Hey everyone! I'm on the hunt for two sensors that will beep when they are separated by a certain distance. I thought a product like this already existed, but I haven't had any luck finding one. Typically, people use Bluetooth tags with their phones for tracking stuff like keys, but I manage a set of shared keys at work, and they often get taken home by mistake. Can anyone help me out with what this type of sensor might be called? I want to connect it to a small beeping speaker. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
It sounds like a fun project! One issue is that keeping a constant communication between sensors takes a lot of power, which means any battery would drain quickly—like within a week. Instead of a traditional sensor, have you thought about a more whimsical solution, like attaching something goofy to the keys to deter people? Or you could set up a system where the check-out of those keys requires turning in another set, like car keys! Another option is to use charging pods to keep them in one spot, kind of like beacons in restaurants. What do you think?
I think a basic sensor that only activates when separated could be good! It won’t need constant power that way.
Just curious, when you say "far enough away," what kind of distance are you talking about? If you need something that works within millimeters, there are many solutions. But for centimeters or meters, you’d want something like BT or WiFi. Basically, when the connection is broken, the alarm sounds. It should be designed to conserve battery, too!
I’m aiming for about 10 feet, but it can really be adjusted as needed. Think WiFi would be a good call? How would I find that type of sensor?
You might want to look into "hall effect sensors" or a comparator for your project. They could work well for this type of application!
Thanks! I’ll definitely check that out!
Haha, I’d love to attach a rubber chicken to them! But yeah, maybe the BT beacon idea at the exit could work better for us. What would I call that?