Community project
Ultrasonic Parking Sensor
bore4k
Published August 3, 2026 · Updated August 11, 2026
Generated with AIThis ultrasonic parking sensor uses an HC-SR04P distance sensor to detect how close an object is and provides real-time visual and audio feedback. The ESP32 processes distance measurements and drives a tri-color LED indicator (green for safe, yellow for caution, red for stop) along with a piezo buzzer that accelerates its beeping as the object approaches.
Builders will receive a complete wiring diagram showing how to connect the distance sensor, OLED display, LEDs with current-limiting resistors, and buzzer to the ESP32. The guide includes a full parts list, step-by-step assembly instructions, and tested firmware that smooths sensor readings and manages the warning outputs. Testing is performed against a wall to verify distance thresholds and alert behavior.
Wiring diagram
Interactive · read-only
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Parts list
Bill of materials| Component | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HC-SR04P Ultrasonic Distance Sensor | 1 | 3.3V-compatible ultrasonic distance sensor for measuring the gap to an object. |
| 0.96 inch SSD1306 OLED Display | 1 | Small I2C display for the live distance reading and warning state. |
| Green LED | 1 | Clear-zone indicator. Use a current-limiting resistor in series. |
| Yellow LED | 1 | Caution-zone indicator. Use a current-limiting resistor in series. |
| Red LED | 1 | Stop-zone indicator. Use a current-limiting resistor in series. |
| Passive Piezo Buzzer | 1 | Audible warning that beeps faster in the stop zone. |
| 220 Ω resistor | 1 | Current limiting or transistor-base resistor required by the wiring. |
Assembly
4 stepsWire the distance sensor
Connect the HC-SR04P VCC and GND to the ESP32 3V3 and GND rails, then connect TRIG to GPIO27 and ECHO to GPIO26.
- Tip: Use the HC-SR04P 3.3V-compatible module, not a 5V-only HC-SR04, unless you add proper level shifting.
- ⚠ Do not connect a 5V echo signal directly to an ESP32 GPIO.
Add the display
Connect the SSD1306 OLED to the same 3V3 and GND rails, with SDA on GPIO21 and SCL on GPIO22.
- Tip: If the OLED stays blank, check whether your module uses address 0x3C or 0x3D.
Add the warning outputs
Connect the green LED to GPIO14, yellow LED to GPIO12, red LED to GPIO13, and the passive buzzer signal pin to GPIO25. Each LED should use a current-limiting resistor.
- Tip: Place the LEDs left to right as green, yellow, red so the warning pattern reads naturally.
- ⚠ Do not drive bare LEDs directly from GPIO without resistors.
Upload and test against a wall
Upload the sketch, aim the sensor at a flat surface, and move it from about one metre away to the stop zone. The OLED, LEDs, and buzzer should change together.
- Tip: Cardboard, foam board, or a book makes a better test target than a thin chair leg.
- ⚠ This is a learning aid, not a safety-rated vehicle parking system.
