Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V7

Course Introduction

In this lesson, we’ll build a Radar Bomb Simulator using an ultrasonic sensor, a servo, a 4-digit display, and a buzzer.

The servo sweeps the ultrasonic sensor to detect objects. If something enters within 15 cm, a countdown appears on the display with beeping sounds that speed up as the target gets closer. At just 2 cm, the system simulates an explosion with flashing and a continuous alarm.

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/Arduino UNO R4 WIFI	1	BUY
2	USB Type-C cable	1	×
3	Wires	Several	BUY
4	Breadboard	1	BUY
5	Ultrasonic Sensor Module	1	BUY
6	Passive Buzzer	1	BUY
7	I2C LCD 1602	1	BUY
8	4-Digit Segment Display Module	1	BUY

Wiring

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Common Connections:

Digital Servo Motor
Connect to breadboard’s positive power bus.
Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
Connect to 9 on the Arduino.

Buzzer
Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
Connect to 3 on the Arduino.

4-Digit Segment Display Module
CLK: Connect to 5 on the Arduino.
DIO: Connect to 6 on the Arduino.
GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.
VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

Ultrasonic Sensor Module
Trig: Connect to 8 on the Arduino.
Echo: Connect to 7 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.

Writing the Code

Note
You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.
To install the library, use the Arduino Library Manager and search for TM1637Display and install it.
Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 WIFI) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

#include <Servo.h>
#include <TM1637Display.h>

// ------------------- Pin Definitions -------------------
#define TRIG_PIN   8
#define ECHO_PIN   7
#define SERVO_PIN  9
#define BUZZER_PIN 3

// TM1637 4-digit display
#define TM_CLK_PIN 5
#define TM_DIO_PIN 6

// ------------------- Objects -------------------
Servo radarServo;
TM1637Display display(TM_CLK_PIN, TM_DIO_PIN);

// ------------------- Parameters -------------------
// Servo scanning angle and speed
const int SERVO_MIN_ANGLE   = 15;     // Left limit
const int SERVO_MAX_ANGLE   = 165;    // Right limit
const int SERVO_STEP_DEG    = 2;      // Step angle
const unsigned long SERVO_STEP_MS = 20;  // Interval per step (ms)

// Distance thresholds (cm)
const int ALERT_DISTANCE_CM   = 15;   // Start countdown threshold
const int EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM = 2;    // Immediate "explosion" threshold

// Map distance to countdown interval (closer = faster)
const unsigned long COUNT_INTERVAL_MIN_MS = 120; // Fastest interval
const unsigned long COUNT_INTERVAL_MAX_MS = 800; // Slowest interval

// Countdown settings
const int COUNT_START = 9;    // Starting countdown value
const int COUNT_END   = 0;    // End

// State machine
enum State { SCANNING, COUNTDOWN, EXPLODED };
State state = SCANNING;

// Scanning variables
int servoAngle = SERVO_MIN_ANGLE;
int servoDir   = +1;
unsigned long lastServoStepMs = 0;

// Distance measurement
long readDistanceCm() {
  // Trigger ultrasonic
  pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(3);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(10);
  digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);

  // Echo
  pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT);
  unsigned long dur = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH, 30000UL); // 30ms timeout
  if (dur == 0) return -1; // Timeout/invalid
  long dist = (long)(dur * 0.034f / 2.0f); // μs -> cm
  return dist;
}

// Average multiple measurements to reduce jitter
long readDistanceAvg(uint8_t samples = 3) {
  long sum = 0; int cnt = 0;
  for (uint8_t i = 0; i < samples; i++) {
    long d = readDistanceCm();
    if (d > 0) { sum += d; cnt++; }
    delay(5);
  }
  return (cnt == 0) ? -1 : (sum / cnt);
}

// Display helper: show "----"
void showDashes() {
  static const uint8_t dash = 0x40; // Segment code for '-'
  uint8_t data[] = { dash, dash, dash, dash };
  display.setSegments(data);
}

// Display a positive integer 0~9999 (auto hide leading zero)
void showNumber(int value) {
  display.showNumberDec(value, true); // leading_zeros=true (force show leading zero)
}

// "Explosion" effect: flashing + continuous buzzer
void doExplodeEffect(unsigned long durationMs = 2000) {
  unsigned long start = millis();
  tone(BUZZER_PIN, 2500); // Continuous beep
  while (millis() - start < durationMs) {
    display.setBrightness(7, true);
    delay(80);
    display.setBrightness(0, true); // Approximate off to simulate flashing
    delay(80);
  }
  noTone(BUZZER_PIN);
}

