Category Archives: Arduino

DC Motor JoyStick — This is a simple example of how to control speed and direction of a DC motor with a joystick.

Lesson 37 and 38 showed some preliminary concepts in controlling a DC motor using an arduino and the L293D motor controller. In the video above we show how to control the speed and direction of a simple DC motor using a joystick. In the neutral position, the motor is stationary. Then the speed smoothly increases as you move the joystick forward, until you reach maximum speed. Similarly, in pulling the joystick back from the neutral position, the motor gradually increases speed in the reverse direction. The diagram below shows the basic motor control schematic we are working from.

Connection Diagram for a DC Motor Controller using the L293 Control Chip

In the circuit diagram above, we also add a wire to connect the arduino ground to the power supply ground. It is always good to have all components connected to a common ground rail. Of course, you also need to add the joystick controller as shown in the video.

This is the code we used in this

int speedPin=5;
int dir1=4;
int dir2=3;
int mSpeed;
int jPin=A1;
int jVal;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);
pinMode(jPin,INPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
jVal=analogRead(jPin);

Serial.println(jVal);
if (jVal<512){
digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);
digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);
mSpeed=-255./512.*jVal+255.;
analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);
}
if(jVal>=512){
digitalWrite(dir1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(dir2,LOW);
mSpeed=(255./512.)*jVal-255.;
analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);
}
}

int speedPin=5;

int dir1=4;

int dir2=3;

int mSpeed;

int jPin=A1;

int jVal;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(jPin,INPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

jVal=analogRead(jPin);

Serial.println(jVal);

if (jVal<512){

digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);

digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);

mSpeed=-255./512.*jVal+255.;

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

}

if(jVal>=512){

digitalWrite(dir1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(dir2,LOW);

mSpeed=(255./512.)*jVal-255.;

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

}

An official Arduino Uno R3 is available HERE. In this new series of lessons, I will be using the sensor and other components found in this KIT.

Arduino, Arduino 9-Axis IMU Totorials

9-Axis IMU LESSON 16: How to Install and Configure Pyscripter

November 28, 2019 admin

As we move forward, we could really benefit from a better text editor than IDLE to edit our Python Code. In today’s lesson I show you how to download and install Pyscripter, which will make your python coding much easier. I suggest you follow these instructions and move to Pyscripter, as I will be using it for future lessons.

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 38: Using a Tilt Switch Cut Off With a DC Motor

November 26, 2019 admin

Tilt Cut Off Switch — DC Motor circuit with a tilt switch cutoff

In this lesson we explore how to add a tilt cutoff to our DC motor project. In many cases, you may want to automatically turn your motors off in the case where your project or robot tips over. The tilt switch is a simple way to do this. The video below takes you through the process step-by-step.

If you need help hooking the circuit up, the diagram below shows you a schematic of what we are working with. An official Arduino Uno R3 is available HERE. In this new series of lessons, I will be using the sensor and other components found in this KIT.

In addition, you will need to add the tilt switch, as shown in the video.

Below is the code we used, with the tilt switch connected to pin 2 on the arduino.

int speedPin=5;
int dir1=4;
int dir2=3;
int mSpeed=255;
int tiltPin=2;
int tiltVal;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);
pinMode(tiltPin,INPUT);
digitalWrite(tiltPin,HIGH);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);
digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);
tiltVal=digitalRead(tiltPin);
Serial.println(tiltVal);
if (tiltVal==0){
  analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);
}
if (tiltVal==1){
  analogWrite(speedPin,0);
}

}

int speedPin=5;

int dir1=4;

int dir2=3;

int mSpeed=255;

int tiltPin=2;

int tiltVal;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(tiltPin,INPUT);

digitalWrite(tiltPin,HIGH);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);

digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);

tiltVal=digitalRead(tiltPin);

Serial.println(tiltVal);

if (tiltVal==0){

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

}

if (tiltVal==1){

analogWrite(speedPin,0);

}

Arduino, Arduino 9-Axis IMU Totorials

9-Axis IMU LESSON 15: Dynamic 3D Visualizations in Vpython

November 21, 2019 admin

In this lesson we show you how to animate, or bring your Vpython objects to life by changing their parameters dynamically. In later lessons we will do this via life readings from sensors.

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 37: Understanding How to Control DC Motors in Projects

November 19, 2019 admin

In this lesson we learn the ins and outs of controlling a DC Motor from an Arduino. A key aspect of this is to understand you must not connect a motor directly to an arduino. You need to either build a suitable transistor and diode circuit, or you need to utilize a motor controller, such as the L293D motor control chip.

The video below explains how to hook things up and how the code works. You must always be mindful that you are using a motor with current requirements that are consistent with the motor controller and power supply you are working with. Failure to do so could result in damage to components or injury.

The circuit used in this video tutorial is shown below:

It is a good practice to have all grounds connected in a circuit, so I would connect an arduino ground to the ground rail of the breadboard.

An official Arduino Uno R3 is available HERE. In this new series of lessons, I will be using the sensor and other components found in this KIT.

The code is described in the video, but if you need help, this is the code we used in the lesson.

int speedPin=5;
int dir1=4;
int dir2=3;
int mSpeed=90;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);
digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);
analogWrite(speedPin,255);
delay(25);
analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);
delay(5000);
}

int speedPin=5;

int dir1=4;

int dir2=3;

int mSpeed=90;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);

digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);

analogWrite(speedPin,255);

delay(25);

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

delay(5000);

}

Technology Tutorials

Category Archives: Arduino

Arduino Tutorial 39: Using a Joystick to Control DC Motor Speed and Direction

9-Axis IMU LESSON 16: How to Install and Configure Pyscripter

Arduino Tutorial 38: Using a Tilt Switch Cut Off With a DC Motor

9-Axis IMU LESSON 15: Dynamic 3D Visualizations in Vpython

Arduino Tutorial 37: Understanding How to Control DC Motors in Projects

Making The World a Better Place One High Tech Project at a Time. Enjoy!