Inst ToolsInst ToolsInst Tools
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Search
  • Books
  • Software
  • Projects
  • Process
  • Tools
  • Basics
  • Formula
  • Power Plant
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Electrical Basics
  • Animation
  • Standards
  • 4-20 mA Course
  • Siemens PLC Course
Reading: The 5 ways Ultrasonic Sensors Work
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Inst ToolsInst Tools
Font ResizerAa
  • Courses
  • Design
  • PLC
  • Interview
  • Control System
Search
  • Courses
  • Automation
    • PLC
    • Control System
    • Safety System
    • Communication
    • Fire & Gas System
  • Instrumentation
    • Design
    • Pressure
    • Temperature
    • Flow
    • Level
    • Vibration
    • Analyzer
    • Control Valve
    • Switch
    • Calibration
    • Erection & Commissioning
  • Interview
    • Instrumentation
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Practical
  • Q&A
    • Instrumentation
    • Control System
    • Electrical
    • Electronics
    • Analog Electronics
    • Digital Electronics
    • Power Electronics
    • Microprocessor
  • Request
Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Inst Tools > Blog > Level Measurement > The 5 ways Ultrasonic Sensors Work

The 5 ways Ultrasonic Sensors Work

What does a production line work, a modern car's bumper, and an automated car wash all have in common?  Answer: Ultrasonic Sensors.

Last updated: September 17, 2020 10:52 am
Editorial Staff
Level Measurement
No Comments
Share
5 Min Read
SHARE

What does a production line, a modern car’s bumper, and an automated car wash all have in common?  Answer: they’re almost certainly all fitted with ultrasonic sensors.

Contents
Ultrasonic SensorsObject detectionDistance detectionDiameter detectionSag detectionLevel detection

Ultrasonic Sensors

The 5 ways Ultrasonic Sensors Work

Able to be packaged so tightly these days that it will fit on the tip of a finger, an ultrasonic sensor is in fact any device that uses high-frequency ultrasonic waves to measure distance. 

Without getting too technical, a transmitter sends out the wave, a receiver picks up the echo once it bounces back off an object, and the rest of this simple and yet ingenious technology calculates the distance for a range of highly useful purposes that all make life easier and safer for just about everyone.  You could say it’s our way of learning from how bats and dolphins use echolocation to find their way around.

It’s slightly inaccurate to surmise that ultrasonic sensors are simply about measuring distance – actually, the main purpose is to sense proximity.  It’s why you hit the brakes when parking your car when that crash alarm sounds.  It’s how robots make their way around without bumping into objects, and it’s how industry monitors levels of things like liquid and grain.

We believe there are 5 key ways in which an ultrasonic sensor works:

  1. Object detection

If your car is fairly modern, it’s very likely to be fitted with ultrasonic sensors in the bumpers to help you avoid dings and easily park. 

The future of ultrasonic sensor deployment in automation, though, is clearly fully autonomous driving, with a network of smart sensors working in brilliant harmony to potentially wipe out the phenomenon of road fatalities by detecting 360-degree proximity in the road and surrounding environment. 

It’s all built on the foundation of highly reliable and accurate ultrasonic sensor technology, which will eliminate the concept of “blind spots” permanently.

  1. Distance detection

While the self-driving car is monitoring objects and environments in a highly sophisticated way, the way that your bumper’s crash detection system works is similar.  Basically, it’s got one job to do – springing into action with an alarm when another car or the parking lot wall gets too close.

  1. Diameter detection

From the road to the factory floor, we now move on to diameter detection – another fundamental way in which ultrasonic detection works.  Take a printing press: these machines are fitted with ultrasonic sensors that monitor the diameter size of the paper rolls that are destined to become newspapers. 

Once the diameter is sufficiently small, the fully automated modern printing press will switch from one paper roll to the next, saving time and labour and boosting productivity by reducing downtime.

  1. Sag detection

As you can imagine, it’s this sort of sensor technology that is making production so efficient across the industry spectrum.  Because of the ultrasonic sensor’s accuracy, it is able to monitor even the tiniest deviation from the ideal level of tension in conveyors, cables, and wires. 

It’s useful for detecting faults or deviations not detectable to the naked eye, helping to keep equipment in top-notch running order.

  1. Level detection

Anyone involved in food production will know that “levels” is a true industry keyword.  Whether it’s levels of liquids or levels of grain, ultrasonic sensors will let the operators or the associated systems know when something needs a top-up, or something is about to overflow.

Just about everywhere you look in the modern world, both inside and outside and often in the harshest of operating conditions, ultrasonic sensors are playing key roles that make life safer, faster, easier, smarter, and more reliable, efficient, productive, and profitable.

Don't Miss Our Updates
Be the first to get exclusive content straight to your email.
We promise not to spam you. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Invalid email address
You've successfully subscribed !

Continue Reading

Interface Level Measurement Selection Guide
Capacitive Tank Gauges
What is a Bridle?
Guided-Wave Radar Instruments Diagnostics
DP Transmitters Level Measurement Principle Video
Open Tank DP Level Transmitter Calibration
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link
Share
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

128.3kFollowersLike
69.1kFollowersFollow
210kSubscribersSubscribe
38kFollowersFollow

Categories

Explore More

Basics of DP Level Measurement
Rotary Level Switch Working principle Animation
Level Instruments Design Rules
Comparison of Level Meters – Level Measurement Instruments
Non-Contacting Radar Level Transmitter Working Principle
What is Thermal Differential Level Measurement?
Bubbler Liquid Level Transmitter Calculation
Magnetic Level Indicator Principle, Limitations, Installation and Calibration

Keep Learning

Level Gauge Interface Measurement

Level Gauge Interface & Temperature Problems

Microwave Barrier Level Switch Working Principle

Radar and Ultrasonic Level Transmitter Problems Troubleshooting

Radar and Ultrasonic Level Transmitter Practical Problems Troubleshooting

Closed Tank Level Measurement using DP Transmitter

Cat and Mouse type Level Indicator

Closed-tank-DP-Level-Transmitter-with-cleaning-leg-Calibration

Closed tank DP Level Transmitter with cleaning leg Calibration

Capacitance Level measurement principle

Capacitance Level Sensor Principle, Limitations, Installation & Calibration

Magnatic Level Indicators Working Animation

Magnetic Level Indicators Working Animation

Calibrating Transmitter System One Seal with suppressed Zero

Calibrating Level Transmitter with Remote Seals

Learn More

Self-actuated Temperature Regulator

Self-actuated Temperature Regulator – Principle, Types, Advantages

Heating and Welding Objective Questions

Heating and Welding Objective Questions

Start Stop of one Motor from same Push button PLC program

Start Stop of one Motor from the same Push button PLC program

Metric Prefixes and Unit Conversions

Metric Prefixes and Unit Conversions

Power Electronics Objective Questions

Thyristor Firing Objective Questions

Level Measurement Multiple Choice Questions

Level Measurement Multiple Choice Questions

Split Range in Foundation Fieldbus

Foundation Fieldbus Split Range Valves

Flame Arrester Principle

Flame Arrester Principle

Menu

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Quick Links

  • Learn PLC
  • Helping Hand
  • Part Time Job

YouTube Subscribe

Follow US
All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?