Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Ultrasonic Radar System Using an Arduino Microcontroller

International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development-– Volume 3 Issue 4, July-Aug 2020
Available at www.ijsred.com
ISSN : 2581-7175 ©IJSRED: All Rights are Reserved Page 295
Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Ultrasonic Radar
System using an Arduino Microcontroller
Ayibapreye Kelvin Benjamin*, Priye Kenneth Ainah**, Batowei Ariebi John***
*
Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
Email: ayibapreyebenjamin@ndu.edu.ng
**
Email: priyeainah@yahoo.com
***
Email: engineerjohnab@gmail.com
----------------------------------------************************----------------------------------
Abstract:
In this paper, a low-cost ultrasonic radar system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed. It
utilizes ultrasonic sensors to detect the object in range and passes the information to the Arduino
microcontroller. When an object is detected, two sets of alarms are triggered. Graphical display on a
computer screen was used to illustrate this design. The graphical display uses the position of the detected
object on the computer screen to send visual alarm on LED (Light Emitting Diode) screen. Sound alarm
can also be sent via an audio buzzer. Adjusting the rotation of a servo motor allows the sensor to detect
objects in range between and ˚. Objects up to away from the ultrasonic sensor can be
detected. The prototype of the design was implemented and coding for Arduino microcontroller was
developed. Experimental results show that the system can detect objects with the specified range (
away from the ultrasonic sensor) and alarm was successfully triggered.
Keywords —Low-cost, Ultrasonic radar, Arduino microcontroller, Servo motor
----------------------------------------************************----------------------------------
I. INTRODUCTION
Radar detection system can be a means for
preventing or reducing the rate of accident
occurrence on high ways and major roads. Accident
and collision of vehicles can be caused by the
following; high speed, carelessness, drowsiness,
alcohol consumption which are major problem of
most drivers. In an automobile (e.g. a car), there is
need for the vehicle to be monitored on a regular
basis to check for incoming vehicles and objects to
avoid collision.
The installation of a low-cost ultrasonic radar
detection system in an automobile can prevent and
reduce collision or accidents by alarming the driver
at a specific distance good enough to avoid the
collision. In recent times, as technology advances,
radar systems have been efficiently used in traffic
control, radar, astronomy, air-defense systems,
antimissile systems; marine radars to locate
landmarks and other ships; aircraft anti-collision
systems, ocean surveillance systems,outer space
surveillance and rendezvous system,
meteorological precipitation monitoring, altimetry
and flight control precipitation monitoring,
altimetry and flight control systems, guided missile
target locating systems and ground penetrating
radar for geological observations. High tech radar
systems are associated with digital signal
processing and can extract useful information from
very high noise levels.
The history ofradar (Radio Detection and Ranging)
started with experiments by Heinrich Hertz in the
late 19th century that showed that radio waves were
reflected by metallic objects. This possibility was
RESEARCH ARTICLE OPEN ACCESS

