Concept
As someone who is interested in physical computing, I have been inspired by previous DIY radar projects that use ultrasonic sensors and servo motors to detect objects in real-time. However, to make my project more original and challenging, I will use P5.js, a JavaScript library for creative coding, instead of Processing, which is commonly used in similar projects. By incorporating P5.js, I hope to create a unique and interactive radar system that combines hardware and software components. The concept of the project is to build a radar system that can detect objects and display their location and distance in real-time. The system will consist of an ultrasonic sensor, a servo motor, an Arduino board, and a computer running a P5.js program.
Technical aspect
For the Arduino program, I plan to use the ultrasonic sensor to detect the distance of objects in front of it. I will then use a servo motor to rotate the sensor and sweep it across a 180-degree arc. At each angle, the program will read the distance measurement and send this data to the P5.js program over the serial port. Additionally, I plan to control an LED to indicate the presence of an object within a certain distance threshold.
The P5.js program will receive the data from the Arduino program and use it to display the location of the detected object on a radar screen. Using polar coordinates, the program will map the distance and angle of each object and display them as a dot on the radar screen. The program will also include a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows me to adjust the distance threshold and other parameters.
To communicate between the Arduino and P5.js programs, I will send data over the serial port. The Arduino program will send the angle and distance of each detected object, as well as the state of the LED. The P5.js program will use this data to update the radar screen and the GUI.