Arduino
Arduino is a software that can be used to make almost any kind of machine using a breadboard and circuit, and code for the machine. In Big Idea, we got a kit and project book with around 15 projects in it. Our kits consisted of a breadboard, attached to a circuit and a wooden base, and a USB cable. Also included are different kinds of sensors, resistors, wires, capacitors, diodes, motors and other things.
Project 1 - Blink - Using a a switch, I could turn a LED on by pressing it.
- Series- A series circuit was made using two switches that both have to be pressed in order for the LED to turn on.
- Parallel- Either button can be pressed to make a closed circuit and make the LED light up.
Project 2 - Spaceship Interface - Using a few resistors along with two red LEDs, a green LED, and a switch, along with some code to program the LEDs.
Project 3 - Love-o-Meter - A temperature sensor reads the temperature of your fingertip when you hold it up to the sensor, and changes its voltage. Depending on the amount of voltage, three LEDs could light up, one for low temp, and three for a high temp. A serial monitor read out the temperature in Celsius.
Project 4 - Color Mixing Lamp - A special RGB LED was used, along with phototransistors and color gel. The amount of colored light the phototransistors received depended on the LED's color. A serial monitor read out RGB color values.
Project 5 - Mood Cue - A servo was attached to the breadboard along with a potentiometer that when turned, moved the servo. Capacitors helped smooth out the current to the servo and potentiometer. A serial monitor read out the position of the servo arm.
Project 6 - Light Theremin - Using a piezo and a phototransistor, I made a theremin that changed the tone depending on how much light reached the sensor.
Project 7 - Keyboard Instrument - Four switches were used to make keys, and each switch had a corresponding frequency. A piezo played the sounds like a speaker.
Project 8 - Digital Hourglass - Six red LEDs were used to make a timer that ran for 10 seconds. A tilt switch would only close the circuit if it was tilted a certain way. Each LED would light up after a certain time, until all of them were lit.
Project 9 - Motorized Pinwheel - A motor spun a wooden base and a pinwheel using a 9V battery, and a transistor. When a switch was pressed, the motor would spin.
Project 10 - Zoetrope - A motor spun a wheel that had images on it, and the image became animated. A potentiometer controlled the speed of the motor, and an H-bridged was used to make the circuit less complex. One switch controlled the direction, and another turned the motor on or off.
Project 11 - Crystal Ball - An LCD screen was used to show the text, and 8 different phrases were put into the code to be randomized. A potentiometer was used to adjust the contrast of the display, and the tilt switch was used to simulate shaking the board.
Project 12 - Knock Lock- When the right amount of valid knocks that fall into a specific range of hardness is reached, a servo will move to unlock. The piezo can sense the vibrations of the knocks,and LEDs can tell you whether the box is locked or unlocked. A serial monitor can tell you how many knocks are left. A Boolean, which can be a true(1) or false(0), was used in to code to make a function that checked for knocks.
Project 13 - Touchy-Feely Lamp - Using a piece of metal or another conductive material, I made a capacitance measuring device that read the capacitive output of my finger.
I learned more about coding and how electricity works. I also learned more about how to make small machines that can preform simple tasks, such as turning on lights or moving a servo.