I’m here to share my extensive electronics and technical experience working with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, sensors, motors, lighting, and finishing with CNC machining and 3D Printing.
What would you like to make? Leave your comment and let’s get started!
The greatest advantage to using the Arduino family of microcontrollers for DIY electronics projects, is that they are ubiquitous. Since they are so available, they are inexpensive and you can find open-source software to get started.
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to work with an Arduino Uno microcontroller board, then you’ve probably executed the flashing LED example. Going further, you might attach a button, or switch, to trigger the LED or to turn it off making the project interactive. There are many sensors that could be connected to the Arduino Uno and setup to trigger events, such as the LED flashing, using threshold values that we would need to experiment with in order to figure out what settings work best for creating the effect we want.
While the examples that come with the Arduino software and the examples included with libraries are an excellent start to a project; the Arduino family of microcontrollers is often grossly underutilized in many projects. Sure microcontrollers are limited in how many instructions they can run; hitting the program size limit doesn’t take very long when you want to control more than a few blinking LEDs. Even with creative variable handling and custom libraries, eventually, there is a need for another microcontroller or to move to a larger one, even a Raspberry Pi.
In my Alien Invasion Slot Machine project, I tried to push the Arduino closer to its limits.
At its most basic, a microcontroller loops through a set of instructions handling each action with the focus of The Red Eye of Sauron from Lord of the Rings. There are a few interrupts that can be configured should an event be so important to receive the full attention of the microcontroller. Using some form of time management creates a state machine. If x amount of time has passed since x event, then do something and so on…
“The behavior of state machines can be observed in many devices in modern society that perform a predetermined sequence of actions depending on a sequence of events with which they are presented. Simple examples are vending machines, which dispense products when the proper combination of coins is deposited, elevators, whose sequence of stops is determined by the floors requested by riders, traffic lights, which change sequence when cars are waiting, and combination locks, which require the input of combination numbers in the proper order.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite-state_machine
There are rare instances where: RTOS, AI, neural networks exist on microcontrollers, but that’s best left to software-oriented systems such as a Raspberry Pi.
After trying many different timer and time management libraries I felt they were either too much or not enough of what I was wanting in my timers. A set of timers that are easy to set, keep track of their own state, and each have their own trigger flags.
Interacting with an electronics device such as a microcontroller or computer system is relatively easy and typically provided as an example for developers looking to use the device in their project. Press a button and an LED illuminates. A button or switch may seem like a simple sensor input, but it’s not.
The device’s system resources are consumed waiting and watching for a button press. When we use a button in a project we typically think of it being activated when pressed. Then what? What should happen if the user holds the button in the active position? Will the button be counted as pressed once, or is the program going to count each second, or x amount of time, as another button press? Does the program need to know that the button has been released?
Rather than using the Arduino Uno and a protoboard or breadboard for this project, I’m using the Arduino Nano on an expansion board. Keep it simple using common wiring colors, keep it modular so connections can be made with ease, keep your project sustainable; a part can be replaced rather than the entire system. The DuPont wire connectors that come with prototyping starter kits makes it easy to create your own custom wiring connections. The wires are easy to solder when a more permanent connection is needed. I make custom wiring harnesses for neater, cleaner, and more easily connectable modules.
The latest version of the Raspberry Pi v3 uses a Linux OS and is a computer that can do so much more than an Arduino Uno, why not just use it for everything? While it is possible to do many of the same tasks as you would do with the Arduino Uno or variant, it’s not always best. The Arduino Uno and variant microcontrollers are best for doing the same actions, over and over again, such as reading a sensor and doing something with the value.
As I mentioned previously, you can do a lot with a Raspberry Pi, and depending on how much you are doing, it won’t take too long before you discover it has limits. When the Pi overheats, it will either freeze or shutdown, hopefully, the processor has a heatsink.
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Sound and Voice Effects
Sound plays an important role in the user experience by adding another layer of depth; making for a more realistic experience. http://www.robotoid.com/sound/soundingoff-sounds.html
SoundFX Lightshow
Using an Arduino Nano on an expansion board with push-buttons, one to play a sound and the other to select a sound effect from a WT588D through a speaker.
For this project, I’ve selected a low-cost option, internal memory, and reasonable sound quality – WT588D-U, this model includes a built-in mini USB port for power and direct programming. Sound output is amplified by the module and produced by a standard 0.5w 8-ohm speaker or can be connected to an amplified speaker system. The down-side with this module is that it can be difficult to get the programming software and drivers installed and configured.
