Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V12

Kit purchase

Looking for parts? Check out our all-in-one kits below — packed with components, beginner-friendly guides, and tons of fun.

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Name	Includes Arduino board	PURCHASE LINK
Ultimate Sensor Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Elite Explorer Kit	USB Type-C cable	BUY
3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit	Arduino Uno R4 Minima	BUY
Universal Maker Sensor Kit	×	BUY

Course Introduction

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use an OLED display, an ultrasonic sensor, a servo, a joystick, an LED, and a buzzer with the Arduino UNO R4 to create a Radar Guard system. We’ll use the Adafruit SSD1306 and GFX libraries to display distance, angle, and detection status on the screen.

Players can move the sensor left and right with the joystick. When an object is detected within 20 cm, the OLED shows an alert while the LED and buzzer turn on.

Note

If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.

1.1 Install Arduino IDE(Important)
1.2 Introduction of Arduino IDE

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components:

SN	COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	QUANTITY	PURCHASE LINK
1	Arduino UNO R4 Minima	1	BUY
2	USB Type-C cable	1	×
3	Breadboard	1	BUY
4	Wires	Several	BUY
5	OLED Display Module	1	BUY
6	Ultrasonic Sensor Module	1	BUY
7	Digital Servo Motor	1	BUY
8	Active Buzzer	1	×
9	LED	1	BUY
10	1kΩ resistor	1	BUY
11	Joystick Module	1	BUY

Wiring

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Common Connections:

LED
Red LED: Connect the LEDs anode to a 1kΩ resistor then to the 3 on Arduino, and the LEDs cathode to negative power bus on the breadboard.

Active Buzzer
＋: Connect to 2 on the Arduino.
－: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.

Digital Servo Motor
Connect to breadboard’s positive power bus.
Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
Connect to 12 on the Arduino.

Ultrasonic Sensor Module
Trig: Connect to 10 on the Arduino.
Echo: Connect to 11 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

OLED Display Module
SDA: Connect to SDA on the Arduino.
SCK: Connect to SCL on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

Joystick Module
VRY: Connect to A1 on the Arduino.
VRX: Connect to A0 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

Writing the Code

Note
You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
To install the library, use the Arduino Library Manager and search for Adafruit SSD1306 and Adafruit GFX and install it.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 Minima/WIFI) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Servo.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

// OLED screen size and I2C address
#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64
#define OLED_RESET -1
#define OLED_ADDRESS 0x3C

// Create the OLED display object
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(
  SCREEN_WIDTH,
  SCREEN_HEIGHT,
  &Wire,
  OLED_RESET
);

// Ultrasonic sensor pins
const int TRIG_PIN = 10;
const int ECHO_PIN = 11;

// Output device pins
const int SERVO_PIN = 12;
const int BUZZER_PIN = 2;
const int RED_LED_PIN = 3;

// Joystick horizontal axis pin
const int JOYSTICK_X_PIN = A0;

// Create the servo object
Servo radarServo;

// Current servo position
int servoAngle = 90;

// Servo movement limits
const int MIN_SERVO_ANGLE = 15;
const int MAX_SERVO_ANGLE = 165;

// Servo movement speed
const int SERVO_STEP = 3;
const unsigned long SERVO_INTERVAL = 20;

unsigned long lastServoUpdate = 0;

// Joystick center dead zone
const int JOYSTICK_LEFT_THRESHOLD = 400;
const int JOYSTICK_RIGHT_THRESHOLD = 620;

// Distance settings
const int ALERT_DISTANCE_CM = 20;
const int RELEASE_DISTANCE_CM = 20;
const int MAX_DISTANCE_CM = 300;

// Number of close readings needed before the alarm starts
const int DETECTION_CONFIRM_COUNT = 2;

// Keep the detected state briefly after the object moves away
const unsigned long DETECTED_HOLD_TIME = 300;

// Distance measurement timing
const unsigned long DISTANCE_INTERVAL = 80;
unsigned long lastDistanceUpdate = 0;

int currentDistance = -1;

