Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor Kit

Name: Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor Kit
Brand: The Science Hut
SKU: 1005006995616258-Default Title
Price: 27.95 USD
Availability: InStock

$27.95

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Build your own working proximity sensor...

Great fun to build, and has many practical uses once complete!

The Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor Kit is a great way to learn about science and build skills in electronics. With a detailed step-by-step instruction manual, it's easy to assemble for people of all ages that love building things. With all components included, you’ll solder and assemble your own distance-measuring alarm—just like the tech in robotics, cars, and smart devices.

It makes a great gift for ages 12+, something they are sure to get a lot of joy assembling and using. This kit teaches electronics, soldering, and sensor technology in a fun, hands-on way. Once built, it displays real-time distance on a bright LED screen and sounds a buzzer when objects move into your chosen range.

Use it as a motion alarm, garage parking helper, DIY doorbell, or even a digital measuring tool. More than just a toy, it’s a practical electronics project that builds confidence, creativity, and real skills. You’ll be proud to show off your electronic engineering skills at home, school, or science fairs! Check out the dropdown sections below for more product information.

What's Included?

Includes all components required to build the Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor:

Printed circuit board
STC89C52RC MCU
40-DIP IC socket
Ultrasonic module HC-SR04
3-digit 7-segment digital display
12 MHz crystal oscillator
10 µF 25V electrolytic capacitor
22 pF ceramic capacitor (x2)
5 mm Red LED
5V active buzzer
4.7 kΩ metal film resistor (x6)
1 kΩ metal film resistor (x8)
S8550 transistor (x4)
Self locking switch
Tactile push-button switch (x3)
DC Power socket
3xAA battery box
Acrylic case and fixtures (1 set)
USB to DC cable

Refer to the image gallery for photographs of each component.

Learning Outcomes and Benefits

Ultrasonic sensing in action: Learn how ultrasonic pulses measure distance, just like bats use echolocation. See sound waves turned into digital information.

Microcontroller skills: Understand how the STC89C52RC chip processes echo signals, drives digital displays, and triggers alerts. This is a real-world application of embedded systems—essential learning for anyone aspiring to become an electronics engineer.

Circuit design practice: Gain confidence soldering and connecting resistors, capacitors, LEDs, microchips, and transistors into a working electronic system.

Feedback systems: Explore how sensors and outputs (buzzer + LED display) work together in a closed loop. A perfect introduction to control systems in robotics.

Data visualization: See how a 7-segment LED display presents real-time distance readings. Learn how microcontrollers multiplex displays to save pins and power.

Troubleshooting & logical thinking: Strengthen resilience by debugging solder joints, checking polarities, and refining connections until everything works.

Practical STEM skills: Develop hand–eye coordination, soldering accuracy, and circuit-building discipline. These skills translate directly into robotics, engineering, and maker projects.

Hands-on physics: Learn how the speed of sound is used in time-of-flight calculations, and how simple math turns echoes into distance.

STEM inspiration: Ideal for kids, college students and hobbyists looking to explore electronics, sensors, and robotics. A perfect foundation for careers in technology.

Confidence & creativity: Build a real working proximity alarm you can show off at science fairs, use around the home, or adapt into clever DIY gadgets.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What can I use the Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor Kit for?
A: Once built, it works as a motion detector, parking assistant, digital measuring tool, or security alarm. Many students also use it for science fairs, STEM projects, and maker workshops.

Q: Is this just a toy, or a real working device?
A: It’s a fully functional sensor system. The ultrasonic module measures distance with around 3% accuracy, the LED screen shows the results in real time, and the buzzer alerts you when objects move into your detection range.

Q: Can I customize the detection range?
A: Yes. The kit includes push-button controls so you can set your own detection zone, making it useful for different applications like DIY alarms or garage parking helpers.

Q: Why is this kit popular for science fairs and classrooms?
A: Because it demonstrates real-world technology in a way that’s easy to understand. Students love showing how bats use echolocation, and teachers value how it links sound waves, sensors, circuits, and microcontrollers into one engaging project.

Q: Who is this kit best suited for?
A: It’s great for students, hobbyists, and adults who enjoy DIY electronics. Parents and kids often build it together as a cool weekend project—great for parent-child bonding time!

Q: Does the kit help with future skills?
A: Definitely. It introduces learners to robotics, automation, and sensor technology—skills used in cars, drones, and smart devices. It’s an inspiring first step for anyone curious about engineering or tech careers.

Q: Is there any programming required for this kit?
A: No, the MCU comes pre-programmed. Advanced makers with the right tools, knowledge and experience can reprogram the MCU via the P2 header included on the PCB.

Product Specifications

Dimensions (approx., when completed):

Length (to front of sensors): 9.5 cm
Width: 7.7 cm
Height (to top of sensor module, with batteries installed): 4.1 cm
Weight (without batteries): 100 grams
Weight (with batteries): 160 grams

PCB Type: through-hole components.

