Need Help - Building own parking sensors

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the design and implementation of a custom parking sensor system for a motorcycle. Participants explore various sensor types, including ultrasonic and electromagnetic options, and discuss their respective advantages and limitations. The conversation includes technical specifications, practical applications, and personal anecdotes related to parking assistance devices.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Marke2105 seeks advice on building parking sensors for a motorcycle, specifically looking for sensor types and frequency recommendations.
  • Some participants suggest using ultrasonic transducers, noting that many inexpensive models operate at 40 kHz and emphasize the importance of determining the desired measurement range.
  • Mark expresses a specific range requirement of 0.2 to 1 meter and asks for further recommendations.
  • One participant mentions the challenge of achieving wide angle coverage with ultrasonic transducers and suggests modifying the transducer's design to spread the beam more effectively.
  • Another participant shares humorous personal experiences with various parking aids, including low-tech solutions like tennis balls and physical bumps, which are not directly related to the sensor design but provide context for parking assistance methods.
  • Mark clarifies that he aims to create a sensor system that can be magnetically attached to the motorcycle to detect obstacles while maneuvering, with a buzzer for alerts.
  • There is a discussion about the choice between ultrasonic and electromagnetic sensors, with one participant expressing concerns about the effectiveness of electromagnetic sensors due to potential distance limitations and interference from the motorcycle's metal structure.
  • Another participant suggests checking junkyards for existing car sensors that could be repurposed for the project, along with providing a link to a specific ultrasonic sensor model.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best sensor type, as there are differing opinions on the suitability of ultrasonic versus electromagnetic sensors. The discussion remains open-ended with various suggestions and considerations presented.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific ranges and technical requirements, but there are unresolved questions about the optimal design and implementation of the sensor system, including the need for a central controller unit and environmental considerations for sensor durability.

marke2105
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Hi I am relatively new to electrical engineering, I want to make my own parking sensors for a motorcycle, don't ask me why, I would just like to play about with the idea. Could anyone suggest what sort of sensors I would need and frequencies etc?, I am looking to have one separate transmitter and one receiver.

Many Thanks

Marke2105
 
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Probably the easiest ones to use would be ultrasonic transducers. Most of the cheap ones use 40 kHz. You need to determine the maximum range and the minimum range you want to measure. The minimum range sets the limit on how long your pulse can be and the maximum range determines your maximum pulse repetition rate.

And welcome to PF.
 
Thanks for your quick response skeptic, I am looking for a range of around 0.2 - 1 metres, anything you can recommend?

Cheers

Mark
 
It's so many years since I've worked with ultrasonics I really don't have any recommendations.

Here is a little on this type of transducer. Since your range will be short and you need wide angel coverage instead of the pencil beam these transducers produce, I was wondering if the beam couldn't be spread out more by funneling it down to a smaller orifice in front of the transducer.

http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Ultrasonics/EquipmentTrans/radiatedfields.htm
 
marke2105 said:
Hi I am relatively new to electrical engineering, I want to make my own parking sensors for a motorcycle, don't ask me why, I would just like to play about with the idea. Could anyone suggest what sort of sensors I would need and frequencies etc?, I am looking to have one separate transmitter and one receiver.

Many Thanks

Marke2105

Welcome to the PF. What's a parking sensor for a motorcycle? What do you want it to do?
 
My ex-wife was obsessed with better ways of parking.

She tried a tennis ball hanging via a string from the ceiling. This was my favorite. It was cheap.

She also tried a device with a base and a flexing "stick" and sign. Essentially the stick would bend when you bumped it and you'd see the top flex. Still pretty good.

Then, she purchased a machine that would detect the car and a red light would come on. This was just getting silly, but she really likes it. And, hey I like to see people happy :)

Me, I look at the reflections of my head lamps. They narrow as I approach the wall.

With a bike, I would think that you could see most anything. Could tape do the job?
 
Mike_In_Plano said:
Then, she purchased a machine that would detect the car and a red light would come on. This was just getting silly, but she really likes it. And, hey I like to see people happy :)
How about a couple of low (1") bumps on the floor? The beauty of this is that they don't have to guide you by sight, making you responsible for complying - they guide you physically - the car will stop between the two bumps. You'd have to touch the gas to get it to go over the 2nd bump.

This will help your wife park, not you.
 
Thanks for all your info, what I am trying to produce is a sensor system I can magnetically attach to the rear of a motorcycle to detect obstacles behind me while wheeling it around. It only needs to have a buzzer to alert when too close, however what I am having trouble deciding is whether to use ultrasonics or electromagnetic. I also have the small issue of the sensor box/ central controller unit. Like I've said the range is about 0.2M to 1M

I am quite lost with this and would appreciate anymore help

Thanks

Mark
 
Check a junkyard and see if you can get some of the sensors out of a car that has this function (object detection/collision avoidance). I know 2002+ Ford Explorers had this.

There are other simple, low-cost sensors you could use such as :
http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/acc/28015-PING-v1.5.pdf

However, this is not sealed, so the elements would kill it pretty quickly.
 
  • #10
marke2105 said:
...what I am having trouble deciding is whether to use ultrasonics or electromagnetic.

IMHO, electromagentic is going to have several problems: the distance is probably too great, and your bike is made of metal.

Ultrasonic is likely a better candidate.
 

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