suggested in James Clerk Maxwell’s seminal work
on electromagnetism. However, it was not until the
early 20th century that systems able to use these
principles were becoming widely available, and it
was German inventor Christian Hülsmeyer who
first used them to build a simple ship detection
device intended to help avoid collisions in fog.
Numerous similar systems, which provided
directional information to objects over short ranges,
were developed over the next two decades.
The development of systems able to produce
short pulses of radio energy was the key advance
that allowed modern radar systems to come into
existence. By timing the pulse on an oscilloscope,
the range could be determined and the direction of
the antenna revealed the angular location of the
targets. The two, combined, produced a "fix",
locating the target relative to the antenna. In the
year 1934–1939,eight nations developed radar
independently,and in great secrecy. These nations
were; the United Kingdom, Germany, USSR, Japan,
Netherlands, France and Italy.
In addition, Britain shared their information with
the United States and four commonwealth countries:
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South
Africa.These countries also developed their own
radar systems. During the war, Hungary was added
to this list [1]. The term RADAR was coined in 1939
by the United States Signal Corps as it worked on
these systems for the US Navy [2].
Progress during the war was rapid and of great
importance, probably one of the decisive factors for
the victory of the Allies. A key development was
the magnetron in the UK [3], which allowed the
creation of relatively small systems with sub-meter
resolution. At the end of hostilities, Britain,
Germany, the United States, the USSR, and Japan
had a wide variety of land and sea-based radars as
well as small airborne systems. After the war, radar
use was widened to numerous fields including: civil
aviation, marine navigation, radar guns for
police, meteorology andeven medicine. Key
developments in the post-war period include
the travelling wave tube as a way to produce large
quantities of coherent microwaves, the development
of signal delay systems that led to phased array
radars, and ever-increasing frequencies that allow
higher resolutions. Increase in signal processing
capability due to the introduction of solid-state
computers has also had a large impact on radar use.
The scope of this study is within security systems.
We design and implement a low-cost ultrasonic
radar detection system with a programmable
microcontroller. The system was fabricated on a
single prototype board with an ultrasonic sensor
controlled by an Arduino microcontroller with a
servo motor to rotate the ultrasonic sensor from 0
degree to 180 degrees and vice versa, a processing
IDE to display the angle and direction if an object is
been detected.
II. MATERIALS AND METHODS
This section focuses on the design of the system,
its working principle and the description of the
parts for the design.
OVERVIEW OF LOW-COST ULTRASONIC RADAR
SYSTEM
This system consists of a microcontroller, an
ultrasonic sensor, an alarm unit. The
microcontroller is an Arduino Uno which controls
the system by sending and receiving signals for the
system to perform a task. The ultrasonic sensor
sends signals and when the signal is interrupted by
an object, it bounces back to the ultrasonic sensor
[4].
The software processing is an application which
is used to view the angle and distance of the object
detected by the ultrasonic sensor.
The alarm unit consists of two LEDs and a buzzer
which is triggered once an object is been detected
due to a specific distance.
COMPONENTS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR DESIGN
For the design of the system, software and hardware
components are required.
Hardware Components
The following are the hardware components
required for the design of the system.
• Arduino Uno.

International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development
ISSN : 2581-7175 ©IJSRED: All Rights are Reserved
• Ultrasonic Sensor.
• Servo motor
• Breadboard.
• Jumper Wires.
• Buzzer.
• LED
• A Switch
Arduino Uno
The Arduino Uno is an open source microcontroller.
It is built with an 8-bit ATmega328P
microcontroller chip mounted on a board. It
consists of 14 digital I/O pins, 6 analog I/O pins,
serial ports, USB power in port, 7-
power jack port, 16MHz Crystal oscillator, a reset
button and other components.
Pin Description
Fig. 1 Arduino microcontroller [21]
Arduino Uno Specifications
• Microcontroller: ATmega328
• Operating Voltage: 5V
• Input Voltage (recommended):7
• Input Voltage (limits): 6-20V
• Digital I/O Pins: 14 (of which 6 provide
PWM output)
• Analog Input Pins: 6
• DC Current per I/O Pin: 40mA
International Journal of Scientific Research and Engineering Development-– Volume 3 Issue 4
©IJSRED: All Rights are Reserved
The Arduino Uno is an open source microcontroller.
bit ATmega328P
microcontroller chip mounted on a board. It
consists of 14 digital I/O pins, 6 analog I/O pins,
-12volts DC
power jack port, 16MHz Crystal oscillator, a reset
Input Voltage (recommended):7-12V
Digital I/O Pins: 14 (of which 6 provide
• DC Current for 3.3V Pin: 50mA
• Flash Memory: 32 KB (ATmega328)
• SRAM: 2 KB (ATmega328)
• EEPROM: 1 KB (ATmega328)
• Clock Speed: 16 MHz
Ultrasonic Sensor
The ultrasonic sensor works on the principle of
SONAR and RADAR system which is used to
determine the distance to an object.
An ultrasonic sensor generates the high
frequency sound (ultrasound) waves. When this
ultrasound hits the object, it reflects as echo which
is sensed by the receiver as shown in below
Fig .2[5].
Fig 2 Transmitting and receiving reflected echo from
HC-SR04 Pin Description
Fig. 3 HC-SR04
VCC: +5 V supply
TRIG: Trigger input of sensor. Microcontroller
applies 10 μ trigger pulse to the HC
ultrasonic module.
Volume 3 Issue 4, July-Aug 2020
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Page 297
DC Current for 3.3V Pin: 50mA
Flash Memory: 32 KB (ATmega328)
ega328)
EEPROM: 1 KB (ATmega328)
The ultrasonic sensor works on the principle of
SONAR and RADAR system which is used to
determine the distance to an object.
An ultrasonic sensor generates the high-
frequency sound (ultrasound) waves. When this
ultrasound hits the object, it reflects as echo which
is sensed by the receiver as shown in below
Fig 2 Transmitting and receiving reflected echo from object.
: Trigger input of sensor. Microcontroller
trigger pulse to the HC-SR04

