2015-04-27 (M) Cyborg Distance Sensor

The reclaimed coil from a 5V relay was soldered to the Arduino with blue and yellow wires. This replaced the 3.5mm headphone socket. A 9V battery terminal was soldered to the RAW and GND for power. Programming was done to simply use the potentiometer as a frequency selector. The distance sensing routine was left intact but had no direct effect on the delay, rather it was intended to provide the expected interference with an otherwise clean operation. The distance sensing routine incorporates a small delay. Further testing will be done to determine if this was the best choice for programming methods.

Equipment set up for testing with a 9V, potentiometer and coil

After the unit was assembled for testing the timing was fine tuned by sweeping the potentiometer back and forth to find sensible frequencies for the upper and lower bounds. The frequencies were 5Hz to 500Hz. The next step may be to test if logarithmic frequency progression is more effective than a linearly increasing progression. Logarithmic progression is necessary for humans to differentiate sound when the frequency being differentiated is relatively large. After testing the coil was sealed in epoxy to prevent damage.

 Covering coil in epoxy

Dried epoxy covered coil

Files for Cyborg Distance Sensor:
The OpenSCAD files below are not necessary unless you want to change something
To do:
  • Make coil portable
  • Write program to sweep delay timer for 1/ƒ
  • Find upper and lower delay thresholds
  • Reprogram with new settings
  • Build coil mount
  • Investigate the tone() function as a better programming method
  • Redesign enclosure
  • Test + Debug
  • Write instructions
    • Materials list
    • Tools list
    • Collect pictures

The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.

First time here?

Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2.



This disclaimer must be intact and whole. This disclaimer must be included if a project is distributed.

All information in this blog, or linked by this blog, are not to be taken as advice or solicitation. Anyone attempting to replicate, in whole or in part, is responsible for the outcome and procedure. Any loss of functionality, money, property or similar, is the responsibility of those involved in the replication.

All digital communication regarding the email address 24hourengineer@gmail.com becomes the intellectual property of Brian McEvoy. Any information contained within these messages may be distributed or retained at the discretion of Brian McEvoy. Any email sent to this address, or any email account owned by Brian McEvoy, cannot be used to claim property or assets.

Comments to the blog may be utilized or erased at the discretion of the owner. No one posting may claim claim property or assets based on their post.

This blog, including pictures and text, is copyright to Brian McEvoy.

Comments