Infrared versus Ultrasonic

We are going to start out with a simple program and will gradually add complexity to it. If you are using the Ultrasonic Sensor, it should be plugged into port 4, and this program is on the top line. If you are using the IR sensor, it should be plugged into port 1 and this program is at the bottom line. In this program, the robot moves forward until the Wait block tells it to stop 25 units from a wall or other barrier. You will find that the Ultrasonic Sensor can be set to stop in units of inches or centimeters. The Ultrasonic Sensor emits high-frequency sound waves (above the range of human hearing) and measures the time delay between the emission of the sound waves and when the reflection off an object is measured by the sensor.

In everyday conditions, we can assume that the speed of sound is constant, and thus the Ultrasonic Sensor can give precise distance measurements to the nearest centimeter. As mentioned in Chapter 4, Sensors and Control, using presence...