Digilent Pmod MAXSONAR MaxBotix Ultrasonic Range Finder Module

The module provides UART serial, analog voltage, and PWM outputs simultaneously. The UART interface outputs ASCII or binary range data. The analog pin outputs a voltage scaling with distance (Vcc/512 per inch). The PWM pin outputs a pulse whose width corresponds to the measured range, offering flexibility for different microcontroller and FPGA input requirements.

The Pmod MAXSONAR is designed to operate with the standard Pmod interface voltage, typically between 3.3V and 5.0V DC. It is crucial to power the module from the same logic voltage as your host board (e.g., Digilent FPGA board, Arduino) to ensure proper communication and analog signal scaling. Always consult your host board's specifications for compatible Pmod voltage.

For Arduino, you can use any of the three outputs. The analog or PWM outputs connect directly to Arduino analog or digital pins. For the UART interface, connect the module's RX/TX pins to a software or hardware serial port on the Arduino. For Raspberry Pi, the UART interface is recommended, connecting to the GPIO UART pins (TX/RX), ensuring logic level compatibility (3.3V). Example code is available in the Digilent resource center.

The sensor provides a resolution of 1 inch (2.54 cm). Accuracy is typically within 1% of the measured distance under standard conditions. Performance can be affected by target size, angle, material, and environmental factors like temperature and air turbulence. The sensor includes internal temperature compensation to mitigate some environmental effects.