Effective measuring range: Up to 4 meters. It can measure larger distances, but with less accuracy.

Accuracy: ±3% up to 4 m

Display digit height: 1.5 cm

Readout mode: buzzer when an object is within a set range, and a digital display showing measured distance.

Power Supply: 4.5 - 5.5V DC dual option...

5V DC (via USB to DC cable, included)
4.5V DC (via 3 x AA batteries, not included)

Assembly and Usage Info

Anyone can build this Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor kit following our detailed step-by-step instruction manual which can be downloaded from the link below. The password to open the manual was sent to the same email that you placed your order from. Can't find it? Just Contact Us!

Download: Ultrasonic Proximity Sensor Electronics Kit Instruction Manual

Skill Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Age Rating: 12+ (adult supervision required for under 16's)
Assembly Time: Typically 2-4 hours

Tools and Materials Required

Tools required for this kit

Soldering iron
Solder wire

We sell these items as a bundle for just €25.95 (or currency equivalent) which saves 10 percent! Just click the link below to select your countries plug type and add to your order.

SOLDERING IRON & WIRE BUNDLE

Of course, you only need to buy the tools once; you'll use them again and again for your future electronics projects!

GET THE TOOLS FREE!!!

Our Electronics Kit Bundles include tools completely FREE...

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Links and References

Our blogs & videos related to electronics kits:

Ultimate Guide to Electronics Kits

STEM Electronics as a Hobby

Youtube video: Tools, tips and tricks for soldering electronics kits

Shipping and Warranty Info

Shipping Information

Orders are processed for dispatch within 1–2 business days. Typical delivery times following dispatch for this product, depending on region are:

US: 5-8 days (Orders are shipping as usual. The U.S. government shutdown isn’t causing any delays.)
UK: 5-8 days
EU: 6-13 days
Canada: 7-14 days
Australia: 7-14 days

All orders are shipped with tracking, where available. Please refer to our Shipping Policy page for further detail.

Warranty & Satisfaction Guarantee

All electronics kits come with a 14-day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not happy with your purchase, contact us and we’ll arrange a refund or replacement — no hassle. Please note that to qualify for a replacement or refund, kits must be in their original, unused condition. Please refer to our Returns and Refunds policy for more information.

Packaging

We aim to minimize waste while protecting your order. All electronic kits are securely packaged in padded mailing bags containing anti-static ESD bags and/or rigid plastic boxes (depending on the product) to ensure the safety of the electronic components. An example of electronics kit packaging can be viewed HERE. If you're purchasing this item as a gift and would rather that it was in a box, we also sell quality gift boxes at the following link: Quality Gift boxes.

Ships from: International Warehouse

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Re the FM radio.

My 11 year old grand daughter just finished soldering up the FM radio. I watched but she did the whole thing herself. IT WORKED. She was quite satisfied and learned about working on a printed circuit board. And a good deal about reading and implementing instructions.

Hello Chuck, thank you very much for taking the time to leave this review, we really appreciate it. Your 11 year old grand daughter is surely going places if she managed to assemble the FM radio by herself—we rate that kit for intermediate to advanced level since it contains several tiny SMD components. She'll be way ahead of the rest of the class when she starts studying science and electronics in school after that experience :) Send her some priase from us here at The Science Hut :)

Excellent kit.

Sweet kit

Retired now. My career was spent repairing electronics so this kit didn't present much of a challenge for me but I can see where it could for someone else. The manual was well written and well thought out, the parts were all there, easy to ID and it worked as advertised from the git go. The only glitch was the battery box positive terminal on the middle battery was put together wrong in that the wire was wrapped the wrong way. The terminal listed toward the top of the battery box and battery popped out rather unexpectedly. No biggie, it was the only fly in the ointment with this kit and pretty minor.

Hi David, thank you so much for your review, we really appreciate it. Always nice to have some feedback from someone that is a professional in electronics! Our technical team are going to take a random sample of kits to ensure that the issue you're describing is an isolated one. If we find the manual could do with an update around the installation of the battery box, we'll surely make that update. We're always on-hand to offer technical support—you clearly don't need it since you were able to identify and resolve the issue yourself based on your experience, but for anyone that isn't experienced as you, we're always ready to answer questions and provide assistance. Thanks again for your review!

Great fun to build and play with

Great project for my nephew, it's his 3rd electronics kit from this store, I believe he's hooked :) he has it set up monitoring his computer so whenever anyone gets near it, the alarm sounds and he's up like a shot... he's found a few other uses for it too.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to leave a review, we really appreciate it. Delighted to hear how your nephew is enjoying building electronics kits and that he's having fun with the devices when he's finished building them too. The instruction manual has some other suggestions for how he could use his sensor—more ideas to get the creative juices flowing :)

Neat kit

Assembled, everything works. Great fun to build.

Hi Jacinto, thank you for taking the time to review this product, we really appreciate it. Glad to hear that you successfully built the kit and that you had fun doing so :)