ECHO: Echo output of sensor. Microcontroller
reads/monitors this pin to detect the obstacle or to
find the distance.
GND: Ground
Fig.4 Ultrasonic Hc-SR04 module timing diagram
1. We need to transmit trigger pulse of at least
10 μ to the HC-SR04 Trig Pin
Fig 4.
2. Then the HC-SR04 automatically sends
Eight 40 kHz sound wave and wait for
rising edge output at Echo pin.
3. When the rising edge capture occurs at Echo
pin, start the Timer and wait for falling edge
on Echo pin.
4. As soon as the falling edge is captured at the
Echo pin, read the count of the Timer. This
time count is the time required by the sensor
to detect an object and return back from an
object.
Now how to calculate distance?

The speed of sound waves is 343 m/s.
So,
343 !
Total distance is divided by 2 because signal travels
from HC-SR04 to object and returns to the module
HC-SR-04.
: Echo output of sensor. Microcontroller
the obstacle or to
SR04 module timing diagram
We need to transmit trigger pulse of at least
SR04 Trig Pin as shown in
SR04 automatically sends
wave and wait for
When the rising edge capture occurs at Echo
pin, start the Timer and wait for falling edge
As soon as the falling edge is captured at the
Echo pin, read the count of the Timer. This
is the time required by the sensor
to detect an object and return back from an
The speed of sound waves is 343 m/s.
! " #/2
Total distance is divided by 2 because signal travels
SR04 to object and returns to the module
Servo Motor
Fig.4 Servo Motor
• Servo motor is an electrical device which
can be used to rotate objects (like robotic
arm) precisely.
• Servo motor consists of DC motor with
error sensing negative feedback mechanism.
This allows precise control over angular
velocity and position of motor. In some
cases, AC motors are used.
• It is a closed loop system where it uses
negative feedback to control motion and
final position of the shaft.
• It is not used for continuous rotation like
conventional AC/DC motors.
• It has rotation angle that varies from 0° to
180°.
Fig.5 Servo Motor Mechanism
As shown in Fig. 5 Servo motor has three pins for
its operation.
• +VCC (RED)
Connect +VCC supply to this pin. For
SG90 Micro Servo it is 4.8 V (~5V).
• Ground (BROWN)
Connect Ground to this pin.
• Control Signal (ORANGE)
Connect PWM of 20ms (50 Hz)
this pin.
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Page 298
Fig.4 Servo Motor
Servo motor is an electrical device which
can be used to rotate objects (like robotic
Servo motor consists of DC motor with
error sensing negative feedback mechanism.
This allows precise control over angular
velocity and position of motor. In some
cases, AC motors are used.
It is a closed loop system where it uses
ack to control motion and
final position of the shaft.
It is not used for continuous rotation like
conventional AC/DC motors.
It has rotation angle that varies from 0° to
Fig.5 Servo Motor Mechanism
Servo motor has three pins for
Connect +VCC supply to this pin. For
SG90 Micro Servo it is 4.8 V (~5V).
Connect Ground to this pin.
Control Signal (ORANGE)
Connect PWM of 20ms (50 Hz) period to

Software Requirements
a. Arduino Software
This is the application software used in
programming the Arduino microcontroller. It is an
open source platform. It was downloaded from the
Arduinosoftware website (Fig. 10).
Fig.10 Arduino Software Download Page.
b. The Arduino IDE
After download has been completed, extract the
downloaded ZIP file (i.e., arduino
windows.zip) using the WinZip
compression software.The download contains
folder named arduino-1.6.11. The folder
executable file named Arduino, which is an
application type file. Simply double-
icon to start the Arduino IDE.
If it prompts you with a Windows Security Alert.
Just click on the Allow Access button to proceed.
The IDE is loaded with a default sketch (Fig.11).
The menu bar and toolbar provide a host of options
and configurations to work with Arduino boards
This is the application software used in
programming the Arduino microcontroller. It is an
open source platform. It was downloaded from the
Arduino Software Download Page.
After download has been completed, extract the
downloaded ZIP file (i.e., arduino-1.6.11-
WinZip or 7-Zip
The download contains a
folder contains an
rduino, which is an
-click on the
If it prompts you with a Windows Security Alert.
Just click on the Allow Access button to proceed.
loaded with a default sketch (Fig.11).
The menu bar and toolbar provide a host of options
and configurations to work with Arduino boards [7].
Fig. 11 Arduino IDE
c. Processing Software
Processing is an open-source graphical library
and integrated development environment (IDE)
built for the electronic arts,
and visual design communities with the purpose of
teaching non-programmers the fundamentals
of computer programming in a visual context.
Processing uses the Java language, with
additional simplifications such as additional classes
and aliased mathematical functions and operations.
It also provides a graphical user interface for
simplifying the compilation and execution stage
Design of the System
This section describes the design of the system
using the various system components that have
been stated in subsequent section. The design of the
system is given in Fig. 13.
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Page 299
11 Arduino IDE
source graphical library
development environment (IDE)
built for the electronic arts, new media art,
communities with the purpose of
programmers the fundamentals
in a visual context.
Java language, with
itional simplifications such as additional classes
and aliased mathematical functions and operations.
It also provides a graphical user interface for
simplifying the compilation and execution stage [6].
This section describes the design of the system
using the various system components that have
been stated in subsequent section. The design of the

