This project demonstrates how to combine an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor with an LCD1602 display to measure and display distances on the Arduino. This setup is useful for various applications requiring proximity detection and visual feedback.

Practical Applications:

• Robotics: Measuring distances for obstacle avoidance or navigation.
• Parking Assistance: Creating a simple parking distance sensor.
• Home Automation: Building a proximity-based lighting system.
• Industrial Automation: Monitoring distances in manufacturing processes.

Hardware/Components

To build this project, you will need the following components:

• Arduino Uno (or compatible board)
• HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor
• LCD 1602 Display (I2C version recommended)
• Jumper Wires

Wiring Guide

The wiring is described in the video (in video at 00:31). The key connections are:

• Ultrasonic Sensor: VCC to 5V, GND to GND, TRIG to pin 12, ECHO to pin 11.
• LCD 1602: VCC to 5V, GND to GND, SDA to pin A4, SCL to pin A5.

%%WIRING%%

Code Explanation

The code utilizes the NewPing library for ultrasonic distance measurement and the LiquidCrystal_I2C library for LCD control (in video at 02:15). The key configurable parameters are:

#define TRIGGER_PIN  12  // Arduino pin tied to trigger pin on the ultrasonic sensor.
#define ECHO_PIN     11  // Arduino pin tied to echo pin on the ultrasonic sensor.
#define MAX_DISTANCE 200 // Maximum distance we want to ping for (in centimeters).
// Set the LCD address to 0x3F for a 16 chars and 2 line display
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x3F, 16, 2);
int VCC2 = 2; //extra VCC for LCD

The TRIGGER_PIN and ECHO_PIN define the Arduino pins connected to the ultrasonic sensor. MAX_DISTANCE sets the maximum measurable distance. The LCD address (0x3F) might need adjustment depending on your specific LCD module. The VCC2 pin provides an additional 5V supply for the LCD.

The sonar.ping_cm() and sonar.ping_in() functions are used to obtain distance measurements in centimeters and inches respectively (in video at 05:27 and 06:01).

Live Project/Demonstration

A demonstration of the project is shown in the video (in video at 06:42). The video shows the sensor measuring distances to various objects and displaying the results in centimeters and inches on the LCD screen. The serial monitor displays the same measurements, providing a means to verify the readings.

Chapters

• [00:04] Introduction and Project Overview
• [00:31] Wiring Diagram and Connections
• [02:15] Code Explanation: Ultrasonic Sensor Setup
• [03:19] Code Explanation: LCD1602 Setup
• [04:21] Code Explanation: Arduino Setup
• [04:46] Code Explanation: Main Loop and Display
• [06:42] Live Demonstration
• [07:26] Conclusion