Using the WT588D voice module connected to a basic speaker, the project can deliver cellular phone quality sound.
More information and tutorials specific to the WT588D:
There are several options for triggering a sound clip to play. Examining the documentation for this module including the schematic…The sound module has a few modes to select from when working with it. If there are only a few sounds that need to be triggered then the direct button mode would work without a microcontroller. However, if there are several sound clips, it takes just as many wires to connect to a microcontroller using the following 3-wire configuration:
I’ve taken the time to download sound clips, modify, and organize a few themes.
Other themes online:
Prepare the following for wiring and connect to the expansion board:
Connect the push-buttons to the expansion board and upload test code.
Connect strips of 10 RGB 12mm LEDs to the expansion board and upload test code.
Connect the 8×7 segment display module to the expansion board and upload test code.
Connect the WT588D with wiring harness and speaker and upload test code.
Any sensor can be used to trigger specific or random sounds and going even further, a basic neural network could make decisions using multiple sensor inputs.
Connect the photocell to the expansion board and upload test code.
Connect the Microphone to the expansion board and upload test code.
Connect the PIR sensor to the expansion board and upload test code.
Insert Arduino Nano into Expansion Board and plan to provide power using USB to mini USB cord. Optionally, AC/DC Outlet Power Adapter
Drill 7/16” – 1/2” holes into the project box:
You can purchase a completed SoundFXLight directly from me as a functioning example.
The FastLED library is an impressive piece of work:
https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/wiki/Basic-usage
After you download and install the library give it a try:
The purpose of running this example is to determine what settings are needed to use the FastLED library. For this example I’m using an Arduino Uno. The Uno has a ground pin next to pin 13, so for convenience, I’m using pin 13 as a low-current Vcc for the RGB LED lights strip:
pinMode(13, OUTPUT); digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // The data pin is the pin we are using to connect to the Arduino. // Data pin that led data will be written out over #define DATA_PIN 12 // How many individual LED modules are on the strip? #define NUM_LEDS 10 // When using an SPI based chipset, the there should be four wires // Clock pin only needed for SPI based chipsets when not using hardware SPI //#define CLOCK_PIN 8
Important configuration setting is to specify the model of LED strips being used. May require some try-and-error.
// Uncomment one of the following lines for your leds arrangement. … // FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS); FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS); // FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS); // FastLED.setBrightness(CRGB(255,255,255)); // FastLED.addLeds<GW6205, DATA_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS); …
A nice variety of color effects is included with the library. After trying out the RGBCalibration source code example, make the changes need to Demo Reel and give it a go: https://github.com/FastLED/FastLED/blob/master/examples/DemoReel100/DemoReel100.ino
Copy the settings for the LED strip to the DemoReel example
Upload and if all goes well, you should see a basic visual effects show.
…
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They are in games, decorations, shadow boxes, sign borders, torches, spotlights, and so on…
Making a Lightshow
Using an Arduino Nano on an expansion board with a push-button to change the color palette mode of the RGB LED strip. A microphone module is used to detect sound and alter the speed of flashing lights.
The greatest advantage to using the Arduino family of microcontrollers for these types of projects, is that they are ubiquitous. Since they are so available, they are inexpensive and you can find open-source software to get started. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to work with an Arduino Uno microcontroller board, then you’ve probably executed the flashing LED example. Going further, you might attach a button, or switch, to trigger the LED or to turn it off making the project interactive.
There are many sensors that could be connected to the Arduino Uno and setup to trigger events, such as the LED flashing, using threshold values that we would need to experiment with in order to figure out what settings work best for creating the effect we want.
While the examples that come with the Arduino software and the examples included with libraries are an excellent start to a project; the Arduino family of microcontrollers is often grossly underutilized in many projects. Sure microcontrollers are limited in how many instructions it can run and hitting the program size limit doesn’t take very long when you want to control more than a few blinking LEDs.
Even with creative variable handling and custom libraries, eventually, there is a need for another microcontroller or to move to a larger one. In my hydroMazing Smart Garden System and in my Alien Invasion Slot Machine projects, I push the Arduino closer to its limits.