Fig.13 System block diagram
PROCEDURE ON HOW TO SETUP THE LOW
ULTRASONIC RADAR SYSTEM
1. Connect +5V power supply from the Arduino
board via breadboard to the VCC pin on the
ultrasonic sensor.
2. Connect the trigger pin from the ultrasonic
sensor to pin 10 on the Arduino board.
3. Connect the echo pin from the
sensor to pin 11 on the Arduino board.
4. Connect GND pin on the ultrasonic sensor to
the GND pin on the Arduino board via breadboard.
5. Connect +5V power supply from the Arduino
board via breadboard to the VCC pin on the servo
motor.
6. Connect the control signal pin from the servo
motor to pin 9 on the Arduino board.
7. Connect GND pin on the servo motor to the
GND pin on the Arduino board via breadboard.
8. Connect pins 3 and 4 to the +5V pins of two
different LEDs.
9. Connect the shorter leg of the two LEDs to
GND pin via the breadboard.
10. Connect positive pin of buzzer to pin 6 on the
Arduino board via breadboard.
11. Connect negative pin of buzzer to Ground on
the breadboard.
12. Connect the Arduino board via USB cable to
the computer [8].
13. Right-click on the “Start” icon and select
“Device Manager”.
PROCEDURE ON HOW TO SETUP THE LOW-COST
power supply from the Arduino
board via breadboard to the VCC pin on the
2. Connect the trigger pin from the ultrasonic
3. Connect the echo pin from the ultrasonic
4. Connect GND pin on the ultrasonic sensor to
the GND pin on the Arduino board via breadboard.
power supply from the Arduino
board via breadboard to the VCC pin on the servo
nect the control signal pin from the servo
7. Connect GND pin on the servo motor to the
GND pin on the Arduino board via breadboard.
8. Connect pins 3 and 4 to the +5V pins of two
leg of the two LEDs to
10. Connect positive pin of buzzer to pin 6 on the
11. Connect negative pin of buzzer to Ground on
12. Connect the Arduino board via USB cable to
icon and select
14. Double-click “Ports (COM & LPT)” to
expand.
15. Note the port to which the Arduino board has
been connected specified in the parenthesis to the
board name.
16. Open the Arduino software.
17. On the tab menu, click on
18. Go to boardsand click on
Uno to select the board type.
19. After selecting the board type, go back to
tools.
20. Hover on “Port” and select the COM from
the list of “serial ports” to which
board is connected.
21. Click on New to create a new sketch.
22. Write the code to control the hardware.
23. Save, verify and upload the code to the
Arduino board.
24. Open processing software
25. Copy the processing code, paste and run it
[9].
Hardware Design
This include the design and construction of the
system using the component parts listed in
subsequent section. The hardware design
implements a circuit diagram which is given
14.
Circuit Diagram
Proteus was used to give out the schematic
diagram of the hardware design.
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Page 300
click “Ports (COM & LPT)” to
to which the Arduino board has
been connected specified in the parenthesis to the
software.
17. On the tab menu, click on tools.
and click on Arduino/Genuino
19. After selecting the board type, go back to
and select the COM from
the list of “serial ports” to which your Arduino
to create a new sketch.
22. Write the code to control the hardware.
23. Save, verify and upload the code to the
25. Copy the processing code, paste and run it
This include the design and construction of the
system using the component parts listed in
subsequent section. The hardware design
implements a circuit diagram which is given in Fig.
to give out the schematic
diagram of the hardware design.

