__, which we hope to flesh out as time permits.


!! Ultrasonic Distance Sensors

[{Image src='attach/UltrasonicSensor/ultrasonic.png' link='attach/UltrasonicSensor/ultrasonic.png' width='300' caption='The HC-SR04 (click to enlarge)' align='right' class='imgFloatRight'}]
 
Most hobbyist robots use a commonly-available ultrasonics module (typically called an HC-SR04 or something similar) that costs a few dollars. 

I've been using a driver board from PiBorg called the [UltraBorg|https://www.piborg.org/sensors-1136/ultraborg] that has both support for four servos and four HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors, with a support library in Python.


!! SensComp Ultrasonics

[{Image src='attach/UltrasonicSensor/Polaroid_SX_70_Sonar_AutoFocus.jpg' link='attach/UltrasonicSensor/Polaroid_SX_70_Sonar_AutoFocus.jpg' width='300' caption='The Polaroid SX-70 Sonar (click to enlarge)' align='right' class='imgFloatRight'}]

A more advanced sensor is available from [SensComp|http://www.senscomp.com/], which uses a transducer similar to those found in the Polaroid SX-70 Sonar camera, circa 1978. These sensors are have a longer range and are more sensitive than their cheaper brethren. 
 
I contacted SensComp and received more information about their sensors. See the documents attached to this page.
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SensComp offers a complete Development kit using the Arduino. This is the __Smart Sensor Ultrasonic Development Kit For Arduino__, [attached is a spec sheet|UltrasonicSensor/Smart_Sensor_Ultrasonic_Development_Kit_for_Arduino_Spec-201303-08.pdf] for the kit. I have also included the [spec sheet for the Smart sensor|UltrasonicSensor/Smart_Sensor_Spec_2013-03-08.pdf] itself which can also be purchased separately. Also [attached is the code|attach/UltrasonicSensor/Ping_SMRT.ino] for the development kit.
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That is:
* [Smart Sensor Ultrasonic Development Kit For Arduino|UltrasonicSensor/Smart_Sensor_Ultrasonic_Development_Kit_for_Arduino_Spec-201303-08.pdf] 
* [Smart Sensor Specifications|UltrasonicSensor/Smart_Sensor_Spec_2013-03-08.pdf] 
* [Ping_SMRT.ino|https://service.robots.org.nz/wiki/attach/UltrasonicSensor/Ping_SMRT.ino], Arduino code for the development kit.

According to SensComp there is currently no known Python port of the Arduino C code, but the Ping_SMRT.ino file looks to be relatively straightforward ''if'' the included __Wire.h__ and __LiquidCrystal_I2C.h__ library are themselves either ported or portable. But this is certainly a non-trivial effort.