At its most basic, a microcontroller loops through a set of instructions handling each action with the focus of The Red Eye of Sauron from Lord of the Rings. There are a few interrupts that can be configured should an event be so important to receive the full attention of the microcontroller. Using some form of time management creates a state machine. If x amount of time has passed since x event, then do something and so on…
“The behavior of state machines can be observed in many devices in modern society that perform a predetermined sequence of actions depending on a sequence of events with which they are presented. Simple examples are vending machines, which dispense products when the proper combination of coins is deposited, elevators, whose sequence of stops is determined by the floors requested by riders, traffic lights, which change sequence when cars are waiting, and combination locks, which require the input of combination numbers in the proper order.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite-state_machine
There are rare instances where: RTOS, AI, neural networks exist on microcontrollers, but that’s best left to software-oriented systems such as a Raspberry Pi.
After trying many different timer and time management libraries I felt they were either too much or not enough of what I was wanting in my timers. A set of timers that are easy to set, keep track of their own state, and each have their own trigger flags.
Interacting with an electronics device such as a microcontroller or computer system is relatively easy and typically provided as an example for developers looking to use the device in their project. Press a button and an LED illuminates. A button or switch may seem like a simple sensor input, but it’s not.
The device’s system resources are consumed waiting and watching for a button press. When we use a button in a project we typically think of it being activated when pressed. Then what? What should happen if the user holds the button in the active position? Will the button be counted as pressed once, or is the program going to count each second, or x amount of time, as another button press? Does the program need to know that the button has been released?
I’m going to be adding on a lot of peripheral devices and moving away from basic prototyping. Rather than using the Arduino Uno and a protoboard or breadboard for this project, I’m using the Arduino Nano on an expansion board. I’ve created several color palettes by porting the sample code from the FastLED library examples to my base code templates. with a push-button input to change the color palette mode of the RGB LED strip.
Keep it simple using common wiring colors, keep it modular so connections can be made with ease, keep your project sustainable; a part can be replaced rather than the entire system. The DuPont wire connectors that come with prototyping starter kits makes it easy to create your own custom wiring connections. The wires are easy to solder when a more permanent connection is needed. I make custom wiring harnesses for neater, cleaner, and more easily connectable modules.
There many RGB LED options, so I will be focusing on the WS2811/WS2812 modules. Single RGB LEDs to strings of RGB LEDs in various configurations. Most of the RGB options wil
l have three wires for connecting to the microcontroller board and require 5vdc or 12vdc. Unless you are designing a new printed circuit board, use DC/DC conversion modules to convert your power to the needs of your project. You might need to step-up voltage from 3v to 5v, or maybe step-down 12v to 5v?
*** The more lights added, the more power needed. ***
The Arduino Uno, and variants, should only be used for directly powering peripheral modules and not devices. Consider the maximum current consumption when determining what is a device and what is a module. A string of lights is more of a device as opposed to a panel indicator light, motor controller boards are modules, not the motors they drive, MOSFET boards, not the valves or solenoids that they control. See Arduino FastLED Library.
Common Options for Power
Insert Arduino Nano into the Expansion Board by carefully pressing the Nano pins into the expansion boards headers. Note the picture where only half of the pins are correctly inserted. Plan to provide power using USB to mini USB cord. Optionally, AC/DC Outlet Power Adapter.
Prepare the following wiring connections to the expansion board by soldering and protecting with heat-shrink:
Programming considerations:
Connect the push-button to the expansion board.
Connect strip(s) of 10 RGB 12mm LEDs to the expansion board and upload test code.
Optionally, connect the potentiometer to the expansion board and upload test code.
Every sensor gives us a data-point to work with, providing an input so that our program can make a decision based on its current environment or what happens when conditions are met. Going further with the project, I’ve added a microphone to detect sound, and at a later time, I’ll add a PIR sensor to detect motion.
Connect the microphone to the expansion board and upload test code.
Complete the project with an enclosure.
Phoenix Fire Lily: Solar rechargeable battery connected to a flickering LED inside an artificial lily flower residing in a hand-crafted wooden vase.
I don’t know about you, but I rarely have money to spend on projects and whenever possible reusing and re-purposing junk is ideal. Many of my projects contain parts I’ve purchased at local dollar stores and items found through eBay.
A look inside the inexpensive battery case.
You can purchase a completed Phoenix Fire Lily directly from me as a functioning example.
