Vehicle Detection Ultrasonic Sensor — 5 m Range, 1 cm Resolution

Applications
Vehicle detection (drive‑thru, parking, gate control, EV chargers); proximity sensing

Performance
• Sensing range: 50 cm to 5 m (20 in to ~196 in)
• Minimum reported distance: 50 cm (near‑field clamped; operation below 50 cm not guaranteed)
• Resolution: 1 cm (~0.39 in)
• Accuracy: ±1 % of reading
• Refresh rate: ~250 ms (~4 Hz)
• Maximum range: 5 m (500 cm / ~196 in)
• Proximity zone (preset): 1.5 m (150 cm)
• Proximity reaction time: ~4 s typical acquisition, ~5 s release
• Transducer frequency: 42 kHz

Electrical
• Operating voltage: 2.7 V – 5.5 V
• Current draw: 34 mA @ 3.3 V; 68 mA @ 5 V

Interfaces (select at purchase)
• Micro USB (MB8450)
• TTL serial (MB8480)
• RS232 (MB8460)

Operational behaviour
• Vehicle presence detection (true/false)
• Supports multi‑sensor operation

Environmental & compliance
• Operating temperature: −40 °C to +75 °C (−40 °F to +167 °F)
• Enclosure rating: IP67 (MB8450, MB8480 models)
• Weather‑resistant construction suitable for outdoor use
• RoHS compliant

Specifications summarised above. See the datasheet for complete electrical and mechanical details.

Overview
This ultrasonic sensor provides reliable vehicle presence detection for drive‑thru lanes, parking garages, barrier gates, EV charging stations and curbside pickup. Its rugged design stands up to outdoor conditions, and multi‑sensor support lets you monitor multiple lanes without interference.

How it works
The sensor emits ultrasonic pulses and measures the echo return time to calculate distance. This allows accurate vehicle detection without cutting pavement or installing cameras. Built‑in near‑field handling reports any object closer than 50 cm at the minimum range value, ensuring predictable behavior and minimizing false triggers.

Benefits
• Fast, reliable detection: centimeter‑level resolution and rapid refresh rates mean vehicles are detected promptly, even at low speeds.
• Easy integration: choose Micro USB, TTL serial or RS232 interfaces to connect to your existing control systems; a simple true/false output makes gate and barrier control straightforward.
• Outdoor ready: IP67 weather‑resistant transducers and wide operating temperature range support year‑round use.
• Scalable: multi‑sensor operation allows you to deploy multiple units side‑by‑side for multi‑lane detection without cross‑talk.

Applications
• Detect vehicles arriving and departing at drive‑thru restaurants, pharmacies and quick‑service lanes.
• Trigger barrier arms and automated gate controls for parking entrances.
• Monitor parking bay or lane occupancy in garages and surface lots.
• Manage vehicle presence at EV charging stations and curbside pickup areas.