Parking Pal - Ultrasonic Distance Meter

thingiverse

The Parking Pal is a distance-measuring device designed to simplify parking in garages. It relies on an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor and an Arduino Pro Micro microcontroller. A NeoPixel display interface, typically a NeoPixel stick, shows the measured distance, while a built-in buzzer alerts users when they are approaching their vehicle too closely. The design is modular, using a standard USB connector for easy assembly and disassembly. Users can choose to integrate the sensor and display unit as one or place them in separate locations via a low-cost USB extension cable. The device's case can be assembled quickly using M3 fasteners and attached to walls using double-sided tape or screw holes. The firmware includes multiple modes, including a bar graph mode, a "stoplight" mode, and a basic red-yellow-green mode. Users can easily switch between these modes using a single pushbutton. Additionally, the device supports setting the display brightness and default parking position. The design files for the PCB, CAD models, and firmware are open-source and free to use and modify. These resources can be found on my GitHub page. If there is sufficient interest, I would be happy to provide kits with all required components or pre-assembled electronics for users who prefer not to solder their own parts. ## Parts List For a detailed list of required components, please refer to the BOM provided in this repository. The following components are necessary: | Quantity | Part Name | Link | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Arduino Pro Micro | [SparkFun](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12640) | | 1 | NeoPixel Stick | [SparkFun](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12661) | | 1 | HC-SR04 Sensor | [SparkFun](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13959) | | 1 | SMT Pushbutton | [SparkFun](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/8720) | | 1 | USB A Connector | [Digikey](https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=380-1412-ND) | | 1 | PCB - MCU | [OSHPark](https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/L5AVMKPm) | | 1 | PCB - SMU | [OSHPark](https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/UerOD9Ji) | Optional components for including a buzzer: | Quantity | Part Name | Link | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | 12mm Buzzer | [SparkFun](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/7950) | | 1 | 10k Resistor | [Digikey](https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=RMCF0201FT10K0CT-ND) | | 1 | 2N7002 N-Ch Fet | [Digikey](https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=2N7002-TPMSCT-ND)