// Detection state
bool objectDetected = false;
int detectionCount = 0;
unsigned long lastDetectedTime = 0;

// OLED refresh timing
const unsigned long DISPLAY_INTERVAL = 80;
unsigned long lastDisplayUpdate = 0;

// Alarm blink timing
const unsigned long ALARM_ON_TIME = 80;
const unsigned long ALARM_OFF_TIME = 80;

unsigned long lastAlarmToggle = 0;
bool alarmOutputState = false;

void setup() {
  // Set ultrasonic sensor pin modes
  pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT);

  // Set LED and buzzer as outputs
  pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RED_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

  // Set joystick pin as input
  pinMode(JOYSTICK_X_PIN, INPUT);

  // Start all outputs in the off state
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
  digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);
  digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, LOW);

  // Attach the servo and move it to the center
  radarServo.attach(SERVO_PIN);
  radarServo.write(servoAngle);

  // Start the OLED display
  if (!display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, OLED_ADDRESS)) {
    // Blink the LED if the OLED cannot start
    while (true) {
      digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, HIGH);
      delay(200);

      digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, LOW);
      delay(200);
    }
  }

  // Prepare the OLED text color
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextColor(SSD1306_WHITE);

  // Show the startup message
  showStartupScreen();

  delay(1200);
}

void loop() {
  // Run each task repeatedly
  updateServoFromJoystick();
  updateDistance();
  updateDetection();
  updateAlarm();
  updateOLED();
}

void updateServoFromJoystick() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  // Wait until the next servo update
  if (currentMillis - lastServoUpdate < SERVO_INTERVAL) {
    return;
  }

  lastServoUpdate = currentMillis;

  // Read the joystick horizontal position
  int joystickX = analogRead(JOYSTICK_X_PIN);

  // Move the servo left
  if (joystickX < JOYSTICK_LEFT_THRESHOLD) {
    servoAngle -= SERVO_STEP;
  }

  // Move the servo right
  else if (joystickX > JOYSTICK_RIGHT_THRESHOLD) {
    servoAngle += SERVO_STEP;
  }

  // Keep the servo angle inside the safe range
  servoAngle = constrain(
    servoAngle,
    MIN_SERVO_ANGLE,
    MAX_SERVO_ANGLE
  );

  // Send the new angle to the servo
  radarServo.write(servoAngle);
}

void updateDistance() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  // Wait until the next distance measurement
  if (currentMillis - lastDistanceUpdate < DISTANCE_INTERVAL) {
    return;
  }

  lastDistanceUpdate = currentMillis;

  // Use the newest measurement directly
  currentDistance = measureDistance();
}

int measureDistance() {
  // Make sure the trigger pin starts low
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);

  // Send a 10 microsecond trigger pulse
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);

  // Measure how long the echo signal stays high
  unsigned long duration = pulseIn(
    ECHO_PIN,
    HIGH,
    20000UL
  );

  // Return -1 when no echo is received
  if (duration == 0) {
    return -1;
  }

  // Convert the echo time into centimeters
  int distance = duration * 0.0343 / 2.0;

  // Ignore readings outside the valid range
  if (distance <= 0 || distance > MAX_DISTANCE_CM) {
    return -1;
  }

  return distance;
}

void updateDetection() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  // Check whether an object is inside the alert range
  bool targetInsideAlertRange =
    currentDistance > 0 &&
    currentDistance <= ALERT_DISTANCE_CM;

  if (!objectDetected) {
    // Count consecutive close readings
    if (targetInsideAlertRange) {
      detectionCount++;

      // Start the alarm after enough close readings
      if (detectionCount >= DETECTION_CONFIRM_COUNT) {
        objectDetected = true;
        detectionCount = 0;
        lastDetectedTime = currentMillis;

        // Turn on the first alarm pulse immediately
        alarmOutputState = true;
        lastAlarmToggle = currentMillis;

        digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, HIGH);
        digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, HIGH);
      }
    } else {
      // Reset the count when the object is not close
      detectionCount = 0;
    }
  } else {
    // Keep the detected state while the object is nearby
    if (
      currentDistance > 0 &&
      currentDistance <= RELEASE_DISTANCE_CM
    ) {
      lastDetectedTime = currentMillis;
    }

