Covered distance sensor, is it possible?

Using Arduino Sensors
1

Hi everyone,
I'm developing a project which require to take measure of the distance (just check if there are at least 60 cm's from the sensor and a big object over it)
i tried ultrasonic sensor but obviously it doesn't work if its inside a sealed box and i need to make it as strong as i can.
Do you know any kind of sensor that help me to achieve this ?
this is the best one i could find, but still very exposed.
http://www.maxbotix.com/Ultrasonic_Sensors/Outdoor_Sensors.htm

Thanks in advance!

2

These LIDAR sensors work very well.

3

thanks jremington, do they work if covered?
like inside a box?
Thanks!

4

Of course they do.

5

Paradox13:
Hi everyone,
I'm developing a project which require to take measure of the distance (just check if there are at least 60 cm's from the sensor and a big object over it)
i tried ultrasonic sensor but obviously it doesn't work if its inside a sealed box and i need to make it as strong as i can.
Do you know any kind of sensor that help me to achieve this ?
this is the best one i could find, but still very exposed.
http://www.maxbotix.com/Ultrasonic_Sensors/Outdoor_Sensors.htm

Thanks in advance!

I'm not sure why you think that particular MaxBotix sensor wouldn't fit the bill? I mean, it's designed for rugged outdoor environments.

What are your needs and parameters? Define what you mean by "I need to make it as strong as I can."

In fact - that LIDAR sensor might be more vulnerable to the elements, as it wasn't designed for that purpose. You could potentially put it inside a box, maybe with a glass or acrylic window - but you would still need to deal with dirt and dust, which would be less of an issue with the ultrasonic sensor. Unless you need the greater resolution/accuracy of the LIDAR unit, I would go with the ultrasonic sensor, personally.

Again - unless your application - which you haven't fully disclosed - warrants something else.

6

cr0sh:
I'm not sure why you think that particular MaxBotix sensor wouldn't fit the bill? I mean, it's designed for rugged outdoor environments.

What are your needs and parameters? Define what you mean by "I need to make it as strong as I can."

In fact - that LIDAR sensor might be more vulnerable to the elements, as it wasn't designed for that purpose. You could potentially put it inside a box, maybe with a glass or acrylic window - but you would still need to deal with dirt and dust, which would be less of an issue with the ultrasonic sensor. Unless you need the greater resolution/accuracy of the LIDAR unit, I would go with the ultrasonic sensor, personally.

Again - unless your application - which you haven't fully disclosed - warrants something else.

Thanks cr0sh for taking the time to reply me,
i'm developing a parking sensor , I need to make it as strong as i can because it will be on the street and i'm worried about vandals.
Do you think its hard enough to support let's say hits with a stick?
Thanks in advance

7

Paradox13:
Do you think its hard enough to support let's say hits with a stick?

Probably not. But then again, I doubt that any sensor could stand up to a willful and brutal physical attack.

Maybe you need to re-think how you plan on mounting the sensor, to get it out of harm's way?

Or - if this is some kind of infrastructure problem - is there any reason you couldn't use tried-and-true inductive loops (like they use for traffic signals)? They are typically buried in cuts made in the road surface, then sealed over with asphault sealant. Very durable and reliable - and resistant to everything.

That is - if your system is just trying to detect the presence of a car - and your not looking for distance information or such...

8

Thank you very much,
i was dealing with a wrong approach to the problem you pointed me in the right direction.
now i found this useful tutorial building-an-inductive-loop-vehicle-detector/
i will check if i can get some manufactured sensor.
Thanks again!