Introduction: Bike Alert

By Things
About: I am an author and a maker. My current project is Santa's Shop. I'm working on a science fiction type book--more later. @EngineerRigsby

This morning, while riding my bike, I thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to know when someone is approaching from behind?" I didn't want to use mirrors or funny glasses, so I decided to use an ultrasonic transducer to trigger a buzzer when approached.

This involves a Ping transducer, Arduino, buzzer, switch, 9 volt battery and enclosure.

Thanks to the world of 3D printing, these things don't have to be force fit into a black box anymore.

For the design and print files of the box (created in Autodesk's 123d software--free):
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:115074

Step 1:

I started by piling the major components together to see what sort of space it would take.

Step 2:

I followed by creating a box--sort of banana shaped instead of rectangular.

Step 3:

I added the transducer, buzzer and switch.  I didn't get my spacing quite right on the transducer, so I just fit one of the elements into one of the box holes.

Step 4:

The wiring is fairly minimal, just follow the schematic.

Here is the code for the Arduino:

const int pingPin=7;

long duration;

const int buzzer=3;

void setup()

{pinMode(buzzer,OUTPUT);

}

void loop()

{pinMode (pingPin, OUTPUT);

digitalWrite (pingPin, LOW);

delayMicroseconds (2);

digitalWrite (pingPin, HIGH);

delayMicroseconds (5);

digitalWrite (pingPin, LOW);

pinMode (pingPin, INPUT);

duration = pulseIn (pingPin, HIGH);

if (duration > 12000 and duration < 20000)

{digitalWrite (buzzer, HIGH);

delay(2000);

digitalWrite (buzzer, LOW);

delay(1000);

}

else

{digitalWrite(buzzer,LOW);

}}

Step 5:

Connect everything together and close the lid with a wood screw.

Step 6:

Secure to your bike in whatever way is appropriate--I use velcro.

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