Ultrasonic Drum – Piper

ULTRASONIC DRUM

PIPER MAKE EDUCATOR RESOURCES SERIES

SENSOR EXPEDITION KIT

PLAY YOUR ULTRASONIC RANGE FINDER AS AN INSTRUMENT

Intermediate

1 hr

Ages 8+

You will need a Starter Kit and Sensors to do this mission. Get yours here:

WATCH THE INTRO VIDEO:

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Use the distance measured by your ultrasonic range finder to play different notes like an instrument (particularly like a drum!)
  • Understand how to use variables, loops and conditionals to convert distances to different notes using list mapping.
  • Understanding how the ultrasonic range finder measures distance using sound waves reflected off of objects.

EDUCATOR RESOURCES

  • You can share the mission directly to your Google Classroom after logging into your Google educator account in the top right corner of Piper Make.

Check out our easy assignment template that you can use to ask students to share their work by including pictures of their final circuits and code.

  • Useful vocabulary terms to use in classroom: lists, output, ultrasonic range finder

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

Sensor not measuring distance?

  • Pay extra attention to the wiring diagram for this one! The green wire is not connected in order for the sensor to work.

How does the ultrasonic range finder work?

  • The ultrasonic range finder works by emitting sound waves and measuring the amount of time required for the sound waves to be reflected. Measuring this determines the distance.

FINAL HARDWARE

In this lesson, students will touch together two wires for the first circuit and then build this button circuit for the second.

FINAL CODE

OVERVIEW OF STEPS