short range radar

Projects General Guidance
1

Im trying to build a radar that will not put a hole in my pocket. but i have no idea where to start :). i no exactly how a radar works though so that helps.

i had an idea to have a radio transmitter and receiver connected to the computer and timer programed in vbs that can measure time in microseconds. basiclly the timer will take the time it takes for a signal to be transmited and returned back and then in the same programe their is a math equation (velocity * time divided by 2) that plugs in the time from the timer and the speed of light.... V*T/2= distance from object.

the only problem is i am a only 15 years old and am a newbey to electronics, i have no idea to hook up a radio transmitter and reciver to a computer and only no basic vbs codes. PLEASE HELP!!!

2

Because the speed of light is very high, the timing accuracy you'd need is extremely high and not the sort of thing you're likely to achieve in VBS.

Sound based range finding is much easier to achieve because the speed of sound is so much lower, and there are plenty of examples around of people using ultrasonic range finders with Arduino. You can even get transducers specifically designed for the job.

3

Perhaps you might want to start with an ultrasonic kit or modify the RF kit.

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=SG7

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=K3502