I bought the ultrasonic sensor "HC-SR04" to test and created an application, now I want to install this on my truck. Ideally I'd like to drill holes in the front, back and sides of the truck to mount the sensors.
Before I spend hours in the garage fabricating enclosures for the blind longer range ultrasonic sensors, I was wondering if anyone else has done this before - and are there sensors I could buy that already have weatherpoof housings that can be mounted on front & back bumpers ?
The HC-SR04 is good for a toy truck, or remote control whatever. I intend to install radar sensors around my REAL truck to get a read-out on the dashboard how close I am when parking to other objects, front and back. If I put this sensor on the front - it looks like the timpanic membranes would collect water, ice, dust, dirt and be destroyed in a matter of no time at 80 mph through the ice -rain, and offroad. Ideally - I would like a moving long range radar to detect vehicle or approaching from a distance; but for now I'm going to settle for parking sensors.
After doing some internet research found articles explaining how to interface via serial-port to an inexpensive sensor unit that's commonly found:
The kit even comes with a hole-saw so I can drill the sensor ports into my bumper. Is the hole-saw STRONG enough to cut through my STEEL BUMPER on my 4X4 - or was this designed for a plastic mini cooper bumper? I do not know yet.
Since the serial port uses only two I/O pins, I can wire the sensor system up to communicate using 4 sensors and only two pins on the board, which is nice.
The sensors on this unit "claim" they are waterproof and weather resistant. They're plastic fronts and appear to be that way. If they are as durable as the ones from my brother-in-laws 2013 Lexus ? I do not know - however, cheap enough to replace if go bad within a reasonable time.
DrStein99:
The kit even comes with a hole-saw so I can drill the sensor ports into my bumper. Is the hole-saw STRONG enough to cut through my STEEL BUMPER on my 4X4 - or was this designed for a plastic mini cooper bumper? I do not know yet.
Well - you get what you pay for. Those cheap hole saws might last long enough to do a standard steel stamped-metal bumper (OEM grade) - but that might be about it. If you take your time, let the saw cool between cuts, and use plenty of cutting lube, you could probably do two bumpers. Or - go purchase a hole saw meant for steel; something with carbide or similar treatment. Expect to spend a bit of money (but not enough to break the bank).
DrStein99:
The sensors on this unit "claim" they are waterproof and weather resistant. They're plastic fronts and appear to be that way. If they are as durable as the ones from my brother-in-laws 2013 Lexus ? I do not know - however, cheap enough to replace if go bad within a reasonable time.
Again - you'll get what you pay; they'll probably last a season or two of wheelin' - depending on how hard you off-road.
If you look around on Ebay, you may be able to find an all-metal sensor version of the device your describing.
If you wanted something that was going to last longer (and you don't mind paying for it) - go with something from Maxbotix (http://www.maxbotix.com/); they sell ruggedized ultrasonic sensors meant for this kind of application. They aren't cheap, though...