// Map distance to countdown interval
unsigned long mapCountIntervalByDistance(long distCm) {
  // Clamp: restrict distance to [EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM, ALERT_DISTANCE_CM]
  if (distCm < EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM) distCm = EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM;
  if (distCm > ALERT_DISTANCE_CM)   distCm = ALERT_DISTANCE_CM;
  // Closer -> smaller interval (faster)
  long iv = map(distCm, EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM, ALERT_DISTANCE_CM,
                COUNT_INTERVAL_MIN_MS, COUNT_INTERVAL_MAX_MS);
  if (iv < (long)COUNT_INTERVAL_MIN_MS) iv = COUNT_INTERVAL_MIN_MS;
  if (iv > (long)COUNT_INTERVAL_MAX_MS) iv = COUNT_INTERVAL_MAX_MS;
  return (unsigned long)iv;
}

// ------------------- Setup -------------------
void setup() {
  pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
  digitalWrite(BUZZER_PIN, LOW);

  radarServo.attach(SERVO_PIN);
  radarServo.write(servoAngle);

  display.setBrightness(7, true); // Brightness: 0~7
  showDashes();

  // Optional: Serial debug
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(300);
}

// ------------------- Main Loop -------------------
void loop() {
  switch (state) {

    case SCANNING: {
      // Servo scanning
      unsigned long now = millis();
      if (now - lastServoStepMs >= SERVO_STEP_MS) {
        lastServoStepMs = now;
        servoAngle += servoDir * SERVO_STEP_DEG;
        if (servoAngle >= SERVO_MAX_ANGLE) { servoAngle = SERVO_MAX_ANGLE; servoDir = -1; }
        else if (servoAngle <= SERVO_MIN_ANGLE) { servoAngle = SERVO_MIN_ANGLE; servoDir = +1; }
        radarServo.write(servoAngle);
      }

      // Distance measurement
      long dist = readDistanceAvg(3);
      if (dist > 0) {
        // Check explosion threshold
        if (dist <= EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM) {
          state = EXPLODED;
          break;
        }
        // Check countdown threshold
        if (dist <= ALERT_DISTANCE_CM) {
          state = COUNTDOWN;
          // Initialize countdown params
        }
      }
      // Show "----" while scanning
      showDashes();
    } break;

    case COUNTDOWN: {
      // Real-time distance -> dynamic speed
      long dist = readDistanceAvg(3);
      if (dist <= 0 || dist > ALERT_DISTANCE_CM + 3) {
        // Target moved away, back to scanning
        state = SCANNING;
        showDashes();
        noTone(BUZZER_PIN);
        break;
      }
      if (dist <= EXPLODE_DISTANCE_CM) {
        state = EXPLODED;
        break;
      }

      // Countdown (non-blocking)
      static int countVal = COUNT_START;
      static unsigned long lastTick = 0;
      static unsigned long intervalMs = COUNT_INTERVAL_MAX_MS;

      // First enter or reset
      static bool firstEnter = true;
      if (firstEnter) {
        countVal  = COUNT_START;
        lastTick  = millis();
        intervalMs = mapCountIntervalByDistance(dist);
        firstEnter = false;
      }

      // Update interval dynamically
      intervalMs = mapCountIntervalByDistance(dist);

      // Show countdown number
      showNumber(countVal);

      // Each tick -> decrement, short beep
      unsigned long now = millis();
      if (now - lastTick >= intervalMs) {
        lastTick = now;

        // Short beep: frequency rises as number decreases
        int freq = 800 + (COUNT_START - countVal) * 120; // 800Hz ~ ?
        tone(BUZZER_PIN, freq, 90); // 90ms beep
        if (countVal > COUNT_END) {
          countVal--;
        } else {
          // Reached 0 -> trigger explosion
          state = EXPLODED;
          firstEnter = true; // Reset when re-enter COUNTDOWN
        }
      }

      // Exit COUNTDOWN -> cleanup
      if (state != COUNTDOWN) {
        noTone(BUZZER_PIN);
        firstEnter = true;
      }
    } break;

    case EXPLODED: {
      // Explosion effect
      doExplodeEffect(2000); // 2 sec
      showDashes();
      // Wait until target moves away before reset
      while (true) {
        long d = readDistanceAvg(3);
        if (d <= 0 || d > ALERT_DISTANCE_CM + 5) break;
        delay(60);
      }
      state = SCANNING;
    } break;
  }
}

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Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V7

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

Arduino Project

Arduino Radar System Project with Ultrasonic Sensor V7

Course Introduction

Required Components

Wiring

Common Connections:

Writing the Code

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