Design of cost-effective range meter for robotic applications

Abstract

The ultrasonic range meter measures the distances separating obstacles from a reference point based on ultrasonic waves. Like the LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), this project is desired to measure the distance as well as the laser angle in order to localize the surrounding objects. Unlike LIDAR and all available range meters, this new low cost design can measure the distances using one rotating sensor connected to the serial port of a computer via wireless serial communication. Based on coding studies, the received data will be analyzed by a Lab VIEW algorithm in order to map the surrounding region. Absorption, scattering and Doppler Effect are taken into consideration.