Pin assignments
Board wiring reference| Pin | Connection | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 3V3 | hc-sr04p-ultrasonic-sensor_0 VCC | power |
| GND | hc-sr04p-ultrasonic-sensor_0 GND | ground |
| GPIO 27 | hc-sr04p-ultrasonic-sensor_0 TRIG | digital |
| GPIO 26 | hc-sr04p-ultrasonic-sensor_0 ECHO | digital |
| 3V3 | ssd1306-oled_0 VCC | power |
| GND | ssd1306-oled_0 GND | ground |
| GPIO 21 | ssd1306-oled_0 SDA | i2c |
| GPIO 22 | ssd1306-oled_0 SCL | i2c |
| GPIO 14 | green-led_0 ANODE | digital |
| GND | green-led_0 CATHODE | ground |
| GPIO 12 | yellow-led_0 ANODE | digital |
| GND | yellow-led_0 CATHODE | ground |
| GPIO 13 | red-led_0 ANODE | digital |
| GND | red-led_0 CATHODE | ground |
| GPIO 25 | passive-buzzer_0 SIG | digital |
| GND | passive-buzzer_0 GND | ground |
| GPIO 14 | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → green-led:ANODE | current-limit |
| EXT | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → green-led:ANODE | current-limit |
| GPIO 12 | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → yellow-led:ANODE | current-limit |
| EXT | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → yellow-led:ANODE | current-limit |
| GPIO 13 | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → red-led:ANODE | current-limit |
| EXT | esp32-ultrasonic-parking-sensor-220-ohm-resistor-1 → red-led:ANODE | current-limit |
Firmware
ESP32#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>
#define TRIG_PIN 27
#define ECHO_PIN 26
#define GREEN_LED_PIN 14
#define YELLOW_LED_PIN 12
#define RED_LED_PIN 13
#define BUZZER_PIN 25
#define SDA_PIN 21
#define SCL_PIN 22
#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64
const int SAFE_DISTANCE_CM = 70;
const int CAUTION_DISTANCE_CM = 35;
const int STOP_DISTANCE_CM = 18;
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire, -1);
float smoothedDistance = 100;
unsigned long lastBeepMs = 0;
bool buzzerOn = false;
float readDistanceCm() {
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, HIGH);
delayMicroseconds(10);
digitalWrite(TRIG_PIN, LOW);
unsigned long duration = pulseIn(ECHO_PIN, HIGH, 30000);
if (duration == 0) return smoothedDistance;
return duration / 58.0;
}
void setOutputs(float distanceCm) {
bool safe = distanceCm > SAFE_DISTANCE_CM;
bool caution = distanceCm <= SAFE_DISTANCE_CM && distanceCm > CAUTION_DISTANCE_CM;
bool warning = distanceCm <= CAUTION_DISTANCE_CM;
digitalWrite(GREEN_LED_PIN, safe ? HIGH : LOW);
digitalWrite(YELLOW_LED_PIN, caution ? HIGH : LOW);
digitalWrite(RED_LED_PIN, warning ? HIGH : LOW);
if (!warning) {
noTone(BUZZER_PIN);
buzzerOn = false;
return;
}
int interval = distanceCm <= STOP_DISTANCE_CM ? 120 : 320;
if (millis() - lastBeepMs > interval) {
lastBeepMs = millis();
buzzerOn = !buzzerOn;
if (buzzerOn) tone(BUZZER_PIN, distanceCm <= STOP_DISTANCE_CM ? 1800 : 1200);
else noTone(BUZZER_PIN);
}
}
void drawDisplay(float distanceCm) {
display.clearDisplay();
display.setTextColor(SSD1306_WHITE);
display.setTextSize(1);
display.setCursor(0, 0);
display.println("Parking sensor");
display.setTextSize(2);
display.setCursor(0, 18);
display.print(distanceCm, 0);
display.println(" cm");
display.setTextSize(1);
display.setCursor(0, 48);
if (distanceCm <= STOP_DISTANCE_CM) display.println("STOP");
else if (distanceCm <= CAUTION_DISTANCE_CM) display.println("Slow down");
else if (distanceCm <= SAFE_DISTANCE_CM) display.println("Getting close");
else display.println("Clear");
display.display();
}
void setup() {
pinMode(TRIG_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(ECHO_PIN, INPUT);
pinMode(GREEN_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(YELLOW_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(RED_LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
pinMode(BUZZER_PIN, OUTPUT);
Wire.begin(SDA_PIN, SCL_PIN);
display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);
display.clearDisplay();
display.display();
}
void loop() {
float reading = readDistanceCm();
smoothedDistance = (smoothedDistance * 0.75) + (reading * 0.25);
setOutputs(smoothedDistance);
drawDisplay(smoothedDistance);
delay(80);
}“Deploy to device” opens this project in Schematik, where you can flash it to your board over USB.
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