    // Return to scanning after the hold time ends
    if (
      currentMillis - lastDetectedTime >=
      DETECTED_HOLD_TIME
    ) {
      objectDetected = false;
      detectionCount = 0;
    }
  }
}

void updateAlarm() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  // Keep the alarm off when no object is detected
  if (!objectDetected) {
    alarmOutputState = false;

    digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, LOW);
    digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);

    return;
  }

  // Use a different wait time for the on and off states
  unsigned long alarmInterval;

  if (alarmOutputState) {
    alarmInterval = ALARM_ON_TIME;
  } else {
    alarmInterval = ALARM_OFF_TIME;
  }

  // Toggle the LED and buzzer after the interval
  if (
    currentMillis - lastAlarmToggle >=
    alarmInterval
  ) {
    lastAlarmToggle = currentMillis;
    alarmOutputState = !alarmOutputState;

    digitalWrite(
      RED_LED_PIN,
      alarmOutputState ? HIGH : LOW
    );

    digitalWrite(
      BUZZER_PIN,
      alarmOutputState ? HIGH : LOW
    );
  }
}

void updateOLED() {
  unsigned long currentMillis = millis();

  // Wait until the next OLED refresh
  if (
    currentMillis - lastDisplayUpdate <
    DISPLAY_INTERVAL
  ) {
    return;
  }

  lastDisplayUpdate = currentMillis;

  // Choose the screen based on the detection state
  if (objectDetected) {
    showDetectedScreen();
  } else {
    showScanningScreen();
  }
}

void showStartupScreen() {
  // Clear the previous frame
  display.clearDisplay();

  // Show the project title
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(8, 15);
  display.println("*** RADAR GUARD ***");

  // Show the startup message
  display.setCursor(35, 35);
  display.println("Starting...");

  // Send the frame to the OLED
  display.display();
}

void showScanningScreen() {
  // Clear the previous frame
  display.clearDisplay();

  display.setTextColor(SSD1306_WHITE);
  display.setTextSize(1);

  // Show the project title
  display.setCursor(8, 2);
  display.println("*** RADAR GUARD ***");

  // Draw a line below the title
  display.drawLine(
    0,
    13,
    127,
    13,
    SSD1306_WHITE
  );

  // Show the measured distance
  display.setCursor(0, 20);
  display.print("Distance: ");

  if (currentDistance < 0) {
    display.println("-- cm");
  } else {
    display.print(currentDistance);
    display.println(" cm");
  }

  // Show the current servo angle
  display.setCursor(0, 34);
  display.print("Angle: ");
  display.print(servoAngle);
  display.println(" deg");

  // Show the current system status
  display.setCursor(0, 48);
  display.println("Status: Scanning");

  // Send the frame to the OLED
  display.display();
}

void showDetectedScreen() {
  // Clear the previous frame
  display.clearDisplay();

  display.setTextColor(SSD1306_WHITE);

  // Show the alert title
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setCursor(14, 0);
  display.println("DETECTED!");

  // Prepare the distance text
  display.setTextSize(2);

  String distanceText;

  if (currentDistance < 0) {
    distanceText = "-- cm";
  } else {
    distanceText =
      String(currentDistance) + " cm";
  }

  // Calculate an approximate centered position
  int distanceWidth =
    distanceText.length() * 12;

  int distanceX =
    (SCREEN_WIDTH - distanceWidth) / 2;

  if (distanceX < 0) {
    distanceX = 0;
  }

  // Show the distance in the center area
  display.setCursor(distanceX, 25);
  display.println(distanceText);

  // Show the current servo angle
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(24, 52);
  display.print("Angle: ");
  display.print(servoAngle);
  display.print(" deg");

  // Send the frame to the OLED
  display.display();
}

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Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V12

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V12

Kit purchase

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

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