Fig.14Circuit Diagram low- cost ultrasonic radar system
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The proposed design for low-cost ultrasonic radar
system has been successfully implementedand
shows good performance. The ultrasonic
detects an object and send the right signal to the
Arduino board and the Arduino communicate
the processing software so that the angle
of the object is calculated successfully. Buzzer and
LEDs were also used to give an alarm if a car is
detected at a specific distance.The result
implementation are shown in Fig. 15 and 16.
The ultrasonic radar can actually detect an object
of about 400cm awaybut a specific distance was
chosen in this research for the alarm system to
triggered.
An LED remain high indicating that no car is
close to colliding with another car if the position of
the other car or object is greater than 40cm, but if it
is less than 40cm then the Arduino will trigger the
alarm system to come up with a buzzer and another
LED indicating that the car is close to colliding
with another car. Fig. 15 below shows that a car or
object is not close to colliding with another car
therefore the blue LED remains ON.
cost ultrasonic radar system
DISCUSSION
cost ultrasonic radar
system has been successfully implementedand
good performance. The ultrasonic radar
an object and send the right signal to the
duino communicates with
that the angle, position
of the object is calculated successfully. Buzzer and
o used to give an alarm if a car is
detected at a specific distance.The results of
are shown in Fig. 15 and 16.
can actually detect an object
of about 400cm awaybut a specific distance was
e alarm system to be
remain high indicating that no car is
close to colliding with another car if the position of
the other car or object is greater than 40cm, but if it
rduino will trigger the
come up with a buzzer and another
indicating that the car is close to colliding
below shows that a car or
object is not close to colliding with another car
Fig.15Safe mode
Fig. 16 below shows that a car or object is close
to colliding with another car.Hence,t
goes off while the yellow LED
comes ON.
Figure 16.Unsafe mod
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The ideal security system for ultrasonic radar
application is yet to be achieved
paper, a design of low-cost but effective security
system for ultrasonic radar was implemented.
system has been designed to deliver a reasonable
level of efficiency and simplicity, providing a
standard real time user experience. The system has
www.ijsred.com
Page 301
afe mode
below shows that a car or object is close
.Hence,the blue LED
LED and the buzzer
nsafe mode
The ideal security system for ultrasonic radar
be achieved. However, in this
cost but effective security
was implemented. This
system has been designed to deliver a reasonable
level of efficiency and simplicity, providing a
erience. The system has

also been designed to provide efficient security and
monitoring using computer vision with limited
setup required.
In this article, an ultrasonic radar system was
designed and implemented experimentally for
distance measurements purposes to be used in
various applications. An Arduino Uno device was
used as a controller in the design beside other
requirements such as servomotor, ultrasonic sensor
and computer for distance calculation of objects or
obstacles placed at different angles (from 0 to 180
degrees) within the range up to 40 centimeters.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Theauthors are gratefulto the reviewers and
Executive Editor-in-chief for their insightful
comments, which have helped improved the paper.
The authors also want to thank Dr. Nimibofa
Ayawei for financial support to enable the
publication of this article.
REFERENCES
[1] M. I. Skolnik, Introduction to RADAR Systems, New York: McGraw-
Hill,2001.
[2] 2. Vilas s bagad,et al, Microwave and RADAR Engineering, 2008.
[3] F. E. Nathanson, RADAR Design Principles, New York: McGraw-Hill,
1991.
[4] Louis N. Ridenour. Radar System Engineering, volume 1 of MIT
Radiation Laboratory Series. McGraw-Hill, New York, 1947.
[5] Panel on Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for Scientific
Uses, Handbook of Frequency Allocations and Spectrum Protection for
Scientific Uses, Washington, The National academic press, 2nd edition,
2015.
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RADAR.
[7] David Jenn, “Plasma Antennas: Survey of Techniques and Current
State of the Art,” NPS Technical Report NPSCRC-03-01, September
2003.
[8] A. S. Kiran Kumar, “Significance of RISAT-1 in ISRO’s Earth
Observation Programme” Current Science, Vol. 104, No. 4, 25
February 2013.
[9] http://www.digitaltrends.com/computin-g/new-satellite-images-shed-
light-on-the-7-8-magnitude-nepal-earthquake/.

Design and Implementation of a Low-Cost Ultrasonic Radar System Using an Arduino Microcontroller

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