Ultrasonic Transducer Results Common to all sonar ranging systems is the problem of sonar reflection. With light waves, our eye can see objects because the incident light energy is scattered by most objets, wich means that some energy will reach our eye, despite the angle of the object to us or to the light source. Therefor, ultrasonic waves find almost all large flat surfaces reflective in nature. The amount of energy returned is strongly dependent on the incident angle of the sound energy. Although the basic range formula is accurate, there are several factors when considering the accuracy of the result.
Geometry also affects range in two major ways.
The range equation assumes that the sonar beam width is negligible. An object may be off center, but normal to the transmitted beam. The range computed will be correct, but the X-components may be in error. This might cause an object which is offset from the vehicle to be detected as an obstacle, and advoided. Another geometric effect is also caused by the beam width.