Is it possible to make parking sensors with your own hands?
This or similar questions are asked on automotive forums, and not infrequently. Who is asking? Ask restless masters who enjoy constantly tuning their car. If you have an understanding of the basics of electronics, know how to distinguish a resistor from a transistor, use a soldering iron, and it gives you pleasure, then making a parktronic with your own hands is not a problem for you.
Scheme of traditional parking sensors
But first, let's get to the heart of the matter. Parking devices or parking sensors are good helpers for car owners, especially in the hectic conditions of city traffic and parking. Without a doubt, with the help of parking sensors, the parking process is much easier. But, we should not forget that the parking radar is not a panacea, and even more so, in the event of an emergency, explanations that your parking sensors have failed will not help.
That is why the choice of parking sensors, and even more so, if you decide to make parking sensors with your own hands, you need to be very, very careful. In addition to the selection of all the elements that the parking sensors scheme includes, it is imperative to take into account the design feature of your car. We are talking about bumpers, where, in fact, you will install sensors or video cameras. So that after installing the sensors it doesn’t turn out that they “see” only asphalt or only the sky.
- Mortise sensor - from 2 to 8. Naturally, the more sensors, the greater the area coverage.
- Distance indicator: single scale, LCD, dual scale, etc. Up to the output of the video signal to the windshield. Progress - it moves inexorably forward.
- The electronic control unit for this entire system.
If we are talking about the most elementary device, which your home-made parking sensors can become, then 2-3 sensors are quite enough for the parking sensors circuit.
If you are going to make a parktronic with your own hands, you should understand that all components for it should be of only high quality. And the parking sensors are assembled perfectly. Even the most advanced parking sensors fail or fail, but this fact in no way relieves the driver of responsibility in the event of an accident.
Components for assembling a homemade parking sensors
Using the example of the experience of one of the "Kulibins", we will show what is needed to assemble a home-made parking sensors. More detailed parking sensors diagrams can be found on the relevant electronic resources of the network.
So, a set of homemade parking sensors:
- The Arduino Duemilanove controller is the same hardware computing platform, in fact, the brain of your homemade parking sensors.
- Ultrasonic distance sonars (sensors): Ultrasonic Range Finder
- Plastic case (box)
- Bread board
- LED, preferably tri-color
- Wires to match the length of the spacer
- Power supply - battery 9V
Assembly of homemade parking sensors
Install the controller board in a plastic case on silicone or glue, then power the controller and the ultrasonic sensor. Having determined which LED pins are responsible for which color, connect them to the corresponding controller pins.
Adjust the controller program in accordance with its instructions by increasing or decreasing the send signal to the sensor. Install the parking sensors on the car based on its design. Sensors should be installed with a minimum "dead zone". Before you use your homemade parking sensors, test, and not just one.
If you are confident in your knowledge and ability to assemble parking sensors with your own hands, then do it. If not, then it's easier to buy factory parking sensors, and install it on the car yourself. The safety of a car, both your own and someone else's, is a responsible matter. Weigh all the pros and cons.
Good luck in making parking sensors with your own hands.
