Designing and Packaging a Distance-Sensing Product

For Part 1:

Each group needs:

• Arduino Mega 2560 Microcontroller
• laptop, desktop (or other device with internet capability) with tabs open to Arduino Create page with TE One Sensor Sketch Open (See Figure 1)    

Figure 1. Arduino Create is a free online platform to create and configure boards and share ideas.CopyrightCopyright 2018 Kendra Randolph, Smart Sensors and Sensing Systems RET, College of Engineering, Michigan State University https://create.arduino.cc/

• SunFounder Distance Sensor, model HC-SR04, with connecting wires
• • Use information from the Assembly of Microcontroller & Ultrasonic Sensor PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX) for students
• USB Standard Male A/Male B Cable
• Assembly of Microcontroller & Ultrasonic Sensor PowerPoint Presentation (PPTX), electronic or paper
• camera or capability to take photos for documentation

Part 2:

Each group needs:

• Student Group Planning Sheet for Ultrasonic Sensor Project (PDF)
• recycled or commonly available arts and crafts materials to serve as the “housing” for the Arduino unit such as tin foil, string, boxboard, cardboard, felt, modeling clay, tape or other adhesive, scissors, egg cartons, scrap paper, etc.
• ruler (for measuring the package)
• calculator (if a package is allowed volume)

Note: The amount of material depends on what teachers have available and what each group may want to use.  Students are not required to use all of the materials.

To share with the entire class:

• 1 microcontroller with sensor set up and running with Arduino Sketch. Use the NewPing Instructions and Code (PDF) for the coding to use.  You will copy and paste the text into the web editor.  Make sure to save the sketch after you copy and paste it. It would be great to show a serial monitor to students using a projector.