Maker.io main logo

Seeeduino XIAO Expansion Board Ultrasonic Distance Sensor With Sound

2026-05-07 | By Ron Cutts

License: GNU Lesser General Public License Distance Microcontrollers Arduino ESP32 XIAO

In this tutorial, we are going to explore how to measure a distance using a Seeeduino XIAO expansion board and an ultrasonic range sensor.

Watch the video!

Learn more about Visuino: What is Visuino

What You Will Need

What You Will Need

What You Will Need photo 2

What You Will Need photo 3

What You Will Need photo 4

What You Will Need photo 5

About Seeeduino XIAO

  • Powerful CPU: ARM® Cortex®-M0+ 32-bit 48MHz microcontroller (SAMD21G18) with 256KB Flash and 32KB SRAM

  • Flexible compatibility: Compatible with Visuino & Arduino IDE

  • Easy project operation: Breadboard-friendly

  • Small size: As small as a thumb (20x17.5 mm) for wearable devices and small projects.

  • Multiple development interfaces: 11 digital/analog pins, 10 PWM pins, 1 DAC output, 1 SWD bonding pad interface, 1 I2C interface, 1 UART interface, and 1 SPI interface.

Typical Application

  • Wearable devices

  • Rapid prototyping (directly attached to the expanded PCB as a minimal system), perfect for all projects that need a mini Arduino

  • DIY keyboard

  • USB development (USB to multi-channel TTL/USB host mode, etc.)

  • A scenario where you need to read multiple mock values, the DAC output

About Seeeduino XIAO

The Circuit

  • Place the Seeeduino XIAO on the Expansion board

  • Connect the ultrasonic sensor pin [VCC] to the Expansion board pin [5V]

  • Connect the ultrasonic sensor pin [GND] to the Expansion board pin [GND]

  • Connect the ultrasonic sensor pin [Trig] to the Expansion board digital pin [0]

  • Connect the ultrasonic sensor pin [ECHO] to the Expansion board digital pin [1]

The Circuit

The Circuit photo 2

Start Visuino, and Select the Seeeduino XIAO Board Type

The Visuino: https://www.visuino.eu also needs to be installed. Download the free version or register for a free trial.

Start Visuino as shown in the first picture. Click on the "Tools" button on the Arduino component (Picture 1) in Visuino. When the dialog appears, select "Seeeduino XIAO" as shown in Picture 2

Start Visuino, and Select the Seeeduino XIAO Board Type

Start Visuino, and Select the Seeeduino XIAO Board Type photo 2

In Visuino Add, Set & Connect Components

  • Add "Ultrasonic Ranger" component

  • Add "Analog Multi Source" component

  • Add "OLED I2C" component

  • Add "Compare Analog Value" component

  • Add "Play Frequency Tone" component

  • Select "AnalogMultiSource1" and in the Properties window set "Output Pins" to 3

  • Select "CompareValue1" and in the Properties window, set "Compare Type" to ctSmaller and "Value" to 5

This means that the Piezo will beep if the distance is less than 5cm

  • Select "PlayFrequency1" and in the Properties window select "Enabled" and click on the Pin Icon and select "Boolean SinkPin" and set "Initial Frequency (Hz)" to 15

Double-click on the "DisplayOLED1" and in the "Elements" window:

  • Drag "Draw Text" to the left, & in the properties window set "Size" to 2 and "Text" to Distance

  • Drag "Text Field" to the left, & in the properties window set "Size" to 3 and "Y" to 30

  • Close the "Elements" window

  • Connect "Seeeduino XIAO" Digital pin [1] to "UltrasonicRanger1" pin [Echo]

  • Connect "UltrasonicRanger1" pin[Ping] to "Seeeduino XIAO" Digital pin [0]

  • Connect "UltrasonicRanger1" pin[Out] to "AnalogMultiSource1" pin [In]

  • Connect "AnalogMultiSource1" pin [0] to "CompareValue1" pin[In]

  • Connect "AnalogMultiSource1" pin [1] to "DisplayOLED1" > "Text Field1" pin [In]

  • Connect "AnalogMultiSource1" pin [2] to "DisplayOLED1" > "Text Field1" pin [Clock]

  • Connect "CompareValue1" pin [Out] to "PlayFrequency1" pin [Enabled"

  • Connect "PlayFrequency1" pin [Out] to "Seeeduino XIAO" Digital pin [3]

  • Connect "DisplayOLED1" I2C Pin [Out] to "Seeeduino XIAO" I2C Pin [In]"

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 2

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 3

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 4

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 5

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 6

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 7

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 8

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 9

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 10

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 11

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 12

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 13

In Visuino Add,Set & Connect Components photo 14

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

In Visuino, at the bottom, click on the "Build" tab, make sure the correct port is selected, then click on the "Compile/Build and Upload" button.

Generate, Compile, and Upload the Arduino Code

Play

If you power the Seeeduino XIAO module, the display will start to show the ultrasonic distance of the objects. If the object is closer than 5 cm, a piezo will start to beep.

Congratulations! You have completed your project with Visuino. Also attached is the Visuino project that I created for this tutorial. You can download it and open it in Visuino: https://www.visuino.eu

Troubleshooting

If Port is not detected in Visuino when you try to upload the code, do a reset.

Quickly press the "Reset" button 2X on the XIAO expansion board.

Troubleshooting

Downloads

制造商零件编号 103030356
SEEED STUDIO EXPANSION BASE XIAO
Seeed Technology Co., Ltd
制造商零件编号 102010388
XIAO SAMD21 PRE-SOLDERED
Seeed Technology Co., Ltd
Add all DigiKey Parts to Cart
Have questions or comments? Continue the conversation on TechForum, DigiKey's online community and technical resource.