Category Archives: Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 34: Simplest Way to Use a Pushbutton Switch

October 29, 2019 admin

In this lesson we show you a quick hack that will allow you to incorporate a pushbutton switch into an Arduino project without having to use an external pullup resistor, and still get very stable operation. The trick is to create a digital input pin, which in our example is pin 2. We then digitalWrite that INPUT pin HIGH. What that does is put an internal pullup resistor on pin 2, and then connects it to 5 volts. In effect, we are using a clever command to use the Arduino’s internal pullup resistors. The code below is what we used in the video. Enjoy!

int buttonPin=2;
int buttonValue;
int dt=100;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(buttonPin,INPUT);
digitalWrite(buttonPin,HIGH);
Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  buttonValue=digitalRead(buttonPin);
  Serial.print("Your Button is: ");
  Serial.println(buttonValue);
  delay(dt);
}

int buttonPin=2;

int buttonValue;

int dt=100;

void setup() {

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

pinMode(buttonPin,INPUT);

digitalWrite(buttonPin,HIGH);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

buttonValue=digitalRead(buttonPin);

Serial.print("Your Button is: ");

Serial.println(buttonValue);

delay(dt);

}

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, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 33: Understanding How to Control Servos with a Joystick

October 22, 2019 admin

In this lesson we show you how to precisely control the position of two servos using a joystick. We derive the math equations which will allow you to get smooth and precise control of the servo. We also add a buzzer to the project to create an audible alarm when the button the joystick is pressed.

If you want to follow along at home, 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.

Typically, the servos in electronics kits are not the best ones, but are suitable to learn with. If you want a more stable and better quality servo, this is the one I user in more of my projects: HiTEC

Below is the code we developed in this project.

#include <Servo.h>
Servo Xservo;
Servo Yservo;

int Xpin=A0;
int Ypin=A1;
int Spin=2;
int XSpin=9;
int YSpin=10;
int buzzPin=7;
int WVx;
int WVy;
int Xval;
int Yval;
int Sval;
int dt=200;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(Xpin,INPUT);
pinMode(Ypin,INPUT);
pinMode(Spin,INPUT);
pinMode(XSpin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(YSpin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(buzzPin,OUTPUT);

Xservo.attach(XSpin);
Yservo.attach(YSpin);

digitalWrite(Spin,HIGH);
}

void loop() {
 Xval=analogRead(Xpin);
 WVx=(180./1023.)*Xval;
 Yval=analogRead(Ypin);
 WVy=(180./1023.)*Yval;
 Sval=digitalRead(Spin);


 Xservo.write(WVx);
 Yservo.write(WVy);

 if (Sval==0){
  digitalWrite(buzzPin, HIGH);
 }
 else {
  digitalWrite(buzzPin, LOW);
 }


 
 delay(dt);
 Serial.print("X Value = ");
 Serial.print(Xval);
 Serial.print(" Y Value = ");
 Serial.print(Yval);
 Serial.print(" Switch State is ");
 Serial.println(Sval);
}

#include <Servo.h>

Servo Xservo;

Servo Yservo;

int Xpin=A0;

int Ypin=A1;

int Spin=2;

int XSpin=9;

int YSpin=10;

int buzzPin=7;

int WVx;

int WVy;

int Xval;

int Yval;

int Sval;

int dt=200;

void setup() {

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

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(Xpin,INPUT);

pinMode(Ypin,INPUT);

pinMode(Spin,INPUT);

pinMode(XSpin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(YSpin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(buzzPin,OUTPUT);

Xservo.attach(XSpin);

Yservo.attach(YSpin);

digitalWrite(Spin,HIGH);

}

void loop() {

Xval=analogRead(Xpin);

WVx=(180./1023.)*Xval;

Yval=analogRead(Ypin);

WVy=(180./1023.)*Yval;

Sval=digitalRead(Spin);

Xservo.write(WVx);

Yservo.write(WVy);

if (Sval==0){

digitalWrite(buzzPin, HIGH);

}

else {

digitalWrite(buzzPin, LOW);

}

delay(dt);

Serial.print("X Value = ");

Serial.print(Xval);

Serial.print(" Y Value = ");

Serial.print(Yval);

Serial.print(" Switch State is ");

Serial.println(Sval);

}

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 32: Understanding and Using Joysticks in a Project

October 15, 2019 admin

In this lesson we will explain how to hook up a Joystick. The easiest way to think of a joystick is to think of it as two independent potentiometer. Moving the joystick left and right changes one potentiometer, and moving the joystick up and down changes the other potentiometer. Also, pressing the knob on the joystick will activate a simple on/off switch. In this video we show you how to hook the joystick up, and then show you code that will allow you to read from the potentiometers and the switch.

If you want to follow along at home, 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.

Typically, the servos in electronics kits are not the best ones, but are suitable to learn with. Heads up that in Lesson 33 we will be using a joystick to control two servos. If you want to get ready for that lesson, go ahead and order your HiTEC Servos.

This is the code that we developed in the video above.

int Xpin=A0;
int Ypin=A1;
int Spin=2;
int Xval;
int Yval;
int Sval;
int dt=200;
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(Xpin,INPUT);
pinMode(Ypin,INPUT);
pinMode(Spin,INPUT);
digitalWrite(Spin,HIGH);
}

void loop() {
 Xval=analogRead(Xpin);
 Yval=analogRead(Ypin);
 Sval=digitalRead(Spin);
 delay(dt);
 Serial.print("X Value = ");
 Serial.print(Xval);
 Serial.print(" Y Value = ");
 Serial.print(Yval);
 Serial.print(" Switch State is ");
 Serial.println(Sval);
}

int Xpin=A0;

int Ypin=A1;

int Spin=2;

int Xval;

int Yval;

int Sval;

int dt=200;

void setup() {

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

Serial.begin(9600);

pinMode(Xpin,INPUT);

pinMode(Ypin,INPUT);

pinMode(Spin,INPUT);

digitalWrite(Spin,HIGH);

}

void loop() {

Xval=analogRead(Xpin);

Yval=analogRead(Ypin);

Sval=digitalRead(Spin);

delay(dt);

Serial.print("X Value = ");

Serial.print(Xval);

Serial.print(" Y Value = ");

Serial.print(Yval);

Serial.print(" Switch State is ");

Serial.println(Sval);

}

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 31: Using Servo in a Simple Project

October 8, 2019 admin

In this lesson we demonstrate a simple project that reads the brightness in a room, and then displays the brightness on a device consisting of a servo with an arrow pointing at vaiouse visual indications of brightness. This project demonstrates how to use Algebra and the equation of a line to take the data read from the light sensor, and calculate the desired angle value to send to the servo.

If you want to follow along at home, 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, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 30: Understanding and Using Servos in Projects

October 1, 2019 admin

In this lesson we explain step-by-step how to incorporate a servo into your Arduino project. This allows you to put motion into your prototypes. Servos act like little motors to create motion, but unlike motors, they do not spin all the way around. A typical servo can move between 0 and 180 degrees. They are relatively easy to program, and this video shows you the ins and outs of using a servo.

If you want to follow along at home, 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.

Technology Tutorials

Category Archives: Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 34: Simplest Way to Use a Pushbutton Switch

Arduino Tutorial 33: Understanding How to Control Servos with a Joystick

Arduino Tutorial 32: Understanding and Using Joysticks in a Project

Arduino Tutorial 31: Using Servo in a Simple Project

Arduino Tutorial 30: Understanding and Using Servos in Projects

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