Box for ultrasonic sensor with Arduino Nano

youmagine

This thing plugs directly into the external electronics port on the RoboRio, but it could communicate with just about anything including a PC connected to the Nano's USB port. It simply requires +5 volts, ground, and a TTL level serial connection (UART.RX on the RIO port). The code is a straightforward adaptation of the sample in the NewPing library, which also fully documents how to set up the whole system correctly. One of the photos shows the small prototyping board I used to hold the connector to the RIO. Make sure that's insulated well, as it's going directly into the data bus on the RIO; if it shorts out, you could have a very bad day. I'm planning to either encase it in hot glue or, if time allows, design a 3D printed box with a handle to make removal from the RIO easier. The box is constructed from my standard PCB box SCAD, with walls extra thickened (4mm). I hope this is rugged enough to withstand FIRST competition conditions; it feels easily strong enough to park a car on top without damaging it. The wires exiting the board are strain relieved using a simple knot and a 10-32 washer.