Published December 8, 2024 © GPL3+

The Auto-Tab Switcher | Ultrasonic Savior

Ultrasonic sensor, microcontroller, and Python auto-switch tabs/software, ensuring privacy and versatile control over devices.

BeginnerFull instructions provided2 hours58

The Auto-Tab Switcher | Ultrasonic Savior

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Arduino UNO

Ultrasonic Sensor - HC-SR04 (Generic)

USB-A to B Cable

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Python IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Tape, Electrical

Scissor, Electrician

Story

Concept

So the concept here is that, we have an ultrasonic sensor to sense the distance of any object in front of it. The microcontroller gets the sensor reading and has a threshold set, if the threshold is crossed then it sends out signal to the computer via serial communication. The python code running on computer is responsible to read this signal and act upon it, by opeing another tab.

Concept

Circuit Schematic

This is the circuit schematic. we can see the sensor connected to microcontroller via the power & ground wires, and trigger and echo wires.Full Video Demonstration:

Full Video Demonstration

Custom parts and enclosures

Sketchfab still processing.

Schematics

Code

int d;
int t = 8; //trigger
int e = 9; //echo


void setup() {
  pinMode(t, OUTPUT);  //trigger pin
  pinMode(e, INPUT);  //echo pin

  Serial.begin(9600);
}

float distance(){
  
  float duration, cm;
  
  digitalWrite(t, LOW);
  delayMicroseconds(2);
  digitalWrite(t, HIGH);
  delayMicroseconds(5);
  digitalWrite(t, LOW);
  
  duration = pulseIn(e, HIGH);

  cm = duration/ 29 / 2;
  
  return cm; //returns distance in centimeters
}

void loop() {
  
  int dis = distance();
  Serial.println(dis);  
  delay(50);

  
}

import serial
import time
import subprocess

chrome_path = "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\\chrome.exe"
url="https://docs.arduino.cc/language-reference/en/functions/communication/serial/print/"
url="https://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/controlflow.html#the-range-function"

threshold=50

try:
    ser = serial.Serial('COM21', 9600, timeout=1)
except Exception as e:
    pass
    print(e)

while True:
    
    try:
        key = ser.readline().decode().strip()
        key = int(key)

        if key<=threshold:
            subprocess.run([chrome_path,"--new-window", "--incognito", url])
            print(key)
            break
        
    except Exception as e:
        pass
        
print("done")