Ultrasonic sensor help

pi-top [4] Robotics Kit
#1

Beginner on pi-top, I am executing a very simple program that endlessly prints ultrasonicsensor.distance, the numbers are coming out, but it is giving me random numbers, between 0-2, no correlation between what actual distance it is facing even though it is moving, is it a common problem with solutions?

also is there a code reference library for pi-top, or does it share one with another language

thank you

#2

Hi tedh.
What port are you using? And what code have you used to create the Ultrasonic ‘object’ in python?

#3

Hi

thank you for the response, I have used this code: (from the further website and has worked for me before)
from pitop.pma import UltrasonicSensor
from time import sleep

name the component(s) and state which port(s) they are connected to

ultrasonic_sensor = UltrasonicSensor(“D7”)

while True:
print (ultrasonic_sensor.distance)
sleep(0.1)

i have previous kowlegde to coding and know this should work, port i just use D7 as instructed

numbers are random doubles , so its working, just randomly

#4

There are a few things to try:

  1. Swap out the grove leads, one may be flaky
  2. Try another port (D1), and change “D7” to “D1”
  3. Buy a groove Ultrasonic sensor and check if it is a missing component. They are not expensive but you will definitely know then.
#5

Thank you, what do people usually use to import code to pi-top so it doesnt have to be connected w vnc viewer to a laptop with a wire when the robot is racing away?