Connecting an ultrasonic sensor

Arduino → Arduino Tutorials and Guided Projects → VEX + Arduino, Mobile Robotics Platform → Connecting an ultrasonic sensor

Physically connecting the sensor

Connecting the Ultrasonic Rangefinder to your VEX robot should be quite simple. The Swervebot, off which our robot is based, has its own mount for the sensor that will work perfectly for our purposes. If you have an alternate robot, or just want to be different, you can easily come up with your own mounting option.

Add two 2-inch standoffs.

The top plate may need to be modified - here we bent some of it back to make room for the reset button.

The Ultrasonic Rangefinder sub-assembly.

Attach the sub-assembly to the top plate.

Wiring up the sensor

The VEX Ultrasonic Rangefinder will be wired up just like all the other sensors. The red and black wires will go to the 5V supply, and ground, respectively. The input and output signal wires will both go to digital ports.

Wiring schematic and virtual breadboard image.

We will be attaching the Input signal wire to digital port 7 and the Output wire to digital port 8.

Virtual breadboard

A view of the wiring.