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Side view of project
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Front view of project
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Picture of the output of the sensors
About the Project
This project started in a pretty unplanned way. I joined a team during the hackathon and began working with people I had just met. It quickly became a fast-paced and collaborative experience where we had to align on ideas and move quickly.
We initially aimed to build a more sophisticated multi-sensor system with a polished enclosure. As the project evolved, we adapted our scope to focus on what we could realistically build and demonstrate within the time available.
In the end, we built a compact, multi-directional proximity sensing device using ultrasonic sensors and an ESP32.
The system works by emitting ultrasonic pulses and measuring the time it takes for the signal to reflect back from nearby objects. Using the relation
$$ d = \frac{v \cdot t}{2} $$
we estimate the distance of objects in front of each sensor in real time. By placing multiple sensors around the device, we can detect proximity from different directions and build a simple sense of spatial awareness.
The ESP32 acts as the central controller, collecting sensor data and enabling the possibility of wireless transmission for monitoring or visualization. Even in its current form, the device demonstrates how low-cost components can be combined into a portable sensing unit.
This system can be applied to scenarios such as basic intrusion detection, spatial monitoring, or assistive awareness, especially in environments where camera-based systems are not ideal due to cost or privacy concerns.
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