The HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor is an affordable and highly accurate distance-measuring device that uses sound waves to detect objects and calculate distance. It operates by emitting eight 40 kHz ultrasonic pulses and measuring the time taken for the sound waves to bounce back after hitting an object. This time is then used to calculate the distance between the sensor and the object using the speed of sound in air. The sensor can measure distances ranging from 2 cm to 500 cm with a high resolution of 0.3 cm. This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, including robotics, obstacle detection, distance sensing, and more.

The HC-SR04 is easy to interface with microcontrollers like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and other development boards. It features a simple 4-pin connection system (VCC, TRIG, ECHO, GND) and works with a 5V DC power supply. The TRIG pin is used to initiate the measurement, and the ECHO pin provides the time duration of the reflected signal, which is then processed to determine the distance.

The sensor is also known for its low power consumption, drawing less than 2 mA in standby mode, making it ideal for battery-powered applications. With a wide detection angle of less than 15° and the ability to work in various environments, the HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor is versatile and reliable for a range of real-time distance sensing needs.

Features:

• Power Supply: 5V DC for easy integration with common microcontrollers.
• Quiescent Current: <2mA, ensuring low power consumption.
• Effective Detection Angle: Less than 15°, making it suitable for precise measurements in controlled environments.
• Ranging Distance: Measures distances between 2 cm and 500 cm.
• Resolution: Provides distance measurements with an accuracy of 0.3 cm.
• Simple 4-pin Connection: VCC (5V), TRIG (Trigger input), ECHO (Echo output), GND (Ground).

Applications:

• Robotics and Automation: Ideal for robotic systems, especially for obstacle detection and avoidance. The sensor can help robots navigate around obstacles and measure distances to specific targets in real-time.
• Distance and Level Measurement: Used in a variety of distance sensing applications such as liquid level sensing, height measurement, and non-contact distance monitoring.
• Parking Assistance: Can be implemented in parking sensors for vehicles, providing real-time feedback to avoid collisions.
• Home Automation: Useful for smart home projects like automatic door openers or object presence detection.
• Security and Surveillance: Can be integrated into security systems for motion detection or to monitor the distance between objects in restricted areas.